State Representative

Dick Muri, R-Steilacoom

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Legislative Update  |  2016 Session

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It is difficult to believe there are only a few days left in the 2016 Session. We are scheduled to adjourn on March 10. Both chambers passed their respective supplemental operating, capital and transportation budgets. In the next few days we will be debating and discussing these proposals. Read more about the Senate and House budget and funding proposals.

Thank you for your letters, emails, and calls as we go through this process. I am deeply appreciate of your input.

For more information on legislative events watch my recent video update.

Charter Schools Update We owe it to the students and families to save these schools. A plan for Charter Schools passed the Senate last week, and is now awaiting action in the House Education Committee. We tried to bring the Senate Bill forward but it was voted down by the opposing party. Read more about Senate Bill 6194.

House Supplemental Operating Budget

The House Democrats submitted a supplemental operating budget that included $119.5 million in new tax increases. I was a 'no' vote on this budget. More tax increases are the wrong direction for Washington. These increases include ones previously rejected by the voters, like the tax on bottled water, and other increases rejected by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee.

The supplemental budget should only reflect minor changes to the already established two-year plan. As a legislator it is my responsibility to protect taxpayers and hold government accountable. The plan submitted by the House majority relies too heavily on our state's rainy day fund. The budget stabilization account is reserved for emergencies only. The wildfires from last summer, the Oso landslide and the Carlton Complex fires are legitimate emergencies, and the rainy day fund should be used. However, funding new policies and programs is not valid reason to put our state's critical reserves at risk.

The House passed the budget proposal with a vote of 50-47.

In the coming days, the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus will be submitting a more fiscally responsible budget. This budget has no tax changes, and with the exception of the money needed for the cost of the fighting last year's wildfires, there is no taking from the state's emergency reserves.

More on the supplemental operating budget.

Washington State Patrol The state has seen a sizeable decline in the number of state troopers. A large group of troopers have retired, and a sizeable number of young troopers have left to take law enforcement jobs elsewhere. Recently I voted 'yes' on a proposal to increase compensation and help address the recruitment and retention issues at WSP.  Read more about House Bill 2872.

Road User Charge (RUC) - vehicle miles travelled

Within the House transportation supplemental budget there is a proposal for $500,000 to pay for a RUC pilot project. I have several concerns about this method of collecting tax revenue for transportation projects. My questions include the fairness of this method, privacy issues, how and when it would be put in place, how we would charge out-of-state drivers, and how the administrative costs would be handled. Read more on the House transportation supplemental budget.

Gold Star Children Recently I had the honor of welcoming six Gold Star children and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, Jermaine Kearse, in Olympia. This wonderful organization helps raise awareness about American child survivors whose mothers or fathers were killed or died while serving in the United States Military. Read more about Gold Star Children.

Pages in the House I was honored to sponsor Isabella Rohrer, a student from Steilacoom High School, as a page in the state House of Representatives. Each year students from around the state apply to participate in the legislative page program. Students spend a week attending page school, learning about state government and assisting legislators on the House floor. Learn more about the page program.

 State Representative Dick Muri
28th Legislative District
Email: dick.muri@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.RepresentativeDickMuri.com
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424 John L. O'Brien Building - P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7890 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000