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Dear Friends,
The second week of the 2017
legislative session is in full swing. So far, it’s been a week filled with
legislators introducing bills, attending bill hearings and meeting with people
about measures before the Legislature.
By now I’m sure you’ve heard
about the challenge the state faces in meeting the education-funding demands of
the state Supreme Court’s McCleary
decision. Providing for basic education (meaning K-12) is the paramount duty of
the state, and as the vice chair of the budget-writing committee in the Senate,
I will be working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to meet this
challenge.
The state is expected to bring
in more than $2.7 billion in additional revenue that can be used to help us
achieve our goals. With that much more money coming into the state thanks to
increased economic activity, new taxes should be the last idea on the table –
not the first. It’s all about setting priorities.
I’ll keep you updated as the
Legislature develops the new two-year budget and a plan to fund education.
Thank you for the
honor of serving as your state senator.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
My bill to help ag community will get a hearing this
week
 Click to watch this week's video update!
WSU
launches effort to become one of the nation’s top 25 research universities
by Katherine Long, Seattle Times | Jan. 18,
2017
Washington
State University wants to boost its on-time graduation rate, capture more
federal research dollars and attract a more diverse faculty to its campuses as
part of a broad mission to raise the university’s status.
The
goal of the effort, called “Drive to 25,” is to make WSU one of the nation’s
top 25 research universities by 2030.
Click here to read the full article.
Canon Briggs of West
Richland
During the first week of the legislative session, I had the
pleasure of sponsoring Canon Briggs as a Senate page in Olympia.
Canon, an eighth-grade student from a local middle
school, enjoys listening to music, and plays trumpet and French horn in her school’s
jazz band. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Bevan and Sara Briggs of West
Richland.
Hands-on experience with the legislative process is
valuable knowledge, and I was happy to give Canon insight into Washington
lawmaking. She also got to see much of the opening ceremonies, including new
senators getting sworn in.
The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington
students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Pages spend time in the
Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure
and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in
a mock session.
If you know a student who would be interested in the Senate
Page Program, please visit: http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/.
As always, I value
hearing directly from you. I am here to be your voice, and your feedback on
bills before the Senate is very important to me. If you would like to contact me please
write, phone, e-mail, or stop by if you’re in the Olympia area.
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