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Dear Friends,
It’s officially “budget season”
in Olympia. In recent weeks the Senate approved its operating- and capital-budget
plans while the majority party in the House of Representatives passed its $44.9
billion spending plan.
There are some key differences between the two
approaches – most notably that the Senate balances without new taxes, while the
House would rely on nearly $8 billion in tax increases over the next four
years. Also, while the House plan increases spending by 34 percent (up to a
$51.2 billion budget by 2019-21), our budget devotes most new revenue to
education and protecting the most vulnerable, while requiring the rest of
government to live within existing revenue.
As budget negotiations continue,
it is particularly important that I hear from you. Please feel free to share
your thoughts and concerns about the state budget with me through email or by calling
me in Olympia at (360) 786-7614.
As always, it is an honor to
serve you in Olympia.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
What is the Capital Budget and how does it affect the
Tri-Cities?
Given my increased role on the Senate budget-writing
committee, there was a risk that I wouldn’t have as much time to do all the
things that go into moving bills through the legislative process. I am happy to
report that has not been the case. So far, this has been one of my most
successful years for legislation since arriving at the Senate. Following
Tuesday’s cut-off deadline for bills from the House and Senate to pass out from
the opposite chamber, several of my bills are still moving forward.
Here is an update on some of my bills.
Bills in Senate Rules Committee:
(These bills are necessary to implement
the budget and therefore exempt from cut-off deadlines. They are also now ready
for approval by the full Senate.)
-
SB
5642
–My bill to expand our successful “Invest in Washington” pilot program aimed at
creating more manufacturing jobs for our state
-
SSB
5866
– This bill would create a state tax court, providing a fairer and more
efficient means for taxpayers to appeal tax judgments against them.
-
SJR
8209
– This measure would send my tax-court proposal to the people to approve as a
constitutional amendment.
Bills
that died in House committees:
(These measures passed the
Senate with broad bipartisan support, yet House committees refused to advance them
in time for this legislative session.)
-
SB
5232
– Making more hydropower renewable under the state’s cleaner energy plan
-
SSB
5443 – “Dynamic” fiscal notes, which
would give budget writers a more accurate picture of the impact of certain
revenue proposals
-
SB
5319
– My streamlining bill to transfer authority for low-level radioactive waste
management from the Department of Ecology to the Department of Health
-
2SSB
5475
– To create a B&O tax exemption for manufacturers of small modular reactors
Bills
in House Rules Committee:
(These bills are still alive
and need to pass out of the House of Representatives by Wednesday, April 12 –
the deadline for Senate bills to pass out of the House.)
-
SSB
5779
– The Youth Behavioral Health Protection Act, which would better integrate
mental-health services with pediatric-primary care, to help reduce teen suicides
-
ESSB
5777
– Making it easier to get a municipal general business license
-
SB
5621
-- Making it easier to complete projects of statewide significance
-
ESSB
5470
– Removing the barriers to geothermal exploration
- SSB
5560
– Permitting wine trade barrel auctions
-
SB
5736
– Providing additional Meals on Wheels services for our elderly
-
SSB
5051
– Providing notice and more certainty to those leasing Department of Natural Resource-managed
lands for agricultural programs
Auto dealers make the case against raising taxes on
small businesses
I recently welcomed another visitor from the Tri-Cities –
Jennifer Overturf Bronner, a sales manager at Overturf Volkswagen in Kennewick.
In addition to working at the local family-owned dealership, Mrs. Bronner is
also an active member of the Washington State Auto Dealers Association.
She came to Olympia as part of the auto dealers’ lobbying
day, to discuss making it easier for small business to operate. She also asked
that lawmakers reject proposals to raise taxes on small businesses, which would
make it harder for them to grow and create new jobs.
If you are ever planning on being in Olympia, please call
my office and schedule a time when we can meet. I would love to hear from you!
Program gives free prom dresses
 March 31, 2017 | Stefani Zenteno, KNDO/KNDU NBC News
KENNEWICK, WA - It's almost prom season for high school students, but finding the perfect prom dress can get a little pricey. A group of teens behind ''Dresses for Hope and Exchange'' hope to ease some of that stress by giving away free prom dresses.
Mary Jane Coffy is part of ''Dresses for Hope and Exchange'' a student-run program in Kennewick that gives away prom dresses for free to teenage girls.
"This is all about students being able to get an affordable prom dress without having to go out and buy a new one every year because there is a lot of waste in that and everyone deserves the opportunity to go to prom no matter what their economic status is," said Coffy.
For the first time this year, they'll have a boutique set up at Cynergy Centre thanks to Senator Sharon Brown …
Click here to read the full story.
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