Category Archives: E-News

Dear friends and neighbors, On Tuesday, I introduced Senate Bill 5825 that offers a moderate approach to fully funding our schools and resolving the state’s McCleary lawsuit. One of my top priorities this session was to work hard to protect ...

Dear friends and neighbors, Often when people think of the work that the Legislature does in Olympia, they think of big budgets, massive transportation projects and complex public policy. In reality, a lot of the work we do flies under ...

Dear friends and neighbors, This week the House passed legislation that would protect local school levy dollars for one more year while the Legislature continues to works on a school funding overhaul. It was the first bill passed by the ...

Dear friends and neighbors, In last week’s e-newsletter, I mentioned that my number-one priority this session was to keep traffic moving. Yesterday, I sent a letter to the chairs of the Senate and House transportation committees urging them to accelerate ...

Dear friends and neighbors, The 2017 legislative session kicked off on Monday and I’m happy to be back in Olympia. On Monday, I may have been the first legislator in the history of the state Senate to be sworn in ...

Dear friends and neighbors, Throughout my time serving in the Senate, I have never voted against a final operating budget — until today. I cannot in good conscience support a budget that raids the pocketbooks of our cities and hampers ...

Dear friends and neighbors, It has been an honor to represent you and the entire 5th Legislative District this year. We are in the final hours of the legislative session and even though I am seriously disappointed that we have ...

Dear friends and neighbors, In last year’s transportation revenue package, I was able to secure funding for a new interchange at Highway 18 and I-90. Congestion at this location is maddening, and this project will go a long way toward ...

Dear friends and neighbors, As the father of four daughters, I know how stressful it can feel when planning to save for college. What families need are options. That’s why this session I co-sponsored Senate Bill 6601, which establishes the ...

Dear friends and neighbors, Too often down here in Olympia, when groups are on different sides of an issue, we see competing legislation offered from each side and then long, drawn-out arguments without resolution. Throughout my legislative career, I have ...