Working to reopen Washington's economy - SB 5114

Dear Neighbor,

Week 2 of our virtual legislative session is in the books. We began the week by honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr with a Senate floor resolution. I spoke on the virtual Senate floor about what he means to this country. You can listen to my remarks here.

On Wednesday, the Senate State Government & Elections Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5114 which would move the entire state to “Phase 2” of its lockdown plan. Under "Phase 2", restaurants, gyms and entertainment venues would be allowed to reopen indoor at 25% capacity. I fully support this bipartisan bill and was happy to see that over 1,500 individuals signed up to testify and comment in support of this legislation.

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. My contact information can be found on the right sidebar. Now, more than ever, it is vital that you are connected with the decisions being made in Olympia. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

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Week one recap

Although this session is mostly virtual, watch my legislative update to get an inside look at what’s happening in Olympia.

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Capital Gains tax not necessary

Last week, I talked about the introduction of Senate Bill 5096 which would impose a 9% tax on the selling of long-term capital assets, or on receiving Washington capital gains beginning January 1, 2022. And how state spending has increased 40% in the last two budget cycles and that now the governor is asking for more. The Senate Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on this bill and here are a few interesting tidbits:

• 106 individuals signed in to testify on this bill – 72 people opposed it (6 were neutral)
• 522 people signed to share their opinion but did not wish to testify – 314 were against it (3 were neutral)
• Legislators were not allowed to ask those testifying any questions and the bill sponsor declined to answer any questions in public. 

So what does this tell us? I believe it sends a message to lawmakers that the people of Washington state do not want this tax imposed on them.

Watch the video below to learn more about a capital gains tax

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Let's Be Social! 

Follow me on Facebook to stay updated on the latest news from Olympia

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Email: Keith.Wagoner@leg.wa.gov

Phone: 360-545-2820.

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Bills on the move

Last week, I shared information about Senate Bill 5074, which would expand on a successful pilot program that allows some fire stations to serve as safe fire stations. These safe fire stations provide an alternative to emergency rooms where individuals can go to receive services like substance abuse treatment, medical attention and peer support, as well as connections to community resources. This legislation will not interfere with the current services firefighters provide and no funds will come out of their budget for this program. This bill received a hearing in the Senate Behavioral Health Subcommittee and with a few changes, will be headed to the next step in the legislative process.

Another bill I’m sponsoring, Senate Bill 5157 would reduce the number of individuals with behavioral health issues from entering the criminal justice system. We need to help those struggling with mental health issues and provide better alternatives. This bill was heard today in the Senate Behavioral Health Subcommittee.