Report from Olympia -- Nov. 5, 2014

105 Newhouse Building ● P.O. Box 40404 ● Olympia WA 98504-0404
4TH DISTRICT OFFICE (open through December 2014): (509) 921-2460

Nov. 5, 2014

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It was almost exactly a year ago that I first invited people from our legislative district to join me, over coffee, and talk about issues of concern to them. Those meetings in mid-November 2013 were in Greenacres and Liberty Lake; the response was so positive that I followed up this summer with coffees in Spokane Valley and Greenbluff.

My next coffee will be in Millwood, one week from today. I invite you to come and sit down with me:

5 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 12
Rocket Bakery, 3315 N. Argonne Road

Because seating inside the bakery is limited, please phone my legislative office in Spokane Valley at 921-2460 and arrange a specific meeting time.

What I take away from these conversations will be a great help in planning for the 2015 legislative session – which will begin on Jan. 12, just two months from next week’s coffee.

If there is anything I can do for you, or if you have questions about anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call, send me an e-mail or come and meet with me. My 4th Legislative District office is in Suite 305 at 11707 East Sprague Avenue, in the Spokane Valley City Hall building. It is staffed by my legislative assistant, Mike McCliment. The phone number is 921-2460.

It’s my privilege to serve you in our state Senate.

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden
4th Legislative District 

Spokane Valley High School students step up to support anti-trafficking efforts
There are several fronts in the battle against the modern-day slavery that is human trafficking. They include making laws against trafficking (the Legislature’s job), enforcing those laws, raising community awareness, and providing the support to help survivors break free and start their lives anew.

Over the past seven weeks, as part of a civics-class project, students at Spokane Valley High School have joined the fight. I was invited to meet with them on Monday (see photo at right), and answered questions about our work in the Legislature in addition to sharing the powerful anti-trafficking documentary “Chosen,” produced by Vancouver-based Shared Hope International.

Tigan Knauss, SVHS history teacher, said the anti-trafficking issue was a spark that started a fire in the students – from then on “there was no stopping the kids,” he explained. They held a car wash, collected money through a “change drive,” held a clothing drive, and sold survival bracelets.

On Tuesday evening, as their culminating project, the students hosted a community night at the school. Some 60 adults were there to see the students present Mabel Elsom, anti-human trafficking coordinator for Lutheran Community Services Northwest Spokane, with a check for $900 they had raised. LCSNW is a member of the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network, a coalition of organizations that provides direct services to survivors of human trafficking in our state.

“There are 100 kids in our school, so $900 is a lot for us,” said Mr. Knauss.

It is inspiring to see our young people take such an interest in an issue that not only tears families and communities apart but literally targets their age group. Well done, SVHS!

Also on the awareness front, a campaign launched this past week in Spokane: “On The Road to Freedom” includes transit-bus signs in English/Spanish and English/Russian aimed at reaching human-trafficking survivors with a toll-free hotline (1-888-373-7888).

I attended the unveiling of the bus signs at the Spokane Transit Authority, which is joined in this effort by World Relief of Spokane, Ooh Media and LCSNW. The ads help take the fight against trafficking directly to the streets and will hopefully reach those trying to escape their enslavers.

Initial results: Republican-led coalition to continue governing in Senate
It appears Republicans will hold 25 seats in the Senate for the next two years, based on initial results of yesterday’s election – with another seat retained by the conservative Mason County Democrat who helped put the Majority Coalition Caucus in charge of the Senate these past two years. This means the Senate will still be a counterbalance to the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, and to Governor Inslee.

The Democrats’ control of the 98-member House also appears to be weakened by the election results, as what has been a 55-43 split these past two years is looking like it will become 52-46, and perhaps closer than that depending on the outcome of four closely contested elections (all in western Washington). A slimmer Democrat majority is likely to mean less-liberal legislation emerging from the House.

A strong legislative voice for life is stilled too soon
I will remember state Rep. Roger Freeman for his courage – first in being an outspoken defender of life, and second in battling the cancer that ultimately took him from us a week ago. Rep. Freeman, a first-term Democratic lawmaker from Federal Way who represented the 30th Legislative District, was just 48.

	The late Rep. Roger Freeman, a magnificent public speaker, at the March for Life in Olympia during this year’s legislative session; his was one of the most moving speeches I have heard.

As chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, I had the pleasure of working with Rep. Freeman, an attorney who had been a public defender, on a range of issues, including law and justice. However, the strongest bond between us came from our support of pro-life issues. I think he showed tremendous courage through his commitment to the vulnerable in society, including the unborn.

Rep. Freeman was an outstanding person with such a positive attitude. It was amazing to see the respect he received from members of the Senate after just two years as a member of the House.

Not surprisingly, Rep. Freeman also was a wonderful family man. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife Sonya and their two children. I will miss him a lot.

Rep. Freeman was running for a second term in the House; should he receive a majority of the votes (and as of election night, he was), another Democrat will be appointed to the seat by the county commissioners in the district. 

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