Home  |  About Jay  |  News & Media  |  Email Updates  |  Sponsored Bills  |  The Ledger  |  Contact

Print Friendly, PDF & Email


Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It is an honor to serve you as one of your 5th District legislators. My commitment to you is that I will always do what is right for our district when in Olympia. Your feedback – e-mails, calls and visits – helped me cast votes that represent your voice. Thank you for trusting me to make major decisions on hundreds of measures before the Legislature again this year.

It was a fast 60-day legislative session, but I am happy to report that the Legislature finished its work on time and passed a balanced, responsible and bipartisan supplemental operating budget that does not rely on increasing your taxes. I voted “yes” on the budget for several reasons, including:

  • Of the $155 million in new spending, nearly two-thirds are directed toward education funding, which goes directly toward meeting our obligations under the McCleary education funding state Supreme Court order;
  • We invested more in our higher education system, continuing the freeze on tuition rates;
  • We prevented tax increases proposed by the majority party in the House and the governor that would have increased taxes on bottled water, recycled fuel, prescription drugs, e-cigarettes, and eliminated the sales tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers, among other items and services; and
  • It increases the state's ending-fund balance to $315 million, up from $56 million in the 2013-15 budget passed last year.

Here's the breakdown of how the state will spend the additional $155 million:

  • Public education (K-12) – $56 million (36 percent)
  • Higher education – $41.7 million (27 percent)
  • Early learning – $20,000
  • All non-education funding (includes protecting our most vulnerable, developmentally disabled people, Medicaid health care services, etc.) – $57.2 million (37 percent)

As we work to ensure your tax dollars are spent wisely, it is critical that we allocated additional dollars to our top priorities: K-12 education, public safety and caring for the most vulnerable. We should not gamble on new and higher taxes to pay for these core government responsibilities. This budget reflects this philosophy and I appreciate everyone working hard to find common ground on the spending plan.

During the interim, I will continue to make myself available for speeches, one-on-one meetings, civic events and other requests for legislative updates and information. Please always feel free to contact my legislative aide, Kate Cooper, to schedule a time to meet with me or a speaking engagement. She can be reached at (360) 786-7852.

For more information on me and legislation I worked on this year, please visit my website at www.representativejayrodne.com.

Again, thank you for the privilege of serving you.

 

Sincerely,


Jay Rodne

State Representative Jay Rodne, 5th Legislative District
RepresentativeJayRodne.com
420 John L. O'Brien Building | P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
jay.rodne@leg.wa.gov
(360) 786-7852 | Toll-free: (800) 562-6000