Thank you for Passing Transportation Package

House Takes Up Transportation Package Revenue

The Transportation Package is moving along in the Washington State House of Representatives.

Chamber Pres. Tom Pierson and the Chamber’s state lobbyist Michael Transue have scheduled meetings with almost every Pierce County legislator Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Several members of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee have volunteered to join the appointments these two days. Our thanks to these volunteers for their help in achieving better transportation infrastructure for the success of our businesses and the creation of more job opportunities in our community.

In other developments, the state House Transportation Committee has confirmed that it is holding a hearing at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26 on the transportation package’s two revenue bills that have passed out of the Senate (ESSB 5987 and ESSB 5988). The meeting will be in House Hearing Room B (John L. O’Brien Building, Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA 98504). The Chamber’s Pres. Chamber Pres. Tom Pierson will be present as an advocate for improved transportation supporting businesses and our economy.

We strongly encourage you to attend and testify—keeping up momentum on a package is critical. If you or a colleague plan to go, please let the Chamber's Manager for Business & Political Gary Brackett know.

And, the SR-167 Completion Coalition (including the Chamber) along with stakeholders of the JBLM/I-5 project, will be hosting a stand up reception Thursday in Olympia.  This reception will be attended by a number of transportation leaders within the Washington State Legislature. 

We encourage an open discussion with our Legislative leaders about the outlook of the legislation in the House and ways in which we can help move the transportation package forward.

Transpo Package: Action Now & Results (So Far)

UPDATE:  Mar. 3, 8:28 a.m.

For the most comprehensive update, go HERE.

UPDATE: Mar. 2, 3:16 P.M.

WA Senate passed final two bills in the Transportation Package:

Senator	5987	5988
Senator Jan Angel	Y	Y
Senator Randi Becker	Y	Y
Senator Steve Conway	Y	Y
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier	Y	Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille	Y	Y
Senator Mark  Miloscia	Y	Y
Senator Steve O'Ban	Y	Y
Senator Pam  Roach	N	N
TOTAL VOTE	27Y-22N	41Y-8N

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SAY "THANK YOU" TO SENATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE PIERCE COUNTY DELEGATION, FOR VOTING "YES."

Friday, the Washington State Senate took eight votes on final passage to adopt pieces of legislation that are necessary components of a new transportation revenue, expenditure and reform package for Washington state (SB 5990 – SB 5997). 

While Senate session was ended due to a procedural question, which caused delay in consideration of the gas tax, bond and additive funding bills until Monday, we expect final passage of the package to happen on Monday.

What we need is for you to communicate to your Senators (LIST and EMAILS BELOW) and thank them for their vote, if appropriate.

Passing these reforms bills is critical to the success of the entire package.  We know we need to upgrade our infrastructure and not allow our highways to deteriorate.  The full package under consideration will build projects necessary to compete globally.  These projects will increase the health of our state economy as well as deliver a return on investment for Washington State.  Additionally, the package will create new family wage jobs, critical for the many.  Please keep the goal of this package in site. Yes votes are votes to boost Washington’s economy today and for generations to come.

Tell them to keep up the good work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

Tell them we applaud your efforts so far.  Now let’s cross the goal line. Keep up the great work on Monday by voting in favor of the remaining bills in the package (SB 5987 – SB 5589)!

  

Senator	Email	5992	5991	5993	5990	5995	5997	5996	5994
Senator Jan Angel	jan.angel@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Randi Becker	randi.becker@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Steve Conway	conway.steve@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N
Senator Bruce F. Dammeier	tellbruce@comcast.net	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Jeannie Darneille	Jeannie.Darneille@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	N
Senator Mark  Miloscia	miloscia@comcast.net	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Steve O'Ban	steve.oban@leg.wa.gov	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
Senator Pam  Roach	roach.pam@leg.wa.gov	Y	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
TOTAL VOTE		48Y-1N	27Y-22N	48Y-1N	26Y-23N	49Y-0N	49Y-0N	47Y-2N	30Y-19N
Bill Number	Title
5992	Ferry Vessel Construction
5991	DOT/env Leg
5993	Public Works - Labor
5990	Sales Taxes on Transpo Projects
5995	Mobility/Transit
5997	Transpo Project Delivery
5996	DOT Stakeholders
5994	DOT Corridor Permitting
Pending Bill Number	Pending Title
5987	Transpo Revenue
5989	Transpo Bonding

2014 Leg Agenda Unveiled

With the second half of the legislative biennium set to begin just past the holidays, the Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Agenda was unveiled earlier this week.

Chamber members, Government Affairs Committee members and Advocacy Sponsors invited legislators from Pierce County to the Unveiling event, preceding the Chamber’s annual Public Officials Holiday Reception.

Pictured: Sen. Steve Conway, 29th District, reviews the 2014 Legislative Agenda.

The Chamber’s 2014 Legislative Agenda, as a continuation of the 2013-2014 legislative biennium, was refined by the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee after input from a Chamber members survey.

Remaining at the top of the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda is completion of SR 167.  Although opportunities may realize the adoption of a state-wide transportation package, including funding for completion of 167, before the 2014 short legislative session begins, the Chamber is poised to continue its advocacy for completion of 167 into the new year.

Other notable refinements in the 2014 Legislative Agenda include parity of policies for electric and natural gas fuel in transportation, the JBLM/I-5 Corridor and an East Pierce-SR 162/410 corridor study. 

Another emphasis area, Workforce Development, received refinements, principally with legislative advocacy for transitioning veterans to realize their opportunities in the civilian economy.

The Chamber maintains its advocacy for the creation and retention of private sector jobs and the success of local businesses.  You may review the entire 2014 Legislative Agenda here.