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Issues and accomplishments
from the 2004 session
By Rep. Bill Hinkle
The 2004 legislative
session was successful on several fronts. We renewed tax incentives that
are creating high-tech jobs. We also made long-overdue improvements to
the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) test, allowing for
re-takes, requiring clear achievement standards, and creating individual
education plans for kids with disabilities.
One thing we could have done better this year is stopping runaway jury
awards that are chasing away doctors, strangling employers and eating up
local governments’ budgets. Republicans proposed comprehensive bills
with solutions already working in other states. Neither plan would have
limited awards for doctor bills, lost wages (with raises), and other
measurable damages. Unfortunately, special interests prevailed, and we
passed only minor measures that won’t fix the problem. Next year we must
try again to make real changes.
On a personal note, I am excited to tell you we may soon have a postage
stamp honoring coal miners. I believe it’s important to honor the people
in this industry who fueled America’s industrial age. Last year I helped
dedicate a coalminers’ memorial in Cle Elum, and my legislation to
create the stamp is another way to say thanks to these folks. I am also
pleased my legislation to let counties get up to 80 percent of the
excise tax on timber harvested from public lands (now money that goes
only to the state) is still moving in the Legislature. Unfortunately, my
bill to open up public lands to ATVs and ORVs was lost at a Senate
cutoff.
Next session we’ll find many items still on the table. We need to pass a
plan for cutting regulations that are forcing employers to cut jobs. We
need to make health care benefits affordable for small employers. We
must bring workers’ compensation rates under control. And we may have to
deal with the issue of gay marriage. The Legislature passed a Defense of
Marriage Act in 1998, but this week gay rights activists sued to
overturn that law. There’s a chance we will need to act next year to
again defend marriage as between a man and a woman – something I very
strongly support.
I’d like to thank everyone for their calls and letters of support this
session. I am proud and honored to represent the people of the 13th
District and work on issues important to the people of Central
Washington.
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For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
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