Tag Archives: 14th Legislative District

IN THE NEWS: Interns see inside Olympia politics

Three University of Washington Bothell students served as legislative interns during the session in Olympia, taking the ultimate civics class with a behind-the-scenes look at politics.

Winter classes for Cody Thorne, Andy Tran and Claira Rolfson were held in the state capital where the interns performed meaningful work for lawmakers and wrote policy papers for course credits.

Thorne calls it “the ultimate civics class.”

“I think if you’re interested in politics then this is probably the best thing you can do,” he says. “You really get to understand the system.”

Thorne hopes the experience will help him toward his goal of becoming a lawyer. The law, economics and public policy major from Snohomish plans to take a fifth year for an additional health studies degree focusing on policy so he can go to law school and become an advocate for patient rights. He’s motivated in part by the recent death of his father.

Thorne worked for Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim and Rep. Jeff Morris of Mount Vernon. Duties included sending letters and emails to respond to constituents, tracking legislation in which his lawmakers have a special interest, and drafting resolutions. He also had the opportunity to job shadow assistant attorneys general, giving him insight into a law career.

“The pace of the Legislature is really crazy because it comes in waves. It’s really busy, especially at the beginning,” he says. Many bills die due to lack of action by cut-off dates, “and then it picks up all over again.”

Thorne says the atmosphere changed in early February when the Republican-controlled Senate forced the ouster of Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson.

“Before that happened I was impressed by how well both sides of the aisle were working together,” he said. After that, “things kind of turned upside down and I felt they weren’t working as well together.”

Andy Tran had similar duties in the Senate, working for Curtis King of Yakima, chair of the Transportation Committee.

The Bothell resident is graduating this spring in biology. He hopes the internship helps him stand out as he applies to medical school.

“It’ll make me a more diverse candidate when they pick through applicants,” he said.

His time in Olympia also gave Tran an opportunity to talk with doctors and health industry officials about policy issues.

“By the time I become a doctor, which I hope I will, I’ll be able to understand the process and be able to speak to my needs and my patients’ needs when it comes to speaking to government and legislators about issues that will affect me,” he says.

Looking behind the scenes, Tran learned the key is the preparation that comes from legislative meetings and the associations with lobbyists that take place leading up to a vote.

“The meat of the government isn’t what people see on TVW or like on TV when they show the committee rooms,” he said. “And most people wouldn’t understand that unless you were there.”

Tran recommends the Olympia internship to all students, no matter their major. “It teaches you how to work as a professional in a professional environment,” he says.

Sen. King is a supporter of the internship program and praises Tran’s work.

The program “exposes the young people to their government and gives them an opportunity to see how government works,” King says. “It was fun to watch him grow a little bit and open up as the session grew. He did everything we could have asked and a little more.”

The third UW Bothell student, Rolfson, interned with Sen. Karen Keiser of Kent.

Chancellor Bjong Wolf Yeigh says he would like to send more UW Bothell students to Olympia.

“The legislative internship program is an excellent opportunity for our students to learn the legislative process, obtain professional experience and work directly with our state’s lawmakers,” says Yeigh. “This connected learning provides a high impact experience outside the classroom. I hope more UW Bothell students are able to participate in this internship in the future.”

Read the original article, published March 18, 2016, here. More information regarding the Legislative Internship Program here.

PHOTO CAPTION: Andy Tran and Sen. Curtis King at the Senate rostrum

Local student serves as page for Sen. King

Maili Wells, a sophomore from Prosser High School, recently spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Maili was one of 29 students who served as Senate pages for the eighth week of the 2016 legislative session.

She was sponsored by 14th Legislative District Sen. Curtis King.

“It was a pleasure to sponsor Maili for a busy week of our session. I’m glad she got to experience what a day in the life here at the Capitol is all about,” said King, R-Yakima.

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Students are responsible for transporting documents between offices, as well as delivering messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber and attend page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process. Students also draft their own bills and engage in a mock session.

“I liked being in the Legislative building and on the Senate floor,” said Maili about her favorite parts of participating in the page program. “You get to do important things and feel important at the same time.”

