Author Archives: bookerstallworth

Democrats pass $2 billion in tax increases on final weekend of 2019 legislative session

This year’s 105-day legislative session ended on a disappointing note, as the majority party approved $2 billion in tax increases in the dead of night before ultimately passing the 2019-21 operating budget.

While it was always likely that larger Democrat majorities in the House and Senate would lead to tax hikes this year, there was a total lack of transparency in how the process played out on the final weekend of session. Normally, Washingtonians are given an opportunity to make their voices heard before bills come to the floor for a vote. That wasn’t the case when it came to the majority’s tax proposals.

They decided to use “title-only” bills—which have a generic title, but no actual policy details—to serve as placeholders until they knew which taxes they were going to bring to the floor. In doing so, they were able to cut the public out of the process entirely. It was a cynical move, and newspaper editorial boards across the state took notice. Below are some of the headlines:

In order to increase spending 18% above current levels, the majority’s two-year, $52.4 billion operating budget relies on the following taxes:

  • A business and occupation (B&O) tax surcharge on services that will impact 90,000 employers and raise costs for consumers.
  • A new, graduated real estate excise tax (REET) that will restrict housing supply, increase rents and harm our economy.
  • A higher tax on oil that will increase the price of gas.
  • A B&O tax increase on large banks that will result in costs being passed on to customers.
  • A change to the nonresident sales tax exemption, which will result in fewer Oregonians shopping at Washington businesses in our border communities.

Keep in mind the $2 billion in tax increases doesn’t include a new levy lift bill (Senate Bill 5313), which will increase property taxes for families across the state by modifying the amount local levies can collect for K-12 enrichment programs.

With this budget, state spending will have increased 70% since 2013. When a recession finally does come, I believe budget writers are going to be wishing they been a lot more fiscally responsible with your tax dollars.

2019-21 transportation and capital budgets provide funding for 8th District projects

Although passage of the operating budget is always contentious, the same can’t be said for passage of the state’s two other budgets—transportation and capital. As usual, both budgets were approved with broad bipartisan support.

The transportation budget allocates funding for the development and maintenance of the state’s transportation infrastructure, while the capital budget allocates funding for public works projects statewide.

In an article last week, Wendy Culverwell with the Tri-City Herald did a great job summarizing the major local projects being funded by the 2019-21 transportation budget. You can read her piece here.

In terms of the capital budget, below are several of the projects that will be receiving funding this biennium.

  • $27 million to build the WSU Tri-Cities Academic Building.
  • $15.2 million to build a new military readiness training center.
  • $8.3 million to accelerate grid-scale energy storage technology research at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
  • $7.7 million for the design and construction of a LIGO STEM Exploration Center at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory.
  • $1.1 million to the Boys & Girls Club of Benton and Franklin counties for its Kennewick Clubhouse project.
  • $1 million for the Tri-Tech Skills Center.
  • $800,000 to the Richland School District for an early learning facility.

These projects are going to make a tremendous difference for our communities in the 8th. I was honored to work with Sen. Sharon Brown and Rep. Brad Klippert to secure funding for them.

An overview of key legislation this session

While we were bitterly divided on many issues this session, Republicans and Democrats worked together on a number of important priorities:

  • The 2019-21 capital budget provides record funding for mental and behavioral health infrastructure around the state. My good friend and colleague, Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, has been a tremendous leader on this issue.
  • Senate Bill 5380 will establish new rules regarding opioid prescribing and the dispensing of opioid overdose reversal medication. It will also require physicians to discuss alternatives to opioids with patients before prescribing them.
  • Senate Bill 5091 will increase the excess cost multiplier for special education students, which will result in more funding.  
  • Senate Bill 5511 will expand broadband to enable economic development, public safety and health care across our state.
  • Senate Bill 5649 will eliminate the statute of limitations for most sex crimes committed against minors, and extend the statute of limitations for most other sex offenses.

In other good news, Republicans in the Legislature and thousands of citizens who spoke out helped stop a number of harmful policies this session:

  • House Bill 1068, which was requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, would make it unlawful for Washingtonians to possess firearm magazines that hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition.
  • House Bill 1110 would create a new low carbon fuel standard program, which would significantly increase the price of gas and goods.
  • House Bill 1491 would restrict scheduling options for employees and employers, hurting various industries around the state.
  • House Bill 1515 would force many individual contractors to work as employees as opposed to being their own boss.
  • Senate Bill 5395 would require every school to provide comprehensive sex education.

