Dear Friends,
Week 11 of the 2017 session is well
underway and yesterday brought the Legislature to the two-thirds mark of the
105-day session. Last week a major piece of the budget puzzle came into view
with the first revenue forecast of 2017. We learned that the state’s economy is
continuing to grow under the pro-growth policies of the Senate Majority
Coalition and tax receipts are anticipated to grow along with it through the
next four years. We now know that we will have nearly $3 billion more in
revenue for the next budget cycle than we do for the current one.
The forecast was welcome news
that allowed us in the Senate to craft yet another budget that meets our
obligation on education and protects the most vulnerable, without raising
taxes.
As always, I welcome your
thoughts and feedback. You can email me anytime or call me in Olympia at (360)
786-7614. I represent you most accurately when I receive your direct feedback,
so please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or concerns, or
if I can be of assistance to you and your family in any way.
Thank you for the continued
opportunity to serve you in the state Senate.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
Olympia must get “Smart on Crime”
Today our Senate leadership sat down for tea and scones, as we
welcomed British Consul General Andy Whittaker and other members of a United
Kingdom delegation to the Capitol.
The UK Government Office in Seattle does not handle consular issues
but instead promotes economic, political and business matters in our state. It
was great to be able to meet to discuss opportunities for cooperation and
commerce, but unfortunately, there was another – and much less pleasant – topic
of conversation.
Just hours before our meeting, we got the sad news that the UK’s
Parliament was the site of a terrorist attack. While the news continues to
develop, the latest report at the time of my conversation with the British
delegates was that a man mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before
stabbing to death a police officer outside Parliament House in London. At least
four people have been killed and another 20 injured.
Our
hearts go out to the people of London, who sadly, are becoming far too familiar
with such attacks.
Measure would speed up projects of statewide significance
On Tuesday, the House Technology and Economic Development
Committee held a public hearing on my bill to streamline the regulatory process
for more projects of statewide significance.
Senate Bill 5621, also known as the Community Prosperity
and Revitalization (CPR) Act, would help resuscitate some of our local
economies – especially those in rural and economically depressed urban areas. The
bill is focused on creating jobs in our state by encouraging economic
development and making sure projects with real economic benefits get through
the permitting process faster.
This bill would not circumvent any of our current regulatory procedures;
it would only expedite that process to make sure that all voices are heard in a
timely way so that projects can move forward in an efficient manner.
Click
here to read more about this proposal.
Herald editorial board calls on House to pass Senate dam policy
March 12,
2017 | Tri-City Herald Editorial
Board
In an unsettlingly close vote, the Washington state Senate
decided to formally oppose any proposal that would breach the lower Snake River
dams.
Senate Joint Memorial 8004 was approved 26-23, and now
awaits action in the House.
… Sen.
Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, said, “It is baffling to me that we are
even having this conversation.” She found it alarming that the Senate vote on
the joint memorial was so tight.
We do too.
Brown said it just goes to show that many people who do not
live near the dams — or directly rely on them — don’t fully understand the
economic impact the dams have on agriculture, jobs, energy production,
transportation and tourism.
Click here to read the full story.
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