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February 12, 2013

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are rapidly approaching the end of our first month in this legislative session which began Jan. 14. Committee action is continuing in full swing, but the deadline for House policy bills to be heard is Feb. 22, just 11 days from today. Scroll below to see the committee schedules and bills for public hearings this week.

Here is an update of news from the state Capitol. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

It is an honor to serve you.

House rules debate (Watch my video update on this topic here)

Our first major debate was held on the House floor on Feb. 1. My Republican colleagues and I offered amendments to make changes to House rules. Four rule changes were proposed:

• Prioritizing education by funding education first. This is a concept I introduced several years ago. Constitutionally, education is the state's “paramount duty.” However, the majority party has made it a practice to fund other state programs first – and then use what's left over to fund education. It's much easier to use the issue of kids and schools as a tool to plead the need for tax increases to citizens when money comes up short after lawmakers have funded their pet projects first. I believe we should make education the priority and fund it with the first dollar, not the last dime. Unfortunately, majority Democrats rejected funding education first on a party-line vote, 52-41.
• Place the supermajority vote provisions of Initiative 1185 into House rules. Statewide, 64 percent of the voters approved I-1185 in November, which requires the Legislature to have a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. In the 39th District, 72 percent of the voters approved this measure. Voters have said five times in the past 20 years they want a higher threshold for the Legislature to meet before taxes can be raised. Several Democrats have challenged this concept in the state Supreme Court, which is expected to rule this spring on whether the two-thirds requirement is constitutionally sound. Regardless of the court ruling, House Republicans believe we must uphold the will of the people. That's why we proposed this concept be placed into House rules. Unfortunately, majority Democrats rejected the supermajority requirement on a party-line vote, 52-41.
• Allowing each state representative to have one bill that receives a House committee hearing. Representatives in each district serve and represent more than 137,000 people. This is the people's government and the best legislation often originates from ideas and challenges brought to us by citizens. Yet, committee chairs in the Legislature have the power to decide if a bill can receive a public hearing and a vote. This often shuts citizens out of the process. House Republicans believe that every representative should have a choice of at least one bill to receive a committee hearing, so that the public's views can be fully represented. Majority Democrats, including all committee chairs, voted against the concept, 52-41.
• Prioritizing citizen testimony in committee hearings. Often, citizens will drive many hours across the state to Olympia to attend a public hearing and testify on a bill. Unfortunately, all too often, they are forced to wait while special interest groups, lobbyists and state agency directors get the first shot at testifying. Then when it comes time for the citizen to be called to testify, time has run out. That's wrong! And that's why House Republicans believe citizens should get first priority for testimony, ahead of Olympia insiders. Fortunately, Democrats agreed with our position and the amendment passed unanimously.

Washington Farm Bureau names Kristiansen “Legislator of the Year”

Agriculture is such an important part of our state's economy with nearly $10 billion a year in production. That's why its such an honor to be recognized by the Washington State Farm Bureau as “2012 Legislator of the Year.” I was invited to receive the award last Tuesday, Feb. 5, during the Farm Bureau's Legislative Reception and Banquet in Olympia. The award reads, “In recognition of your leadership to strengthen Washington's family farms.” Thank you, Washington State Farm Bureau!

Mark your calendar! Telephone town hall meeting

In 10 days, on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., I will be holding a telephone town hall meeting. Your input is very important to me. So please mark your calendar and plan on joining me and other citizens from across the 39th District for this event. It's easy to participate. Just call toll-free: 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN 15786. Once you are connected, when you are ready to ask a question, press (Star) *3 on your telephone keypad.

I will be looking forward to your call!

Listen to my radio and podcast programs

Get connected to my radio program – Capitol Report – which discusses current issues of the 39th District and the state. Click here for this week's program. Sign up for my RSS podcast. You can also get all of the Washington House Republican Capitol Report programs on your iPhone and iPad through the iTunes store by clicking here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/capitol-report-washington/id579017734. Capitol Report is also aired Tuesdays and Fridays in the 5 p.m. hour on KSVR – 91.7 FM, Mount Vernon, with legislators from both the 39th and 10th legislative districts.

In addition, listen to my interviews with Ed Bremer on KSER 90.7 FM in Everett on Tuesdays at 4:06 p.m. and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Here are some other important links:

• Check out my Web site – This year, I have a new Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/dan-kristiansen. From this link, you can get more information about me, view my news releases and read my regular articles to the chambers of commerce and our local newspapers.
• Photos – Access my photo gallery here.
• Video updates – Every two weeks, I record a new legislative video update with the latest news from the Legislature. You can view my reports here on YouTube.
• TVW – The state's own version of C-Span, TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live. You can also watch on your computer, smartphone or tablet: www.tvw.org
• Legislature's Web site – You can get bill reports, committee agendas and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature at: www.leg.wa.gov

Please share this e-newsletter with everyone you know and encourage them to sign up for it from my Web site at: houserepublicans.wa.gov/dan-kristiansen.

