Published June 2005

Chambers give legislative
session mixed reviews

By Louise Stanton-Masten
Guest Editorial

Examples of strong leadership counterbalanced with a number of disappointments. That is the assessment of the 59th State Legislature by the Snohomish County Joint Chamber Government Affairs Committee.

The legislative session just concluded was a mixed one for business, marked by significant progress in transportation funding, but by failure to address other challenges to our region’s competitiveness, according to the committee’s analysis.

Before each legislative session, the Joint Government Affairs Committee of the Everett Area, South Snohomish County and Monroe chambers sets an agenda focused on improving business competitiveness, spurring economic growth and protecting Snohomish County jobs.

This year, the committee evaluated 79 business-related bills. Out of that number, 12 bills supported by the chamber coalition ultimately were delivered to the governor for signature, as were several that the chamber opposed.

A key success of the 2004-2005 session was bipartisan leadership that resulted in passage of a major transportation investment package. In the next few years, it will pay for 270 critical transportation improvements across our state, including improvements at a number of chokepoints in Snohomish County.

We commend Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-10, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, for her leadership and Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-44, who successfully negotiated additional funding in Snohomish County for SR 9 improvements. Our thanks to every legislator who voted for this legislation.

“Transportation woes hurt business when our goods, services and people can’t get to market in a timely, cost-efficient manner because they are stuck in traffic,” said Everett chamber committee co-chair Steve Neighbors in his report to chamber members. “While no one wants to see tax increases, the chamber committee has supported moderate gas tax increases in the past if the projects these taxes funded were identified and are focused on relieving traffic congestion.”

There were, unfortunately, a number of bills passed that the chambers did not support, including changes to 2003 unemployment insurance reforms, reinstatement of estate taxes and requirements for mental health insurance coverage.

Of particular concern is the way the budget was balanced. The use of one-time funding sources and increases in taxes to balance our state’s budget, along with revisions that make it possible to raise taxes with only a majority vote, are troublesome trends that bear close scrutiny.

In the course of its work, the chamber committee tracks the progress of its legislative agenda throughout the session and evaluates individual legislators’ support for the agenda.

Legislators who support economic policies that improve the ability of Washington state and Snohomish County businesses to compete successfully, and vote for legislation that fosters prosperity, job creation and economic development, receive Business Champion Awards. This year’s winners of the committee’s Business Champion Awards, honored at a May 25 legislative recognition breakfast, were those who voted over 70 percent of the time to support the chambers’ agenda.

They included: Sen. David Schmidt, , R-44, 86 percent; Sen. Val Stevens, R-39, 85 percent; Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-10, 78 percent; Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-39, 78 percent; Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-39, 78 percent; Rep. Chris Strow, R-10, 74 percent; Sen. Jean Berkey, D-38, 71 percent; Sen. Paull Shin, D-21, 71 percent, and Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-10, 70 percent.

Many of the issues raised by the last Legislature will need to be addressed again. The chamber committee and the organizations it represents will continue to be on hand to applaud proactive, business support and bi-partisan leadership focused on what is best for the long-term economic interest of our region — now and in the future.

For more information about the Joint Government Affairs Committee, visit www.everettchamber.com or www.s2c3.com.

Louise Stanton-Masten is president and CEO of the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce.

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