Dear friends,

I'd like to take the time to wish you a great summer and congratulate all of our high school and college graduates. I recently had the honor to be a speaker at the Emerald Ridge High School (ERHS) graduation ceremony (see picture below). It was particularly special because my son, Craig, was in the ERHS class of 2009.

While the 2009 legislative session ended April 26, I am your state representative year round. A lot of my time this summer and fall will be spent listening to constituents through a variety of methods, including traditional town halls, telephone town halls and visiting with folks on their doorsteps. These are some of the best ways for us to stay connected as I work to represent you in Olympia.

This e-newsletter provides you with an update on my district office, upcoming town hall meetings, the state operating budget, and other activities I am involved in this year. I hope you find it useful.

If I can ever be of assistance, please feel free to contact me.
 

Sincerely,   Bruce Dammeier State Representative 25th Legislative District
District office open In order to better serve you, I have opened a district office in downtown Puyallup. It is staffed by my legislative assistant, Brian Hardtke, and located on the corner of Main and Meridian (101 South Meridian, Office C). Our phone number is (253) 840-4523. Please stop by or contact us any time if you would like to share your thoughts, schedule a meeting or need help dealing with a state agency.
Please join me in two town hall meetings I would like to invite you to listen, ask questions and share your thoughts at one (or both) of my town hall meetings in July. One is a tele-town hall meeting in which you can participate from the comfort of your own home by calling in. The other is a traditional town hall meeting that will be held at the Puyallup Public Library. Details of these events are below. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Tele-town hall meeting Tuesday, July 14  6:50 p.m. – 7:50 p.m. Call in at 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN number 14998. Traditional town hall meeting Saturday, July 18 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Puyallup Public Library - 324 South Meridian
Visiting with local schools and organizations As a former Puyallup School Board member and member of the House Education Committee, education is one of my priorities and passions. Since the beginning of the legislative session in January, I have been fortunate to host students from the following local schools: Aylen Junior High, Central Avenue Elementary, Emerald Ridge High, Northwood Elementary, Pope Elementary, Puyallup High, and Shaw Road Elementary, in addition to Pierce College-Puyallup. I'd like to thank the administrators, teachers, students, and parents who took time out of their schedules to visit the state Capitol and learn about state government.
Here in the legislative district, I also had the opportunity to visit the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program site at Chief Leschi School, Rainier Vista Care Center and Helping Hand House, and take the Franklin Pierce School District's “Public Schools in Action” tour. Finally, I will soon be visiting the McNeil Island Prison and Special Commitment Center, Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Women’s Correctional Facility in Purdy, and Remann Hall Juvenile Rehabilitation Center in Tacoma to learn more about the way our state administers its system of corrections. The goal of these visits is to understand the system better and identify efficiencies and improvements. As the ranking minority member of the House Human Services Committee, with oversight of the state Department of Corrections, I see this as an important learning opportunity.
State revenue and caseload forecast reveal bad news for operating budget Our state recently received revenue (or tax collections) and caseload forecasts. These reports revealed bad news for Washington's operating budget. The budget that passed this year, which will run through June 30, 2011, has a projected $435 million shortfall.
There have not been calls for a special session to address this problem, and the governor is expected to make reductions in her cabinet agencies to make up the difference. However, should the problem worsen and the next revenue forecast in September reveal a deeper hole, there may be a need for legislative action prior to the next regular session in January. What these forecasts show is our state must get its finances in order before we end up like California. Keep in mind the 2009-11 budget was based on more than $3 billion in federal stimulus dollars and $1.8 billion in other one-time state money. This money will not be available for future budgets.   There are indications that we are the road to recovery, but no one knows how long it will take to get there. This is why prioritizing our limited resources at the state level is so essential! Appointment to two councils, board       I have been appointed to a board and two councils with the state. These positions are for the Quality Education Council (see page 27, section 114), State Building Code Council and Capital Projects Advisory Review Board. The Quality Education Council, created by the passage of House Bill 2261 this year, will recommend and inform the ongoing implementation by the Legislature of an evolving program of basic education and the financing necessary to fully implement it by Sept. 1, 2018. The State Building Code Council provides independent analysis and objective advice to the Legislature and the governor's office on state building code issues. It establishes the minimum building, mechanical, fire, plumbing and energy code requirements necessary to promote the health, safety and welfare of the people of Washington, by reviewing, developing and adopting the state building code.   The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board reviews alternative public works contracting procedures and provides guidance to state policymakers on ways to further enhance the quality, efficiency and accountability of public works contracting methods.   Selection for the Western Legislative Academy   I was honored to have been selected for the Council of State Governments-WEST's (CSG-WEST) Western Legislative Academy. CSG-WEST is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving 13 Western states. The purpose of the academy is to build excellence and effectiveness in state lawmakers. I will be joining 39 state lawmakers for training in legislative institutions, ethics, team building, communications, negotiations and time management. This opportunity comes at no cost to taxpayers. You can read about it here.   As result of my participation in this academy, I will be unavailable for appointments Aug. 5-9.