| |
Being a state representative
for the 18th District
As Southwest Washington’s
newest state representative, I’m honored to join Rep. Ed Orcutt and Sen.
Joseph Zarelli in serving the 18th District. I was appointed by the
Clark and Cowlitz County Commissioners on Nov. 29 to fill a vacancy left
by Richard Curtis.
While I’m new to this position, I’m no stranger to public service. In
addition to being director of development for a youth leadership
training program, I have also worked in the Washington State Senate, the
U.S. House of Representatives and the White House.
In my new role, I’m often working from 7:00 a.m. to well into the
evening – attending committee hearings, voting on the House floor,
speaking to school groups, talking with local business owners, helping
constituents, and responding to e-mails and questions from our friends
and neighbors.
If you’ve ever heard someone compare a new experience to “drinking water
from a fire hose,” the analogy certainly applies to my first two weeks
in Olympia.
The 2008 legislative session began on Jan.14. While my schedule is
hectic, the work of serving our communities and helping our neighbors in
their dealings with state government is extremely rewarding.
I see tremendous potential to address issues facing our region. State
lawmakers have an opportunity to tackle the rising costs of health care,
fund the fundamental needs of education, lower property taxes, and
squarely address our transportation infrastructure problems – such as
improvements to Highway 14.
As a member of the House Transportation Committee; the House Technology,
Energy and Communications Committee; and the Appropriations Subcommittee
on Education, I’ll be working directly on some of these issues.
My main priority this year is to make sure the state operating budget is
efficient and effective. Olympia does not have a revenue problem – it
has a spending problem. The state must learn to live within its means –
just like you do each month with your personal budget.
It concerns me that state spending has grown so much since 2005. We are
spending 33 percent, over $8.2 billion, more today than just three years
ago.
Even with a strong economy, the governor’s budget office forecasts a
$600 million deficit in the next budget cycle. When this happens, there
will be calls for tax increases or cuts in services – and both will hurt
individuals and families in our communities.
We must do better, and as your state representative I’ll work to ensure
common-sense and accountability in setting state spending priorities.
Southwest Washington is a special place with a bright future. I look
forward to working with you, and for you, to make sure we capture the
best opportunities for our communities, region and state.
I invite you to share your thoughts with me. Your needs, experience and
concerns will help me during the legislative session. Please visit my
Web site at
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Herrera/
or contact me at (360) 786-7850 or
herrera.jaime@leg.wa.gov
|
|