• $957,000 from the Moses Lake School District
• $303,000 from the Quincy School District
• $267,000 from the Royal School District
• $35,000 from the Kittitas School District
• $17,000 from the Ellensburg School District
• ...and thousands more from Thorp, Ephrata, Selah and Warden school districts

Though the measure did not pass during the regular session, the governor and majority party want to have a special session to pass this and other unsuccessful bills. I don't think a special session is needed, especially at a cost to taxpayers of $18,300 each day we're in special session. 

Bill updates (could be brought back in special session)

• The $3 million bond proposal to pay for school building improvements died. I voted 'no' in the Capital Budget Committee. Read the release I sent to the media here.
• The income tax and sales tax proposals died, though eight other fees which passed the Legislature will put further burdens on consumers, citizens and employers.
• The car tab fee increase for parks through an 'opt-out' program passed the Legislature. I voted 'no' on the House floor.
• The construction liability measure died. I voted 'no' on the House floor.
• The cap and trade proposal died after both the House and Senate passed the bill, but refused to agree on a uniform version. I voted 'no' in the House.
• The massive education reform bill passed the Legislature and awaits the governor's signature. I voted 'yes' on this measure in the House.
• The bill to encourage retired doctors to volunteer in community clinics passed the Legislature and awaits the governor's signature.
• The second bill to extend open space property tax exemptions to horse boarders passed and was just signed by the governor. I voted 'yes' in the House. Rep. Hinkle and I introduced a more expansive measure for more people in agriculture, but it did not pass.
• Eight bills dealing with water relinquishment, stock watering did not pass. However, I look forward to bipartisan discussions during the interim about how we can work together for everyone's goals.

Budgets

The biggest challenge this year, of course, was the state budgets. The operating budget, with a $9 billion shortfall, was balanced using almost $5 billion in one-time dollars. I voted against this budget, as I believe it is unsustainable and will put our state in the same deficit position two years from now.

For the first time, I also voted against the capital budget. Read the release I sent to the media here. I'm disappointed that $777 million is taken from this important construction budget for ongoing programs in the operating budget. The largest hit was to the Public Works Trust Fund, which is a cash account reserved for important community infrastructure projects.

I voted in favor of the final transportation budget, which funds many important projects in our district:

• $49 million for I-90 surface improvements
• $2 million for the North Columbian Basin Railroad extension in Moses Lake
• $6.3 million to pave 8 miles of SR 17
• $2.3 million to pave 5 miles of SR 282
• $1.7 million to resurface all 28 miles of SR 243 from Vernita to Vantage
• $1.4 million to resurface all of SR 262 from SR 26, past the Potholes Reservoir, to SR 17, near Warden

Though I am concerned with the country spending beyond its means for the federal stimulus project, our state must now be wise with how we spend those dollars. I agree that one-time money should be used for one-time projects that create jobs like these transportation projects.

District office now open

Now that I'm back home, my legislative assistant, Kyle, and I have re-opened our district office in
Moses Lake for your convenience. Please feel free to stop by and say hi!

326 South Cedar Street
Moses Lake, WA 98837
(509) 766-6505

And as always, please feel free to call or e-mail me on these or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Rep. Judy Warnick
13th District State Representative

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