Community gathers for legislative send-off
Reps. Matt Manweller and Tom Dent and Sen. Judy Warnick answer questions during a chamber Legislative send-off last week.
MOSES LAKE - About 56 people came out to a legislative send-off for Sen. Judy Warnick and Reps. Tom Dent and Matt Manweller in Moses Lake on Wednesday.
Sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, and held at Miller's Fine Jeweler's in Moses Lake, the event was a night of fellowship between the public and legislative representatives, before they head off to Olympia for the 2015 legislative session.
Each representative was given a short amount of time to speak to the crowd, addressing some of what they hope to accomplish in the upcoming session starting on Jan. 12. 2015.
Rep. Matt Manweller, an Ellensburg resident who ran unopposed and was re-elected to the 13th District's second position, said legislators have their work cut out for them in the upcoming session.
"I guess the best way to describe the session we are heading off to is ... the Democratic chair of the Appropriations Committee, I think, put it best. He said 'This is going to be a session for the ages. They will be talking about this session one way or the other for the next 30 years," said Manweller.
Manweller noted the state is facing a number of budgetary and constitutional issues, along with some bigger-picture issues surrounding education and transportation funding.
Manweller believes Grant County is at the "epicenter" of public policy this year, with a lot of the tax incentives coming to the end of their 10-year cycle. He said tax incentives for server farms will be hitting the end of their 10-year cycle, and subject to review as to whether or not they will be renewed.
With server farms providing about half a billion dollars in tax revenue for schools and employment, Manweller is concerned that if the incentives are taken away, these server farms will move out of state.
Rep. Tom Dent, a longtime Columbia Basin resident, defeated fellow Republican Dani Bolyard in the Nov. 4 general election, securing a state representative position.
Dent said one of his biggest goals is developing relationships, especially with Democrats.
"There are 98 people in the House of Representatives, so in order for me to pass a bill, or kill a bill, it takes 49 votes plus one," said Dent. "There are only 47 Republicans there, so I am going to have to go find at least two more, three more, to make this work. So I understand how it works."
Dent said one of his first bills, which he says has already been crafted, is dedicated to one of his lifelong passions, aviation.
A couple of years ago the legislature decided to take aviation fuel and excise taxes from the state Aviation Fund, and place the money in a different area.
Dent's first bill will be to get the funds back into the Aviation Fund to be used for advancement in aviation.
Sen. Warnick, also a longtime Columbia Basin resident, handily beat Democrat Mohammad Said in the Nov. 4 general election, securing the vacant 13th District Senate seat.
One of Warnick's main points of emphasis was detailing her joining of the Majority Coalition Caucus.
"That is mostly Republicans, a couple of Democrats and so we are in the majority," said Warnick. "And that feels very different then what I have done the last eight years. The difference starting out is, I already know my committees."
Warnick noted that this session she will be on the Committee on Committees, the Natural Resources Committee, the Commerce and Labor Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. She will also chair the Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee.
She said she is excited to be in the majority in the Senate, and learning how to govern. She's discovering the difference between "just being there" and "being able to govern," she said.
Manweller, Dent and Warnick will soon be traveling to Olympia for the 2015 legislative session, which will convene on Jan. 12 and adjourn on April 27.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
