Back in Olympia: This time, for 60 days
We convened Monday for the 59th legislative session. It is my hope that we can use this short, 60-day session to build on all of our successes from last session, including:

• Making sure all children have health care (by 2010)
• Passing a mental health omnibus bill to improve quality of treatment as well as mental health parity legislation, so that diseases of the mind are treated just like diseases of the body.
• Expanding college financial aid opportunities
• Upholding the will of the people by funding class sizes reductions (I-728) and teacher pay increases (I-732)
• Establishing green building standards (first state in the nation to do so)
• Approving rigorous emissions standards
• Establishing a Life Sciences Fund and an Economic Development Fund
• Passing a transportation package that increases safety and mobility

Major issues before us this session
Budget. This session, we will pass a supplemental budget, which will contain minor tweaks to the budget we passed last session. One of my priorities is to deal with our legal obligation to fund that state’s pension system, which is currently $4 billion in debt. We also need to make sure we are making solid investments in mental health treatment. And we’re already hearing from Republicans that because we have a $1.4 billion surplus, we should cut taxes. I believe doing so creates nothing but a recipe for unsustainability for upcoming sessions.

Energy. Energy independence will be one of the main focuses of the Legislature this session. We will consider legislation that would: expand tax incentives for biodiesel producers; encourage consumers to use alternative fuels; assure the agriculture community that the demand for biofuel crops exists, as farmers shift to growing more of these crops; and encourage utilities to step up their mix of generation sources to include more renewables, such as wind and solar power.

Education. It’s important to keep on track with education reform. I am proud of the progress made at Spokane’s Holmes Elementary School, where nearly 80 percent of its students are eligible for free and reduced lunch. WASL scores have climbed so much they received an award recognizing their improvement. At the same time, I realize that the WASL may not be the be-all, end-all for education standards. This session, we will continue to assess what is in the best interest of our children. We will also consider the governor’s recommendation that Washington has a separate Department of Early Learning.

Public safety. Dealing with sex offenders is easily the hottest topic in Olympia this week. Washington has long been a leader in this area, but we can and will do more. This session we will fill in the gaps in our current laws to aid victims, law enforcement and prosecutors to better track and supervise offenders. We will come up with a solution that works – not what’s popular on talk radio, or with something that just sounds tough. We will also seek to increase treatment options and community supports for those with methamphetamine substance abuse disorders while providing greater assistance to enforce and prosecute our laws against meth production and use.

Helping low-income people stay out of the cold
Our first major legislative action this year came Wednesday, when both the Senate and the House passed a bill that will help low-income people pay their heating bills this session. On Thursday, it became the first bill this session to be signed into law by the governor.

The bill gives an additional $7.6 million to the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides funding to households at 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. This bill will help 14,000 low-income households in Washington stay warm this winter, nearly 1,000 of which are in Spokane County.

A special thanks to Avista and Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs for helping to keep families out of the cold this winter.

Constituent offers prayer on first day of session
It was an honor to have 3rd Legislative District constituent Wayne Wiltse give the prayer during the opening ceremonies of the 2006 session. Wayne, of the Yakama Nation, is a senior at Eastern Washington University, where he is president of the Native American Student Association. His mother, Gladys Sohappy Wiltse, stood by him as he sang to us in Yakama language, which is spoken by only a few dozen Yakama elders (though a revitalization has occurred recently so that many others are moderately fluent).

Movement on the civil rights bill
I was surprised, and pleased, to learn on the first day of session that a civil rights bill, which died on the floor of the Senate by only one vote last session, appears to be revived. And the senator who voted no last year has promised to vote in favor of it this year.

Under current state law, people cannot be discriminated against based on race, creed, national origin, sex, marital status or sensory, mental or physical handicap. The bill, which has existed for 30 years, simply would add sexual orientation to the list.

As I said in a floor speech last session, “It’s really time for Washington state to move forward in this area, to send the right messages to people, that what happens in their bedroom is not the government’s business. That what matters at work is that you’re a good employee. That what matters when you go to the bank is that you don’t bounce checks. And that what matters when you rent an apartment is that you pay your rent on time and be a good tenant. And that your sexual orientation is not the business of your landlord, of your employer, of your banker or of the government of Washington state.”

Governor’s State of the State address
On Tuesday, the governor gave her State of the State address, titled “Building on Our Success.” She highlighted accomplishments from the last legislative session and called on the Legislature to continue making improvements in education, health care and job creation.

“That foundation – the outstanding legislative session of 2005 – has already elevated Washington to a new level of opportunity. So in the spirit of responsibility, opportunity and service, let’s get to work and build on the foundation we created together last year,” the governor said. I couldn’t agree more and look forward to continuing to work with her this session.

Inside Olympia
On Thursday, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and I were guests on TVW’s Inside Olympia, hosted by Associated Press reporter Dave Ammons. The program will air Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Channel 25 (for Spokane Comcast subscribers).

Stay in touch
Please don’t hesitate to call, e-mail or write to my office if you have any questions or need my help. I’m here to serve you, and I can’t do that as effectively if I don’t hear from the people I represent.

Stay tuned for next week’s update.

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