1st Annual "Energy Independence Day"
On Friday, February 6th, Senator Jerome Delvin, Rep. Brad Klippert and I will be sponsoring the Legislature’s first inaugural "Energy Independence Day." Invitees and participants from the Tri Cities will showcase new technologies and new methods relating to the production, retention and delivery of commercial and residential power. Displays and some demonstrations will be featured in the Rotunda on the 3rd floor of the Legislative Building from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on that day.

Some of the participants include:

* Areva
* Energy Northwest
* American Nuclear Society
* Infinia, Corp.
* PNL/BSEL/WSU Tri-Cities Bioproducts & Bioenergy
* Port of Benton
* Benton and Franklin county PUDs
* Innovatek
* NH3
* WSU

Our goal is to showcase Washington’s unique efforts in leading our state and nation towards energy independence. If you have any questions, or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

The budget
The majority party cannot simply blame the national economy for the financial crisis Washington is in now. Over the past four years, government spending has increased by 33 percent -- $8.7 billion -- which is a rate double the growth of state revenues.  It was inevitable the state would face a large deficit situation with or without the national crisis.  The reality is the $6 billion budget shortfall we now face is due to three things: Over spending, increased costs of state government due to expansion of programs and, last, the national economic slump.

House Republicans believe that a no-new-taxes budget is the best way to lift the state out of the current economic climate.  We also believe that keeping businesses afloat, through less regulations and lower taxes, will help keep people working and businesses making and purchasing goods and services.  Bigger government is not the answer.

State of the State
Gregoire delivered her State of the State address before a joint session of the Legislature Jan. 15. Download a PDF file of the Republican response to her speech here.  The governor took the opportunity to offer a vision of how we can all help a neighbor in need, but offered few specifics on how she plans to solve the current and future budget shortfalls.  One of the tenants of a values-based Republican agenda is a smaller more efficient government.  To accomplish that, House Republicans believe that all of us play a role in helping our neighbors, which allows government to focus on the services that are needed for the most vulnerable and education.

Protecting ALL students from sexual predators at school
Many of you may have heard about a recent Appeals Court decision where a 3-judge panel ruled that it is LEGAL for teachers and school district personnel to have sex with their students, as long as the students are at least 18 years old.

The case in question involved a teacher who was charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with a minor for allegedly having sex with a graduating senior in 2006.  But because the student was 18 years old at the time, the case was dismissed by the appeals court

There was a similar situation locally with a Richland High School teacher and student. As such, the Richland School Board helped me craft legislation to protect students who are 18- and 19-years old.

When it comes to the student/teacher relationship, there is a trust that must not be violated; there is an access and authority element to the relationship that must not be abused.

My bill, House Bill 1385, would make it illegal for any school district employee to engage in sexual acts with a student up to 19-years old who is registered in that district.

This isn’t about being 18 years old and being able to make one’s own decisions. This is about protecting ALL students from sexual predators in school. More and more, we’re seeing students graduate at 18- and 19-years old. This is especially true with our special needs and developmentally disabled students.

The idea of a possible "quid pro quo" relationship between a student and a teacher is abhorrent. There needs to be equal protections for all students, no matter their age.

There is a public hearing scheduled on Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 1:30 p.m. in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Cap and Trade
The so-called cap and trade legislation is a proposal put forth by the Western Climate Initiative, which includes seven Western states and four Canadian Provinces. The idea is to cap the amount of carbon that may be emitted by activities such as energy and oil production, manufacturing jobs, and, by 2015, auto emissions, in order to reach 1990 emission levels by 2020.

Companies will have to purchase "allowances" from the government for the right to emit greenhouse gasses. However, the government will limit the number of allowances and determine the market up front.

The government will also reduce the number of allowances available every three years. If companies don't have enough allowances to cover their emissions, they will have to pay a fine up to $10,000 per day.
If a company doesn't use all of its emission allowances, it may sell those credits to other companies who need them.

Because of an unregulated secondary market that will buy and sell carbon emission credits, the possibility for corruption, fraud and greed will drive the price of credits to artificial heights.  We saw it with Enron; we saw it with speculation in the oil markets; we saw it with the subprime mortgage collapse. Secondary markets have huge potential for devastating consequences.

There's also nothing to prevent an investment firm from buying up excess allowances from businesses in our state and then selling them to states like California or Oregon. Washington companies could be put out of business in a heartbeat simply because additional, necessary emissions credits are too expensive or unavailable.

I think we can all agree that the environment is worth protecting.  But at what cost?  Washington is one of the cleanest states in the Union.  We have cheap, abundant, clean hydropower, and our state's emissions only account for three-tenths of one percent of the world's greenhouse gasses!  Talk about putting the cart in front of the horse!

Are we going to let environmental fanaticism overcome common-sense solutions? I hope not. I truly hope people will wake up and see this thing for what it really is: extreme behavior modification at the expense of our jobs and our families' well being.

I would encourage folks to call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 or leave a message on her web site here, and let the governor know that Washington's families, businesses, and economy cannot afford her Climate Action Plan.

Visit my Website for further information and news
You can always visit my Web site for updated information and to contact me via e-mail.  You can also sign-up for my E-newsletter by going to my home page and clicking on the "sign up here" link on the left side of the page.