Author Archives: Laudan

Warnick says Senate budget proposal is best path forward for state

Sen. Judy Warnick said the Senate Majority Coalition’s budget proposal is the best path forward for Washington State. The budget makes education the top priority and delivers tax relief and college affordability to families across Washington without raising taxes. Senate budget leaders released their 2015-17 state operating budget proposal today with a pledge to capture savings and keep the state’s economy moving with more investments in education.

“Our state has $3 billion available for state government operations over the next two years, without new taxes. I have been adamant that $3 billion was more than enough to handle the demands facing the state and this budget shows that,” said Warnick

Warnick, R-Moses Lake, noted the Senate’s 2015-17 spending proposal would put more money into funding education – at a 3 to 1 ratio with new money — add mental-health services, as directed by the state Supreme Court, and cut college tuition by 25 percent all without raising taxes on working families and small businesses.

Warnick said the Senate proposal is clearly the best path forward when compared to the House majority’s plan, which would raise state spending by 15 percent and require a $1.5 billion in tax increases.

“I’ve tried to put our state budget in the context of what families across our state are doing. They prioritize. A family or small business that had an increase of over 8 percent would be thrilled. That is the situation we are in. That’s not enough for the leaders of the House majority however. Their approach is saying 3 billion dollars isn’t enough – they want much more,” Warnick said.

Warnick believes the people she serves in the 13th Legislative District will see the Senate budget as a better way to move the state forward: protecting vital services, family budgets and taxpayers.

“We’ve been able to balance the budget without raising taxes because we had the courage to stick to our priorities and live within our means. Special interests that feed off government may prefer the House majority’s budget, but those aren’t the people I’m here to represent.”

Budget negotiators need to reach agreement no later than Sunday, April 26 for the Legislature to conclude its 105-day session on schedule.

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – March 23, 2015

March 23, 2015

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

We are expecting a budget proposal from the House of Representatives today. In the Senate we are focused on building a sustainable and balanced budget.We have $3 billion more revenue coming to the state and should prioritize our state’s spending. We need to invest in basic education, remove barriers for small business and make sure the economic recovery that Seattle enjoys happens throughout our state. I am working across the aisle to find solutions that make a difference for our community.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state Senator.

Sincerely,

Judy Warnick

13th District State Senator

You’re invited to participate in tonight’s telephone town hall

Your 13th district legislators are holding an hour-long telephone town hall on tonight, March 23, at 6 p.m. The program is similar to a call-in radio show in which people may call and ask questions over the telephone and participate in surveys.

To participate you can call (509) 895-5003 during the event. If you have questions during the call, you can press the star (*) key on your keypad and you will have an opportunity to connect with us directly.

For more information about the telephone town hall, you can contact me at (360) 786-7624, Rep. Manweller at (360) 786-7808, or Rep. Dent at (360) 786-7932. Youcan also send us email at judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov, matt.manweller@leg.wa.gov or tom.dent@leg.wa.gov.

Committee on Drought

Warnick Committee

I was recently appointed to the Joint Legislative Committee on Drought and I am looking forward to working collaboratively with members of the committee to find solutions. Last Friday the Governor declared a drought and I spoke with the Department of Ecology about the declaration and am glad that the governor is prioritizing this issue.

The Governors announcement indicated that the state Department of Ecology has requested $9 million to address drought relief via emergency water-right permits, transfers and changes to current water rights.

Prior to the drought declaration, the committee I chair, Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development, had scheduled a work session March 24 to discuss drought issues.

Water access and conservation is something that affects our entire state. These conditions place pressure on our food supply, our families and communities. We need to find creative and collaborative solutions to make sure we can continue to provide water in critical areas. I will be bringing up these issues in my committee and fighting for relief when the drought committee meets.

Community Economic

Revitalization Board

In my first meeting as a Senator on CERB, the City of Connell has been awarded a planning grant of $50,000 for the Connell rail Interchange.

