Enough government greed already!

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Ending government greed

greed

Dear Friends,

When is enough enough?

As I finished up my work in Olympia for the week and waited for my flight back to the Tri-Cities, that was the question to which I kept coming back. 

The extremely busy and eventful sixth week of this 2020 legislative session clarified two things for me:

  1. For some in Olympia, enough is never enough, and
  2. The majority party is not listening to you.

Pretty harsh, I know, but the evidence for that conclusion continues to mount. What evidence, you ask?

Revenue

Well, first, there is the revenue forecast that was released this week. This is the 16th straight quarterly forecast that has increased the amount money expected to come in to state government. The forecast indicates revenues for the 2019-21 budget cycle are $606 million ahead of the November 2019 forecast, for a total estimated revenue gain of $1.5 billion since last year’s legislative session ended in April.

Why are they taking so much of your money, and continually asking for more? They raised taxes on mental health providers, veterinarians, dentists, substance abuse counselors, and a host of others. They have proposals to add 57 cents a gallon to the cost of gas -- with no roads to show for it! And they refuse to give you the $30 car tabs you have voted for repeatedly. 

The Democrats talk a lot about corporate greed. Let’s talk about government greed. We have so many additional dollars. Why aren’t we giving it back to you -- the people who sent it to the state in the first place?

It's an uphill battle, but I will continue to fight for you, your family, your job, and our community. And I will continue to do all I can to impede the government greed. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for staying connected and for the great privilege of serving as your state Senator.

Sincerely, 

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Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District

This Week's Video Update:

Providing proper medical care for Hanford workers must be a priority!

Week 6 Video

Click here to watch this week's video!

In this week's video, we discuss the importance of protecting our Hanford workers, and providing them with the resources necessary for them to get proper medical care. We are joined by Nickolas Bumpaos, President of the Central Washington Building Trades Council.

Legislative Update:

Blockchain bill passes Senate unanimously

Our efforts to position Washington as a leader on blockchain technology took a big step forward with this week’s unanimous Senate passage of my bill to establish the Washington Blockchain Work Group.

Substitute Senate Bill 6065 would create the work group with the purpose of examining various potential applications of blockchain technology, such as computing, banking and other financial services, real estate transactions, healthcare and public record keeping. 

Click here to read  more.

Legislative Update:

Industry-siting program bill moves to the House

Brown

The Senate also approved my measure to establish a statewide industrial-siting coordination program, based on a concept known as industrial symbiosis.

Senate Bill 6430 would create the program, which would be administered by the state Department of Commerce, to bring together expertise, technical assistance and best practices to support local industrial symbiosis projects. The projects use the waste byproduct of one industrial facility to produce energy and other resources for an adjacent facility. The bill also would establish a competitive grant program for research into waste exchange ideas.

I’m glad my colleagues see the value in this idea. Industry and environmental concerns don’t have to be in conflict; as we have seen in Denmark, where this idea originated, we can bring both sides together if we do the work.

Click to read more.

In the News: 

State senator aims to bring awareness to diabulimia

By Allison Snell, KEPR  | Feb. 19, 2020

Akyssa

Senator Sharon Brown is pushing for a new bill to raise awareness about an eating disorder, and for good reason because many have never heard of it, Diabulimia.

Diabulimia is an eating disorder but it specifically impacts people with diabetes who purposely restrict their insulin intake to lose weight. Senator Brown told Action News that she wants to name the bill after a young girl who died from diabulimia.

Click here to view the full article.

NOTE: Great news! Alyssa's Law passed the Senate 48-0 earlier this week, and is now scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM on Tuesday.

From the District:

Tri-Cities firefighters visit

FromTheDistrict

I love meeting with our great people from the Tri-Cities when they stop by Olympia, and it was a great joy to meet with some of our local firefighters recently.

Jeff Wainwright with the Washington State Council of Firefighters stopped by with several of our local firefighters to discuss the WSCFF legislative priorities and give me an update on the State Mobilized Wildland Firefighting operation.

If you will be in Olympia and would like to discuss an issue that is important to you, please contact my office. We would love to see you!

In closing…

See you tomorrow!

townhall

with Senator Sharon Brown, Representative Brad Klippert and Representative Matt Boehnke

Saturday Feb 22nd 2020

10 – 11:30 AM

At the

Richland Community Center

500 Amon Park Drive

Richland, WA 99352

 * * *

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Brown's office at (360) 786-7614.

Feb. 21, 2020

Stay Connected

STAY CONNECTED

 

Send me an email

 

Office Phone:

360-786-7614

 

Toll-Free:

800-562-6000

 

Address:

202 Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40408
Olympia, WA 98504-0408