Manweller, Holmquist Newbry discuss session

MOSES LAKE - Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry and Rep. Matt Manweller addressed a packed house Tuesday, both pleased with the results of the legislative session despite the additional time spent in Olympia.

Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, and Manweller, R-Ellensburg, sat down with more than 50 people at a Grant County Tea Party meeting to review the legislative session and answer questions.

Holmquist Newbry, the chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee in the Senate, said the Majority Coalition Caucus was focused on creating a sustainable budget, creating jobs and investing and improving education.

"For the first time in a long time we were able to pass a budget without any general tax increases," she said.

She added there were times she felt the budget wouldn't make it through the House without tax increases, adding the Democrat-controlled House pushes to extend temporary taxes.

Holmquist Newbry said the state government kept a promise to constituents by not adding new tax increases while also increasing funding to education, including a 12.4 percent increase in higher education funding and no increase in college tuition for the first time in 30 years.

Manweller, in his first year in the House, said the session came down to three things: water, education and taxes, adding the Yakima Basin and Odessa Aquifer projects were very significant for the economy in the 13th District.

Manweller said Odessa Aquifer project, which includes finishing the East Low Canal section, will benefit farmers in Grant County.

"I think you're going to see a lot of economic growth at least in terms of agriculture out on the east side of Grant County as that water becomes available," he said, adding the water could be available in the next two to three years.

Farmers in the area have also stepped up, creating local improvement districts to fund the portion of the project that involves moving water laterally.

Manweller also touched on the passing of aircraft tax exemption that has allowed companies like Aviation Technical Services to bring jobs to the Port of Moses Lake.

The law provides an exemption on sales and use tax for labor or service on large private airplanes owned by nonresidents.

"We weren't collecting those taxes anyway because those planes weren't landing here," Manweller said. "ATS is already here and they're committing to millions and millions of dollars out at the Port."

Coulee City Mayor Rick Heirberg made the trip down to Moses Lake, unhappy about the lack of money available for the Public Works Trust Fund, which many small cities rely on for improvement projects.

"What do cities do for the future?" he asked.

Manweller said he wasn't happy with the provision to decrease funding to the Public Works fund, citing the provision nearly killed the capital budget but lawmakers were able to backfill about half of the funding with bond money.

"It wasn't a very elegant solution but sometimes being in the minority you take a half-victory and move on," Manweller said.