Dear Friends,
There are just five-and-a-half
weeks to go in the 2017 regular legislative session.
Several of my bills have
already received hearings in the House of Representatives, and other bills
related to budget are receiving hearings in the Senate Ways and Means
Committee.
This week, the state Economic
and Forecast Council is also slated to release the new revenue forecast. This
is usually the first major sign post prior to the release of budget proposals.
I have been hard at work in budget meetings several nights a week as our Senate
majority constructs a budget that meets our state’s needs within existing
revenue.
Thank you for your continued
feedback as I represent you as your state senator. If there is anything I can
do for you, please write, call or send me an e-mail. It’s an honor to serve you
in Olympia.
Sincerely,
Sharon Brown State Senator 8th District
Why a 'tax court' is a win for taxpayers
This week the House Committee on Commerce and Gaming endorsed my bill to create a special
permit to sell wine through an auction and allow wine tastings at auctions.
Currently the state Liquor and Cannabis Board must cobble together
all the permits that are required for each winery participating in a charitable
wine auction. This requires hours of work on the part of the LCB. My bill would
streamline the process, so the permits can be completed in several days instead
of several months.
Under Substitute Senate Bill 5560, the LCB would be authorized to issue a special permit allowing a
nonprofit organization to sell wine through a private auction. The permit
holder could conduct wine tastings at the auction, as long as the wine offered
for tasting is the same as that being auctioned. The bill would also authorize
the permit holder to sell wine sourced from multiple wineries, so long as each
winery is identified on the permit application.
SB 5560 passed the Senate on Feb. 27 with broad bipartisan
support, 48-1.
Habitat for Humanity celebrates 100 homes built
March
4, 2017 | Sara Schilling, Tri-City Herald
It’s a house — solidly built, affordable, charming with its
blue paint and white trim. But it’s also something more.
The 100th home constructed by Tri-County Partners Habitat
for Humanity in the organization’s 22 years, it’s a symbol of the community’s
goodwill and the positive things that can happen when people and groups come
together, officials said during a dedication ceremony.
“This is a huge day for Habitat,” said Lisa Godwin, executive director.
Along with Godwin and the family, the ceremony also drew
local Habitat for Humanity board members, staff and volunteers past and
present. State Sen. Sharon Brown,
R-Kennewick, also was on hand.
Click here to read the full story.
Evergreen Boys State Warm
Beach Conference Center Stanwood, Washington June 18-24, 2017
Boys State, a program of the American Legion, is looking for three
nominees to represent our district at the 77th annual Evergreen Boys State.
Nominees
should be high school juniors who possess outstanding qualities of leadership,
character, scholarship, loyalty and service to their schools.
If
you know the perfect candidate, please contact my office at (360) 786-7614 or
email my legislative assistant at Jake.Mayson@leg.wa.gov.
For
more information, visit http://evergreenboysstate.org/
or call (360) 491-4373.
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