Jan. 24, 2003 | Volume I, Issue 1
Taking the oath and getting to work
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The 2023 legislative session is well under way, as we wrap up Day 16 of what is scheduled to be a long,105-day session.
It is a great honor and privilege to represent the people of the Tri-Cities in the state Senate.
My first day as your state senator began with the swearing in ceremony. That was followed the next day with the governor's State of the State speech. However it didn't take long for all the ceremonies and rituals to fade into the background and for the real work to begin.
I was selected to serve as the Republican leader on the Senate Human Services Committee, which deals with issues relating to services for children and families. I was also appointed to the Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade; Environment, Energy & Technology; and Ways & Means committees.
Hearings are being held in committees, and bills are already moving to the full Senate for consideration.
Each day is a new opportunity to work with my colleagues to bring common-sense, consensus solutions to the table and get things done. But in order to be most effective, I need your help! Having the people of the Mighty Eighth active in the process is key to making sure our community’s concerns are addressed.
If you want to share your views on any issue, or if you have questions about this report, or anything else related to the legislature, please contact me. I can be reached via email (Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov), phone (360-786-7614) or online at SenatorMattBoehnke.com.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the Legislature.
Sincerely,
 Sen. Matt Boehnke
R-Kennewick
Video: Tax relief for rural electric cooperatives
 Click here to watch the hearing on SB 5166.
SB 5166 is my bill to reauthorize the business and occupation tax deduction for cooperative finance organizations.
The Legislature reauthorized the tax deduction in 2020, but the legislation was vetoed by
Governor Inslee due to COVID-19 budgetary concerns.
Under this bill, the B&O tax deduction for loan repayments received by cooperative
finance organizations from rural electric cooperatives or other utility nonprofit or
governmental utility providers would be reauthorized, with the tax preference expiring January 1, 2034.
Click here to watch the full Senate hearing on SB 5166.
Radio: On Air with KONA's The Bottom Line
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Sen. Matt Boehnke talks with KONA Radio’s The Bottom Line about police criminal pursuits, unaccountable state agencies, siting of power generating facilities and other energy issues, 2nd Amendment rights, and more.
Click here or on the image to LISTEN NOW.
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In the News: Inslee seeks $10 million for energy institute at WSU Tri-Cities
By Wendy Culverwell | Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business | December 2022
Gov. Jay Inslee will seek $10 million in 2023 to establish the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures at Washington State University Tri-Cities.
The move fulfills the dream of the late Bob Ferguson, an influential U.S. Department of Energy and Energy Northwest executive who endowed the institute’s first chair with a $500,000 gift shortly before his death in August.
Inslee announced his intent to fund the institute at a press conference in Richland on Dec. 12, where he was flanked by Kirk Schultz, president of WSU, Sandra Haynes, chancellor of WSU Tri-Cities, and Sen.-elect Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick.
...Boehnke is a longtime advocate for building on the Mid-Columbia’s energy assets, including its physical capacity to generate power as well as the technical know-how of its many engineers and scientists.
“Do we want to be known as the center of the universe for clean energy? Yes.”
Click here to read the full article.
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  Join your 8th District Legislators for a virtual town hall meeting!
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