Local teens serve as legislative pages in Olympia

We have such talented and bright young people throughout the 39th District. I had the privilege to recently sponsor three of our local teenagers as legislative pages at the state Capitol. Austin Skeith is a 16-year-old student at Cedar Park Christian High School in Bothell, and the son of Shawn and Carrie Skeith of Snohomish. Brandi Dahlinger attends Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe. She is the 15-year-old daughter of Rodney and Gina Dahlinger of Monroe. Lily Sedlak attends Academy Northwest and is the 15-year-old daughter of Paul and Pamela Sedlak of Monroe.

Paging presents students with a unique educational opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Their duties vary from ceremonial tasks, such as presenting the flags, to operational chores like distributing amendments during legislative sessions. For more information about the legislative page program, visit: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx.

This week in Olympia

I encourage you to become involved in your state Legislature. Below is the schedule for public hearings in the House committees this week. If you'd like to learn more about how to testify in committee, go here. Click on the links below to get information about each bill. For your convenience, I have highlighted in yellow those bills and issues that are most significant to the 39th District.

TUESDAY, FEB. 12

Environment Committee – House Hearing Room C – 8 a.m.

• Coal Transition Power – Public Hearing on House Bills 1221 and 1222

Public Safety Committee – House Hearing Room D – 8 a.m.

• Scrap Metal Theft – Public Hearing on House Bill 1552

Government Operations and Elections Committee – House Hearing Room E – 8 a.m.

• Regulatory Freedom and Accountability Act – Public Hearing on House Bill 1163

Higher Education Committee – House Hearing Room A – 8 a.m.

• Requiring Colleges Set Percentages of Resident/Nonresident/Foreign Students – Public Hearing on House Bill 1739

Business and Financial Services Committee – House Hearing Room B – 8 a.m.

• Small Consumer Installment Loans – Public Hearing on House Bill 1657
• Increasing the Cap on the Number of Small Loans a Borrower May Have in 12 Months – Public Hearing on House Bill 1658

Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee – House Hearing Room B – 10 a.m.

• Ensuring the Health of Small Forest Landowners – Public Hearing on House Bill 1600

Local Government Committee – House Hearing Room D – 1:30 p.m.

• Cities and Counties to Provide Court Security – Public Hearing House Bill 1365

Education Committee – House Hearing Room A – 1:30 p.m.

• Requiring Community Service for Graduation – Public Hearing on House Bill 1412

Early Learning and Human Services Committee – House Hearing Room C – 1:30 p.m.

• Making Juvenile Records Confidential – Public Hearing on House Bill 1651

Government Accountability and Oversight Committee – House Hearing Room E – 1:30 p.m.

• Growers of Wine – Public Hearing on House Bill 1742

Transportation Committee – House Hearing Room B – 3:30 p.m.

• State Route 520 Corridor Development: Bellevue to Redmond – Work Session
• Including “Health” In Transportation Planning Goals – Public Hearing on House Bill 1233

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13

Technology and Economic Development Committee – House Hearing Room C – 8 a.m.

• One-Stop Portal for Washington Businesses – Public Hearing on House Bill 1757

Judiciary Committee – House Hearing Room A – 8 a.m.

• Firearm Legislation – Public Hearing on House Bills 1147, 1588, 1612 and 1676

Labor and Workforce Development Committee – House Hearing Room D – 8 a.m.

• Creating a Good Faith Defense for Minimum Wage and Overtime Compensation Complaints – Public Hearing on House Bill 1535

Government Operations and Elections Committee – House Hearing Room E – 1:30 p.m.

• Veteran's Preference for Employment – Public Hearing on House Bill 1537

THURSDAY, FEB. 14

Local Government Committee – House Hearing Room D – 8 a.m.

• Delay Impact Fee Payments Using Covenants – Public Hearing on House Bill 652

Health Care and Wellness Committee – House Hearing Room B – 8 a.m.

• Mental Health System Reform – Public Hearing on House Bill 1522

Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee – House Hearing Room E – 8 a.m.

• State Parks Financing System – Public Hearing on House Bill 1530
• Property for Affordable Housing – Public Hearing on House Bill 1563

Education Committee – House Hearing Room A – 8 a.m.

• Alternative Learning Experiences – Public Hearing on House Bills 1423 and 1431

Public Safety Committee – House Hearing Room D – 10 a.m.

• Registered Sex Offenders in Adult Family Homes – Public Hearing on House Bill 1125

Higher Education Committee – House Hearing Room A – 10 a.m.

• Providing Financial Aid for Illegal Immigrants – Public Hearing on House Bill 1626

FRIDAY, FEB. 15

Early Learning and Human Services Committee – House Hearing Room C – 1:30 p.m.

• Expanding Child Care & Early Learning Programs – Public Hearings on House Bills 1546 and 1723

Education Committee – House Hearing Room A – 1:30 p.m.

• Expanding Waivers from 180-day School Year – Public Hearing on House Bill 1492

Local Government Committee – House Hearing Room D – 1:30 p.m.

• Shoreline Net Pen Facilities – Public Hearing & Work Session House Bill 1599 – Local Government, HHR D @ 1:30PM

In your service,

Dan Kristiansen