Republican alternative offers tax relief, tuition breaks and investments in mental health and special education
Dear Friends,
Time is ticking down on the
2018 session, and last week, all eyes in the Capitol were focused on the state
budget. On Friday the Senate Democrats passed their supplemental budget
proposals. While there are some things to like about their operating budget, it still spends too much while failing to invest in important areas
like mental health, college-tuition reductions and substantial property-tax
relief.
My Senate Republican colleagues
and I offered an alternative budget – one that offered a better way – with real
property-tax relief this year and a healthier rainy-day fund.
There are now less than two
weeks left in the 2018 legislative session, with much that needs to be done
before we reach that finish line.
If there is anything I can do
for you, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. Your feedback and ideas help
me represent you in Olympia. It’s an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
Budget proposals front and center
 Click to watch this week's video update!
Republicans offer a better approach
On Friday, the Senate majority passed its supplemental
budget proposal to makes changes to the two-year operating budget we adopted in
June.
Their proposal left a lot to be desired. It would raid the
constitutionally protected rainy-day fund to offer a small cut in property
taxes. Great news, right? Well not exactly. This budget would only provide
partial relief from the one-year spike in property taxes being felt by
homeowners as a result of the education-funding plan adopted last year. It also failed to provide tax fairness for our manufacturers.
I voted no on the new Democrat budget. But I had the
opportunity to support an alternative proposal, offered by my Republican
colleague, Senator John Braun.
His plan, which was offered as a striking amendment
(meaning it would basically be a complete rewrite), would have provided an
additional $141 million for special education through June 30, 2021, almost
twice the amount provided in the Senate Democratic plan. It would also give a
break to our 170,000 community and technical college students by including a 10
percent tuition cut along with increased state funding for the schools. It
would have included tax parity for all Washington manufacturers. And unlike the
Democrat plan, it would have provided nearly $1 billion in property tax relief
starting in 2018 when it is needed most.
The Republican budget would have done all this without
raising taxes and while maintaining the state’s significant budget reserves. Unfortunately,
the majority rejected this amendment.
As negotiations with the House begin, I will continue to
push for this reasonable, fairer approach.
 While I was unable to support the Senate supplemental
budget on Friday, I was happy to vote in favor of the capital (or building)
budget update passed with broad bipartisan support that same day.
I am particularly pleased that I was able to get $200,000 for
the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance – Youth Suicide Prevention
Coalition for the Crisis Services Renovation Project.
If approved in the final capital budget plan, these funds
will be used to renovate and expand the lobby and interview rooms of the
Lourdes Crisis Services, and ultimately, create a more therapeutic environment
for patients.
Lourdes Counseling Center in Kennewick offers the only inpatient
hospital in the region, providing a full range of behavioral health services
for adults, adolescents, children, families and groups.
This renovation project has never received state funding in
the past, so I think it is due, and I am hopeful that I will be successful in securing
this critical funding in the final supplemental capital budget.
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By
Yakima Herald Editorial Board
Washington state officials are finding increasing cause for
concern — even consternation — over a developing health issue at the Hanford
nuclear reservation.
…The latest problem, which has prompted action by the
Washington Legislature and the state Department of Health, involves the health
of employees working on the demolition of the Hanford Plutonium Finishing
Plant. In December, specks of radioactive particles were found on a number of
vehicles, and at least two of them were driven off the nuclear reservation into
the Tri-Cities.
The Senate approved a bill setting up a task force to study
worker health concerns. The governor would appoint members of the task force,
which would include representatives of Harborview Medical Center in Seattle,
the Department of Energy, a union, the director of the State Department of
Labor and Industries and the secretary of the State Department of Health. The
bill was sponsored by state Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick.
Click
here to read the full article in the Yakima Herald.
Rodeo Queen Elyse Villaseñor
On Friday, we received a visit Benton-Franklin Fair and
Rodeo Queen Elyse Villaseñor, who stopped by the office as part of her a
"Day on the Hill" in Olympia.
She spent her day meeting with representatives from the
8th, 9th and 16th legislative districts and inviting us to the 70th Annual
Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo in August.
Elyse is the 17-year-old daughter of Jonathan and Isela
Duarte of Kennewick, and Ruben Villaseñor of Benton City. She is a senior at
Richland High School and will graduate with the class of 2018. She plans to
attend CBC and Eastern Washington University to pursue a degree in physical therapy.
It was great meeting Elyse, and I am so proud of the job
she does representing the Tri-Cities.
If your activities
bring you to Olympia, please let my office know. We would love to welcome you
to the Capitol as well.
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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