Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) released this statement following the adjournment of the 2019 legislative session, the first 105-day session to end on time since 2009 and the second year in a row the Legislature has adjourned as scheduled:
“In the two years since Democrats retook control of the Senate, we have worked hard to pass legislation that puts people first and ensures more people have access to a quality education, health care, clean air and water and create an overall better quality of life.
“We finished our work on time. We made sure diverse voices were heard throughout the legislative session. And we will continue to ensure every Washingtonian has an opportunity to succeed.
“This year we made historic investments in health care, behavioral health, higher education and the environment — and kept our promise to Washington’s 1.1 million students through additional investments in schools in every corner of our state.
“We committed our state to a path toward 100% clean energy, adopted the nation’s first public health care option, and became the first state to adopt publicly-funded long-term care.”
“We tackled criminal justice reform, election transparency and access, workers rights, the rights of immigrants, and public safety.
“For the first time since I’ve been in the Legislature, we made meaningful reforms to our state’s broken tax structure, ensuring that new investments in programs that benefit all Washingtonians won’t be disproportionately paid for by low- and middle income families.
“We made meaningful steps to ensure that the wealthiest Washingtonians start paying their fair share, but I will be the first to say we still have miles ago to fix our broken tax code.
“I am so proud of our team and the work we’ve done and what we’ve accomplished for each and every Washingtonian.”
