Dear Friends,
Late last night, after securing
a hard-won agreement on the supplemental state budget, the Legislature
finally wrapped up its “special session” and adjourned for the year.
As has been the case far too
often in recent years, it took longer than I would have liked for us to
complete our work. Supplemental budgets are intended to make small corrections
to address emergencies, reductions in revenue and other previously unforeseen,
but needed adjustments. They are not intended to be an opportunity to do more
spending!
Unfortunately, some lawmakers
wanted to do just that.
I am pleased to report that we
were able to reach an agreement that addresses real emergencies (such as last
summer’s wildfires), is sustainable, balances over four years (as is required
by law), and doesn’t raid our state “rainy day fund” in order to grow government.
And you’ll be happy to know that there are no new taxes!
It will be great to be back at
home in the Tri-Cities and I look forward to connecting with you in the
district this summer. Don’t forget, I work for you throughout the year – not
just when I am in Olympia. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any
questions or concerns about state government.
As always, it is my
honor to serve you in the Washington State Senate.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
 Click to watch this week's video update!
The 60 days allowed under our constitution for the regular
session this year were – as with all "short" sessions – for making
minor adjustments and emergency fixes to the operating budget adopted back in
July. Because that budget was balanced and sustainable there easily
should have been enough time to agree on a supplemental operating budget this year.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Our friends in the
House insisted on increasing spending to an unsustainable level, raiding our
rainy day fund for non-emergencies and growing government.
We rejected that approach and stuck to our principles.
The final result was, once again, a balanced budget that
prioritizes education and does not raise taxes. The final budget update complies with our state’s four-year
balanced budget requirement, which is arguably the most important tool
for ensuring fiscal responsibility that lawmakers have had in a generation. The
budget also addresses our emergency needs, including paying for the cost of
fighting wildfires, and making court-ordered investments in mental health.
The Senate was also successful in fighting against the use
of several budget gimmicks that would have only made budgeting more difficult
in future years.
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Over
the past three years, our conservative majority in the Senate has really
changed the direction of state government. The Legislature has invested an
additional $4.6 billion into K-12 education. Students at state colleges and
universities have seen the first tuition cut in state history (and Washington
is the only state in the nation to reduce tuition). In fact, students will see additional tuition cuts in the upcoming
school year – an additional10 percent cut for UW and WSU students and
an additional 15 percent cut for students at all other four-year schools.
The budget increases home visits and oversight for people
with developmental disabilities at highest risk for abuse and creates a new
developmental disability ombudsman. And we provide the funding necessary to
keep our public charter schools open!
Despite repeated efforts
by our friends in the House to do the contrary, we have now had – for four years in a row – balanced
budgets that do not raise taxes.
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My
measure to make the most of our economic-development dollars is now law!
As the regular session ended, the governor vetoed 27 bills
in a political stunt that did absolutely nothing to help lawmakers reach a
budget deal, but did put several hard-worked bills at risk.
One of those measures was Senate Bill 6220 – my legislation
to promote economic development by maximizing the use of federal economic-development
funding opportunities.
This bill, which received unanimous
support in both the House and Senate, will require the Department of Commerce
to track the amount of federal economic-development funding received and
disbursed, along with any required matching amounts, and provide an annual
report to the economic-development committees in the Legislature.
It also encourages cooperation between our
research facilities and the state in maximizing the jobs created by these
opportunities.
Fortunately, lawmakers came together to
override all of Governor Inslee’s vetoes, and this common-sense measure will
finally become law.
I am pleased to report that the Legislature unanimously
approved the Cyber Security Jobs Act – my measure aimed at making Washington a
national leader in cyber security.
Washington is home to groundbreaking cyber security research
and development. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the Tri-Cities is
leading the way to prevent and counter cyber security threats. PNNL and a number
of private companies focused on network security have offered to partner with
the state in our cyber security efforts.
Senate
Bill 6528 requires the state Office of
the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to implement a process for detecting and
responding to security incidents, including any accidental or deliberate events
that result in unauthorized access, loss, disruption, or destruction of
communication and information-technology resources.
The OCIO is also tasked with working with the Department of
Commerce and other economic-development stakeholders to develop a strategy for
making Washington a national leader in cyber security.
This bill is about
having government work with private industry to develop assets that will
protect our industries and critical infrastructure from cyber attacks, and
ensure that Washington continues to be the global leader in cyber security.
Thanks to my 2016 staff!
This year we faced a
number of challenges, but after 60 days of regular session and 20 days of
special session, we were able to accomplish quite a bit for the people of the 8th Legislative
District and the state of Washington.
We could not have
accomplished as much as we did if it were not for the hard work and dedication
of my all-star staff – my Legislative Assistant Kenny Short, Session Aide Jake
Mayson and our Intern, Nathan Sulya.
They have done an
excellent job of keeping me organized and tuned in to the concerns of my bosses
– YOU, the citizens of the 8th District. I am fortunate to have had their help
and the citizens of the Tri-Cities have really benefited greatly from their service.
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