Committees:

• Transportation (chair)
• Consumer Protection & Housing
• Rules

Term ends January 2009

Olympia Office:
305 Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0410
(360) 786-7618

Tenth District
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Senator Mary Margaret Haugen
10th District   Camano Island

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Dec. 20, 2007

Opportunity for local students to work as Senate pages during 2008 session

OLYMPIA – Pages provide invaluable services to legislators and staff by relaying documents across the Capitol Campus, responding to requests from senators at work in the Senate chamber and presenting the flag during floor sessions. In exchange, students receive a valuable, hands-on civics lesson by seeing state government at work firsthand. more>>>

Nov. 30, 2007

Haugen hosts legislative panel with Skagit farmers to “cultivate the future”

OLYMPIA — Following up on her pivotal role in the creation of the Office of Farmland Preservation during the 2007 legislative session, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, hosted a legislative panel in Olympia to discuss the prospects for young farmers in Washington. more>>>

Special Session on property taxes

The Legislature convened for a special session on November 29, and we successfully reinstated the 1% cap on increases in property taxes. We have heard from a lot of people about this issue, and I am certainly supportive of any measure that would provide relief and peace of mind to property owners.  The bill that was passed, House Bill 2416, reinstates the 1% cap that voters supported under Initiative 747. more>>>

An update on property taxes

While many people like the idea that the largest investment of their lifetimes — their homes — have increased in value over the past few years, I share peoples’ concerns that increased property valuations often come with an increase in property taxes. more>>>

Nov. 1, 2007

Haugen discusses transportation needs at White House conference

OLYMPIA — As transportation leaders from around the nation met in Washington, D.C. to discuss transportation funding and congestion relief, one idea was most prominent — states need more predictability in funding and greater flexibility in how they spend those funds in order to achieve the best results. more>>>

Haugen provides leadership to National Conference of State Legislatures

OLYMPIA — The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the 50 states, has once again turned to a Washington legislator for national leadership. more>>>

Washington State Ferries

Some people just don’t get it! It can sure be deceiving — some folks see pictures of ferries plying the waters of the Puget Sound on a postcard or a television commercial and think they are seeing a tourist attraction. more>>>

Oct. 11, 2007

Haugen named as vice chair of national transportation panel

OLYMPIA — One of Washington state’s most influential authorities on transportation will be the vice chair of a new working group of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). more>>>

Sept. 25, 2007

Haugen receives award for work on transit issues

OLYMPIA — Recognizing her dedication to improving transit access for people with disabilities across Washington, the Self-Advocates in Leadership (SAIL) organization presented Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, with a plaque during the recent People First of Skagit County event. more>>>

Nursing home tax finally put to bed

It’s taken years of work, but residents of Washington nursing homes can finally say goodbye to a tax that was costing them as much as $1,800 a year. more>>>

August 14, 2007

Urban partnership grant provides funds for SR-520

OLYMPIA — Recognizing that the state and region are using the most advanced tools to make traffic better on the state Route 520 corridor, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced it will provide $138.7 million in funding through it’s Urban Partnership Agreement program to facilitate the 520 bridge replacement project. more>>>

July 2, 2007

Nursing home tax finally put to bed

OLYMPIA – It’s taken years of work, but residents of Washington nursing homes can finally say goodbye to a tax that was costing them as much as $1,800 a year. more>>>

Senator Haugen to host local cable-median barrier discussion

A recent report that is critical of the effectiveness of cable barriers along the I-5 median in the Marysville area will be the topic of a public meeting that I am hosting along with Doug McDonald, the Secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation and Chief John R. Batiste, head of the Washington State Patrol. more>>>

Town hall meetings coming to Coupeville and Stanwood on June 2

I invite all area residents to hear updates from the adjournment of this year’s legislative session, voice concerns and ask questions of me at either of two town halls on Saturday, June 2. more>>>

Haugen hails session a success

OLYMPIA – It truly is the little things that count, according to Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. “We do a lot of big things in Olympia,” she said, “but it’s the projects for the people back home that really matter the most to me.” more>>>

May 17, 2007

Governor gives farmers the option to use biodiesel

OLYMPIA – This week, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law legislation that offers farmers an incentive to begin using biodiesel fuel to power their equipment. more>>>

Governor takes action on transportation bills

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire this week signed into law a transportation budget for 2007-09 that lawmakers hailed as putting public safety first and keeping on schedule major projects promised in the 2003 Nickel Package and the 2005 Transportation Partnership Package. more>>>

How our district fared

As I told you in my last e-newsletter, the 10th District fared very well in the recent legislative session. Here’s how well, budget by budget: more>>>

May 11, 2007

Causing ferry frustration could cost you

OLYMPIA – It’s rude to cut in line. We’ve all known this since the earliest of ages, yet it’s a rule that some still ignore. Today, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a bill to establish a fine for those who decide to cut in line while waiting to board a ferry. more>>>

