July 8, 2009

Dear friends and neighbors,

As many of you know, the Legislature did not hold a special session. It was a relief to know levy equalization dollars will not be cut as we had earlier feared.

Now that we are in the full swing of interim, I have begun work on several task forces and committees to continue work on important issues for our district and state.

Interim projects

I was appointed to several important groups this interim. The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) assists local governments with grants and resources to complete necessary infrastructure and economic development projects. This board is crucial to helping cities and counties create jobs and economic activity around the state.

The Washington Council on Aerospace was created due to concerns about the future of the huge aerospace industry in our state. I look forward to providing input on creating a more sustainable work force and better business climate for employers. Training new people to go into various aerospace fields is essential, and Moses Lake's Big Bend Community College which currently offers flight training and other aerospace-related classes. This, along with the Port of Moses Lake and the Grant County Airport facilities, are all positive assets the state can and should promote for future aerospace development. I believe given the events of the last few days, our state needs to follow any changes in the aerospace industry very carefully and be prepared to compete nationally for those jobs.

In the final budget passed this year, the Legislature requested the Department of Ecology to convene a work group to discuss stock watering issues. I'm pleased to be a part of this group and am hopeful we can come to an understanding of different viewpoints on this critical agriculture-related issue.

I'll also be serving on the School Construction Task Force, a group that began meeting in 2007 to discuss how best to fund the construction and maintenance of school buildings. During this session, you may know there was a proposal to pay for school construction with a very large bond that would have to be approved by voters. I opposed this bond measure because I believed it put our state's credit rating at risk and was not a permanent solution for building and fixing schools - the places our children and grandchildren learn. During the debate on the bond proposal, we learned about some of the poor learning environments around the state. I look forward to finding a permanent way to pay for school construction within our current resources.

Transportation projects have begun

This year's transportation budget included many stimulus projects around the 13th District:

• I-90/Yakima River to W Ellensburg - Paving
• SR 243/Mattawa Vicinity - Chip Seal
• SR 282/Ephrata South - Paving
• SR 17/Grant County Airport North - Paving
• I-90/Slide Curve to Cabin Creek - Paving
• SR 262/Potholes Reservoir Area - Chip Seal

These are just a few of the projects under construction. I'm excited these projects create more than 150 jobs and low bids on first-priority projects allowed more second-priority projects to be funded. These projects will preserve our infrastructure for future generations.

Also, the Washington State Department of Transportation will begin the first phase of the I-90 Snoqualmie Pass project next month to reduce congestion for commuters and travelers and increase safety during the winter. I encourage you to attend an open house to find out more about the project and how it will affect you.

Meet me around the district

Each month, Rep. Hinkle and I hold office hours in Ellensburg, Cle Elum and Yakima. This is a chance for those of you who cannot travel to my district office in Moses Lake to chat with me about state issues. There's no appointment necessary, but it's important that I stay in touch with you and how I can best represent you!  Here's our schedule for July:

• Thursday, July 9 -- Cle Elum, Cottage Cafe from 10 a.m. to noon
                           -- Ellensburg, Kittitas County Courthouse from 2-4 p.m.

• Thursday, July 16 -- Yakima, Columbia Basin Railroad Office Building from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
                              (breaking for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.)

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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