Letter from Leadership

Day 33 of the 105-day session is coming to a close. In the House, we continue to fight to get committee hearings on our solutions before policy committee cutoff on Feb. 22 and fiscal committee cutoff on Feb. 28. However, one-party control is preventing progress.

The good news is that many of our solutions are getting attention in the Senate for the first time in years. We appreciate the bipartisan efforts of the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus to allow long-overdue debates in Olympia.

In closing, we just want to say "thank you" to the Republican groups that came to visit this week from all over the state. We appreciate your time and dedication. 

Sincerely,
Rep. Joel Kretz
7th District
Deputy Leader

Telephone town hall milestone reached

Sen. John Smith, R-Colville, Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, and Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, hosted a telephone town hall meeting with 4,887 constituents on Jan. 31.

Wednesday marked the 100th telephone town hall meeting hosted by House Republican members since 2009.

In the news

• Kindergarten in Washington is in a state of flux (AP/Kitsap Sun)
• House weighs testimony on GOP bill to reduce regulations (The Olympia Report)
• Washington mayors urge Olympia to consider 8-cent increase in gas tax (AP/The Seattle Times)
• Blog: Inslee: ‘Disruptive change’ turns to predictable continuity (Joel Connelly/Seattle P-I)
• Wash. Senate eyes more time for initiative efforts (AP/The News Tribune)

Media matters

House Republican and Senate Majority Coalition Caucus leaders hold a joint media availability at the Capitol each week. This allows the leaders to discuss their legislative goals and reporters to ask questions.

Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, talks to reporters above. You can watch the last two events here: 

• Feb. 13
• Feb. 6  

Honoring the National Guard 

Last Friday, the House of Representatives honored the men and women of the National Guard through House Resolution 4609.

To watch Rep. Brad Klippert's (pictured above) speech and learn more about the House Republicans who have served in the military, click here. Please consider sharing the video.

The week ahead

• Monday
  Criminalizing employers hiring independent contractors. House Bill 1440. House Finance Committee. House Hearing Room A at 1:30 p.m.
• Tuesday
  Improving business climate/rules review. House Bill 1591. House Government Operations and Elections Committee. House Hearing Room E at 8:00 a.m.
• Tuesday
  Internet gambling penalties. House Bill 1824. House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee. House Hearing Room E at 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday
  Vacating misdemeanor marijuana offenses. House Bill 1661. House Public Safety Committee. House Hearing Room D at 1:30 p.m.  
• Friday
  Yakima Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan. House Bill 1414. House Capital Budget Committee. House Hearing Room B at 8:00 a.m.

No love for the economy on Valentine's Day

In many households, Thursday was about candy, flowers and cards. In the Senate, it was about Democrat-sponsored tax-increase proposals that show no love for the struggling state economy. 

The Senate Ways and Means Committee heard the following bills which, if enacted, would result in job losses and $38 billion in new tax increases over 10 years:

• Senate Bill 5039 – extend B&O tax on service activities, beer tax, and impose excise tax on wholesale value of fuel.
• Senate Bill 5041 – implement various tax preference commission recommendations. 
• Senate Bill 5042 – limit B&O tax deduction on investment income.
• Senate Bill 5166 – state income tax.
• Senate Bill 5248 – new tax on plastic shopping bags.

The House Republicans, Senate Majority Coalition Caucus and governor have all said that new tax increases are not needed to balance the budget. Many Democrats disagree.

Freshman spotlight:
Rep. Steve O'Ban

Rep. Steve O'Ban represents the 28th District. An attorney by trade, Steve has helped small-business owners, nonprofits and individuals with their legal matters. He also volunteers at a legal clinic serving the homeless.

Learn more about Steve here, including why the United States Army is so important to him and his family. 

The Current 

• Feb. 8
• Feb. 1
• Jan. 25
• Jan. 21