Issues
There are countless issues facing southeast King County and Washington State today. As your Senator, I will work hard to address both issues that are important to the future of our state as well as those that are personal to you and your family. We deserve nothing less than Nordstrom-style customer service and accessibility from our government and our elected officials. I want to hear about the issues that matter to you!
Jobs
The economic crisis has hurt thousands of families in south King County and throughout Washington state. We must work together now to do all that we can to help businesses create jobs and build a prosperous future here in our community.
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Our state’s tax and worker’s compensation systems must be reformed to encourage businesses to hire and retain employees. The business and occupation tax discourages startup business by taxing the very first dollar a new employer earns. Employers that rely on low margins and high volume are unable to compete with out-of-state competitors. This is also a tax on new employers, because they have higher fixed and startup costs than existing businesses. We need to reform this tax system so small and low-margin businesses can stay competitive and create jobs here in Washington. Unlike the incumbent, I believe that a new income tax on individuals or businesses is the wrong approach.
Our outdated transportation grid must be revamped to correct bottlenecks so that commuters and freight move through the state efficiently.
Investments in education at every level – from kindergarten to community colleges and universities – help grow our economy, providing workers the new skills they need to make our area a magnet for new businesses and top-paying jobs.
By taking the right steps now, we can emerge from this recession, stronger and better able to meet the challenges of the decades ahead. Our current budget crisis should push state leaders to make long-term changes that will encourage job growth, help employers, and keep future budgets balanced.
Flood Protection
The inaction of government has put more than 20,000 homes and billions of dollars in property at risk.
As your state Senator, my first priority will be to expedite permanent repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam while holding the Federal government accountable for the millions our region has had to spend to prepare.
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As staff to the King County Council, I was involved in creating the King County Flood Control District, and in ensuring that it had the resources to fund projects in the Green River Valley. I appreciate the efforts of Colonel Wright and the Army Corps of Engineers and know that there are complex hurdles to designing a proper fix while working through the many levels of government involved. I will not let these complexities be an excuse for inaction.
Government Spending
The most important thing for an elected leader to do is to set clear priorities. In 2003, Democratic Governor Gary Locke worked side-by-side with Republican Senator Dino Rossi to create “priorities of government.” Now, facing a $2.6 billion deficit, we need to look again at which programs are most important.
We need to evaluate why the state does what it does, from employing hundreds of press secretaries to running liquor sales. ↓ Read More
On the same day that Governor Gregoire announced draconian cuts to Washington’s basic healthcare program, the state started accepting bids for commemorative pens for the State Health Insurance Advisors program. The legislature must exercise better oversight of state spending to improve the public’s faith in government.
We can run government more efficiently. I’ve seen firsthand how government can be made more efficient by streamlining overhead and setting measurable goals.
Schools
Education is the paramount duty of state government. Every problem we face from crime, the economy, jobs, healthcare, even the environment, can be improved by a properly funded and professional public education system.
The legislature’s recent cuts to public schools and universities are endangering our state’s future.
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This is very personal issue to me. Both my parents were educators who gave over 80 years of their lives to public education in south King County. I attended public school and coached in the Renton and Highline districts. We must be open to new ideas and willing to embrace reform.
The president has put forward education reforms that deserve consideration: increasing teacher pay and rewarding the very best teachers with higher pay; allowing flexibility and innovation; and holding school districts and teachers accountable for student achievement.
Washington state can qualify for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding if we allow more flexibility and improve accountability in our school system. It’s the right thing to do for students and for taxpayers.
Property Rights
This country was founded by those who believed in and bled for the right to own property and make their own choices about how it is used.
When King County adopted the critical areas ordinance, it forgot these principles and imposed unfair restrictions on thousands of property owners in our community with a “one size fits all” regulation.
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Working at the county council, I helped fight against the ordinance because it was overly burdensome and ineffective in achieving its environmental goals.
We must control sprawl and grow our communities without placing undue restrictions on individual private property owners. I know it is possible to protect the environment we love without compromising the values we believe in.
