Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for the privilege of serving the people of the 30th Legislative District. I will periodically send these updates throughout the session. If you know of others who would like to receive these e-mails, they can add their address by clicking here.

While this is my first term as a state legislator, my experience working in our communities as a volunteer, councilwoman and mayor has helped me quite a bit. I have been assigned to be the assistant lead Republican on the House Local Government Committee. I also serve on the House Transportation and Capital Budget committees.

The 2011 legislative session began Jan. 10 and is scheduled to adjourn April 24, if all goes as planned. Below are some highlights from my first four weeks in the Legislature:

Putting forward solutions for a sustainable budget:

On Jan. 24, I, along with my House Republicans colleagues, offered a striking amendment on the House floor to the Democrat’s “delayed reaction” budget adjustment legislation, House Bill 1086. I could not support their proposal because it continued the failed budgeting of the past by using gimmicks, used too many fund transfers and lacked real reforms to state spending and large government entitlement programs. Even the Everett Herald editorialized that the “GOP had a smarter fix” for our state’s budget shortfall.

Most important, the proposal I supported did not touch the kindergarten to fourth grade teacher enhancement dollars that are retroactively taken away by the majority’s proposal that passed. I don’t believe taking back funds that have already been budgeted and used to hire new teachers is the proper way to govern. Where are school districts supposed to get this money?  And how can they budget in the future if they have to continue looking over their shoulders at the Legislature to see if promised funds are scheduled to be “recalled” again?

Addressing home burglaries:

At the request of Federal Way, I introduced legislation to address the growing number of home robberies. Due to the high value of precious metals right now, there is a growing number of “cash for gold” storefront businesses and transactions in our state. Unfortunately, this trend corresponds with a significant increase in the number of burglaries involving theft of precious metals, mostly jewelry.

My legislation, House Bill 1716 (originally House Bill 1213), would put in place stricter standards relating to transactions involving property consisting of gold and other precious metals. The bill would require secondhand dealers buying precious metals to:

• Keep a written record of the transaction, including the name, signature, photo, contact information and description of the seller;
• Include the name of the employee and date of the completed the transaction;
• Catalog the items accepted in the transaction, including detailed descriptions of the items, such as the color and size of gemstones and other identifying elements, and the price paid for the items; and
• Create a waiting period for payments on transactions of $100 or more.

Just as the Legislature addressed scrap metal theft a couple years ago, it must put in place safeguards for precious metals. My legislation will begin to crack down on those criminals stealing high-value jewelry and other items then pawning them for instant cash.

Addressing unemployment insurance tax increases:

One of the issues holding employers back from investing in their businesses is the uncertainty of the many taxes they pay – one of which is unemployment insurance taxes, or UI. These taxes are paid solely by the employer – the businesses - and they pay benefits to the unemployed in our state.

Last year, UI taxes went up an average of 42 percent – or $366 million. This year, UI taxes were set to go up an average of 36 percent – or roughly $300 million. This would have further crippled our state’s employers ability to retain and hire people. I was incredibly pleased to have voted in support of a bipartisan measure, House Bill 1091, that was a balanced approach to address the UI rate increases. As passed, the bill freezes the current tax rates for employers and gives unemployed Washingtonians an additional $25 per week in benefits.

In all, it was the kind of balanced approach the Legislature needed to move forward to do all it can to help spark private-sector job creation.

Funding education first:

According to our state constitution, education of the children within our borders is the “paramount duty” of the state. That’s why House Republicans offered a resolution on the floor to amend how we construct the state budget. Our proposal would have required budget writers to fund education first in the budget – before any money is spent on other state programs. Democrats, once again, rejected this proposal. House Republicans believe these tough budget times are the perfect opportunity to better prioritize spending.

Contact me:

I hope this brief legislative update is helpful and informative. However, if you have questions on other topics or would like to meet with me while you are in Olympia, or in-district, please be sure to contact my legislative office. All of my contact information can be located on my Web site.

With kind regards,

Rep. Katrina Asay
30th District State Representative

Tagged as: katrina-asay, legislature, jobs-and-economy, education, budget-and-taxes, taxpayer