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Author Archives: Laudan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2016
CONTACT:
For Rep. Dent – Nick Jacob, Public Information Officer – (360) 786-5097
For Sen. Warnick – Laudan Espinoza, Senior Information Officer – (360) 786-7504
13th District lawmakers to host Grant County town hall meetings
Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, are holding town hall meetings around Grant County, May 23, 2016, and encourage county residents to attend. Meeting locations and times are as follows:
When: May 23, 2016
9:00 a.m.
Quincy Community Center
115 F Street SW, Quincy
1:00 p.m.
Royal City Community Center
13702 Dodson Rd. So, Royal City
3:30 p.m.
Desert Aire Golf Course Club House
504 Club House Way, Mattawa
For more information about the upcoming events please contact 509.766.6505
April 29, 2016 |
Greetings Friends and Neighbors,Now that the legislative session is over, I am back in district meeting with constituents and gathering input on issues facing our community. This is an important time to prepare for the upcoming legislative session where we will be focusing on building a new state budget for the next two years. I will be holding town hall meetings in Lincoln County May 2 and I hope you will be able to attend. 10:00 a.m.Harrington Opera House – on the corner of Willis and South Third Streets Enter on the South side of the City Hall Building, 19 S. Third Street, Harrington
2:00 p.m.Wilbur Community Center  New opportunitiesRecently, my colleague, the Senate Majority Leader, requested that I be appointed to the Washington State Blue Ribbon Commission on the Delivery of Services to Children and Families, as referenced in Executive Order 16-03 by Governor Inslee. I am honored to be nominated for this opportunity to work to improve the lives of children and families in our state. During the interim I am keeping busy. I am a member of numerous committees and boards that meet when the Legislature is not in session. I recently met with those on the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System, (LEOFF) 2 Board. This group sets policy for the first responders’ benefits in that system. I sponsored a bill this session that became law, Senate Bill 6263 that allows members to receive full retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered non-duty related, such as responding to federally declared emergencies. I also serve on the Community and Economic Revitalization Board. It provides funding to local governments for public infrastructure to support private business growth and expansion. This program is critical to rural economic development and many jurisdictions in our district have successfully used these funds to improve their communities. I continue working with constituents and state agencies such as the state Departments of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Fish and Wildlife to ensure that solutions are found for issues that have been brought to my attention, including:
These executive agencies need to be aware of the impacts their regulations have so that rules won’t negatively affect our local businesses and communities. For example, the state Department of Ecology is drafting a rule regarding the rail transport of biological oil, such as canola. Currently, those types of biological oils are considered the same as crude oil for emergency planning purposes. Unfortunately, legislation that I sponsored to change that was not adopted. Senate Bill 6576 would have not required the same kind of planning for biological oil as is required when transporting crude oil by rail. Although the Legislature is not in session, I am busy working on issues that affect our community. I look forward to connecting with you while I am back in district and getting your insights on how we can improve our state and community. It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions regarding your state government.
Sincerely,
Judy Warnick, 13th District Senator Share my E-newsletterDo you know others who live in our district who may not be receiving my e-news updates? Please feel free to forward this e-mail invitation to them or click on the share button below. If you have received this without directly subscribing, please visit my website by clicking here and sign up to receive my e-newsletters!
Contact MeOlympia Office:103 Irv Newhouse Bldg. P.O. Box 40410 Olympia, WA 98504
District Phone:509.766.6505 Olympia Phone:360.786.7624
E-mail:
Website: |
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Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, are holding two town hall meetings around Lincoln County, May 2, 2016, and encourage Lincoln County residents to attend. Meeting locations and times are as follows:
When: May 2, 2016
10:00 a.m.
Harrington Opera House – on the corner of Willis and South Third Streets
Enter on the South side of the City Hall Building, 19 S. Third Street.
2:00 p.m.
