This e-newsletter was distributed to Sen. Padden’s subscribers on April 28, 2016.

Dear friends and neighbors,

The 2016 Legislative session is over, but these still are busy times. This week we saw the dedication of the Spokane Valley Tech skills center, and coming up we have one of the biggest youth baseball tournaments in the West. On the legislative front, as chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, I continue to oversee the Senate’s investigation of the Department of Corrections’ early-release debacle.

Because of election-year restrictions, this will be the last e-newsletter I am able to send to you until after the November election. But I remain here to serve you, and I can be contacted through my legislative aide, Mike McCliment, at (509) 921-2460, at my district office at 11707 E. Sprague Ave., Suite 305. You also can contact me through my website. If you have a problem with a state agency, or a comment or a concern about the performance of state government, I look forward to assisting you.

And finally, let me wish you all a happy spring, summer and fall!

 

 

American Legion Wood Bat Classic set for July 1-4

One of the biggest sports events for our community is coming up in a couple of months – really a summer tradition for those of us who support youth baseball and the American Legion leagues. The Spokane Coeur d’Alene American Legion Wood Bat Classic is a tournament that draws teams from throughout the Pacific Northwest and points beyond.

From humble origins in the 1970s, this tournament has become one of the most important sports draws in the greater Spokane area. Last year it drew 94 teams and 1,410 athletes, filling 2,000 hotel rooms. Economic impact for our community was estimated at $2,050,000. The Spokane Sports Commission tells us it ranked number three in our region in economic impact, behind Coeur d’Alene’s Ironman competition and the USA Volleyball Pacific Northwest Qualifier.

I take a particular interest in the Wood Bat Classic, because I have been involved with its organization for the last decade. This year we are expecting more than 90 teams from the western United States and Canada, in three divisions through age 19, and they will play on diamonds from the West Plains to North Idaho. A number of the games will be played at Central Valley, West Valley and East Valley high schools, and some also will be played at Mt. Spokane High School. This tournament provides an outstanding opportunity to recognize the achievements of our youth, give our community a boost, and provide a weekend of fun over the holiday weekend for anyone who loves baseball. Is there anything more American than the crack of a wooden bat on the 4th of July?

Valley Tech is dedicated

Spokane Valley Tech marked the completion of four new classrooms with a dedication Tuesday evening that underscores the important service it does our community. This school, located at the corner of Sprague and University in Spokane Valley, is a collaborative venture of the Central Valley, East Valley and West Valley School Districts. It was launched three years ago to offer courses at the high school level for students interested in technical and practical fields, as well as a rigorous academic program in science, technology, engineering and math. About 120 students are currently enrolled.

I was pleased to be able to participate in the dedication ceremonies Tuesday night. At the state level we provided $2.5 million for the school through a series of capital budget appropriations, augmented by $3.5 million in local funds. This school allows students to acquire skills that can be used later in employment and provides specialized advanced training for those interested in engineering and science. It already is an important asset for our community, and its importance will only increase in the future.

We should recognize those who helped build this school, in particular school superintendents Ben Small of Central Valley, Gene Simenti of West Valley, Kelly Shea of East Valley and Randy Russell of Freeman.

DOC investigation continues

Now that this year’s legislative session has concluded, the biggest job for the Senate Law and Justice Committee is the completion of an investigation into the Department of Corrections and its improper early release of more than 3,200 inmates. These early releases, initially caused by improper computer programming instructions, continued for 13 years as DOC officials ignored warnings that they were calculating sentences incorrectly. Two deaths have been linked to this error, as well as numerous crimes.

We are in the final stages of this investigation, and expect to announce further actions soon. At the same time we are planning a series of committee hearings on a variety of topics during this interim before the start of the Legislative session. Stay tuned. Committee schedules will be announced on the Senate Law and Justice Committee website.