Lawmakers visit Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, held a town meeting in Moses Lake Saturday to discuss citizen concerns.

Sen. Janea Holmquist was unable to attend due to an illness. Her legislative assistant sat in for her.

Citizen Chuck Henderson shared his personal story about his Department Labor & Industries claim. He said he fell 40 feet from a ladder. Since the incident he suffered a "botched" surgery and heavy medical bills.

"All I got is a can of worms from L & I," he said.

He asked how the representatives are handling state health and medical care.

Hinkle stated he, Warnick and Holmquist would focus on his claim specifically to make sure he gets the medical attention he needs.

"This is getting to the point of ridiculous," Hinkle said. "Statistically, he shouldn't be alive."

He said L & I is "one of the most broken programs" in the state.

Citizen Rich Kennedy thanked the representatives for working to keep "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Warnick said she is continuing her work to implement the bill.

Citizen Mary Gillmore was concerned with the increased surveillance of metal recycling.

"You've restricted people from cleaning up their farms," she said.

Due to the bills introduced to increase requirements to recycle metal in order to stem metal theft, she said it is too hard for her to get rid of metal.

"It's going to end up in a ditch if we have to," she added.

Warnick sponsors a bill requiring people to provide identification and a written statement that the metal is not stolen.

Warnick said her neighbors have had no problems recycling metal from their property and had not heard any other complaints.

"This is a huge statewide problem," Warnick said about metal theft.

Moses Lake School District Special Education Teacher Jennifer Powell asked about the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).

She asked about the necessity of special needs students to have to take the WASL.

It is demoralizing to the students to force them to take a test they will not pass when they are learning at a third-grade level, she said. She said special needs students should be tested at their ability, not the 10th-grade level.

Hinkle called the test dumb and expensive. He encouraged her to give suggestions other than the exam.

"I'm going to try to take the WASL test," Warnick said. "I'm going to take that challenge."

She was sent the test and plans to see what it is like to take the test firsthand.

One citizen asked what the lawmakers are doing about the individual committing the metal theft crime because it is often committed to support a drug habit.

Crime can't be tolerated, Hinkle said. Treatment for the individual is necessary but so is the punishment for the crime.

Two music teachers asked about levy funding and said there is a necessity for additional funding for education.

One teacher said he gets 10 cents per student to teach music from his budget and was upset it takes a super majority to pass a levy. It should take a super majority to elect legislators, he added.

Warnick said 65 percent of levies are funded by single-family homes. It would be unfair for your neighbors to pass a levy you would have to pay for because they can vote but they don't have to pay it.

Hinkle said school levies must stay as a super majority otherwise a standard is set. All other taxing districts will follow with presenting simple majority levies to the public, he added.