Kilmer brings jobs, business and transportation agenda to Senate

OLYMPIA — His office may have changed, but Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, brings the same priorities he had in the House of Representatives to the Senate, where he was sworn in Monday.

“We need more good local jobs, we need tax relief for local businesses and we need a fair deal for commuters,” Kilmer said. “None of these needs has changed, and neither has my commitment to getting things done.”

Kilmer earlier was named the vice chairman of both the Senate International Trade & Economic Development Committee and the Senate Higher Education Committee, assignments that dovetail well with his district’s needs. Chief among Kilmer’s proposed measures, for instance, is a job creation tax credit for small businesses. Under this measure, small businesses would receive a tax credit for every new job they create that pays a livable wage. Another bill would provide college tuition assistance and related services for foster kids, a group that typically is unable to afford higher education.

Other proposals might benefit from Kilmer’s seat on the Senate Transportation Committee, including several involving the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Kilmer is backing a proposal to halve the cost of the new bridge tolls for motorists who pay via electronic transponders during the first year. He’ll push to exempt the sales tax on the bridge construction, a move that would cut $40 million from the cost of the project and the tolls needed to pay it off. And he wants to further reduce the cost of tolls by applying a portion of the revenue expected from fines paid by those caught illegally using electronic tolling lanes to the Narrows Bridge tolling account.

In another move to help commuters, Kilmer wants to dedicate state funds to hold down the rising cost of ferry fares.

“The people who ride our ferries help reduce the need for more roads on our busiest routes, but they’re not going to ride the ferries if they can’t afford the fares,” he said. “If we starve the ferries by raising fares too high, everyone will wind up bearing the cost.”

In other transportation matters, Kilmer wants to maintain the funds to build a vital interchange at Burley-Olalla Road on State Route 16 as well as funding to design a new corridor on SR 302.

Veterans are another priority for Kilmer. He wants to prohibit discrimination in hiring and housing based on military affiliation, and he wants the state to adopt a federal program that helps steer government contracts to businesses owned by people who served in the military.

Kilmer also serves on the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee, where he plans to focus on legislation to improve housing affordability.

Constituents may contact Kilmer through his Senate office at 360-786-7650 or derek.kilmer@leg.wa.gov, and can subscribe to a range of committee lists at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/ to keep track of specific issues or areas of interest.

The 2007 legislative session began Monday and is scheduled to last 105 days.

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