House Republicans call for collaborative solutions in 2017 session

January 10, 2017

The 65th Washington Legislature convened at noon Monday, starting the clock on a scheduled 105-day session. John Sattgast reports from Olympia.

SATTGAST: Lawmakers acknowledge there’s lots of heavy lifting in the next four-and-a-half months. How to fully fund education, addressing compliance of the federal Real ID Act, fixing a court decision that casts doubt on whether new wells for homes can be drilled in Washington. And then there’s the issue of taxes – more than $4 billion in tax increases proposed by Governor Inslee.

House Republican Leader Dan Kristiansen said its time to put aside partisan concerns and work collaboratively to find solutions.

KRISTIANSEN (:09 seconds): “Now the way by which we may want to get there may be different, but often times our goals are very, very similar if not the same. Let’s keep that in mind as we move forward.”

SATTGAST: The Snohomish Republican said the citizens of Washington are best served by when Republicans and Democrats work together.

KRISTIANSEN: “That our goal as we move forward is going to be to set a lot of our personal stuff aside without stepping across that line. There’s a time to campaign. It was a brutal year for that. Amen. But now it’s time to govern.”

SATTGAST: Kristiansen said House Republicans are prepared to work across party lines to achieve common goals on the state’s most critical issues. John Sattgast, Olympia.