I have been very vocal about the need for improved rural economic development. I sponsored legislation this year that will make projects in our community more competitive by making needed changes to requirements with job creation.We have areas in our district that have very high median wages. Currently, CERB grants requireme that 100 percent of the jobs created from those projects must be private sector jobs above the median wage. We need a better approach and I am hopeful that my bill will be signed into law to allow greater flexibility and increase all types of jobs.

Contact Me

Olympia Office:

103 Irv Newhouse Bldg.

P.O. Box 40410

Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Phone:

360.786.7624

E-mail:

Judith.Warnick@leg.wa.gov

Website:

Click Here to Visit my Website

Warnick appointed to drought committee as governor declares emergency

Sen. Judy Warnick has been appointed to the Joint Legislative Committee on Drought. Her selection came ahead of Gov. Jay Inslee’s Friday-morning declaration of a drought emergency for the east side of the central Cascade Mountains.

“I spoke with the Department of Ecology about the impending drought declaration and am glad that the governor is prioritizing this issue,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “There may be funding available and we will look at any options to make sure that we can respond proactively to issues raised by the drought.”

According to Inslee’s office, the state Department of Ecology has requested $9 million to address drought relief via emergency water-right permits, transfers and changes to current water rights.

Prior to the drought declaration Warnick, chair of the Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee, had scheduled a work session March 23 to discuss drought issues.

“Water access and conservation is something that affects our entire state,” Warnick said. “Drought conditions place pressure on our food supply, our families and communities. We need to find creative and collaborative solutions to make sure we can continue to provide water in critical areas. I will be bringing up these issues in my committee and fighting for relief when the drought committee meets.”

Washington has 62 watersheds, 34 of which are projected to have less than 75 percent normal water supply. Ecology has been working with municipalities to review the watersheds, several of which are in the 13th District.

13th District lawmakers to host telephone town hall March 23

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Reps. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, and Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, are holding an hour-long telephone town hall on Monday, March 23, at 6 p.m. The program is similar to a call-in radio show in which people may call and ask questions over the telephone and participate in surveys.

To participate, residents can call (509) 895-5003 during the event. If listeners have questions during the call, they can press the star (*) key on their telephone keypads.

For more information about the telephone town hall, residents can contact Sen. Warnick at (360) 786-7624, Rep. Manweller at (360) 786-7808, or Rep. Dent at (360) 786-7932. They can also be contacted by email at judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov, matt.manweller@leg.wa.gov or tom.dent@leg.wa.gov.

For more information about Sen. Warnick, visit:
www.judywarnick.src.wastateleg.org

For more information about Rep. Manweller, visit:
www.representativemattmanweller.com

For more information about Rep. Dent, visit:
www.representativetomdent.com

Senate adopts Warnick bill to modernize animal disease traceability

Beginning in 2011, the Washington State Department of Agriculture implemented the Animal Disease Traceability to better track animals and locate instances of disease. Senate Bill 5733, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, was approved in a nearly unanimous vote Monday. The measure would implement an electronic livestock transaction system.

“We are using technology to increase safety in our food supply and possibly make the process easier for our farmers,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “The Washington State Department Agriculture is working on final implementation to have timely information regarding the transfer of ownership and traceability in the event of a disease outbreak.”

The legislation allows licenses to electronically report cattle transactions as an alternative to mandatory cattle inspection requirements currently in place. This information is already collected through the mandatory program but the electronic system is viewed as a more efficient approach to collecting data related to transactions.

“This bill makes information about transactions more accessible, more complete, and producers will have that information available. This does not require producers to submit movements to the Department of Agriculture but helps keep records in the event there are issues with livestock health.”

“The Washington Cattlemen’s Association appreciates the efforts and focus that Senator Warnick has made to see that Animal Disease Traceability is able to be implemented in Washington State,” said Jack Field, Executive Vice President of the Washington Cattleman’s Association.

ADT is an important tool that will assist the cattle industry and animal health officials in the event of an animal health event. The cattle industry has worked closely with the WSDA to ensure that all necessary information is captured for ADT. Senate Bill 5733 is a component of ADT and will need to capture the same quality of information that a field inspection captures for the WSDA Lid Program.

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – March 9, 2015