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Our Rotary member, Senator Steve Hobbs updated our Club members on Transportation issues in our State as the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. Accompanying the Senator to our meeting was Misha Jackson, Legislative Assistant (LA/Transportation) and Jennifer Smolensk, Executive Legislative Assistant for the 44th Legislative District.
Senator Hobbs started his presentation with an overview of the 44th Legislative District which he categorized as a swing district. The number of voting Republicans and Democrats is even. There are a number of budget challenges with a $7.5 billion dollar deficit caused by the many lawsuits affecting the State budget including the McCleary lawsuit, mental health, opioids, homeless and one of the biggest involving culverts to allow fish passage in the state with a $3 billion dollar price tag.
Policy Issues: Immigration, marijuana, health insurance, the Hirst lawsuit (culverts), ST3, RealID, internet privacy and taxes.
Political Issues: Last session there was a split legislature. House was Democratic and the Senate was Republican by a very slim margin. The November 2017 elections changed that by returning the Senate to the Democrats but likewise by a very slim margin; Moderates are under pressure.
Operational Issues: The 2017 Legislative session was the longest session in history with a 193 days. Work continues on the McCleary decision plus carbon emissions reduction and the need to improve fish runs by replacing culverts.
Capital budget includes school construction, sewer projects, mental health facilities, and other building requirements across the state.
Transportation budget: Ferry operations includes $8.7 million of federal funds for vessel maintenance. The Governor wants to build an electric ferry vessel. Liquid natural gas industry wants to provide gas to the ferry vessels. The State Patrol operations had to be strengthened with better entry and pay levels for the officers. Loosing officers to other police agencies that have a better wage scale. Plus, funding for leases and moving costs to the new 1063 Headquarters building. And there are major updates need for information technology projects in the State.
Major transportation projects in the District include $26.4 million for the 35th street corridor in Mill Creek plus the two biggest projects involving SR9/SR 204 and the Trestle study. The Trestle improvements and upgrades could cost between $750 million to $1 billion dollars. Several suggestions are under consideration but have a long way to go before getting approval including tolling, a Transportation Benefit District or private/public partnership. Tolling is only an aspect of WSDOT's study and no decisions or approval has occurred.
We thank Senator Hobbs for the work he does on behalf of our community and his district. Another great meeting presentation full of information of what is going on in the 44th Legislative District.