Dear Neighbors:
Major milepost
We’ve passed a critical cutoff for the Legislature. The heavy-lifting of managing the looming $9 billion shortfall remains, but we here in the House of Representatives are determined to preserve and advance numerous priorities that benefit families throughout Washington State.
Key measures that have cleared the House and await action in the Senate will:
· Overhaul the state’s basic education funding system (HB 2261) and launch efficiency reforms in higher education (HB 1946, HB 2021).
· Implement an aggressive climate change policy including supporting more use of electric vehicles and helping more families increase the energy efficiency of their homes (HB 1481, HB 1060).
· Protect Washington’s children and our environment by banning toxic bisphenol A in bottles and sippy cups (HB 1180).
· Further protect Washington’s waterways with a permanent, year-round response tug funded by industry and stationed at Neah Bay to respond to fuel spills (HB 1409).
· Continue work to cover all kids by 2010 with “Apple Health for Kids” (HB 2128).
· Boost support for unemployed workers (HB 1906) and worker retraining programs, some in the green jobs industry (HB 1323, HB 2227).
· Expand and strengthen consumer protection (HB 1709, 1311, 1011, 1215, 1816, 2013)
· Take early cost-cutting actions to address the budget situation (HB 1694)
· Generate 6,500 jobs by putting people to work on transportation projects throughout the state (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).
The Budget
The Operating Budget – and the revenue shortfall – continues to dominate the agenda this session. You probably heard the latest revenue forecast brought even more bad news. We are now facing a shortfall of about $9 billion between expected income and the amount of spending required to maintain state services at the current level.
I’ve already reported on the early cuts we’ve taken that will result in about ¾ of a billion dollars saved, but obviously that is only a start. The budget writers in both the House and the Senate are putting the final touches on the 2009-2011 operating budget right now. This year the Senate is due out with the first proposal, and I expect we will see it early next week. That plan will be your first chance to see what services and projects may be cut, eliminated, or postponed for at least the next two years.
You will have an opportunity to give input before the final budget is adopted – the Senate Ways and Means committee will hold a public hearing on the proposal soon after it is released, and then the House will also hold a public hearing once our own budget plan is complete. I’ll keep you posted.
These are tough times for our state, but we will get through this and we will not allow these challenges to distract us from doing what’s right.
Please continue to send me your ideas. I appreciate all your support and look forward to hearing from you. Your voice keeps our democracy working.
Until Next Time,
Brian
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If you’re interested in learning more, follow the links below:
Washington State House of Representatives
Office of Financial Management