Maili enjoys participating in track, unicycling, and hanging out with her dog. Her dog’s name is Penny and she’s a Maltese poodle.

Maili, 15, is the daughter of Allison Reid and Juan Garza of Prosser.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/

King questions effectiveness of governor’s action on bill vetoes

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, today made this statement regarding the governor’s Thursday-night vetoes of 27 Senate bills, including Senate Bill 6606:

“It is mind-boggling that our state’s chief executive officer thinks the random sacrifice of Senate bills is the best way to motivate the House of Representatives and Senate to reach a budget agreement.

“To treat these bills as inconsequential is a slap in the face to those who brought these ideas to Olympia and spent hours meeting with lawmakers and testifying in committees. In some way, each and every one of these bills was important to someone in our state, whether it was the bill to eliminate obstacles for higher education students with disabilities, or the food-safety bill championed by Asian communities, or one of the other 25 he vetoed.

“It’s especially ironic that several bills, like Senate Bill 6606, which would deal with unscrupulous wholesale vehicle dealers, were requested by the very agencies that the governor oversees. I wanted to stop the unlawful activity enabled by the ease with which a wholesale dealer license can be obtained in our state. The state Department of Licensing requested SB 6606 because Washington is quickly becoming a haven for those individuals looking to conduct illegal business. While other states have responded quickly to update their laws and shut down these fraudulent businesses, our governor has – through his veto of SB 6606 – decided to protect out-of-state criminals instead of the residents of Washington.

“Twenty-two of the 27 vetoed bills left the Senate with a unanimous vote and 13 received unanimous approval by both chambers.

“A governor should possess a number of leadership skills – and vetoes like this take no skill, unlike negotiation and diplomacy, or mediation and counter proposals. Since budget talks were ongoing and continue in earnest, it is unlikely that his rejection of these bills will expedite an agreement. It is quite likely, however, that this veto event will prompt the Legislature to come together with the bipartisan goal of overriding his action.”

Transportation leader introduces bill addressing federal REAL ID compliance

Today Sen. Curtis King introduced a bill that would ultimately allow Washington residents to obtain a driver’s license or state identicard that complies with the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.

King’s legislation would outline the documentation that would be required to receive a new federal-purpose driver’s license or identicard; describe the distinguishing marks on the card that would be required to meet REAL ID standards; and align state laws concerning non-domiciled commercial driver licenses with federal law.

“The ire that the REAL ID Act evokes – from many sides – has kept the Legislature from resolving this issue. We are now in a situation where not only have federal officials refused to grant our state another extension, but Washingtonians are soon going to be restricted from visiting military bases and boarding trains if we don’t move forward,” said King, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “This is not acceptable. It’s time to come to the table to find a solution. My bill is a reasonable first step in the right direction.”

The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, requires state-issued driver licenses to meet federal standards for security, authentication and issuance. In October 2015 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified state officials that it refuses to grant further extensions for Washington to meet REAL ID standards. Senate Bill 6678 would satisfy all 41 different REAL ID requirements.

“Although I am introducing this measure today, my plan is to schedule Senate Transportation Committee work sessions on this matter during the interim between the 2016 and 2017 sessions. That will allow lawmakers to be primed to address this issue when we return to the Capitol in January,” said King.

The state Department of Licensing has issued enhanced driver licenses and enhanced identification cards since 2008. Those will continue to be federally acceptable documents.

Click for bill language, summary document and draft letter to homeland security.

David Lambert serves as page for Sen. King

David Lambert, a freshman at Yakima’s West Valley High School, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. David was one of 26 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2016 legislative session.

He was sponsored by 14th Legislative District Sen. Curtis King.

“It was a pleasure to have David with us during this busy week of session. He played an important role for us here at the Capitol, and of course it is always nice to see a familiar face,” said King, R-Yakima.

“I liked running errands and getting to see behind the scenes work at the Legislature,” said David about some of his favorite parts of participating in the page program.

David enjoys playing in jazz band, video games, and participating in his school’s Associated Student Body.

