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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As I am sure you have heard, the Legislature is very close to voting on the operating budget. Some sacrifices have been made in order to
reach agreement. The operating budget proposal isn’t perfect, but it is a compromise that would prevent up to 25,000 state employees from losing their jobs.
Additionally, it funds and reflects the needs of our district. This budget focuses on education, public safety and protecting the most vulnerable. It would:
- dedicate $1.03 billion to enhance K-12 education, including class-size reduction
and all-day kindergarten; - not include increased business and occupation taxes on Washington businesses as seen in previous proposals;
- not make cuts to services for the most vulnerable;
- expand Medicaid and the Hospital Safety Net Assessment; and
- protect future generations by preserving the rainy-day fund.
Once the operating budget receives a vote, it paves the way for the capital budget to pass and the Legislature to adjourn. In order to see the full details of the operating budget, please visit the LEAP website.
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION
This week several “compromise” bills received votes in order to facilitate passage of the budget. Among those was an additional transportation revenue package that I opposed. You can click here to read my recent press release on why I made this difficult decision. You can also click here to see my fellow Republicans’ addresses on the House floor.
Please note, while I did not support the additional transportation package that does not remove the money for current projects under construction in your neighborhood. This additional package, which would institute a high gas tax, was separate from the state transportation budget which passed earlier in the legislative session and was signed into law.
THE NEW DISTRICT OFFICE
I am very excited to announce the opening of my district office. Please stop by to talk with me and meet my Legislative Assistant, Joe Atkinson, this Monday, July 1 from 11:30 a.m. – 1p.m. The office is located at 930 S. 336th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003.
I am looking forward to working along side you to make our communities stronger. I hope that by having a local office it will give you more chances to participate in the law making process. I am here to be a resource for you and I look forward to seeing you at the district office!
In closing, should you have any questions about the open house, please call or e-mail me at the number and address below. And, feel free to pass this e-mail along to others who may be interested. You can sign up for my e-mail updates by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Linda Kochmar
