Tag Archives: Sen. Warnick

Warnick supports supplemental budget

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.

Legislature approves Warnick bill to protect crops from pests and disease

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.”

Watch my video update – March 2016

Sen. Warnick’s E-newsletter – February 24, 2016

Update from Olympia – February 24, 2016

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

With just a few weeks left in the 2016 legislative session, our Senate majority continues to build on the results we achieved in 2015 while pushing for increased transparency and accountability in state government. I have been fortunate to have several of my priority bills approved by the state Senate; they are now working their way through the House of Representatives. As chair of the Senate Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development committee I continue to advocate for common-sense reforms to how our state engages with farmers and other agricultural producers, as well as seek bipartisan solutions to water issues around our state.

Increasing access to water

Getting agreement on water issues is challenging. This year, fortunately, one of my bills to improve access to water rights cleared the Senate with near-unanimous approval. Senate Bill 6513 comes in response to the state Department of Ecology’s notification to Chelan County that permits would not be issued. The legislation would direct Ecology to act on water-rights applications in the Wenatchee and Elwha-Dungeness river basins.

Expanding benefits for first responders

The Senate has approved my legislation to expand retirement and disability benefits to first responders injured or killed while responding to natural disasters or other federal emergencies. Senate Bill 6263, approved unanimously, would allow members of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Retirement System (LEOFF 2) pension plan to receive unreduced retirement benefits for injuries that are currently considered duty related.

Protecting crops from pests and disease

Agriculture is extremely important in our district and state. Last year, the value of Washington’s apple crop alone was $3.7 billion, with total economic value to the state being $8 billion. It is critical to protect our producers whose efforts drive our state’s economy. To that end, legislation that I introduced was approved by the Senate to prevent the spread of invasive species, pests and disease through compost.

Click here to read more. =============

Voters’ voices silenced by minority Democrats on 2/3rds tax-vote amendment

Last week I voted to let Washingtonians have the final word on requiring approval from a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to raise taxes. Senate Joint Resolution 8211, which would let voters amend the state constitution to include the popular two-thirds tax-vote threshold, failed to receive support from the Senate’s minority Democrats and therefore fell short of the 33 votes it needed to move to the House of Representatives (constitutional amendments require a higher level of approval, and tax increases should too).

The voters in Washington have said six times over two decades that it should be harder for the state to raise taxes. Their voices should be heard. The solution to our state’s challenges is not taking more and more of the people’s money. Our Senate majority has demonstrated that we can make issues like education a priority without raising taxes. Minority Democrats in the Senate made every excuse as to why they didn’t trust the people of Washington to have a voice, and I think they are wrong.

Click here to read more.

It is an honor to serve as your state Senator. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions regarding state government.

Sincerely,

Signature

Judy Warnick,

13th District Senator

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Voter’s voice denied on 2/3rds tax increase amendment

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, voted today to let Washington voters have the final say on requiring a higher level of approval for tax measures. Senate Joint Resolution 8211, which would change the state constitution so that tax increases would need support from a two-thirds majority of lawmakers, failed to receive the necessary 33 votes in the Senate for adoption which means voters will not be able to decide on a ballot measure to change the state constitution.

“The voters in Washington have said six times for over two decades that it should be harder for the state to raise taxes and their voice should be heard,” said Warnick. “The solution to our state’s challenges is not taking more and more of the people’s money. Our Senate majority has demonstrated that we can make issues like education a priority without raising taxes. Minority Democrats in the Senate made every excuse as to why they didn’t trust the people of Washington to have a voice, and I think they are wrong.”

A respected research poll conducted statewide in December found 60 percent of those responding believe a supermajority vote by lawmakers should be required to raise taxes; 65 percent agreed voters should be given a chance to vote on whether to make the supermajority tax-approval rule part of the state constitution.

“Today’s vote was not about taxes. Today’s vote was about the people,” Warnick said. “In 2012, 73 percent the voters in my district supported I-1185, which required a two-thirds majority to raise taxes only to have the state Supreme Court rule it unconstitutional. It is disappointing that this effort to let voters decide if they want to amend their constitution was defeated.”

