Legislators’ bags are packed, they’re ready to head to Olympia and they know when they’ll be back again — in 105 days.
Unlike some years, 32nd District legislators don’t anticipate their stay in Olympia will be extended past April 22. The legislative session starts on Monday, Jan. 8.
“I have no doubt that we will be done on time,” said state Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, remembering her first few years in the legislature when sessions were extended.
“This year we have a good economy, a budget that everyone is happy with and nothing that will keep us there longer,” agreed state Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, who is returning to Olympia for her 13th year. She recalls her very first session lasting until July.
Legislators may even be finished a day early “since the Democrats are in charge,” said State Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds.
But regardless of when the session ends, legislators are busy relocating themselves and their belongings to Olympia. During the session, Fairley stays in a home she owns in Olympia, returning to her Lake Forest Park home on weekends. Kagi rents an apartment about five minutes from the capitol and Chase will reside in a rented house not far from the capitol campus.
The session will be different than past sessions because resources are available, said Kagi. Four years ago legislators were faced with a $2.6 billion shortfall and were looking at cutting services.
“In this session there’s not only resources to do some things that need doing,” Kagi said, “there’s also a real consensus between the leadership in the House, Senate and Governor in addressing issues.”
There’s $1.8 billion in reserves, Kagi said, which although not a surplus, “clearly changes the whole dynamic.”
“This year’s session will be different from previous years in that the Democrats have a very comfortable vote margin and we have more revenue than in previous years,” Chase said.
Legislators anticipate that there will be some controversial issues debated this session, including a proposal for a college in Snohomish County, continued discussion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, health care coverage, whether to fund a stadium for the Sonics and transportation.
“Congestion, pollution, priorities for people or freight — these are some of the issues we will be facing,” said Chase about transportation.
Fairley anticipates much debate about a new university, saying officials from the University of Washington and Edmonds Community College don’t favor the proposal as it takes money away from other learning institutions.
“The big issue in front of the caucus is a new stand-alone university in Snohomish County,” said Fairley. “Are we going to do it or not?”
The budget starts out in the house this year before going to the senate. Fairley doesn’t expect much “angst” over the budget, saying most groups are pleased. She does anticipate some discussion around the transportation budget, however, especially with a proposal by Sound Transit and the Regional Transportation Improvement District coming up for a vote in November.
Fairley will chair a different committee this year, the Government Operations and Elections committee, which will be considering, among other issues, the public financing of elections.
Fairley also sits on Ways and Means and serves on the Health and Long Term Care committee. She’ll be running a “hugely controversial bill” regarding death with dignity, she said, which is similar to a bill that now is law in Oregon.
Kagi chairs Early Learning and Children’s Services. The committee will be looking at the early learning portion of Washington Learns, Governor Chris Gregoire’s initiative to examine the state’s education system. The committee also will be addressing any child welfare legislation related to foster care, such as visitation, she said.
There needs to be “major appropriation” for early learning and K-12 education, said Kagi.
“An awful lot of what I will be doing is working on the budget,” said Kagi. “That is why I wanted to be on the new education subcommittee in the Appropriations Committee.”
Kagi sits on the Appropriations committee as well as the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee. She also intends to continue her work on truck safety. A bill that passed last year set up a task force to look at state regulations. She also is supporting a separate bill for zero tolerance of methamphetamine use by drivers.
Chase will serve on the Capital Budget, Economic Development and Trade committee, the select committee on Environmental Health and the joint legislative committee on Trade Policy.
Chase said she has a number of bills addressing environmental issues and another group of bills addressing justice and fairness issues.
The environmental package addresses global warming and greenhouse gasses, solar production, energy efficiencies, coal plant emissions and a bottle-refund bill.
The justice bills address issues such as insurance industry surplus and reserves, credit card companies “gouging” citizens with 30-percent interest, low-cost auto insurance policy and property tax relief for qualifying owners, she said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
