The crashing economy will dominate discussions in Olympia for the next three months, and in Washington, D.C., for longer than that.

But while local lawmakers cite the economy as a top priority, more is on their minds, they said.

International trade, criminal justice reform and long-standing transportation problems top the non-economic to-do lists of Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, and Reps. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Lynnwood, and Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo.

The three represent the cities of Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mukilteo in the 21st Legislative District.

“We are hoping that the federal government will grant us some of the funding from the federal stimulus package,” said Shinn, who is the Senate’s vice president pro tempore. “If they do, I think we will have a positive session.”

Doling out federal dollars for local transportation projects could net the 21st district up to 2,000 jobs, said Shinn, who chairs the International Relations and Higher Education committees. He is the vice-chair of the Trade and Economic Development committee, and sits on the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development committee.

Washington relies more on international trade than any other state, and in times of crisis it needs to retrench, Shinn said.

Even if the federal government does come through, lawmakers won’t be awash in cash.

The state faces a roughly $6 billion deficit for its next budget cycle, officials have said.

“Quite frankly, that means I am not out there looking for bills to (introduce),” said Roberts, who is worried some of the bills she has passed in recent years could be on the chopping block. “I really think this is a session where my modus operandi is a ‘Do more with less’ focus.”

Roberts sits on the Early Learning and Children’s Services, Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Judiciary committees. She’s also on the appropriations subcommittee for Health and Human Services.

Tight budgets are obviously tough, but they also present unique opportunities, said Roberts, who advocates for criminal justice reform.

“We are now at a point where people are willing to ask questions about what makes our community safe,” she said. “If locking somebody up for five years, instead of 15 years, saves us (money) that we could invest into prevention, or into that person’s education, I would be excited to know that.”

One thing that Rep. Liias knows is that long-standing transportation problems in Seattle like the Alaskan Way Viaduct are problems residents in 21st care about, too — and that commuter voices have been hardest to hear in the loud, multi-year long debate between tunnels and surface streets and megaducts.

“South Snohomish County has not had a guaranteed seat at the table at this point,” said Liias, who was recently appointed the vice chair of the transportation committee. “My goal is to provide that perspective.”

Liias said he does not believe a “surface” option is a good way to go, because it will limit capacity.

“If the viaduct solution is not a good one, it is going to mean more traffic on I-5, which is going to hurt our commuters,” he said. “Putting 20 stoplights on the (Seattle) waterfront is going to mean that people stop using Highway 99 and start using I-5.”

In addition to the transportation committee, Liias sits on the Education, and Economic Development and Trade committees.

Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com