Tag Archives: Sen. Judy Warnick

Warnick leads renewed call for Planned Parenthood inquiry by state attorney general

Controversial abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has again garnered national attention with the release of another undercover video that indicates the organization may be continuing to skirt federal law with illegal abortion practices and by selling human body parts.

The videos, four in all, appear to show conversations that could suggest the nation’s largest abortion provider may be performing partial-birth abortions to . According to Planned Parenthood doctor, Deborah Nuctola in one of the videos, partial-birth abortion is “not a medical term, it doesn’t exist in reality.”  Her comments hint that practices within the organization are in need of increased scrutiny since, indeed, partial-birth abortions are against federal law.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has rallied her fellow legislators to sign a letter to Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson requesting an investigation into the allegations. Warnick and nine other state Senators are asking the attorney general to investigate after a previous letter by other lawmakers sent to Gov. Jay Inslee was dismissed out-of-hand.

Please click here to read the full letter.

 

 

13th District legislators applaud no-new-tax bipartisan budget that cuts tuition, boosts teacher pay

The Legislature approved a new two-year operating budget Monday evening that makes historic investments in all levels of education, cuts tuition at state-run colleges and universities and provides increases in teacher compensation, without raising taxes. Senate Bill 6052 was approved by a vote of 38-10 in the Senate and 90-8 in the House in time to take effect tomorrow and prevent any suspension in government services.

“This budget is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” said Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “The Senate led with a basic principle: make higher education a priority. I am glad that our final budget demonstrates that with the first-ever tuition reduction in our state. This policy increases access to college for working families, easing the burden of student debt and tying future tuition growth to what families can afford.”

Education spending – meaning early learning, K-12 and higher education – climbs by 19 percent in the new budget, which puts $2.8 billion more specifically toward K-12 education. That will have K-12 districts receiving 47.5 percent of the state budget, a level not seen in 30 years.

“This is a very good budget that fully funds education, takes care of our most vulnerable citizens, and keeps our communities safe – while keeping the lid on taxes,” said Rep. Tom Dent, R- Moses Lake. “The budget makes historic investments in K-12 education, reduces K-3 class sizes, gives teachers cost-of-living adjustments, and makes major investments in early learning and the state’s mental health system.”

The budget invests in emergency drought funding, which is vital for the 13th District, and extends tax incentives for food processors and server farms, which bring significant revenue and jobs to the area.

“It is truly a great budget for the taxpayers of our state,” said Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg. “Citizens will not be asked to pay a new carbon tax, cap-and-trade tax or capital-gains tax as proposed by the governor and Democrats. We accomplished all of these significant policy goals, investing in the people of our state, without raising taxes.”

Senate approves Warnick rural economic development bill in special session

A critical piece of legislation for Washington State’s economic health has been resurrected during the 2015 second special session. For two years Sen. Judy Warnick has been working to boost rural economic development. Wednesday the Senate approved Senate Bill 5442 which makes needed changes to the Community and Economic Revitalization Board requirements to improve competitiveness and spur economic growth.

“This is a priority issue for communities across the state,” said Warnick. “I am pleased that the Senate has made job creation and competitiveness for rural communities a priority.”

Last year, then Rep. Warnick’s bill passed both chambers of the Legislature only to be vetoed. That bill would have provided for 50 percent of the projects awarded to be exempted from the median wage provision. The version passed by the Senate allows for 25 percent of the jobs to be exempted from the wage provision.

“This legislation faced opposition when I brought if forward in the House and I’ve worked with stakeholders to find a solution,” Warnick said. “This legislation will mean more jobs for my district and communities statewide. Having more job opportunities as a result of the change in CERB policy is better than no jobs.”

The Board offers financing and grants to local jurisdictions but requires that entities receiving funding demonstrate that permanent private sector jobs created exceed the county median wage. This poses a problem for many rural areas with high paying industries in a portion of the county but other economically depressed areas in the same county.

Don’t play politics with drought-relief funding

The drought promises to have a significant effect on our state’s agricultural production, and the state House needs to support funding to help farmers.

Corn

Mark Weber / Op Art (Mark Weber)

By Judy Warnick

Special to The Times

THERE are many issues that faced the Legislature this year that have been subject to partisan differences and political wrangling. Ensuring that farmers across the state have the water they need to bring their crops to market should not be one of those issues.

In March, the governor declared a drought emergency for portions of the state and recently expanded that declaration to include the entire state. The state Senate responded quickly to this urgent problem by passing legislation during the first special session aimed at providing emergency drought-relief funding.

During public testimony, a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the Senate and House were informed that some irrigation districts are currently facing severely low water supplies. Gov. Jay Inslee’s declaration brought attention to the challenges many families, farms and junior-water-rights holders will face this year as a result of lacking water.

Bringing this issue to the general public’s attention, however, is not enough. This is especially true when large cities continue to highlight their water security, failing to recognize the statewide effects and… Click here to read the rest of the guest editorial in the Seattle Times.