May 10, 2007

Haugen honored with local “Business Champion” award

OLYMPIA – The Everett and the South Snohomish County Chambers of Commerce have honored Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, with their annual “Business Champion” award, the Joint Government Affairs Committee from the two chambers announced this week. more>>>

Governor signs Haugen’s local water-sewer district fix

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed into law a bill to help a local San Juan Island water-sewer district ensure that its commissioner seat does not go vacant. more>>>

May 8, 2007

Farmland preservation bill signed into law

OLYMPIA – As more and more housing developers set their sights on acquiring scenic and relatively inexpensive agricultural lands, farming communities across our state face the prospect of irreversible changes to their essential character. more>>>

Whidbey artist’s work graces Olympia office of Sen. Haugen

OLYMPIA — The watercolors of Anne M. Waterman are now on display in the Olympia office of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. Haugen, an avid collector of art wherever she travels, prefers to use her office to showcase artists from her 10th Legislative District. more>>>

April 30, 2007

It’s the law: Wildlife volunteers will be compensated, thanks to Haugen

OLYMPIA — Volunteers who handle injured or frightened wildlife will receive long-needed compensation under a bill signed in law Monday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. more>>>

A good session for Washington—and for our 10th District

There’s no place like home, especially when home is in our beautiful 10th District — and you’ve spent nearly four months of in nonstop negotiations over new legislation. In next week’s newsletter I’ll provide an overview of how our district, and the state, did. more>>>

April 20, 2007

Sound wall and other improvements in store for I-5, State Route 20

OLYMPIA — A sound wall along Interstate 5 in Burlington and safety improvements along State Route 20 are key items in the 2007–09 transportation budget agreed on today by transportation committee chairs in the state Senate and House of Representatives. more>>>

Shifty Sailors bring blend of song and joy to Senate at Haugen’s invitation

OLYMPIA — The tensions of budget negotiations, bill amendments and other final matters of the 2007 legislative session were broken today when the voices of Whidbey Island’s Shifty Sailors resonated throughout the Senate chamber. more>>>

April 16, 2007

Legislature passes Haugen bill to maintain highways in small cities and towns

OLYMPIA — Smaller cities and towns typically lack the means to maintain portions of state highways that run through them, so the responsibility falls to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). As populations grow, cities such as Oak Harbor exceed the threshold for WSDOT assistance. more>>>

A vote to ensure adequate school funding

After many years trying to pass the simple majority bill, it is finally going to the vote of the people. This is particularly critical in the 10th District, where school levies in many areas have repeatedly come up just short of the requirement of a 60 percent supermajority. more>>>

April 11, 2007

House passes Haugen bills to preserve farmland, fine ferry line cutters

OLYMPIA — Farmers will have a greater role in the statewide effort to maintain farmland, and motorists who cut in ferry lines will be subject to fines, under two bills passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives. more>>>

Good news on a wide range of bills

A number of good bills moved through the Senate and the House of Representatives this week and await the governor’s signature. Sometimes the bill is an identical or near-identical version of a bill in the other chamber, called a companion bill, and sometimes it’s a bill unique to one chamber that’s approved or modified by the other chamber. In any case, what’s important isn’t the chamber of origin but the substance of the bill. And this week brought plenty of substance. more>>>

Senate budgets approach state needs aggressively, responsibly

Hammering out a budget is never easy. Even in heady times, when money isn’t tight, the competing needs of districts all over the state can lead to difficult choices. But when money is tight, as it has been for some years now, the choices are even tougher. more>>>

On Tuesday we’ll propose a transportation budget for the next two years

It is budget time, and I’m happy to announce that the transportation budget we will unveil Tuesday will make possible three projects vital to our community. The budget will include funding to complete Highway 20 from Burlington west; continued funding for the tri-county connector; and funding to move up the timetable to improve safety and access to State Route 532. These projects will ensure safe, reliable travel for years to come. more>>>

Greetings at the halfway mark

As you may know, on Wednesday we crossed a key date in the legislative session. The Senate had until 5 p.m. to hear all of the Senate bills that made it through the committee process. more>>>

March 14, 2007

Haugen bill to compensate wildlife volunteers passes Senate

OLYMPIA — The volunteers who respond to injured or frightened wildlife that turn up in homes, neighborhoods and other public areas across Washington will gain some much-needed compensation, thanks to a bill passed Monday by the Senate. more>>>

It’s high time to move forward on transportation

Although the transportation budget won’t be released for a few weeks, I can tell you what we plan, and need, to do. First and foremost, we’ll keep our commitment to complete the projects we’ve already begun in a timely manner, making sure they’re done right and without waste. more>>>

March 9, 2007

Senate passes Haugen bill to preserve farmland across Washington

OLYMPIA — Farmers would have a stronger voice in the preservation of farmland across Washington under a bill sponsored by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and passed Thursday by the Senate on a 44-3 vote with two members excused. more>>>

