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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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’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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 1211, requested by Gov. Inslee, would mandate that all electric utility companies be carbon-free by 2045. This bill could cause customers’ monthly utility bills to climb by at least $10 per month by 2025.
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.
Late last week, I had an opportunity to sit down and record my first video update of the session. In it, I discuss my professional background, my top legislative priorities, and the major issues being discussed in the House Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch:
Introducing my first bill
Snowmageddon 2019 may have effectively shut the Legislature down on Monday, but it couldn’t stop me from showing up to drop my first bill in the hopper.
House Bill 2012, which has strong bipartisan support, would provide an opportunity for all K-12 instructional staff to receive a yearly bonus of roughly $5,000.
Since 2000, the Legislature has provided this bonus for K-12 instructional staff who have attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. However, certain staff, such as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists have not been eligible for the bonus because their field is not included in the same certification process.
Under my bill, if any of these individuals attain national certification through the relevant national professional association for their field, they would receive the same annual bonus as their colleagues. Additionally, individuals working in high-poverty schools would receive an extra bonus on top of the annual bonus.
I want to make sure that we, as a Legislature, make it clear just how much we value all of the incredibly dedicated school staff members around our state. This bill would help us do that.
Contacting me
I really appreciate the feedback so many of you have provided this session on a variety of issues. As I mentioned in my video update, I am always available to hear your thoughts, ideas and concerns on the issues most important to you. Please continue reaching out to me at matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7986.
It is an honor to serve as your newest 8th District state representative. As part of my efforts to keep you informed about everything I’m doing here in Olympia, I’ll be sending out email updates every two weeks during session. Please feel free to share them with your family and friends, or have them visit my legislative website to sign up for future updates. For those of you who don’t want to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe here.
If there was one word I would use to describe these first two weeks of the 2019 legislative session, it would be “whirlwind.” Every day has been a little different, but one thing has remained constant: the pace. We only have 105 days to tackle some really important issues, so members and staff are working as quickly as possible to complete tasks and meet legislative deadlines.
Each of the 20 House committees are hard at work offering legislation up for debate, and people are coming from all over the state to provide their input on the issues most important to them. It’s great to see.
The issues I’ll be heavily focused on this year are education, energy, cybersecurity, job creation, economic growth, and transportation. Due to my extensive cybersecurity background, I was chosen by House Republican leadership to serve as the assistant ranking member of the House Innovation, Technology and Economic Development Committee. The committee considers all legislation related to technology and/or digital communications.
I am also serving on the House Transportation Committee, as well as the House Environment and Energy Committee. Outside of these policy committees, I’ve been invited to join the Aviation Caucus, the Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and the Joint Legislative Systems Committee.
Interview on KONA Radio
Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to join KONA Radio’s Ed Dawson to chat a little about my first week in the Legislature and my priorities for the year. You can listen to that interview here. I want to thank Ed for the opportunity to be on his program, and look forward to speaking with him again soon.
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 reach out to me at matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov. To learn more about the House Page Program, click here.
Contacting me
I have already met with several constituents from our district, and am looking forward to meeting many more over the next few months. If you would like to set up a time to meet with me at my Olympia office, please reach out to my legislative assistant Jennifer Palmer. Her email address is jennifer.palmer@leg.wa.gov. I also encourage you to email me directly with any comments, questions or concerns you have about state government or particular bills.
It is an honor to serve you. Thank you for the privilege.
