Author Archives: bookerstallworth

Working to create more transparency and accountability; upcoming town hall meeting on Feb. 22

On Saturday, Feb. 22, from 10-11:30 a.m., I will be hosting a town hall meeting with Sen. Sharon Brown and Rep. Brad Klippert at the Richland Community Center (500 Amon Park Drive). The three of us will provide a brief update on this year’s 60-day session and then take your questions. There is much to discuss, so I hope you’ll be able to join us. For those of you who can’t make it, please know you can always call me at (360) 786-7986 or send me an email with your comments, questions or concerns. I always welcome your feedback!

One topic we’ll certainly be discussing during the town hall is the majority’s lack of respect for the will of the people. Voters in our state have repeatedly rejected tax increases when they’ve been on the ballot, whether in the form of a state income tax, a carbon tax, a tax on soda, etc. And yet, the two most significant bills the majority brought to the floor in the first half of this year’s session would increase taxes.

One of the bills would impose a low-carbon fuel standard mandate on fuel suppliers that would significantly increase their costs. But it’s not the suppliers who would ultimately foot the bill. It’s you and me as those costs are passed down. Not only would we see higher gas prices at the pump (one estimate predicts prices could rise by as much as 57 cents), but we’d also see higher grocery prices. Additionally, many of our small businesses would struggle under the weight of rising material and transportation costs.

The bottom line is this bill would hurt a lot of people in exchange for a fractional reduction in the carbon in our atmosphere. That’s a bad deal. Our state already leads the nation in electricity generation from renewable sources. We are the nation’s largest producer of hydropower. We are doing the right things to ensure we have a clean and healthy environment now and in the future. That’s why the mandate in House Bill 1110 is so unnecessary.

Although the bill passed 52-44, our caucus fought hard during the four-hour floor fight. Watch:

The other significant bill the majority introduced, which has since been signed into law by the governor, increases the B&O tax rate on thousands of Washington businesses. Instead of allocating the record revenues taxpayers have sent us to fund college scholarships, the majority decided increasing taxes on builders, landscapers, plumbers, mechanics and tens of thousands of others who run small businesses was a better approach.

While we don’t have the votes to stop the majority from passing these types of bills, we will continue doing everything we can to slow them down and hold them accountable for their lack of regard for the will of the people.

An update on my bills

Several bills I introduced this session have been approved in the policy committees tasked with reviewing them.

House Bill 2593 would build on existing efforts to improve state agency accountability and performance by extending the following requirements through the year 2028:

State agencies that issue permits must track and record performance data regarding permit applications and processing times. In March of even-numbered years, these agencies are required to submit a report to the Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) with this data.
In September of even-numbered years, the ORIA is required to publish a comprehensive progress report on the performance of agencies in tracking permit timelines and other efforts to improve regulatory permitting.

House Bill 2594 would require electric utility and natural gas companies to publish—or provide electronically—explanations for all proposed changes to its tariff for at least 30 days. If rates are rising due to policies we’re passing here in the Legislature, you deserve to know that. Creating transparency and accountability, which HB 2594 would do, is one of the best ways we can restore your trust in us.

House Joint Memorial 4015 requests Congress to establish a U.S. Space Academy in Washington to support the mission of Space Force, the nation’s newest military branch. A devoted space academy to train and equip our workforce for the civilian opportunities and military missions of the future in space would benefit the nation and be a boon to our state’s space industry.

House Bill 2596 would direct the state’s Department of Commerce to complete a study of public policies that would help develop the new space economy in Washington. The study would also look at the geographic distribution of potential employment and training opportunities. Results would be required to be submitted to the Legislature by October 31, 2021.

All of these bills are now in the House Rules Committee awaiting further action.

Sponsoring local students as House pages

So far this session, I’ve had the opportunity to sponsor three local students as House pages: Zoe Pfeifer, Bailie Jansons, and Gemma Cannon-Green. All three did a phenomenal job and represented the 8th District well during the week they spent here at the Capitol. Thank you, Zoe, Bailie, and Gemma!

To learn more about the House Page Program, click here.

Contacting me

Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions and concerns about this year’s legislative session or anything else that’s on your mind. And I hope to see you at the town hall next weekend!

Two bills sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke approved by House committees

Two bills sponsored by Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, have been approved by the House committees tasked with reviewing them.

