Letter from Leadership

With the first week of the 2013 legislative session in the books, I'd like to share with you the first edition of The Current. This is a new, online publication from Washington House Republicans that will keep you in the flow of your citizen Legislature.

Our goal for this publication is to include you in the legislative process, share our solutions, and provide information that is timely and interesting. We also welcome your feedback. 

If you know of anyone who would like to receive The Current, they can sign-up here.

Please also visit our Web site at: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov.

Sincerely,
Rep. Dan Kristiansen
39th District
Chair, Washington House Republicans

In the News

Do you subscribe to The Capitol Buzz? It's a weekday compilation of stories relating to legislative issues.

To sign-up, click here.

Below are some highlights from last week.

• 5 things to watch in the Legislature this year (AP/Kitsap Sun)
• Republicans nervous about parts of Inslee's inaugural speech (The Seattle Times) 
• Republicans promise to help keep Inslee on the straight and narrow (Washington State Wire)
• Gov. Inslee says keeping temporary taxes not an increase (The News Tribune) 

"The whole loyalty to your team thing leaves me cold when after years of Democratic majorities, we still have this abysmal record on education."

— Rep. Deb Eddy,
D-Kirkland, Dec. 22, 2012

Republican perspective, news conference

Governor Jay Inslee delivered his inaugural address on Jan. 16.  

Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, provided the Republican perspective.

House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, (pictured above) also led a  Republican news conference that you can find here.  

This Week   

You can stay connected to House committees by clicking here.

Below are some highlights for this week.

• Tuesday
  Briefing on K-12 education funding. House Appropriations Committee. House Hearing Room A at  3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday
  Transportation mega-project status update. House Transportation Committee. House Hearing Room B at 3:30 p.m. 
• Wednesday
  Medicaid expansion. Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. House Hearing Room C at 3:30 p.m.

Solutions in Focus: Fund Education First

K-12 education. Our state constitution calls it our "paramount duty," our state Supreme Court says the Legislature is not fully funding it, and the Joint Task Force on Education Funding failed to put a viable plan forward to meet these expectations.

On Dec. 19, House Republicans unveiled their Fund Education First solution. You can learn more about it here. 

Rep. Cathy Dahlquist, R-Enumclaw, is the ranking Republican on the House Education Committee.

Freshman Spotlight:
Matt Manweller

Did you know Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, is the only freshman lawmaker to be appointed either a chair or ranking member of a House committee? He is ranking Republican on the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee.

Rep. Manweller represents the 13th District and replaced Bill Hinkle. To learn more about him, click here. 

Reps. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, Dave Hayes, R-Camano Island, and Brandon Vick, R-Felida, (left to right) participated in freshman orientation on Jan. 8. Learn more here.