Rep. Mike Hope and the Recent Legislative Session
Posted by Gary O'Rielly
on Jun 05, 2012
The Club's guest speaker June 1, 2012 was Representative Mike Hope. His perspective on the past session included a view that the Tier One budget that was introduced by the Governor had massive tax increases that would be unacceptable to his district and the impact on Lake Stevens would be small. School Districts didn't want any of their payments delayed as in the past. They were able to maintain critical care cost. The $1.5 billion dollar shortfall caused problems for this year's budget. But the economy improved and the shortfall became $365 million instead of $1.5 billion. Legislators delayed passing the budget, waiting until the economic forecast was released which prompted the Special Session. The legislature passed the BLUE ALERT system that will become law in six months.
On the negative side of the legislative session, there were not enough reform measures and over spending by the state continued. Nothing has changed over the past four years. Jobs, public safety and tax incentives for business were not addressed. However, as a result of the last session, Hope is seeing cooperation between the Democrats and Republicans especially in the Puget Sound region. The region will take over the leadership of the legislature in the coming years.
To give you some idea about Representative Mike Hope, a brief commentary is listed below.
Legislator, Police Officer and small business owner, Mike Hope and his two brothers were raised by a single mom in Cleveland, Ohio. Mike learned the value of hard work at an early age. While raising three boys, his mother put herself through college and became a nurse. This example of courage and sacrifice has guided Mike all of his life. Growing up in blue collar suburg of Cleveland, he dreamed of going to college and having a career in law enforcement.
During his Marine training at Fort Lewis, Mike fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. Mike paid his way through college graduating from John Carroll University, B.S. Sociology and Criminology in 1998 and joined the Seattle Police Department. He untimately earned a Master's Degree in Policy Studies at the University of Washington, Bothell. Although Mike lived and grew up five miles from his wife Sara, they did not meet until after college. Their first child Noah, was born a couple of years ago. Re-election is on the agenda and will be key for his future interest. Hope stated that he had no interest in running again for the County Executive position. His future is in the Washington State legislature.
To give you some idea about Representative Mike Hope, a brief commentary is listed below.
Legislator, Police Officer and small business owner, Mike Hope and his two brothers were raised by a single mom in Cleveland, Ohio. Mike learned the value of hard work at an early age. While raising three boys, his mother put herself through college and became a nurse. This example of courage and sacrifice has guided Mike all of his life. Growing up in blue collar suburg of Cleveland, he dreamed of going to college and having a career in law enforcement.
During his Marine training at Fort Lewis, Mike fell in love with the Pacific Northwest. Mike paid his way through college graduating from John Carroll University, B.S. Sociology and Criminology in 1998 and joined the Seattle Police Department. He untimately earned a Master's Degree in Policy Studies at the University of Washington, Bothell. Although Mike lived and grew up five miles from his wife Sara, they did not meet until after college. Their first child Noah, was born a couple of years ago. Re-election is on the agenda and will be key for his future interest. Hope stated that he had no interest in running again for the County Executive position. His future is in the Washington State legislature.