Dear Friends,
Last week brought an important
deadline in the Senate – on Friday, the 12 Senate policy committees had to wrap
up work on the bills before them, meaning legislation either moved forward or
headed to the sideline for the rest of the session. This coming Friday at 5
p.m. is the deadline for bills to come out of the Senate’s two fiscal
committees – or they, too, are considered “dead” for the session. There is one
exception to this deadline: Any bill that will be referenced in the budget remains
alive until the budget is finalized later this session.
Earlier today, the Senate
Majority Coalition Caucus welcomed two friends who were in town – Congressman
Dan Newhouse and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. The two federal
lawmakers briefed us on the very active agenda back in the other Washington,
including steps being taken to reduce needless regulations and help job-creation.
I am taking similar steps in Olympia to reduce the burden on job-creators, spur
economic development and streamline the state-government bureaucracy employers
have to go through. You can read more about those efforts below.
If there is anything I can do to
help state government work better for you, please give me a call or send me an
e-mail or letter. I appreciate your feedback and suggestions about issues that
are important to you. If you are in Olympia while the Legislature is in
session, I hope you will drop by to say hello.
Thank you for the honor of
serving as your state senator.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
Policy cut off 2017: Dead or Alive?
 Taxpayers in Washington can face a lengthy
and challenging process when disputing a tax assessment. To create a more open
and fair process, I introduced a bill this week to create a statewide, elected Tax
Appeals Division of the appeals court and eliminate the executive agency composed
of political appointees that currently considers tax appeals.
Washington has a complex tax-appeals
system that requires filing with different agencies depending on the type of
tax. It also requires taxpayers to pay all taxes, fines, penalties and interest
before seeking relief from a court.
This legislation would not only improve
the appeals process but also enhance our state’s business climate and
reputation as a good place to do business. It would level the playing field
between the taxpayer and tax collector, and result in a more transparent,
simple and fair process that helps property owners and small businesses.
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Reducing
Business License Confusion
By
Mike Richards, The Lens | Feb. 17, 2017
Washington employers are often bogged down by the variety
of licenses and regulations required to operate within multiple cities. That is
what small business owners and advocates said during public testimony on SB
5777, which would simplify municipal general business licensing. The measure
would add greater consistency across the board by requiring cities to issue
permits from the same place.
…SB 5777’s prime sponsor is State Sen. Sharon Brown (R-8). She is joined by cosponsors
including State Sens. Reuven Carlyle (D-36), Jan Angel (R-26), and Maralyn
Chase (D-32).
Small business advocates testified in favor of SB 5777,
saying it would eliminate uncertainty and reduce paperwork related to business
operations.
Click
here to read the full article.
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