Wilbur Community Center
5 SW Railroad, Wilbur, WA
Update from Olympia – April 12, 2016 |
Greetings from Olympia!I am happy to report that the 2016 legislative session has finished. After a 20-day special session negotiators from the House and Senate were able to reach a compromise on a budget that is a true “supplemental” budget – meaning the adjustments it makes to the budget we adopted in 2015 are only in response to emergencies and other needs that can’t wait for a new budget to be written and approved next year. I spent considerable time at the negotiating table to ensure that people in our state came out ahead in this budget. It was critical to stand by our principles of responsible budgeting to get the job done. This budget is sustainable so that we can adequately address the challenges that are ahead. The 2016 supplemental budget restrains state spending and meets the state’s 4-year balanced-budget requirements. This is in contrast to the proposal from House Democrats that sought to raid the state’s emergency reserves to pay for new state programs, cut nearly $500 million from K-3 class-size reductions and raise taxes. When we voted on the budget, I made it clear to my colleagues that I am concerned about the reductions to the Public Works Assistance Account, a valuable resource to small communities so that they can finance their infrastructure needs. I am committed to finding a sustainable solution to fund these projects. You can read details about the budget here. Overcoming the Governor’s vetoIn a misguided attempt to pressure budget negotiators into reaching an agreement before the end of our regular 60-day session, Governor Inslee vetoed 27 Senate bills – including one that I sponsored, Senate Bill 6148. Fortunately, the Legislature worked together to override these vetoes at the end of the 20-day special session. Senate Bill 6148 clarifies the types of vehicles that may be towed from a self-service storage facility when occupants fail to pay for their storage spaces. The new law maintains all the legal-notice requirements to protect property but gives needed flexibility to these business owners. A successful end of session
Senate Bill 6513 signing
In a formal ceremony on March 31, the governor signed three of my other bills that passed this year; they touched on a variety of policy issues, from water access to pest control and first-responder benefits. The first bill, Senate Bill 6605, concerns the permitting of solid-waste facilities in eastern Washington. The new law requires the state Department of Agriculture to review permits for new facilities to ensure that invasive species, pests and disease are not introduced from quarantined areas west of the Cascades. Senate Bill 6263 would allow members of the of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive full retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered non-duty related, such as responding to federally declared emergencies. Senate Bill 6513 addresses a state-wide issue relating to water access. The new law directs the state Department of Ecology to act on certain water-rights applications in the state’s water resource inventory areas for the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness River basins. This legislative session was eventful and busy. I worked hard to get all of these pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk which can be a challenge in a short legislative session. Click here to read more. Higher education innovation
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In a formal ceremony this past Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee signed three bills sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. The bills touched on a variety of policy issues: water access, pest control and first-responder benefits.
“This legislative session was eventful and busy,” Warnick said. “I worked hard to get these three pieces of legislation to the governor’s desk which can be a challenge in a short legislative session.”
The first bill, Senate Bill 6605, concerns the permitting of solid-waste facilities in eastern Washington. The bill requires the state Department of Agriculture to review permits for new facilities to ensure that invasive species, pests and disease are not introduced from quarantined areas west of the Cascades. Of particular concern is the risk that pests like the apple maggot would have on Washington’s nearly $4 billion apple crop.
“Having the state Department of Agriculture involved in the siting of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”
Senate Bill 6263, also signed Thursday, would allow members of the of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive full retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered non-duty related, such as responding to federally declared emergencies.
The final Warnick bill signed by Inslee, Senate Bill 6513, addresses a stat-wide issue relating to water access. Warnick, who serves as the chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee, made water access and quality issues a primary focus during the 2016 legislative session. The new law directs the state Department of Ecology to act on certain water-rights applications in the state’s water resource inventory areas for the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness River basins.
“Finding consensus on water issues is challenging,” said Warnick. “However, there are communities in our state that need us to act. This bill moves us in the right direction toward allowing already planned water use.”
Late Tuesday the Legislature approved a supplemental budget after negotiations dragged on into a special session. Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, voted in favor of the bipartisan proposal that makes minor adjustments to the state’s two-year operating budget approved last year.
“I spent considerable time at the negotiating table to ensure that people in our state came out ahead in this budget,” said Warnick, who was drafted to join the Senate majority’s negotiating team. “It was critical to stand by our principles of responsible budgeting to get the job done. This budget is sustainable so that we can adequately address the challenges that are ahead.”
The 2016 supplemental budget restrains state spending and meets the state’s 4-year balanced-budget requirements. This is in contrast to the proposal from House Democrats that sought to raid the state’s emergency reserves to pay for new state programs, cut nearly $500 million from K-3 class-size reductions and raise taxes.
“I am concerned about the reductions to the Public Works Assistance Account,” Warnick said. “This is a valuable resource to small communities so that they can finance their infrastructure needs, and I am committed to finding a sustainable solution to fund these projects.”
“The biennial budget that was adopted in 2015 turned our state’s spending priorities around,” Warnick added. “We are investing in K-12 education at levels not seen in 30 years; we cut tuition, and limited general-government spending. I am glad that our House counterparts realized the importance of continuing to invest in real priorities for our state’s citizens.
The budget passed in the House of Representatives 78-17 and 27-17 in the Senate.
Budget documents are available online, here.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R- Moses Lake, to prevent the spread of destructive pests and disease through compost was approved unanimously by the state House.
“This is an important bill for our state,” Warnick said. “It provides necessary protections for our agricultural industry to ensure that this cornerstone of our economy continues to thrive. It is a great bill and I’m pleased that the House made it better with a minor amendment.”
Senate Bill 6605 would create a process for the state Department of Agriculture to review applications for moving waste for composting from facilities in quarantine areas to areas not under quarantine. The goal is to review information to ensure that facilities are not at risk of spreading plant pathogens, disease or pests.
Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. Of the 142 million boxes produced, 30 percent are exported.
“Having the state Department of Agriculture more involved in the oversight of facilities will make the process even better,” said Warnick. “This legislation promotes responsible waste management that takes into account the interconnectedness of our state’s economy.”