House Bill 2593 would build on existing efforts to improve state agency accountability and performance by extending the following requirements through the year 2028:

State agencies that issue permits must track and record performance data regarding permit applications and processing times. In March of even-numbered years, these agencies are required to submit a report to the Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance (ORIA) with this data.
In September of even-numbered years, the ORIA is required to publish a comprehensive progress report on the performance of agencies in tracking permit timelines and other efforts to improve regulatory permitting.

“Tracking this data, which we’ve done since 2016, has helped state agencies learn how to create greater efficiencies in the permitting process,” said Boehnke. “Extending these requirements to 2028 would help them provide even better customer service to Washingtonians, which is an important component in ensuring we have a government that effectively serves the people.”

House Bill 2594 would require electric utility and natural gas companies to publish—or provide electronically—all proposed changes to its tariff for at least 30 days. Under the bill, the publication must be provided for any proposed tariff change that would increase recurring or per-occurrence charges or restrict access to services, and also must include the following information:

A brief explanation of the reason(s) the utility has requested the rate change, and the portion of the rate change attributable to factors such as increased labor costs, increased fuel costs, and recovery of transmission or distribution infrastructure investment.
A brief statement describing: (a) any regulatory or public policy decisions, including federal, state, and local laws, that have imposed obligations that increase costs for the utility, and (b) the portion of the rate change attributable to each identified regulatory or public policy decision.

“House Bill 2594 would increase transparency for ratepayers by providing them with important information about changes to their bill,” added Boehnke. “If rates are rising due to policies we’re passing here in the Legislature, our constituents deserve to know that. Creating transparency and accountability, which this bill would do, is one of the best ways we can restore the public’s trust. I hope to see it on the governor’s desk later this session.”

House Bill 2593 was approved by the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, and House Bill 2594 was approved by the House Environment and Energy Committee.

Both bills await further action in the House Rules Committee.

Tri-Cities Day here at the Capitol

Every year, the six organizations that make up the Tri-Cities Legislative Council (Tri-City Regional Chamber, Tri-City Industrial Development Council, Visit Tri-Cities, Pasco Chamber, Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber, and the West Richland Chamber of Commerce) travel to Olympia to meet with lawmakers from the 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th districts.

While today is their official Tri-Cities Day here at the Capitol, I’m lucky because it’s always Tri-Cities Day for me. I have the honor of meeting with people from our district on a daily basis to discuss ways we can work together to solve the big issues facing our communities. Take a look at this video featuring some of this week’s highlights:

It’s an honor and a privilege to serve you in the state House. As always, please feel free to contact me any time with your comments, questions or concerns about the 2020 session or anything else that’s on your mind.

Rep. Boehnke joins KONA Radio to discuss STEM education and secure elections

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, joins KONA Radio’s Robb Francis live in Olympia. He discusses his push to advance STEM by launching “Space Race 2.0” in Washington state. He also explains how he’s working to thwart the efforts of cybercriminals to ensure the state can hold secure elections now and in the future.

Three issues dominating the 2020 legislative session so far

We’re now at the end of the second week of the 2020 legislative session. If you haven’t been keeping tabs on the latest from Olympia, I encourage you to subscribe to the Capitol Buzz, a weekday summary of online news stories from across the state. I also recommend bookmarking our legislative news aggregator, The Ledger, which features House Republican news releases, op-eds, video updates, radio interviews, and more.

The three issues that have dominated this year’s 60-day session so far are $30 car tabs, the state’s homelessness crisis, and the majority’s attempt to chip away at your Second Amendment rights.

Last week, several of our members introduced a comprehensive transportation package to implement $30 car tabs, establish a new permanent funding source for transportation, and cut WSDOT bureaucracy instead of projects. Those of us in the House Republican Caucus firmly believe the will of the people on I-976 should be respected, and we will continue making that clear to the majority.

As far as the homelessness crisis goes, the plan Gov. Inslee rolled out earlier this month is a non-starter. The governor wants to take $319 million from the state’s rainy day fund (our fund for budget emergencies) and spend it on programs that have clear ongoing costs. That doesn’t make any sense. We need long-term, results-oriented solutions backed by general fund dollars that combine compassion with enforcement and accountability. It is my hope Republicans and Democrats can come together this session to deliver on that.

Earlier this week, hearings were held on a number of gun bills that would hinder your Second Amendment rights:

House Bill 2240 would ban the manufacture, possession, sale, etc. of magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.
House Bill 2241 would ban certain semi-automatic rifles and magazines that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition.
House Bill 2519 would ban online sales of ammunition.

