Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With the cooler weather and shorter days, it definitely feels like fall is in the air. Autumn has always been my favorite season in beautiful North Central Washington. Of course, this means winter — and the 2014 legislative session — are right around the corner.
One of the big issues being discussed statewide right now is transportation. It is a topic of critical importance to our state and district. I am pleased to share with you that legislative leaders have appointed me to the House Transportation Committee. This committee will provide me an opportunity to weigh in on this essential service provided by our state government.
I listened to a legislative forum held Sept. 23 in Wenatchee, coordinated by leaders of the Senate Transportation Committee. Many local leaders and citizens attended to share their thoughts to us about transportation and how to pay for improvements and maintenance of our roadways. Many citizens also discussed ideas for reforms, which I believe must be an important aspect of any future transportation proposal.
More feedback forums will be held in several other locations around the state – see the schedule below. These are an important way for the Legislature to hear directly from the people on an issue as critical as this one, especially if taxpayers would be likely asked to help pay for any future projects. As you know, a 10-cent per gallon gas tax increase was pursued multiple times during a recent special session. I voted against those proposals because I believed they were rushed, did not include meaningful reforms, and did not involve due diligence with broad input from citizens. See below for information about the most recent proposal during session.
The recent forums being hosted throughout the state are a good start of the discussion about reforming and funding our state transportation projects. If you were unable to participate in the forum last Monday, please feel free to contact my office to share your thoughts. Hearing from you helps me to do my job better.
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you in Olympia!
Sincerely,
Brad Hawkins
Bipartisan feedback forums being held across the state
Hundreds of people attended meetings in Bellevue, Everett and here in Wenatchee to share their views on a potential transportation revenue package. There will be additional meetings, if you are interested:
- Thursday, Sept. 26 – Tri-Cities 6-9 p.m.
Columbia Basin College, Gjerde Center, 2600 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, WA 99301 - Wednesday, Oct. 2 – Spokane 6-9 p.m.
Central Valley High School theater, 821 S Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99037 - Monday, Oct. 7 – Vancouver 6-9 p.m.
Vancouver Community Library, Columbia Room, 901 C St., Vancouver, WA 98660 - Wednesday, Oct. 9 – Tacoma 6-9 p.m.
Evergreen Tacoma Campus, Lyceum Hall, 1210 6th Ave., Tacoma, WA 98405 - Monday, Oct. 14 – Seattle 6-9 p.m.
King County Courthouse, Room 1001, 516 3rd Ave., 10th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104 - Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Bellingham 6-9 p.m.
Port of Bellingham Cruise Terminal, 355 Harris Ave., Bellingham, WA 98225
Those unable to attend a feedback forum in person can submit their comments online at: www.senatetranspofeedbackforum.org
Most recent proposal
While a new, compromise transportation revenue package may be proposed this fall or in January, what that may look like is unknown. However, the most recent proposal was for a $10 billion transportation tax package which included the following funding sources and expected revenues:
| Statewide Revenue Source | 12 year total |
| A gas tax increase of 10.5 cents per gallon phased in over one year ($0.06/$0.045) | $3.76 billion |
| A passenger weight fee increase ranging from $15, $25, or $35 (depending on the weight) | $1.4 billion |
| A weight fee increase of 15 percent for trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight | $120 million |
| A $5 fee for each vehicle registration renewal not processed by a sub-agent and a $12 fee for each certificate of title transaction not processed by a sub-agent (creates fee equalization) | $255 million |
| Various service fees on certain Department of Licensing transactions and a fee increase of $6 per year for an Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Identicard | $58 million |
| Elimination of the handling loss deduction for licensed fuel suppliers, distributors, and importers | $22 million |
| Redeployment of the 2012 fee increases | $841 million |
| REVENUE PACKAGE TOTAL | $6.5 billion |
You’ll notice the package above generates about $6.5 billion over 12 years. However, a portion of the fuel tax increase would be bonded to generate an additional $3.5 billion, for a total of approximately $10 billion in spending over 12 years.
Projects contained within a different revenue package are unknown and would hopefully be determined in a public process and prioritized according to needs. As a new member of the Transportation Committee, I will also ensure the needs of those of us east of the mountains are heard.
State Representative Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative DistrictE-mail: brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/hawkins
Olympia Office (January-April)
122G Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7832 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
District Office (May-December)
11 Spokane Street, Suite 205A | Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 662-5733
