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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week the Legislature will be in Olympia for Committee Assembly Days. The annual November gathering includes committee hearings, caucus discussions and other meetings. You can find a legislative calendar here. If you want to follow the action on TVW, you can find a schedule here.
Many committees will meet for “work sessions” where members listen to presentations, studies, gather agency insight and more, but don't hear testimony from the public or actually vote on proposed legislation.
However, I have recently learned the Senate Transportation Committee will be holding a public hearing on proposed transportation reforms and a tax package. Due to this hearing, and comments made by the governor, there are rumors that there may be a fourth special session may be called this year in an attempt to pass a new gas tax.
You have an opportunity to participate in this hearing and have your opinion heard regarding the gas tax and other transportation issues. The hearing is at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the J.A. Cherberg Building. (Directions can be found here.)
Additionally, the House Transportation Committee will be holding a work session on transportation at 3:30 p.m. immediately following the Senate hearing. While public testimony is not allowed during a legislative work session, you are welcome to attend and hear what the Department of Transportation proposes regarding reforms, cost efficiencies and more. The full agenda can be found here. The House Transportation Committee will meet in House Hearing Room B of the John L. O'Brien Building.
I continue to believe that we need reforms to help ensure state tax dollars are maximized before the Legislature considers reaching deeper into people's pockets with a new gas tax. The House Republicans have created a video that discusses our unique transportation issues in Washington state. Please watch it here and let me know what you think! The most important element of our state transportation system is how it affects your life.
As always, feel free to send me your thoughts, comments and questions to Linda.Kochmar@leg.wa.gov. Thank you for trusting me to be your voice in the Legislature.
Sincerely,
Linda Kochmar
