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Olympia Office
Bellingham District Office
960 Harris Street, Suite 201 Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 676-2160
Anacortes District Office
2415 T Ave., Suite 202
Anacortes, WA, 98221
(360) 588-6227
Local Governments
News
Sen. Ranker issues statement on special session adjournment 4/11/2012
OLYMPIA - Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, released this statement following adjournment of the Legislature's special session Sine Die:
"Throughout our budget debate, my priorities have been clear: we must protect funding for education from kindergarten to graduate school. We must prioritize family planning. We must maintain our public safety net. We must pass legislation to put Washingtonians back to work. And at the end of the day, our budget must be balanced.
Sen. Ranker government reform package signed into law 3/30/2012
OLYMPIA - Reforms to strengthen the financing of Washington state recreational lands and to protect jobs have now been signed into law.
In an effort to make state lands self-sustaining, legislation was enacted in 2011 to create the Discover Pass, a universal parking permit for state parks and recreational lands. Changes made by the Legislature reflect public input gathered throughout implementation of the pass and an effort to increase sales of the pass.
Sen. Ranker issues statement on Republican budget proposal cutting services for children, most vulnerable 3/15/2012
OLYMPIA - Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, released this statement today following the Senate Republicans offer of an alternative budget:
"While I am pleased that the Republicans have followed the Senate Democrats' lead and have now shown a commitment to avoiding painful cuts to K-12 and higher education, I am disappointed that this offer was once again developed behind closed doors. That said, it is a positive step in the right direction.
OP-ED: Supplemental state budget must protect education 3/11/2012
At midnight Thursday the regular 60-day session of the state legislature adjourned. While great strides were made on areas ranging from transportation to teacher evaluations to making Washington the seventh state to accept full marriage equality, conservative partisan maneuvers that threaten K-12 and higher education prevented passage of a balanced, transparent supplemental budget. Because State Senate Republicans abandoned bipartisanship for political posturing, a special session unfortunately became necessary to meet the constitutional requirement.
Sen. Ranker issues statement on legislative adjournment, special session 3/9/2012
Olympia - Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, released this statement following adjournment of the Legislature sine die and after the announcement of a special session:
"This session we made great progress passing bills protecting our environment and expanding civil rights.
40th District delegation praises transportation budget passed by Legislature 3/9/2012
Olympia - Washington's critical marine highways would be protected and tens of thousands of jobs statewide would be created under a transportation budget passed by the Legislature Thursday. Legislators from the 40th district praised passage of the proposal.
Washington has the largest ferry service in the country, with more than 22 million riders annually, transporting more people than Seatac Airport. Ferries are also the state's single largest tourist attraction, bringing in over $15 billion in tourism dollars in 2010.
Sen. Ranker speaks against "devastating" budget "crafted in back-room" 3/3/2012
Sen. Ranker speaks against breaking of bipartisan budget agreement 3/3/2012
Sen. Ranker issues statement on Republican maneuver to circumvent public process 3/2/2012
OLYMPIA - Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, issued the following statement regarding a Republican maneuver to pass a budget prior to any public hearing:
"I am deeply disappointed by the decision of Senate Republicans to circumvent our state's formerly transparent budgeting process to pass a budget that devastates our state's safety net and our K-12 and higher education system.
Sen. Ranker issues statement on proposed Senate operating budget 2/28/2012
OLYMPIA - Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, released this statement today following a press conference announcing the Senate proposed operating budget.
"As a lead for the energy, natural resource and environment portions of the operating budget, I am proud of the proposal put forth today.
