Tag Archives: 2021 Legislature

Hawkins to continue as lead Republican on Senate K-12 education committee

Sen. Brad Hawkins will continue serving as ranking Republican on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee when the Legislature begins its 2021 session on Jan. 11.

Hawkins has served on the education panel since joining the Senate in 2017. Prior to joining the Legislature in 2013, Hawkins served for 10 years on two local school boards, the North Central Educational Service District Board and the Eastmont School Board. In addition, Hawkins’ wife is a local teacher and they have two sons in public schools.

“I’m looking forward to serving again this session as the Senate’s education committee’s ranking Republican member. Our school system has definitely had its share of challenges lately with the COVID pandemic and I believe the experiences I bring to the table can help shape good state policy,” says Hawkins.

“Senator Hawkins brings helpful experience and leadership to the education committee in his position as its ranking member,” said 41st District Sen. Lisa Wellman, who serves as the committee chair. “With children in school and from a different part of the state, his perspective provides added value. It will be particularly helpful that we have such a solid working relationship as we tackle the challenges of COVID recovery for our students and the economy.”

Hawkins also will return to the Senate State Government and Elections Committee. His new committee assignment will be with the Senate Transportation Committee, which addresses transportation issues impacting Washington and crafts and passes a two-year state transportation budget.

“The Transportation Committee was one that I requested because of my hydrogen vehicles legislation and the unique transportation needs of our region, so I’m glad it worked out,” says Hawkins.

He added, “I’ve always considered myself a strong supporter of clean transportation options, preservation of our roadways, and for construction projects important to the 12th District. The Legislature will likely be developing the next statewide transportation package within the next two years, so I look forward to being at the table to advocate for projects like Confluence Parkway across the Wenatchee River Bridge, a future interchange in Douglas County near the Odabashian Bridge, and repairs to aging bridges in the Methow Valley.”

“I look forward to working with Senator Hawkins on the Transportation Committee next session,” said 14th District Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima and ranking Republican on the committee. “Our districts have similar transportation needs and I’ve enjoyed working with him in the past on important transportation projects. He is a tenacious advocate for his district’s projects, which I appreciate.”

The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to last 105 days.

(The photo at top shows Sen. Curtis King and Sen. Brad Hawkins sharing a laugh together last legislative session. They will serve together next year on the Senate Transportation Committee. King is the committee’s ranking Republican member and worked closely with Hawkins in 2017 to secure funding for the West Cashmere Bridge.)

Hawkins encouraged by improved state revenue forecast

State Sen. Brad Hawkins is encouraged by the state’s updated revenue projection released today by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

The council’s November revenue forecast estimates revenue for the upcoming state budget cycle. The outlook was adjusted up with an increase of $634 million for the current 2019-2021 biennium and an increase of $328 million for the 2021-2023 biennium.

“This continues to be encouraging news,” Hawkins said. “While the forecast doesn’t take into account any potential economic impacts from Governor Inslee’s most recent COVID restrictions, it does demonstrate to lawmakers that balancing the upcoming budget without tax increases is certainly possible.”

State economists are forecasting a projected budget deficit of nearly $3 billion over the next four years. Hawkins points out that the current balance of the state’s Budget Stabilization Account, often referred to as the “rainy day fund,” is healthy $2 billion.

“As bad as the COVID pandemic has been, this forecast shows that our state can achieve a balanced budget for the next two years without tax increases by utilizing our rainy day fund and making some modest and measured reductions in programs,” Hawkins said.

“This needs to be said so that if and when new taxes are proposed, people don’t mistakenly think they are necessary to balance our budget,” Hawkins added. “I personally think – after all that people and businesses have endured – that tax increases are the last thing lawmakers should be considering in the coming years.”

The next state revenue forecast will be issued in March 2021.

Hawkins’ fourth annual ‘listening tour’ to be held virtually Dec. 10

Sen. Brad Hawkins will hold his fourth annual 12th District “listening tour” on Thursday, Dec. 10. It will be conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meetings with Hawkins during this year’s virtual tour will take place through Zoom video conferencing or traditional conference phone calls, each lasting up to 20 minutes. Individuals or groups interested in meeting with Hawkins should contact his office at brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov or 360-688-8951 to schedule an appointment and receive information about the technology details. In addition to the individual or group appointments, Hawkins will host two virtual “community meetings” via Zoom at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 10, each lasting about one hour, and everyone is invited.

“As the state senator for the 12th District, it is very helpful for me to hear directly from constituents, which is why I started conducting annual listening tours,” said Hawkins. “Due to the ongoing challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve decided to make this year’s listening tour a virtual tour so I can meet safely with my constituents and hear their ideas, thoughts, and concerns. It’s very helpful for me to hear directly from the people I serve.”

During past listening tours, Hawkins has met with individuals, employers, local government officials, and community groups. In the two virtual community meetings, Hawkins will provide an overview of the upcoming 2021 legislative session, discuss the state’s budget challenges, and answer questions. Hawkins plans to dedicate much of the community meeting time to hearing directly from constituents or groups. To accommodate as many community members as possible, participants will have a couple minutes each, depending on the total number of people interested in speaking.

Hawkins said a listening tour, which has been held in past years, allows him to hear ideas and concerns that can be turned into successful legislative action.

“During the 2017 listening tour, Leavenworth officials told me an issue about disposing of brush and yard clippings and worked with me to enact a new law in 2018 to address it,” said Hawkins. “A funding request related to the Saddle Rock trail in Wenatchee became reality when it was included in the state capital budget two years ago, and a road paving project to a popular fishing location in Okanogan County was recently funded. All of them were ideas presented by constituents during past listening tours.”

As in the past three years, Hawkins has invited legislative staff to join him on this year’s tour, including his office staff, communications staff and issue specialists. “People appreciated us making these resources available to their communities, and it’s good for our staff to hear directly from people about the issues of interest in our region,” said Hawkins. “If we need to research concerns or begin developing ideas, we are ready to do that.”