David, 14, is the son of Andrew and Katie Lambert of Yakima.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/

Spencer Malmberg serves as page for Sen. King

Spencer Malmberg, an eighth grader from Yakima’s East Valley Central Middle School, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Spencer was one of 26 students who served as Senate pages for the seventh week of the 2016 legislative session.

He was sponsored by 14th Legislative District Sen. Curtis King.

“Spencer did a great job for us as a page this week. I am happy he got to get a glimpse of how our Legislature works,” said King, R-Yakima.

“I didn’t know we would be going to Supreme Court hearings, they were really interesting,” said Spencer about some of the highlights of his week at the Capitol.

Spencer enjoys playing football, track, and writing. He plans on majoring in literacy and to one day become an author.

Spencer, 14, is the son of Brent and Amy Malmberg of Moxee.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/

Jackson Finley serves as page for Sen. King

Jackson Finley, a freshman at West Valley High School in Yakima, spent a week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia. Jackson was one of 22 students who served as Senate pages for the sixth week of the 2016 legislative session.

He was sponsored by 14th Legislative District Sen. Curtis King.

“Jackson played an important role this week here at the Capitol and I am pleased he learned more about the state’s legislative process,” said King, R-Yakima.

“It was a really fun experience and I definitely wish I could do it again,” said Jackson about his week at the Capitol.

Jackson enjoys playing basketball, baseball, and participating in his school’s Associated Student Body.

Jackson, 15, is the son of Andy and Katie Finley of Yakima.

Students interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit: https://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/

Senate approves King’s measure to bolster disadvantaged businesses

Today the Senate unanimously approved Sen. Curtis King’s bill that would provide a new avenue for minority-owned contracting companies to work with state transportation leaders on issues that affect their businesses.

“I was approached by minority-owned business leaders who had become frustrated with the Department of Transportation. These leaders were requesting some minor changes that would provide additional oversight to the admittedly complicated Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program. The result of their meeting with me was this simple bill,” said King, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

Senate Bill 6180 would create a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Advisory Committee. within the Washington State Transportation Commission, aimed at increasing accountability and transparency regarding DBE activities.

“The law requires compliance with the goals of the DBE program. This bill will go a long way toward ensuring those goals are being met,” said King. “It was gratifying to see both sides of the aisle come together in support of this legislation today.”

The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for its consideration.

Senate transportation-committee chair responds to governor’s ‘scurrilous’ accusations

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, today made this statement clarifying his role as Senate Transportation Committee chair and the Senate’s decision Friday to reject the appointment of state transportation secretary Lynn Peterson:

“Today the governor claimed the rejection of former-Secretary Peterson came as a great shock to him. He must be the only person in Washington who was surprised. Over the past three years, stories of botched DOT projects and relentless mismanagement has provided fodder for every form of social media, as well as newspapers and nightly newscasts across the state. For my own part, I sent multiple letters to the former transportation secretary since 2013 expressing my concerns and lack of confidence over a number of issues. I think the biggest surprise to drivers in this state is that it took this long for a change to be made.

“When the members of the Senate Transportation Committee voted to move the confirmation of the former transportation secretary into the Rules Committee over a year ago, they were not voting ‘for’ or ‘against’ the agency head, they were voting to move the nomination forward. That is how the confirmation process works, and the governor knows it – or should. To characterize the words I said during the public hearing in committee as an affirmation of her work is disingenuous. Thanking Ms. Peterson for making her staff available to legislators is hardly a ringing endorsement.

“In 2015 it was the Legislature which determined the scope, budget and project list for the largest transportation revenue package in state history. The role of DOT and the former transportation secretary was to implement the package. To suggest that our approval of the package itself constitutes an endorsement of Ms. Peterson is also inaccurate.

“Agency directors should be well aware that they are ultimately responsible when there are problems within their agency. Pointing fingers at contractors is just blame-shifting. The Senate confirms or rejects people appointed by the governor, not contractors hired by those people. We are also not the human-resources department for the executive branch – meaning our job is not to coach agency heads or manage them. That is the job of the governor. When he fails to do his job, then we are forced to do ours.”