Report from Olympia

Report from Olympia — Feb. 13, 2015
February 13, 2015
On Monday, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on my bill to help keep the cost of residential construction low and housing more affordable. Senate Bill 5759 requires that distinct “prevailing wage” rates be calculated and paid to workers employed in residential construction. SB 5759 emerged... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Feb. 6, 2015
February 06, 2015
It’s hard to believe we’re already into February, and that four weeks of the 2015 legislative session are almost behind us. This week the Legislature began delving into some big issues like responding to the governor’s cap-and-tax plan and helping our veterans find jobs. …Also this week, the Washington Council... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Jan. 30, 2015
January 30, 2015
The third week of the 2015 session is almost over and things are beginning to move quickly in Olympia. We have been busy this week, hearing bills in various committees, meeting with visitors to the Legislature and promoting good legislation to improve the lives and safety of Washingtonians. We’ve also... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Jan. 23, 2015
January 23, 2015
Today marks the end of week two for the 2015 legislative session. This has been a busy week for our office; we have had a number of visitors from the district and several of my key bills received hearings before their assigned policy committees. Click here to read the full... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Jan. 15, 2015
January 15, 2015
The 2015 session began with a bang of the gavel as members were sworn in. The Legislature will have a Republican majority in the Senate and a Democrat majority in the House of Representatives this session. Given this reality, lawmakers will undoubtedly need to work together to achieve solutions on... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Dec. 30, 2014
December 30, 2014
Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are enjoying this holiday season. In two short weeks, the 64th Legislature will convene. The 2015 session is a budget year, meaning it is scheduled for 105 days (opposed to 60 days in... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Dec. 4, 2014
December 04, 2014
Dear Friends and Neighbors, This interim (the time between legislative sessions) has been very busy. We have made major strides in bringing attention to issues ranging from impaired driving and the need to increase public safety to human trafficking, the separation of powers and open government. Please keep reading for... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Nov. 20, 2014
November 20, 2014
Dear Friends and Neighbors, People who want to provide testimony to legislative committees must either send something in writing, or make the long trip to Olympia and speak in person. Tomorrow morning our Senate Law and Justice Committee will conduct the first real demonstration of what I hope will become... Read More...
Report from Olympia — Nov. 5, 2014
November 05, 2014
Dear Friends and Neighbors, It was almost exactly a year ago that I first invited people from our legislative district to join me, over coffee, and talk about issues of concern to them. Those meetings in mid-November 2013 were in Greenacres and Liberty Lake; the response was so positive that... Read More...