Dear friends and neighbors,
It has been an honor to represent you and the entire 5th Legislative District this year. We are in the final hours of the legislative session and even though I am seriously disappointed that we have yet to pass a supplemental budget, I am confident we will have an agreement soon. Here are some of the highlights of the 2016 session:
- Made it easier to save for college – Created a tax free 529 college savings plan aimed at helping families save for college.
- Worked with our cities – I’ve made it a goal of mine to partner with our cities to assist them with their local needs. This year, I secured much needed state funding to help repair North Bend’s roads that have been damaged by semi-truck traffic.
- Broke through Olympia gridlock – Over the last few years landlord and tenant groups have been at odds with each other, neither group accomplishing any of their goals. After months of negotiations, both sides came together to support legislation I sponsored to improve the lives of Washington renters.
- Teamed up with constituents – Helped local small business owners Joe and Linda Grez pass legislation that benefits their North Bend company that makes electric paddles for kayaks and canoes.
- Provided certainty for 1,200 charter school students – I believe we have an obligation to the more than 1,200 children attending charter schools to allow them to stay at the schools they have come to depend on to meet their educational needs. The voters of the 5th District approved the charter school initiative and I’m honoring that vote.
Lastly, as the father of four daughters, I know how great our schools are in the 5th District. I firmly believe that local levies are the reason we have the best teachers, outstanding graduation rates, and state-of-the-art resources in each classroom. Next year and beyond, I will always work hard to make sure your local tax dollars stay local.
Sincerely,
