Warnick named to three House committees

MOSES LAKE – Thirteenth District Representative Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, will serve on three House committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Capital Budget and Education.

The 2013 legislative session is scheduled to begin on Jan. 14.

Warnick will continue to serve as the ranking Republican on the Capital Budget Committee, which makes her responsible for negotiating with the chair of the committee on a final capital budget.

Known as the “bricks and mortar” budget, the capital budget provides funding and bonds for long-term infrastructure needs throughout the state, from schools to hospitals to prisons and more.

“The capital budget is an essential part of the services our state provides. Great education and safe communities require great classrooms and secure prisons,” Warnick said.

“This year will be different with Republicans chairing the Capital Budget Committee in the Senate, and I look forward to working with that leadership.”

With the 13th Legislative District being one of the largest agriculture areas in the state, serving on the Agriculture and National Resources Committee was important to Warnick. She grew up on a dairy farm and partly owns a farm near Moses Lake.

“At each end of the Thirteenth District, we are facing water management challenges,” she said. “From the Kittitas County headwaters of the Yakima Valley Basin to the Odessa Aquifer, we must ensure we have a balanced approach that provides adequate water supply for people and fish.”

The Education Committee is a new assignment for Warnick, though not a new issue to the lawmaker who will begin her fourth term in January.

“With seven grandchildren, all in Washington state public schools, I am anxious to be part of the solution to education funding. I believe it must be our first and highest priority in the state budget,” she said.