Transportation Investment Package
Last week, we saw the introduction and committee action on the Senate’s transportation investment proposal. While there is a lot to like in the underlying transportation package, there are some concerning policy bills that have been attached to the package by the Senate majority.
First, a quick summary of the base package: An 11.7 cent gas tax would be phased in over three years. Along with that revenue, the raising of some vehicle fees would support transportation infrastructure construction, road maintenance, and fund transit, bike and pedestrian grant programs. Among the Spokane projects that would be funded in this package are $861 million to construct the rest of the North Spokane Corridor and connect it to I-90 as well as $10 million for the STA’s Central City Line electric trolley bus.
Spokane Transit Authority Central City Line
I am confident the base transportation package would pass fairly easily off the Senate floor, but it is being weighed down by a number of attached policy provisions that the Senate majority wants passed before they will let the base transportation package become law. A few of the policy bills are real reforms that make sense and I support those. However, the rest of the conditional policies are not essential and don’t represent reforms at all, including anti-clean air provisions, labor concessions that hurt workers without significantly lowering costs, and the diversion of funding from education to transportation.
We are still early in the process of passing a final transportation package, and I remain optimistic that we will find a responsible compromise regarding the policy bills. In the meantime, I welcome your comments regarding the proposed package.
Policy Bill Cut-off Deadline
Last Friday, bills in the House of Representatives and Senate faced their first major hurdle: any non-budget legislation that did not leave its initial committee is considered “dead” until next year. The various cut-off dates are part of a funneling process. This cut-off brings 2,200 bills that were introduced down to a more manageable group of priority bills for additional consideration.
Bills with fiscal impacts, including the various budgets, are not subject to this first cut-off date.
Town Hall in Spokane
With the legislative session almost halfway over, my seatmates Rep. Marcus Riccelli and Rep. Timm Ormsby and I will be hosting a town hall meeting to hear from our constituents and answer questions on Saturday, March 14th at 1:00PM. Topics will include education, transportation, job creation, the state budget and others.
Town Hall Meeting Details:
- Saturday, March 14th 1:00-2:30 pm
- WSU Spokane – 600 N. Riverpoint Blvd
- Academic Center Auditorium – RM #20 (Click here for a map of campus)
- Parking in Orange Lot: enter code 2427 into the kiosk for free parking
Rep. Riccelli, Rep. Ormsby and Sen. Billig
Town Hall meetings are a crucial part of the dialogue between legislators and constituents. As we move into the second half of the Legislative Session, it is important that we hear your comments, questions and opinions on pending legislation and community priorities. I encourage you to join us on March 14thfor our Town Hall Meeting.
Keeping In Touch
If you have a comment, idea, or question, please let me know. I would love to hear from you! You can reach me by e-mail at andy.billig@leg.wa.gov or by phone at 360-786-7604.
If you know someone who would like to receive their own copy of my weekly e-newsletter, tell them they can go to my website athttp://www.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/senators/billig/ and click on the link to “Sign up for my e-newsletter.”
Onward!
-Andy
