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Herrera sworn in as state
representative,
spends first day in the Legislature
New state
lawmaker looks forward to representing 18th District communities
Jaime Herrera
was sworn in as state representative of the 18th District late this
afternoon in Kelso. She then drove directly to Olympia to participate in
a special legislative session with her fellow state lawmakers.
“Today has been an amazing experience,” said Herrera, R-Ridgefield.
“It’s truly an honor to represent my friends and neighbors in the
Eighteenth District and I’m looking forward to working on the issues
that are important to our communities.”
Herrera, 29, comes to the position of state representative with
experience in the areas of health care, education, veteran affairs,
social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. She worked on these issues and
others as a legislative aide for U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA
5th). Herrera replaces Richard Curtis, who stepped down from his
position as state representative on October 31.
The new 18th District state lawmaker arrived in Olympia just in time to
vote “no” on a controversial new program that she believes will be a tax
increase on low-income families who choose to participate.
House Bill 2417 creates
a property-tax deferral option for families who make $57,000 or less and
charges them 7 percent interest up until the time their home is sold,
when the final bill is due. The measure passed and is expected to be
signed into law by the governor.
“I listened closely to the debate and voted the way I thought was best
for the people I represent,” said Herrera. “It’s very clear that
charging a family seven percent interest on their deferred property
taxes, with that bill due when their home is eventually sold, is going
to create more debt for them. I think this is irresponsible and there
are better ways to help taxpayers.”
Herrera voted in support of an
alternative tax relief bill that would have provided a $400 rebate
check to all Washingtonians who paid property taxes on their primary
residence in 2007. The motion to bring the bill to the House floor
failed. She also voted in support of a
measure that would have required taxing districts to seek voter
approval before using their banked capacity. That motion also failed.
If given the opportunity, Herrera said she would have also voted for
House Bill 2416 – a measure that passed that will restore the
provisions of voter-approved I-747. The initiative was ruled
unconstitutional earlier this month by the state Supreme Court.
Herrera can be contacted at (360) 786-7850 or
herrera.jaime@leg.wa.gov.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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