We don’t know which of these bills, if any, have a chance to make it the governor’s desk this session, but our caucus will do everything we can to prevent that from happening.

Ensuring secure ballot transmission for military and overseas voters

On Tuesday, I testified on my bill to ensure secure ballot transmission for military and overseas voters in future elections. Under House Bill 2111, which was requested by the Secretary of State’s office last year, emailed and faxed ballots would no longer be accepted by election officials, thereby eliminating the risk of electronic ballot tampering by cybercriminals. Instead, military and overseas voters would continue receiving a paper ballot in the mail 45 days before an election. Alternatively, they would have the option to download and print a ballot to mail in.

Passage of this bill would mark yet another step forward in our state’s efforts to mitigate possible security risks that could compromise the integrity of our elections. I believe it’s imperative for the Legislature to continue working hand-in-hand with the Secretary of State’s office on issues of election security.

Seeking to position Washington as a leader in the new space economy

I’ve sponsored a number of bills this session that seek to bolster Washington’s space industry and position our state as a leader in the new space economy.

House Bill 2665 would create a business and occupation tax credit for qualified research and development (R&D) expenditures in advanced spacecraft manufacturing. It would also defer state and local sales tax on the construction or expansion of eligible R&D or pilot scale manufacturing facilities, as well as on qualified machinery and equipment purchases related to R&D.

Finally, House Bill 2596 would direct the state’s Department of Commerce to complete a study of public policies that would help develop the new space economy in Washington. The study would also look at the geographic distribution of potential employment and training opportunities. Results would be required to be submitted to the Legislature by October 31, 2021.

These bills will be heard next week in the House Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee.

House Page Program

Here in the House, students ages 14 to 16 have an excellent opportunity to get involved in their state government by serving as a page for a week. To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor and obtain written permission from their parents and school. If you know of a student who would be a good applicant, please send me an email.

To learn more about the House Page Program, click here.

Contacting me

As always, please feel free to contact me any time to share your comments, questions and concerns about this year’s legislative session or anything else that’s on your mind. I look forward to hearing from you.

Boehnke introduces series of bills seeking to position Washington as a leader in the new space economy

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, has introduced a series of bills seeking to bolster Washington’s space industry and position the state as a leader in the new space economy for both civilian and military populations.

House Joint Memorial 4015 requests Congress to establish a U.S. Space Academy in Washington to support the mission of Space Force, the nation’s newest military branch.

“A devoted space academy located in Washington and funded by federal dollars would benefit the nation and grow our state’s space economy,” said Boehnke. “As Space Force grows, we can and should expect Congress to authorize the creation of a specialized academy to train and equip an American workforce for the civilian opportunities and military missions of the future in space. This House Joint Memorial, if adopted, would send a powerful signal of unified political support in Washington for such an academy.”

Space Force was established in December as part of the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law by President Trump.

Boehnke’s House Bill 2665 would create a business and occupation tax credit for qualified research and development (R&D) expenditures in advanced spacecraft manufacturing. It would also defer state and local sales tax on the construction or expansion of eligible R&D or pilot scale manufacturing facilities, as well as on qualified machinery and equipment purchases related to R&D.

“The global space sector, currently worth $350 billion, is expected to grow to $2.7 trillion by 2045,” added Boehnke. “Washington state is home to some of the brightest minds and most influential visionaries, and we have a tremendous opportunity to establish ourselves as a national and global leader in the future of commercial space exploration and development. Each of these bills would help get us started on that journey.”

Boehnke’s three bills are scheduled to be heard next week in the House Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee.

Boehnke testifies on bill to ensure secure ballot transmission for military and overseas voters

Appearing Tuesday before the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee, R ep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, testified on a bill he’s sponsored to ensure secure ballot transmission for military and overseas voters in future elections.

Under House Bill 2111, which was requested by the Secretary of State’s office last year, emailed and faxed ballots would no longer be accepted by election officials, thereby eliminating the risk of electronic ballot tampering by cybercriminals. Instead, military and overseas voters would continue receiving a paper ballot in the mail 45 days before an election. Alternatively, they would have the option to download and print a ballot to mail in.

