Legislative Session Update
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Aug 10, 2015
Representative Mark Harmsworth visited our Club this past week talking about a "Freshman's" view of the never ending 177 day 2015 Washington State Legislative Session. Freshman legislators rarely get much attention from the leadership or fellow members until relationships are earned and established. Harmsworth commented that sponsoring a bill requires building relationships.
However, Rep. Harmsworth was a strong proponent and sponsor of the House bill funding our Skateboard Park in Lake Stevens along with a provision funding school barricade locks for our Lake Stevens School District. Due to House and Senate conflict over funding transportation and schools, the 177 day session was the longest single legislative session in Washington history.
During his presentation, Harmsworth acknowledged that Senator Steve Hobbs, a member of our club was key to achieving transportation funding for Lake Stevens, the Skateboard Park, and many projects important to our community. The final version of the transportation bill for construction and bonding was $16.1 billion including a 11.9 cent gasoline tax increase and a provision that will allow Sound Transit to ask voters in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties to approve up to $15 billion in taxes to build a new system-extending projects potentially including light rail service to Tacoma
Harmsworth was critical of WSDOT's proposal to raise the number of riders in the I-405 corridor between Bellevue and Lynnwood to three passengers along with a permit. WSDOT relies on the honor system in using the HOV lanes according to Harmsworth. Besides serving on the House Transportation Committee, he is a member of the House Rules Committee and the House Technology and Economic Development Committee.
Harmsworth is married with three children. A former Microsoft executive, he served two terms as councilman on the Mill Creek City Council and served as Mayor Pro-Tem. Thank you Representative Harmsworth for visiting with us!