Majority Leader

Committees:

• Rules

Term ends January 2009

Olympia Office:
307 Legislative Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0403
(360) 786-7604

District Office:
25 W. Main, Suite 239
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 456-2760

Third District
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Senator Lisa Brown
3rd District  Spokane

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Nov. 29, 2007

Property tax lid, immediate relief for at-risk property owners cap special session

OLYMPIA – The state Senate passed two bills on property taxes in a special session called by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The first, House Bill 2416, will restore the 1 percent cap on property tax increases. Senate Democrats asserted that re-imposing the limit creates predictability and respects the will of the voters who passed Initiative 747 in 2001. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Chris Hurst, D-Enumclaw, passed 39-9. more>>>

Nov. 29, 2007

Senate Democrats announce new committee assignments

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats today announced several changes to committee membership, necessitated by the departure of Sen. Erik Poulsen several months ago and the election of Sen. Joe McDermott, D-Seattle, to fill his seat, and of Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, who had been appointed to fill a seat vacated by Sen. Mark Doumit. more>>>

I am writing mostly to let you know that my district office has moved, but thought I’d also update you on some of the issues I’ve been working on most recently. more>>>

August 11, 2007
The Spokesman Review op-ed

New formulas coming for school funding

No task is more thankless than trying to cut the fat from an already lean budget. But that's just what Spokane Public Schools and other districts around the state are doing yet again this year.  more>>>

July 30, 2007

Senate Democrats committed to keeping the public safe

OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, today issued the following statement regarding House Republicans’ call for a special legislative session to address public safety laws: more>>>

June 13, 2007

Washington Delegation to Attend the Paris Air Show

OLYMPIA. – With Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner scheduled for lift off soon, all eyes will be on Washington’s soaring aerospace industry at the 47th Paris Air Show, June 18 – 24, 2007. more>>>

2007 session comes to an end

To say Democrats had a successful legislative session this year would be an understatement. And our state will be better for our efforts.

We passed a budget that builds security for Washington’s future today. With the state at its peak, we had an opportunity to make significant investments in education and health care, and set aside money for the future. more>>>

With just one week left of session, we are plugging away at passing our priority legislation.

Simple majority

After nearly 15 years of trying to eliminate the current supermajority requirement to pass school levies, we finally succeeded! I was so proud I was literally reduced to tears after realizing we received the two-thirds vote necessary to bring this to a vote of the people. more>>>

Budget negotiations

We are in serious budget negotiations with the House of Representatives. As I reported last week, the Senate approved its two-year operating, capital and transportation budgets. In these final two weeks of the session, we’ll work out a compromise between our proposals – which aren’t all that far apart – and vote on a final version before we leave town April 22. more>>>

Senate budgets good for Spokane

The Senate unveiled its two-year operating, capital and transportation budgets, and there is great news for Spokane and surrounding communities in all three of them. more>>>

Mental health parity

Two years ago we passed a mental health parity bill, which became law, requiring insurance policies covering more than 50 employees to treat diseases of the mind the same as diseases of the body. more>>>

As I mentioned last week, Wednesday, March 14, marked a major cutoff in the Legislature. I thought I’d give you a quick update on some of the bills the Senate was able to pass before that deadline. more>>>

With the exception of Monday, we spent all day every day passing bills in the Senate this week. Wednesday, March 14, is the deadline for getting bills that originated in the Senate voted on by the entire body.

We passed bills that address all of our priorities – education, health care, economic development, the environment and public safety. Below is a summary of some of the most significant measures. more>>>

This week marks an important point in session: As of Wednesday, all bills that originated in the Senate had to be voted out of their appropriate policy committees to be considered “alive” for the remainder of session. Bills with a fiscal impact are exempt from that cutoff until Monday, March 5. more>>>

I remember opening my first savings account. It was a “Christmas Club,” and I would deposit my allowance into it – saving up to buy Christmas presents for my family. more>>>

Feb. 21, 2007

Brown’s Rainy Day fund bill clears state Senate

OLYMPIA – Comparing it to a savings account one can turn to in tough financial times, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, today led passage of a bill that would create a constitutionally mandated Rainy Day fund. more>>>

Feb. 21, 2007

1:23 wrap with Sen. Lisa Brown on building a savings account into the state budget.

Lead: Just like weather forecasters, economic forecasters tell us that Washington will see rainy days again. The Legislature wants to prepare the state budget for that eventuality. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

MP3 File (325 KB)
WAV File (7.2 MB)

Legislative Update
Week 6: Feb. 12 - 16, 2007

Democrats have made it a priority to ensure that all children in Washington have health care coverage by the year 2010. On Wednesday the Senate passed one of the most significant pieces of legislation before us this session, and it will help us achieve that goal. more>>>

Legislative Update
Week 5: Feb. 5-Feb. 9, 2007

On Wednesday, I took part in a press conference to introduce a Senate bill designed to help Washington maintain its role as a leader in combating climate change. more>>>

At Gov. Chris Gregoire’s request, I have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 8206, which would create a constitutionally mandated Rainy Day fund. more>>>

Feb. 6, 2007

Evidence clear: Climate change must be addressed, say Senate Democrats

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats will hold a news conference this week to announce legislation aimed at making Washington a leader in addressing climate change. more>>>

Jan. 31, 2007

2:02 wrap with Sens. Lisa Brown and Rosa Franklin on creating a state Rainy Day Fund.

Lead: With our state budget heavily reliant on sales tax, a hot economy means strong state revenue, while a cool economy generally leads to big budget deficits. Lawmakers in Olympia are looking at ways to even out the boom-bust cycle. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

MP3 File (478 KB)
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E-Newsletter
Week 3: Jan. 22-26, 2007

It’s starting to feel a little bit more like session. Bills are being introduced at a steady pace. And in the Senate, we passed our first two bills off the floor. more>>>

As is typical in a long session, we’re off to a gentle start. It’s a simple matter of having 105 days to meet in odd-numbered years such as this one rather than only 60 days in even-numbered years.  more>>>

Jan. 15, 2007

Media Availaibility

OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, will hold weekly media availabilities Thursdays during the 2007 legislative session, beginning Jan. 18. more>>>

I’m back in Olympia – for the 60th legislative session, which is scheduled to last 105 days.

This session, Senate Democrats will do all we can to ensure that Washington becomes a smarter, healthier, stronger state. more>>>

2006 archive