Dear Friends,

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 with:

• A learner-focused education system that supports teachers and serves all of Washington’s students;
• Greater access to quality health care; and
• An economy of opportunity that creates family-wage jobs and prepares people for the work force and the future.

Budget is the star of the show

As always during a long session, the budget will be the main focus. Gov. Chris Gregoire unveiled her budget in December, and we will use it as a blueprint as we write our own version in the Senate.

I am please by the governor’s investments in early learning, high-demand fields in higher education, children’s health care and economic development.

She also devotes significant resources to Spokane. Among them:

• Setting up a new program to teach first-year medical and dental students, as well as doctoral nursing students, at Washington State University’s Riverpoint campus in Spokane (part of a $60 million expansion in high-demand college slots).
• Building a new Eastern Washington Veterans’ Cemetery in Spokane County for 500 veterans a year ($8 million).

The House and Senate versions of the budget won’t be released until March.

Opening day

At noon Monday, the opening day of session festivities began. The most exciting part for me was watching all eight of our new Democratic senators being sworn in. I’m not playing favorites, but I have to say having Chris Marr in the Senate is going to be great: Finally, I’m not the only Democratic senator with a (509)-area code!

I shared with the Senate part of an e-mail that my son, Lucas, sent me. It quoted a Bob Marley song and seemed fitting advice for the first day of session: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul. Wisdom is better than silver and gold.”

Governor delivers State of the State address

On Tuesday, all 198 legislators, as well as members of the Supreme Court and statewide elected officials, gathered in the chambers of the House of Representatives to watch the governor deliver the annual State of the State address.

Titled “Making Changes Families Can Count On,” the governor talked about Democrats’ legislative successes the past two years, and outlined her priorities for the coming session.

“We all want the same things for our families – quality education, reliable health insurance, and a good job. Our challenge is to stand in the shoes of our citizens, see the future through their eyes, and find common ground that provides the change needed for a future Washington families can count on.”

Catch me on TVW

On Wednesday, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and I were guests on “Inside Olympia,” hosted by Associated Press reporter Dave Ammons.

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, and I were guests on TVW’s call-in show, Olympia On-Call, hosted by Seattle Times’ chief political reporter David Postman.

Both air on Channel 25 (for Spokane Comcast subscribers). Check TVW’s Web page for air dates and times: www.tvw.org

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

Friday morning we honored the late Martin Luther King Jr., and his dream, with a resolution.

To read a copy of it, go to: http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Resolutions/8602-Dr.%20Martin%20Luther%20King%20Jr..pdf

Visitors

Visitors to my office this week included:

• Jean Dibble, who writes for “El Sol de Yakima” and inquired about outreach to Latinos in Washington. Web site: http://www.yakima-herald.com/elsol/
• Marilee Roloff from Volunteers of America; she advocated for Crosswalk and children in need in Spokane. Crosswalk’s Web site: http://www.crosswalkspokane.com/
• Krist Novoselic (yes, the one who played bass for Nirvana), discussing election reform and Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). To learn more about IRV in Washington, go to http://www.irvwa.org/

Stay tuned for next week’s update.

Sincerely,

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