SJR 8211 would define “raise taxes” as any action or combination of actions that increase state tax revenue deposited into any fund, budget, or account. It also would require a simple-majority vote in both legislative chambers to impose or increase a fee in any fiscal year; that change would end lawmakers’ practice of delegating the fee-setting authority to various agencies.

Warnick bill to protect crops from pests and disease clears Senate

Sen. Judy Warnick’s legislation to prevent the spread of invasive species, pests and disease through compost cleared the state Senate Wednesday with a near-unanimous vote.

“This bill makes sure that the transportation of waste meant for composting doesn’t spread harmful organisms that could endanger our state’s valuable agricultural products,” Warnick said. “We have seen incidents in which pests could have made their way into an area they should not have because of improper siting of a facility. Given that our state’s prominence in agricultural exports, it is critical that we do all we can to ensure the viability of our crops.”

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.

“We have state agencies reviewing applications for these types of facilities, however this critical component is not being addressed,” said Warnick. “The process laid out in my bill would ensure compliance with quarantine rules and strike a needed balance.”

Trade and environmental battles taking their toll on 13th District

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake offered this statement in response to REC Silicon’s announcement that it is suspending operations until at least June:

“REC Silicon is a major employer in our community and news of their closure is going to have a significant impact, even though it may be temporary,” said Warnick. “People who rely on these family-wage jobs will be deeply affected. Unfortunately, as I and other members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee were recently told, there is very little help for state employers and displaced employees to turn to in this situation. As a result, some 500 people will lose their jobs for months as trade wars over environmental policy between the U.S. and China continue.

“Although I cannot solve the larger challenges posed by tariffs and international politics, I am very concerned for our community and frustrated at the results. In addition, the pressure of increased state regulations makes the decision easier for businesses to relocate or close their Washington operations in a globally competitive market. Our state’s trade dependence and eye toward international business makes Washington an attractive location, but the threats of punitive state environmental regulations to deal with a global problem won’t help.

“I understand Governor Inslee has pledged to continue conversations with the Chinese and U.S. governments to resolve their disputes over silicon tariffs. I support those efforts and will work with him for a speedy resolution to this critical situation being faced by our Moses Lake area families.

Click here to watch the recent Senate Ways and Means discussion on the state response to layoff aversion.

Click here to read the press release from REC Silicon on its planned curtailment.

Video Update – Jan. 18, 2016

Warnick bill addresses privacy concerns tied to controversial new state rule

Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, has introduced legislation to address growing privacy concerns stemming from a new state rule that loosens access to gender-specific facilities at public and private organizations.

The rule change, quietly adopted by the state Human Rights Commission on Dec. 26, permits persons to use locker rooms, restrooms and similar accommodations according to their gender identity. Warnick’s bill, Senate Bill 6548, carefully considers challenges faced by transgender individuals while balancing the real privacy and safety concerns regarding use of gender-specific facilities.

“We need to be sure that we are addressing everyone’s concerns,” Warnick said. “Looking at how this rule was adopted, it is apparent that the commission didn’t seem to consider the effects it would have. By its own admission the agency did not post the rule to its website for public comment and failed to follow other processes for adopting rules. The process clearly broke down.”

Warnick’s legislation would maintain protections for transgender people but specifically address the rule adopted by the commission.

“This bill is a common-sense approach to a complicated subject,” Warnick said. “We want to be sure that no one is being prevented from using facilities, but we need to be aware of the shortsighted effects of the rule that was adopted. This issue is indicative of a larger problem with the administrative rule making process that makes policies with the force of law with no input from the public.”

Critics of proposed legislative fixes to the executive-agency rule have dismissed safety and privacy concerns raised by parents and legislators. However, recent news regarding similar policies elsewhere has lent credence to finding a balance. For instance, the University of Toronto recently jettisoned a similar transgender-bathroom policy after two incidents where male students were filming women in shower stalls.

“My bill simply states that people must use the gender segregated facilities according to their biological gender,” Warnick explained. “That doesn’t prohibit the use of gender-neutral facilities or extend to transgender people who are post-operative. The new rule just doesn’t makes sense when an 8-year-old girl must shower next to a grown man because he identifies otherwise.”