Boehnke, who in addition to being a state lawmaker serves as the director and lead professor of the cybersecurity division at Columbia Basin College, issued the following statement:

“Passage of House Bill 2111 would mark yet another step forward in our state’s efforts to mitigate possible security risks that could compromise the integrity of our elections. It is imperative for the Legislature to continue working hand-in-hand with the Secretary of State’s office to thwart those who would seek to compromise our election systems.”

In 2018, Secretary of State Kim Wyman found county election systems were at risk of being infiltrated due to counties being required to open email attachments from voters. She issued the following statement:

“Securing our elections is a race without a finish line. A few years ago, my office took steps to shore up election security by eliminating electronic ballot return for a majority of our voters, but the threat of electronic ballot transmission persists. I urge lawmakers that as we head into the 2020 election cycle, they act now to ensure the secure transmission of ballots for our military and overseas voters, and further protect our systems from cyber threats.”

The 2020 session began Monday, Jan. 13.

I asked, you responded: 2020 legislative priorities survey results

I hope you and your family have had a great Thanksgiving week full of football, food and fellowship!

I’m sending this email update out tonight because election-year restrictions go into effect tomorrow. That means I won’t be able to send you another email update until session starts on January 13. However, I’ll still be able to respond to your emails, phone calls and letters, so please feel free to contact me anytime.

Before I get to the results of the legislative priorities survey I sent in my last email update, I invite you to take a few minutes to watch my latest video update. In the update, I discuss what I’ve been working on this interim, why it’s important for us as lawmakers to meet in our respective committees before the start of session, and what my legislative priorities are for next year. Take a look:

2020 legislative priorities survey results

I want to thank those of you who responded to the legislative priorities survey I sent out last week. I’m here to serve you and bring your voice to Olympia, so knowing exactly where you stand on the issues is helpful.

As I’ve said many times, I’m fully committed to working across the aisle to help shape good public policy that will benefit our district and the state. However, I’m also going to continue fighting against policies that increase taxes, create unnecessary barriers to growth, and infringe on your liberties.

With that said, here are the survey results:

Q1. What do you believe is the top priority the Legislature needs to address during the 2020 session? (Responses are a weighted average)

Q2. What is the most significant financial challenge your family faces on a monthly basis? (Responses are a weighted average)

Q3. In general, I’m happy with the way things are going in Washington state.

Q4. The Democratic majority in Olympia understands and is working on the issues most important to me and my family.

Q5. Do you believe the Legislature spends your tax dollars wisely on services that Washingtonians need, or do you believe that the Legislature wastes your tax dollars on unnecessary and frivolous things?

Q6. Would you support an increase in the gas tax as a way to pay for improving the state’s roads, highways and bridges?

Q7. Do you support replacing the gas tax with a pay-per-mile system?

Q8. Do you support a state income tax?

Q9. Would you support legislation to prevent local governments from implementing an income tax?

Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. It’s clear from your responses that you feel lawmakers could be doing a better job for you and your family. I couldn’t agree more. Although our caucus is in the minority, we have a role to play in proposing and advocating for policies that make daily life more affordable, increase government accountability, and create safer communities. We’ll be focused on these priorities during the 2020 session.

House Page Program

I can’t say enough good things about the House Page Program, which offers students between the ages of 14 and 16 the opportunity to come to the Capitol and serve as a page for a week. Students in the program attend page school every day, assist lawmakers on the House floor, and fulfill many other tasks critical to the efficient operation of the Legislature. It’s a great way for them to get involved in their state government, and an experience they’ll never forget.

If you know of any students who would be interested in serving as a page during the upcoming session, please send me an email. To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor and obtain written permission from their parents and school. Pages earn $35 per day while serving in the program.

For more information, click here.

Contacting me

Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7986.

It is an honor to serve you.

Preparing for the 2020 session; take my legislative priorities survey!

Following the adjournment of this year’s 105-day legislative session, I came home and immediately continued working on the many issues you brought to me during session. As your state representative, it’s my job to work on your behalf and help ensure the 8th District remains the best place in the state to live, work and raise a family.

I’m proud of how our district is helping lead the way in a variety of areas – energy, cybersecurity, grid security, STEM education, and more. It’s an honor to serve you in the Legislature, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to accomplish big things for our communities and the state.

On a daily basis this interim, I’ve met with constituents, community leaders, local politicians, business owners, representatives from state agencies, and more. I’ve also gone on a number of tours and attended several events both here in Washington state and around the country, including:

NCSL Nuclear Legislative Working Group meeting and tours of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and URENCO’s Uranium Enrichment Facility in New Mexico. The meeting offered a chance for us as legislators to connect with working group members from other states, discuss federal and state nuclear energy and waste management policy, and meet with federal officials from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tri-City Herald editorial board meeting with House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox to discuss the 2019 legislative session.