Mar. 6, 2007
Electronic Newsletter

We’re halfway through session — and making some very tough choices

This is the time of the year when legislators spend the vast majority of our time meeting on the Senate Floor. We generally will come in, meet with staff about the bills on the day’s calendar, then go to the floor to vote on the bills that have made it through the committee process. Our timeline is very tight — we have until 5 p.m. on March 14 to pass to the House of Representatives all of the bills that made it to the Senate floor. more>>>

It’s crunch time

Every legislative session has a cut-off date after which no more bills can be proposed, and that time is near, making this a good time for updates on the major bills on the table. Of course, two proposals that have drawn some of the most attention are for a new Sonics arena in Renton and a NASCAR track in Kitsap County. more>>>

Feb. 16, 2006

Teens needed to work as Senate pages in April

OLYMPIA – Pages provide invaluable services to legislators and staff by relaying documents across the Capitol Campus, responding to requests from senators at work in the Senate chamber and presenting the flag during floor sessions. In exchange, students receive a valuable, living civics lesson by seeing state government at work firsthand. more>>>

Feb. 16, 2007

State Patrol, transportation officials to attend Haugen town hall meeting

OLYMPIA — Representatives of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will attend a town hall meeting hosted Feb. 24 in Stanwood by Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. more>>>

Finally, we must move forward on Viaduct replacement

The big transportation news this week revolved around the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Months and years of disagreement appear to have come to a head with the Washington State Department of Transportation’s determination that the city of Seattle’s smaller hybrid tunnel proposal has safety concerns that make it infeasible. more>>>

Feb. 13, 2007

State lawmakers: WSDOT report shows hybrid tunnel not feasible

OLYMPIA — A report from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) leaves the state with no choice but to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct with an elevated structure, top lawmakers said today. more>>>

Feb. 12, 2007

Haugen schedules town hall meetings in Coupeville and Stanwood

OLYMPIA — Area residents can hear updates from this year’s legislative session, voice concerns and ask questions of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, at either of two town halls on Feb. 24. more>>>

Now’s the time to voice your feelings on a homestead exemption

Hello, neighbors. I hope this update on the 2007 legislative session finds you in good health and spirits. On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Senate Committee on Ways & Means will hear testimony on my bill to create a homestead tax exemption. Senate Bill 5187, one of several measures in the House and Senate to ease pressures on homeowners, would exempt taxes on the first $50,000 of valuation on property occupied as a principal residence. more>>>

Feb. 9, 2007

Haugen pushes for property tax exemption of first $50,000 of valuation

OLYMPIA — Rising property values have put pressure on homeowners across the state, in some cases threatening to price residents right out of their longtime homes. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, wants to relieve some of that pressure by creating a tax break for the first $50,000 of valuation of a primary home. more>>>

Feb. 7, 2007

Haugen: $2 bump in specialty plate fee could take care of animal emergencies

OLYMPIA — As For years, Washington has relied on volunteers and non-profit groups such as the Pilchuck Wildlife Center in Stanwood to tend to the wide variety of injured or frightened wildlife that turn up in homes, neighborhoods and other public areas. more>>>

Early legislation focuses on military members, veterans

As always, it is a privilege to represent the 10th District and a pleasure to share my thoughts with you as we start into the 2007 legislative session, which began this year with a strong push in support of military members and veterans. We opened the session by making good on a promise from last session: passing a bill to prohibit disruptive behavior at military funerals. more>>>

Jan. 31, 2007

Haugen, Senate honor Lady Braves championship volleyball team

OLYMPIA — The Lady Braves state championship volleyball team from La Conner High School toured the state Capitol today as guests of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. more>>>

Jan. 24, 2007

Haugen accelerates efforts to preserve farmland across Washington

OLYMPIA — Mike Rundlett of the Western WA Agriculture Association says “the greatest threat to farming in western Washington is the loss of agricultural farm land.” more>>>

Jan. 12, 2007

Haugen looks to bring seniors relief from Island County power outages

OLYMPIA — Stormy weather can cause power outages across Washington but the hardship lasts even longer in Island County, whose residents are typically among the last to have their power restored due to the area’s small population and rural character. more>>>

Jan. 8, 2007

Parks funding among 2007 legislative priorities for Sen. Haugen

OLYMPIA — When the Legislature repealed the parking fees for state parks last year, it did away with an unpopular tax but left unresolved the question of how to fund the parks. Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, believes the answer lies in the state property tax. more>>>

Jan. 4, 2007

Haugen to serve on Blue Ribbon Panel on nation’s transportation

OLYMPIA — Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, will serve on a Blue Ribbon Panel of Transportation Experts to help develop recommendations on the future needs and funding of the nation’s surface transportation system. more>>>

2006 archive