Although these bills did not advance this year, keep in mind they will be up for consideration again next year, as will the following Republican-sponsored bills:

  • House Bill 1035 would provide every public school with funding to employ a full-time school resource officer.
  • House Bill 1235 would make it a crime to show harmful materials to a minor.
  • House Bill 1588 would prevent local governments from imposing an income tax on an individual or household income.
  • House Bill 2149 would improve our state budgeting process through zero-based budget reviews. 
  • House Bill 2150 would implement the periodic review of state spending programs. 
  • House Bill 2152 would extend the period through which a state budget must be balanced from four years to six years.

Contacting me

Although session has now adjourned, please know I’m here to serve you year-round. If you’d like to meet with me during interim, please send an email to my legislative assistant, Jennifer, to set up a time. I also welcome your comments, questions and concerns about legislative issues, as well as your ideas about about how we can make the 8th District an even better place to live.

It is an honor to serve you.

Boehnke sponsors local students as House pages

Earlier this session, Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, sponsored local students Grant Robertson (pictured left) and Johnathon Rexus (pictured right) as pages in the state House.

Robertson attends Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland, while Rexus attends Kamiakin High School in Kennewick. During their week in the House Page Program, the two students attended page school every day to learn about the three branches of state government, the lawmaking process, and the importance of civil discourse. They also carried out a number of duties critical to the efficient operation of the Legislature.

“One of the many things I enjoy about my job is having the opportunity to sponsor local students as pages,” said Boehnke. “I want to thank Grant and Johnathon for their service to the House, and for being willing to spend a week here in Olympia learning how their state government works! I wish them both the best going forward.”

To become a page, applicants must have a legislative sponsor, be between the ages of 14 and 16, and obtain written permission from their parents and school. Pages earn $35 per day while serving in the program. For more information about the House Page Program, click here.

House Democrats proposing $4.2 billion in new taxes

It’s budget season, and unfortunately, taxpayers may wind up on the losing end when all is said and done. The House Democrats’ 2019-21 operating budget proposal, which was recently introduced, would not only increase spending by $8.5 billion, but would also increase taxes to the tune of $4.2 billion.

We currently have record revenues and a $3 billion surplus. To spend every dime of that revenue is wrong, as is asking you for more via new and higher taxes, especially when you have said ‘no’ time and time again at the ballot box.

Take a look at the spending chart below. If the House Democrats’ budget proposal is enacted, the Legislature will have increased state spending by 70% since 2013. That’s unconscionable.

When the budget came to the floor for a vote late last month, a number of Republican amendments were accepted by the majority party. Even so, we couldn’t support a plan that spends and taxes far too much, and also leaves us vulnerable in the event a recession. Below are some highlights of our floor speeches during the debate:

While the Senate Democrats’ operating budget proposal is a little more reasonable, it still irresponsibly increases spending and raises taxes. As majority party budget negotiators work on a final budget, it is my hope common sense will win the day and that we will pass a sustainable and fiscally responsible plan.

90 seconds with TVW

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with TVW to record a short video for their ‘Legislator Profiles’ series. I hope you’ll take 90 seconds to learn a little bit more about me:

Sponsoring local students Grant Robertson and Johnathon Rexus as House pages

One of the many things I enjoy about my job is having the opportunity to sponsor local students as pages here in the state House. Grant Robertson (pictured left) attends Chief Joseph Middle School in Richland, while Johnathon Rexus (pictured right) attends Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.

During their time here in Olympia, Grant and Johnathon attended page school every day to learn about the three branches of state government, the lawmaking process, and the importance of civil discourse. They also carried out a number of duties critical to the efficient operation of the Legislature. I really appreciated their help throughout the week, and want to thank them for being civic-minded and willing to learn about how their state government works!

Honoring Mariner great and Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez

If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite Mariners memories is Edgar Martinez lining a double down the left field line to score Joey Cora and Ken Griffey Jr., sending the Mariners to the American League Championship Series.

Well, that was just one of thousands of highlights in Edgar’s illustrious career—a career that was capped with his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January.

Earlier this month, the state Senate honored Edgar with a resolution, which you can read here. He also visited all four caucuses to say hello and take photos, which is something I’ll remember for a long time.

Thanks, Edgar, and go Mariners! By the way, who saw 13-2 coming?

My new legislative Facebook page

Legislative ethics rules somewhat limit how we can communicate with constituents on social media, so I decided to sign up for a new legislative Facebook pilot program that was launched earlier this year. This new page will allow me to communicate even more effectively with you, so I invite you to ‘like’ it by clicking on the image below. Thank you to the almost 300 of you who have already done so!

Contacting me

Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions or concerns about particular bills or anything else that’s on your mind. My email address is matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7986.

It is an honor to serve you.

Town hall meeting on Saturday morning in Richland!

