Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Today the Legislature adjourned the special session after passing two bills to help protect and create aerospace jobs in Washington. The two bills we passed, which I supported, are:

• House Bill 2088 – will provide funding for workforce development training (within existing funds), and streamline permitting for aerospace facilities.
• Senate Bill 5952 – will extend and expand tax incentives for aerospace employers.

I voted for these bills because they are good for protecting and creating jobs in our state, including in the 12th District. These bills were not just about Boeing – they were about aerospace jobs across our state. There are many suppliers and manufacturers that exist in Washington because of Boeing.

However, passing this legislation begs the question – if these proposals are good for jobs in aerospace and for one of our state’s largest employers, why can’t we pass this legislation for jobs in other sectors and for our small businesses which have struggled the last few years? I hope to see the discussion continue and expand to helping create more job opportunities across our economy – not just in aerospace.

You’ll notice no bills passed regarding a transportation revenue package – though this is something the governor desired, it quickly became clear that it was not immediately necessary for the Boeing 777X deal. Discussions will continue about this, however, and I hope you’ll make your voice heard by taking my survey.

We may even see transportation brought up again when the Legislature returns for “Committee Days” Nov. 21 and 22. Every fall, House and Senate committees gather to discuss plans for the upcoming session and review the work of interim groups. I’ll keep you updated on the discussions.

It’s an honor to serve you as your 12th District representative.

Sincerely,

Brad Hawkins

State Representative Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District

E-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