Legislative Action

Governor Inslee signed a new 2-year state operating budget at 11:00 PM June 30. It included $2 million per year for the Fair Fund. This is the same amount that has been allocated to the Fair Fund for most of the past 20 years.

The legislature did not pass a capital budget yesterday. The capital budget is being held due to failure to reach agreement on fixing the Hirst decision which limited the ability to drill new wells in most of Washington. Senators want a fix for that before agreeing to release the capital budget. (The Hirst issue is very important to most of rural Washington.)

That means, at this time, there is no money for health and safety grants. However, the legislature plans to continue to work toward agreement on a capital budget in July. If they reach an agreement, fair grants will probably be included.

The new operating budget also includes $500,000 for the Department of Commerce to work with the Washington Tourism Alliance to develop a tourism marketing plan.

• Feel free to to drop by the Capital and speak with your legislator's office, or the Governor's office.
  
• From I-5 Southbound: Take 'Exit 105 to State Capitol,' keep left for Exit 105A, and continue for 0.6 miles. Merge with traffic on the left and continue in the left hand lane of 14th Ave SW through the roundabout (Jefferson St.) and under the tunnel 0.4 mi to Capitol Blvd. Continue across Capitol Blvd to the Capitol Building on Sid Snyder Ave SW (14th Ave becomes Sid Snyder Ave).
• From I-5 Northbound: Take Exit 105 and bear left for the State Capitol/City Center exit. Cross over Interstate 5 and keep in the left lane on 14th Ave SE. through the roundabout (Jefferson St) and under the tunnel 0.4 mi to Capitol Blvd. Continue across Capitol Blvd to the Capitol Building on Sid Snyder Ave SW (14th Ave becomes Sid Snyder Ave).