 

Honeyford, Warnick gain Senate support for drought relief funding

Today, on the final day of the Legislature’s special session, the Senate unanimously voted to allocate $18 million to the State Drought Preparedness Account, allowing the state Department of Ecology to begin emergency drought response as soon as the bill is approved by the House of Representatives and signed into law.

Sen. Jim Honeyford, chair of the Water Supply During Drought Joint Legislative Committee, sponsored Senate Bill 6125 in response to the expanded statewide drought declared by the governor on May 15.

“As lawmakers we need to do everything we can to assist the state’s agricultural community. I’m hopeful that the House of Representatives will act quickly to get this bill to the governor’s desk,” said Honeyford, R-Sunnyside.

To be eligible for funding, municipalities or entities must be connected with a water source that will receive less than 75 percent of normal water supply and that lack of water will cause an undue hardship to the entity or fish or wildlife.

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, who is chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee as well as a drought-committee member, added the situation “is a serious issue that we are all in agreement needs to be addressed. An important part of this bill is not just the financial aspect, but also requiring ecology to consider how it prioritizes resources.”

Should drought conditions not be declared in 2016, any unused funds will be transferred to the state’s Disaster Preparedness Account.

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – May 19, 2015

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Update from Olympia – May 19, 2015

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

The special session is scheduled to conclude on May 28. Budget negotiators have been working to bridge gaps in the respective proposals for the state’s two-year operating budget. The governor released his budget in December which called for increased spending above existing resources by $1.5 billion. Since then, the state’s resource have increased by $1.1 billion. I have been consistent in my belief that we can meet the real priorities of state government, like education, without raising taxes. The recent news that revenues are again up nearly $400 million are further indication that the Legislature can budget within its means.

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Session Successes

Bill Signing

From Left to Right: Staff from the state Dept. of Agriculture, Jack Fields from the WA Cattlemen’s Assoc., Monty Dent, Gov. Inslee, Dana Dent and Rep. Dent, myself, Hannah Castro, and Kyle Lynch

After months of hard work, some bills that I’ve sponsored have become law.

I sponsored Senate Bill 5603 to meet the increasing popularity and demand for cottage foods such as baked goods, jams and fruit preserves. The new law increases the maximum amount of annual gross sales kitchen-to-consumer entrepreneurs may have, without losing their “cottage” status, from $15,000 now to $25,000 when the law changes in late July.

Currently, cattle sales require onsite inspections for certain circumstances. The new law that recently took effect as a result of my legislation, Senate Bill 5733 would take advantage of cutting-edge technology by implementing an electronic livestock transaction system. The legislation allows for electronic reporting of cattle transactions as an alternative to mandatory cattle inspection requirements currently in place. The new law also requires the state’s Department of Agriculture to provide annual reports to the Legislature on the implementation of the new program.

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Independent commission votes to increase legislator pay

Last week the Washington Citizen’s Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials voted to increase all members of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government pay. In the late 1980s citizens passed a constitutional amendment to remove any appearance of impropriety in legislators setting their own pay. I’m disappointed by this recent decision that was made without any elected officials’ input and is so out of step with what other state employees receive.

The Commission is made up of citizens from around the state. You can click here to see who is currently serving on this body and how they are appointed. Click here to see more information on the pay increases adopted by the Commission. The backgrounds of the members serving on the Commission are diverse including a representative from organized labor groups. The first part of the salary increase will go into effect this year at the beginning of September.

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Drought Expands

I serve on the Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought. Earlier this year Gov. Inslee proclaimed a drought for the east side of the central Cascade Mountains. Last week the drought has been expanded statewide. With that proclamation the Dept. of Ecology requested emergency funding to deal with the drought. I have been working with stakeholders to make sure resources are available to affected communities. You can click here to read a recent article.

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Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

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Contact Me

Olympia Office:

103 Irv Newhouse Bldg.

P.O. Box 40410

Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Phone:

360.786.7624

District Phone:

509.766.6505

E-mail:

Judith.Warnick@leg.wa.gov

Website:

Click here to visit my website.

Growing industry gets boost from Warnick legislation

Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5603 during a formal ceremony Thursday. The new law, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, was introduced to meet the increasing popularity and demand for cottage foods such as baked goods, jams and fruit preserves. It increases the maximum amount of annual gross sales kitchen-to-consumer vendors may have, without losing their “cottage” status, from $15,000 now to $25,000 when the law changes in late July.

“This change in law is a boost for entrepreneurs across the state,” said Warnick. “We are giving the state Department of Agriculture needed flexibility in regulating these small businesses, and encouraging growth in this burgeoning industry. This legislation is good for rural economic development and can mean increased financial independence for families and more options for consumers. That is a winning situation for everyone.”

State law allows for the sale of foods directly to consumers from home kitchens licensed as cottage food operations by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

“I’m so happy that this bill is now law,” said Hannah Castro, local owner of a cottage food business, Hannah Bananas Cupcakes. “This allows me to expand my business while planning for future opportunities.”

Sen. Judy Warnick’s E-newsletter – May 6, 2015