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Bill expanding Growth Management Act passes out of committee
Warnick
disappointed by more mandates on local government
Despite local testimony on
House Bill 2797, the House Local Government Committee on Friday
passed the bill out by a vote of 4-3.
Rep. Judy Warnick,
R-Moses Lake, was a dissenting voice against the bill.
"Despite the best efforts
of even medium-sized cities, we heard that many locals are struggling to
meet the current standards of the Growth Management Act," Warnick said.
"I'm concerned about the number of lawsuits being filed- the cost to
locals is too high."
Among other things, the
bill would create requirements related to climate change planning goals
and require the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development
to oversee compliance with these requirements. The bill is seen as an
expansion of the Growth Management Act (GMA).
Ellensburg local resident
Linda Schantz drove to Olympia to testify against the bill on Jan. 25.
She told committee members that she came because she didn't see anyone
sponsoring the bill from Eastern Washington. She was pleased to see her
representative, Warnick, sitting on the committee.
"The GMA promised to
provide structure, and counties could plan with their constituents
without state interference. But it really hasn't happened," Schantz
testified. "The state has interfered in several areas in our county. Now
we're going to add another role to the GMA and require the counties to
prove that they're not adding greenhouse gases. I find the requirements
to be extensive and confusing. Anyone who doesn't agree will challenge,
and the persons with the deepest financial pockets will win, and the
counties and the local people who really want what's best for their
communities will end up being the losers."
Schantz told the committee
she wants to see carbon dioxide emissions reduced, and encouraged the lawmakers to
use incentives as the best way to address the problem. Schantz did like
some parts of the bill -- specifically the pilot programs. She said the
ideas contained in the bill would have to be proven to work under the
pilot programs.
The bill now goes to the
House Appropriations Committee for further consideration.
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Editor's Note: Photo of Linda Schantz
testifying before the Local Government Committee on Jan. 25 is attached.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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