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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I hope this email finds you and your family well! Now that session has ended, I'm back in the 31st District. It feels great to be back and see everyone out and about as we continue to recover from the pandemic. Though my time has ended in Olympia for the year, I'm your state representative year-round. Interim lets me connect with you at your convenience throughout the district.
2022 Legislative Session Review
I put together a comprehensive breakdown of the significant highlights and provided a status update on my priorities in my 2022 Legislative Review newsletter. If you have not received your newsletter yet, it should be in your mailbox soon.
You can also read the digital version by clicking here.
Another great resource to learn more about my work and priorities is my website RepresentativeEricRobertson.com. You can read my news releases, watch all my video updates, find and listen to my radio interviews, catch up on the e-newsletters you might have missed, see all my sponsored bills, and find my contact information.
If you'd like more information on the issues that matter most to you, your families, and your businesses, please click here.
End of session wrap-up
The 2022 session brought wins and a few missed opportunities. Here are a few highlights.
Wins:
- As a co-sponsor of House Bill 1785, we ensured Washington State Patrol troopers and sergeants are paid comparable wages to top law enforcement agencies in the state.
- We provided clarification and definitions for our law enforcement professionals as minor fixes to the flawed police reform bills of 2021 through House Bills 1719, 1735, and 2037.
- We established programs and measures to prevent suicide among veterans and military members through House Bill 1181.
- We passed a bipartisan supplemental capital budget providing more than $1.5 billion in public works projects statewide, including nearly $589,000 in additional funding for the Enumclaw City Hall preservation and the Wilkeson water treatment system.
A few disappointments:
- It has now been over 800 days since the governor has been the sole decision-maker in our state. Unfortunately, during the 2022 session, there was no movement to reduce the governor's emergency powers authority. Two bills were introduced to restore balance and trust in state government – House Bill 1772 and Senate Bill 5909. Unfortunately, neither bill was passed during the 2022 session.
- Despite a historic $15 billion surplus, there was no meaningful tax relief, including a one-time sales tax holiday. Plus, the supplemental operating budget is the largest in state history.
- There was a lack of bipartisanship and working across the aisle to enact policy that affects everyone. The $17 billion transportation package is partisan, raises fees on all Washingtonians, and ignores many parts of our state.
- Even though we made some progress in fixing some of the flawed police reform policies, there was one area we failed to provide clarity and fix – vehicular pursuits. I sponsored House Bill 1788 to correct the current statute to allow troopers, deputies, and officers to engage in a vehicular pursuit if there is reasonable suspicion the person in the vehicle has or is committing a crime. The majority party chose not to bring this bill to the House floor, which prevented my bill from moving forward.
Election-year restrictions
I'm heading into an election-year cycle which means my legislative communications will be put under what's known as an election-year freeze beginning Monday, May 16. This freeze on my communications will lift once the Secretary of State certifies the election in November.
It's important to note that the freeze does not restrict me from responding to your emails, phone calls, and messages. I'm also not restricted from having in-person meetings with you. Please continue to reach out to me with any questions, thoughts, or concerns you may have or schedule an appointment with me.
I look forward to hearing from you!
My email address is eric.roberston@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7866.
It's an honor to serve you.
In your service,
Eric Robertson
