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March 21, 2017
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Today the Senate released its proposed operating budget, which would
support state government services and programs for the next two years. This includes funding education and making critical investments in the
social services “safety net” that protects our state’s most vulnerable
residents.
While our proposal would increase state spending (putting much of the
increase toward schools as mandated by the state Supreme Court), it stays
within the amount of available state revenue and proposes no new taxes, which
is important for families and employers across our state.
The Senate also released our proposed transportation budget for 2017-19.
Between the three major transportation packages adopted in the past dozen years
(the most recent being 2015’s “Connecting Washington” package), most of the
revenue from the state gas tax is committed to specific highway projects – but
not all of it. As a member of the Senate Transportation Committee, I am
constantly seeking opportunities to bring more infrastructure dollars to our
part of the state.
This year, I am seeking additional state funding to help complete the
much-needed Hwy 2/West Cashmere Bridge Project. I have arranged for a group of local
officials to make a presentation to the chairs of the House and Senate
Transportation Committees tomorrow in an effort to secure funding for this
project. I’ll keep you posted on this effort.
I expect the Senate capital-budget proposal to be released soon. This budget
funds public buildings and other facility-related investments. Once all three
of the required budget proposals are on the table, I am hopeful that we will
see the House’s corresponding proposals quickly. That will allow negotiations
to get under way and the Legislature to work toward final agreements.
 One of the meetings I arranged for tree-fruit growers Monday was with Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, pictured at near right.
Tree fruit growers return to Capitol
seeking passage of agricultural-wage bill
As I discussed in a recent email update, I introduced Senate
Bill 5720 at the request of the Washington
State Tree Fruit Association. By passing the bill, the Senate showed its
support for both employers and workers in one of our state’s most important
industries. The bill addresses the decision in Demetrio v. Sakuma Brothers
Farms, Inc. in which the state Supreme Court ruled employers must pay
employees for rest breaks separate and apart from piece-rate wage payments.
The many lawsuits stemming from the 2015 ruling are jeopardizing orchards
and people’s livelihoods. SB 5720 details a process for how workers can be paid
for past uncompensated rest breaks and growers can be protected from lawsuits.
Although the bill has bipartisan sponsorship and received a bipartisan 28-18
vote in the Senate, it hasn’t been scheduled for a committee hearing in the
House. Knowing that the Speaker of the House likely shares my interest in
making sure tree fruit workers get paid without threatening a key sector of
Washington’s largest employer – agriculture – I arranged for growers to meet
with him yesterday along with other key members of the House. The meetings all
went very well. I am hopeful that the discussions will lead to SB 5720 advancing
in the House.
Constituent question: The state lottery and education
Receiving questions and comments from you is an important part of my job and
helps me stay connected with you. I recently mailed a card containing my
legislative contact information to people across the 12th District, and encouraged
them to write back with comments and questions. One of the many responses
included a question that often comes up when the Legislature is discussing
education funding: Doesn’t the state
lottery pay for education?
When Washington created a lottery in 1982, the proceeds were directed into
the state’s general fund. Changes in law eventually shifted the revenue
directly to education. In 2010, the Legislature committed approximately $100
million annually from lottery proceeds to a new “Washington Opportunity
Pathways Account” that also supports early-childhood education and college-financial
aid efforts.
In 2016, the lottery contributed $128.8 million to the Opportunity Pathways
account. Meanwhile, the Legislature budgeted more than 10 times that – over $18
billion – toward K-12 education in the 2015-17 operating budget. The answer to
the lottery-for-education question is this: yes, the lottery still supports
education, but the lottery doesn’t bring in enough revenue to be a major source
of education funding in our state. Thanks for the question!
 Fisher Lehman did a great job serving as a Senate page this past week. Fisher is 15 and a homeschooled 10th-grader; he's the son of Holly and Larry Lehman of East Wenatchee.
Thank you for the opportunity to
serve you!
It is my great privilege to serve as your state senator. If you have any
questions or comments, please contact my office anytime using the information
below. If you are planning a trip to Olympia and would like to visit the
Capitol Building, I would be happy to connect with you or your group when you
are here.
I encourage you to share this newsletter with friends and family; they may subscribe using the information below my contact information. Thank you for allowing me to represent you in Olympia!
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
State Senator
Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District
E-mail:
brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Website: senatorbradhawkins.org
107 Newhouse Building
- P.O. Box 40412 | Olympia, WA 98504-0412
(360) 786-7622 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
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