OLYMPIA – State Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, was sworn into office to represent the 41st Legislative District today.
Wellman is serving her first term in the Legislature and is one of six new Democratic members to join the Senate in 2017.
“It’s exciting to join the Senate during a time with great challenges and even greater opportunity,” Wellman said. “I’m passionate about making a difference in people’s lives and eager to get to work.”
Wellman has already introduced Senate Bill 5023, which would delay the reduction in local levy authority that threatens to cut millions from school district budgets across the state in the 2017-18 school year.
Often called the “levy cliff,” the planned reductions would take money from school districts already struggling to meet the needs of students as the Legislature continues to debate a plan to boost funding and ensure a world-class education for all students across the state.
“Our first priority should be giving these schools the certainty they need to prepare for the 2017-18 school year,” Wellman said. “We certainly shouldn’t be pulling the rug out from under them as we try to find a long-term solution here in Olympia.”
Wellman will serve on the Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade & Economic Development Committee and the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee.
