|
.
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today marks the end of the 1st week of the 60-day 2022 legislative session. Although this is once again a virtual session, I am in Olympia full time for the next 8 weeks and prepared to be your voice in Olympia fighting for your rights and freedoms.
Curbing the governor’s emergency powers
Like many of you, I remain concerned with the unlimited authority granted to our state’s governor during a time of emergency. Once again, legislation has been introduced this session to curb the governor’s emergency powers. Senate Bill 5039 requires all gubernatorial emergency orders to be approved by the legislature after thirty days. The emergency-powers law dates back to 1969, and we think it’s safe to say no one intended for it to be used like this. The people of Washington have been under one-person rule for almost two years, and the legislative branch – an equal branch of government, and the branch which is closest to the people – has been unnecessarily left out of this process.
Restore Public Safety
One of my main priorities for this 60-day legislative session is to fix the rushed anti-policing bills passed last year. Addressing public safety concerns is a high priority for both House and Senate Republicans this year. The need for new and amended laws in the areas of public safety, putting victims and safety first, fixing Department of Corrections, property crimes and State v. Blake (legalization of hard drugs) is tremendous. We have been working on a wide variety of bills in all these areas and I invite you to learn more about them by reading Safe Washington: A Republican plan for increasing public safety, reducing crime, and putting victims first!
We have only continued to see crime increase across our state since the bills hindering our men and women in uniform were enacted last year. We must come together in a bipartisan way to undo and correct much of what was put in place last year in a short sighted effort to improve public safety in our communities.
 Repeal the Long-Term Care Payroll Tax and make Washington more affordable
For several months I have heard from many of you regarding the new payroll tax to fund long term care. This tax will be 58 cents for every $100 you’ve earned and could likely increase over time. This session, the legislature must look at alternatives to this program as it was not well thought out and is yet another tax on your income!
Additionally, we do not need more of your hard-earned money. Our state has a $10 billion surplus in this budget cycle. Legislators should be looking for ways to put these dollars back in your pocket. It is getting harder and harder to live and work in Washington state. Senate Republicans are looking for ways to make things more affordable for you and your family. Here are a few things we are working on:
- Provide tax relief that helps working families
- Give property tax relief to residents, employees and employers - SB 5769
- Repeal the Long-Term Care Payroll Tax - SB 5234
- Seek private alternatives to a state Long-Term Care program - SB 5503
- Reform policies that make renting or buying a home more expensive and more difficult
- Block efforts to impose a state income tax - SB 5696
Learn more about what we’re doing to make things for affordable for you here.
Participating in YOUR state government
Coming into 2022, I was hopeful our legislative session would allow for more in-person opportunities for you to participate in your state government. Unfortunately, that is not the case this year and we remain mostly virtual. But there is good news! You can participate in the process from your own home! You have the ability to comment on a bill or testify in a legislative committee from just about anywhere. Here’s how you can join in:
Watch a legislative hearing - https://www.tvw.org/
Testify in a committee - https://app.leg.wa.gov/csiremote
Comment on a bill - https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/
Please remember that I am here to serve you. Although we may not be able to meet face to face, I encourage you to reach out to my office and to share your thoughts, ideas and concerns on matters of importance to you. And please, if you don’t already, follow me on Facebook. I look forward to hearing from you.
 Perry Dozier
State Senator
16th LD
.
.
|