Tomorrow morning, Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert and I will be hosting a town hall meeting in Richland at The Arc of Tri-Cities from 9 a.m. to noon. The three of us will be providing a brief update on the legislative session, and then opening it up for questions. There are a lot of important issues to discuss, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas on ways we can make our district and state an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

If you’re unable to make it tomorrow, please know you can always give me a call at (360) 786-7986 or send me an email. I value and appreciate your feedback, as it helps me to better serve you in the Legislature.

House of Origin cutoff arrives

Last week marked House of Origin cutoff, which means all bills that did not advance out of the chamber in which they were introduced are now considered dead for the session. The only exception to this are bills deemed necessary to implement the budget, or NTIB.

In a short video update I recorded yesterday, I discussed House of Origin cutoff and provided an update on a few of the bills I’ve co-sponsored this year that are still making their way through the legislative process. I also highlighted a Democrat-sponsored bill that I believe should concern everyone in Washington state. It would impose a low carbon fuel standard program, which would significantly raise the price of gas and the cost of goods for you and your family.

Although many of the bills I co-sponsored this year survived cutoff, the two bills I prime-sponsored did not:

House Bill 2012 would provide an opportunity for all K-12 instructional staff to receive a yearly bonus of about $5,000. I discussed this bill at length in an earlier email update, which you can read here.

House Bill 2111 would strengthen the security of elections in Washington state by eliminating the option to return ballots by fax or email. I’ve been working closely with the Secretary of State’s office, including Secretary Wyman, to ensure we get all the particulars of this bill just right. I’m confident we’ll get there, and I expect HB 2111 to be rolled into a comprehensive election security package next year.

Latest revenue forecast reinforces case against tax increases

On Wednesday morning, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its latest revenue forecast for the state. It brought good news. Compared to November’s revenue forecast, revenues are expected to increase by an additional $861 million from now through the middle of 2021.

That means House Democrat budget writers, who are set to release their operating budget proposal on Monday, have at least $3 billion available to fund our shared priorities. Unfortunately, they continue to insist we need new tax revenue. One headline Wednesday morning read, “Washington’s hot economy keeps bringing in cash, but Democratic lawmakers say new taxes still needed.”

Tax increases should not be on the table at a time when record revenues are coming in. For some in Olympia, however, no amount of revenue is ever enough.

Contacting me

I hope to see you at our town hall tomorrow morning, but if you’re unable to make it, please feel free to reach out to me at (360) 786-7986 or Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.

Rep. Boehnke discusses House of Origin cutoff and an upcoming town hall in Richland

Rep. Boehnke discusses House of Origin cutoff, and provides an update on several bills he co-sponsored this year. He also invites 8th District residents to attend a town hall meeting he’s holding with Sen. Sharon Brown and Rep. Brad Klippert in Richland on Saturday, March 23.

8th District lawmakers to host town hall meeting in Richland on March 23

Eighth District lawmakers Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert, and Rep. Matt Boehnke will host a town meeting on Saturday, March 23, at The Arc of Tri-Cities in Richland.

During the three-hour meeting, the legislators will provide an update on the 2019 legislative session and take questions from attendees.

Details are as follows:

Date: Saturday, March 23, 2019
Time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: The Arc of Tri-Cities
Address: 1455 Fowler St, Richland, WA 99352

Constituents seeking more information may contact the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick
Email: Sharon.Brown@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7614

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick
Email: Brad.Klippert@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7882

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick
Email: Matt.Boehnke@leg.wa.gov | (360) 786-7986

Rep. Boehnke on TVW’s ‘Inside Olympia’

On Thursday, March 7, Republican Reps. Matt Boehnke and Chris Gildon sat down with TVW’s Austin Jenkins to discuss their backgrounds, their legislative priorities, and some of the important bills that are making their way through the legislative process this year. Click on the image below to view the interview.

Policy cutoff: The good and bad bills that survived

I know it can be difficult to keep track of everything that’s going on here in Olympia, so I wanted to provide you with some links that I think will help you stay informed and engaged as this 105-day session progresses.

  • Sign up for the Capitol Buzz—a weekday summary of the biggest news stories from across the state.
  • Follow House Republicans on Twitter and Facebook.
  • Follow my legislative Twitter account: @RepBoehnke.
  • Bookmark the News and Media page on the House Republican website. There, you’ll find every news release, op-ed, radio interview and video update from all 41 members of our caucus.
  • Watch TVW’s “Legislative Review,” which airs nightly during the week and gives viewers a 15-minute overview of what happened that day at the Capitol.
  • Visit the Washington State Legislature’s website to view a list of bills by topic.

