Water, agriculture and education major session issues

MOSES LAKE - The 2015 Legislative session will be one of firsts for the District 13 representatives.

The session begins on Jan. 12 and will last 105 days. One major focus of the session will be developing the state's two-year budget.

"This is probably going to be one of the most contentious budgeting sessions that we've had in 20 years," said Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, who will be serving as a party leader for the first time this session.

In January 2012, the state Supreme Court ruled in its McCleary decision that the Legislature failed to fund K-12 public education adequately. The state Office of Financial Management projects the McCleary decision will cost the state $1.2 billion.

"We do have a lot of priorities as a state government that we have to address, but that's going to be the first," said Sen.-elect Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake.

Warnick said she worries the burden of the McCleary requirements may mean the Legislature won't be able to maintain the tuition freeze for state colleges that's been in place for the last two years. Manweller said even if tuition rates do go up, it should be minimal compared to the increases seen before the recent freeze.

"The most we are going to be looking at is 2 to 3 percent," Manweller said.

Despite the additional spending needs, Warnick said she remains an "eternal optimist."

"We (Republicans) have the majority in the Senate," Warnick said. "We have a very tight minority in the House. I think we have a better chance of coming up with another good bipartisan budget because of the makeup of the Senate and the more equal numbers in the House."

Although Warnick has served in the House of Representatives since 2006, this will be her first year as a senator, a committee chair and a member of the majority party.

"How do we lead?" Warnick said. "How do we govern? I've never been in the majority, so it takes a different mindset to lead rather than just react."

As the chair of the Agriculture, Water, and Rural Economic Development Committee, Warnick said she hopes to find solutions to issues like the depleted Odessa Aquifer, and many other water difficulties around the state.

"We don't just have shortage of water problems, we have too much in some areas," Warnick said. "The Chehalis (River) has flooding problems. Other areas of the state have storm water runoff issues that cause pollution."

Warnick joked it would be convenient if she could simply build a pipeline from areas with too much water to the areas with not enough.

"It doesn't work quite that easily," Warnick said.

In preparation for his first year in the House of Representatives, Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, is meeting with constituent groups and studying what he described as an overwhelming amount of information.

"Agriculture is the number one issue in our district," Dent said. "It drives our economy. To me, that's the major priority."

Dent said he expects a bill this session attacking pesticide use, which could be hard on farmers in the district. Like Warnick, he is also concerned about water access.

"It's important that we conserve these things," Dent said.

In order to forge the relationships needed to succeed, Dent's motto is respect.

"If we have respect for each other we'll find some common ground," Dent said. "If you learn what they're about and treat them with respect, you have a chance to change their mind. That's my whole philosophy on politics."

Dent said he is still waiting to receive his committee assignments, but he requested seats on six committees in total, including Agriculture and Natural Resources, Public Safety, Appropriations, Capital Budget, and two committees regarding education.

Manweller said he doesn't expect a tax increase from this session, considering the Office of Financial Management projects the state will receive $2.8 billion in additional revenue.

"It seems realistic that the state can live with an 8 percent raise and not have to ask for more," Manweller said.

Jacob Rummel is an intern reporting from the state capitol through the Murrow News Service. He can be reached via email, jacob.rummel@email.wsu.edu.