Snake River Dam tour with legislators and staff from the House and Senate. It was great to discuss the issues and hear from various experts, farmers, regional leaders, and U.S. Army Corps personnel about the impact these critical assets have on our communities and the state.

NCSL Legislative Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Major areas of focus for me included energy, technology, cybersecurity, data privacy, and veterans’ issues.

Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program meeting and tour with local and state officials.

RiverFest at Columbia Park in Kennewick. RiverFest brings our communities together to showcase the many benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System and highlight the four lower Snake River dams, including navigation, irrigation, recreation and power.

9/11 memorial ceremony at Southridge in Kennewick. I was honored to have the opportunity to deliver some remarks on the 18th anniversary of 9/11. We will never forget!

Atomic Frontier Day in Richland to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Manhattan Project and honor a community event popular in the early days of Hanford.

I also attended and graduated from the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute program, which educates state legislators on the North American energy infrastructure and delivery system. I was proud to represent Washington state and showcase how our amazing district is leading the country in clean, affordable and abundant energy!

Additionally, I traveled back to Olympia for two days of meetings with my fellow lawmakers in the three committees I serve on: Innovation, Technology and Economic Development, Environment and Energy, and Transportation. Having these committee meetings is an important part of our preparation for the 2020 session. We’ll be having two more days of meetings later this month.

What are your legislative priorities for the 2020 session? Take my survey!

During the 2020 session, my top priority will be continuing to fight for you and your family against: 1) unnecessary tax increases, 2) burdensome regulations that make it harder to start a business and build a home, and 3) an oversized state government that lacks accountability and transparency.

Now, I want to hear what your priorities are. What issues do you care most about? What policies do you support or oppose? I invite you to take my short legislative survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WVXJ268.

Thank you in advance for your feedback! I’ll provide the results in my next email update.

Recent headlines

Columbia Basin College student-veterans honoring fellow service members (KEPR-TV)
‘Good cemeterians’: Finley students wash headstones of fallen soldiers (KEPR-TV)
Energy Secretary celebrates cleanup project at Hanford (Tri-City Herald)
Mattis to honor Tri-Cities Vietnam vets — a welcome 50 years in the making (Tri-City Herald)
More students are taking CBC classes. What’s making the difference? (Tri-City Herald)
Tri-Cities picked for multi-million dollar electric grid research complex (Tri-City Herald)
BLOG: Hydroelectric dams produce 2,000 times as much energy per job as solar in Washington (Washington Policy Center)
EDITORIAL: Removing dams would damn N.W. economy (The Columbian)
EDITORIAL: Legislature’s legal challenge to governor’s power welcome (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)

Contacting me

In addition to providing your answers and feedback in the survey I linked to above, please don’t hesitate to email me any time with your comments, questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing from you!

Until next time, take care.

Reps. Boehnke, Rude appointed to working group on nuclear energy, waste management issues

Reps. Matt Boehnke and Skyler Rude have been appointed to serve on the National Conference of State Legislature’s (NCSL) Nuclear Legislative Working Group. The group, which meets two times per year, provides state lawmakers from across the nation an opportunity to discuss nuclear energy and waste management policy, as well as meet with federal officials from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Boehnke and Rude both noted ongoing cleanup at the Hanford nuclear reservation site will be of particular interest as they meet with the working group.

“With projected cleanup costs at Hanford having tripled in the past three years, it is vital we come up with new ideas to ensure the remaining cleanup is done safely and in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “Working directly with DOE and fellow legislators facing other waste management issues in their own states, I’m confident we can chart a new course. I look forward to attending our first meeting next week.”

“Part of our job as lawmakers is to adopt public policy that will ensure the continued health and safety of our communities,” said Rude, R-Walla Walla. “How we manage hazardous materials, especially as it relates to Hanford, is an important example of that. I’m hopeful through this working group we can gain a better understanding of the challenges with waste disposal and management, and continue to work with DOE and others to perfect the cleanup process at Hanford.”

The working group will meet in Carlsbad, New Mexico June 4-5. During the meeting, participants will tour the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, where transuranic (TRU) waste from the Hanford site is shipped.

Both Boehnke and Rude are scheduled to attend.