Topics in this update include:

  • Session hits first major deadline
  • Good and bad bills that survived policy cutoff
  • Bipartisan Veterans and Military Families Caucus formed in House
  • Mark your calendar: town hall on March 23
  • Contacting me

Session hits first major deadline

This past Friday marked the first major deadline of the 2019 legislative session, policy committee cutoff. All policy bills that did not make it out of the committee in which they were introduced are now considered “dead” for the year. The only exception to this are bills considered necessary to implement the budget (NTIB).

As for my bills, one survived cutoff and one did not.

House Bill 2111 would strengthen the security of elections in Washington state by eliminating the option to return ballots by fax or email. The Secretary of State’s office was recently provided with evidence of ongoing efforts by cybercriminals to gain access to, and interfere with, the electronic systems our state uses for elections. Their efforts have not been successful to this point, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stop trying. This bill would make their job even tougher. HB 2111 is currently awaiting a hearing in the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.

House Bill 2012, which would have provided an opportunity for all K-12 instructional staff to receive a yearly bonus of about $5,000, stalled in the House Education Committee. While that’s disappointing, I will be reintroducing the bill again next session in hopes we can pass it and show all school instructional staff how much we value the work they’re doing to help our students succeed.

Good and bad bills that survived policy cutoff

Below is a list of bills, both good and bad, that are still alive following policy cutoff.

Good bills:

  • House Bill 1216 would establish regional safety centers across the state, while requiring schools to establish a threat assessment program.
  • House Bill 1231 would eliminate the statute of limitations for certain sex crimes involving children, as well as extend the statute of limitations for several other sex offenses.
  • House Bill 1324 would create the “Washington Rural Development and Opportunity Zone Act,” which would create a private investment fund for small and medium-sized companies looking to expand and create jobs in rural, underserved areas of the state.
  • House Bill 1348 would reduce the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax rate for manufacturers.
  • House Bill 1448 would establish the “Veteran Service Officer Program,” which would fund a full-time position for veteran services in rural counties.
  • House Bill 1606 would give the Community Economic Revitalization Board the authority to make broadband loans and grants to any local government or federally recognized tribe to finance infrastructure for high-speed, open-access broadband service.
  • House Bill 1688 would align our state with federal law by expanding veterans’ eligibility for resident status for the purpose of receiving in-state tuition, which is much less expensive than out-of-state tuition.
  • House Bill 1702 would require community and technical colleges like CBC to notify students when a course offers low-cost instructional materials.
  • House Bill 1940 would require the Department of Natural Resources to place its emphasis on immediate response rather than cost when deploying firefighting assets within the first 48 hours of a wildfire.

Bad bills: There are dozens of bad bills making their way through the legislative process, but in the interest of time, I won’t list them all here. To me, the four below are especially egregious and deserve special attention.

  • House Bill 1068, requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, would make it unlawful for Washingtonians to possess firearm magazines that hold more than 15 rounds of ammunition.
  • House Bill 1110 would create a low carbon fuel standard similar to the one they implemented in California. According to testimony on the bill, it would cost an additional 17 cents per gallon of fuel to achieve a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2028—the stated goal of the bill. Our state already has the second-highest gas tax in the nation. A low carbon fuel standard would easily put us at #1.
  • House Bill 1407 would mandate that all public schools provide comprehensive sexual health education classes. Curriculum would be tailored for students in every grade, starting with kindergarten. HB 1407 died in committee, but its companion, Senate Bill 5395, was approved by the state Senate earlier this week on a party-line vote.

Bipartisan Veterans and Military Families Caucus formed in House

One of the things I’m really excited about this session is the formation of a new Veterans and Military Families Caucus. The goal of the bipartisan caucus is to give veterans, active duty service members, and their families a unified voice to advocate for the diverse needs of the military community. Every state representative in the photo below has either served or is serving in the military, is from a military family, or represents a large military population. I look forward to working with each of them to tackle a number of important issues this session and beyond.

Mark your calendar: town hall on March 23

On Saturday, March 23, I’ll be hosting a town hall meeting in Richland with my 8th District seatmates, Sen. Sharon Brown and Rep. Brad Klippert. We’ll be providing an update on the 2019 session and taking your questions.

Details are as follows:

Who: Sen. Sharon Brown, Rep. Brad Klippert, and Rep. Matt Boehnke
What: Town hall meeting
Where: Arc of the Tri-Cities (1455 Fowler St, Richland, WA 99352)
When: Saturday, March 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

I hope to see you there!

Contacting me

Please feel free to reach out anytime with your comments, questions or concerns about particular bills or anything else that’s on your mind. My email address is matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7986.

It is an honor to serve you.