Wednesday, March 26, 2014 • Whidbey News-Times
WWW.WHIDBEYNEWSTIMES.COM
State lawmakers share insights on legislative session By JUSTIN BURNETT South Whidbey Record
Tenth District lawmakers last week briefed constituents on highlights of the 2014 Legislative session. Convening at South Whidbey High School before a crowd of about 30 were state Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton; Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor; and Rep. Dave Hayes, R-Camano. The three each took about 10 minutes to bring the crowd up to speed about what they felt were highlights in Olympia, from Bailey’s promotion of a budget that made gains in higher education to Haye’s unsuccessful bill to end an exemption for lawmakers that prevents them from getting speeding infractions during the session. “My intent in bringing that bill was that we are not above the law,” Hayes said. The bill never made it out of committee. Smith talked about her focus on economic development through the fostering of sustainable energy industries. She echoed Bailey’s
sentiments that a balanced budget was adopted with a great bipartisan effort. “The kind of support we saw literally hasn’t been seen in decades,” Smith said. Smith complained that news organizations focus on what’s going wrong and that she was there to report good things are happening. “I’m here to tell you things are going right,” Smith said. Attendees took advantage of the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, quizzing the lawmakers on issues ranging from transportation to government accountability. Freeland resident Bob Walters started things off by asking how far each was willing to go to address tax reform, and education and transportation funding issues. Hayes said efforts are underway to lower transportation costs, which he claimed are more expensive in Washington. He also reiterated Bailey’s early report that “two-thirds of increased spending” went to higher eduction. “We are addressing that
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Photo by Justin Burnet/South Whidbey Record
Tenth District lawmakers Norma Smith, left, Barbara Bailey, center, and Dave Hayes, right, share highlights and insights into the 2014 legislative session. issue; we’re getting there,” Hayes said. Bailey and Smith both talked about a long-standing debate over Washington’s lack of a state income tax, and also the state’s business and operation tax, which is “crushing small businesses,” Smith said. Mirroring recent local debates, public park funding was also a topic of discussion, with Langley resident Kim Drury asking what efforts were made to make the system more sustainable. “I think our state park sys-
tem is in a crisis,” she said. Smith said that more than 50 percent of the state is publicly owned and that government must focus on maintaining what it has. “To me, we need to slow this acquisition,” Smith said. Clinton resident Doug Hofius said it seems that Mukilteo is receiving the focus of state financial dollars — Washington State Ferries investment in a new terminal — when Clinton is struggling
REPLENISH YOUR MIND, BODY SPIRIT
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just to survive. “Our town is blight, it’s dying,” Hofius said. “We’re kinda asking for your help to make things more reasonable on our side of the water because our people work at Boeing too,” he said. Bailey said the Clinton ferry dock could be better and may be looked at during the next biennium to see what improvements might be made.
“It really begs the question about a few things that probably should have been in the design of that ferry dock,” Bailey said. Hayes agreed, adding the state Department of Transportation, Ferries Division, “give more weight to ferry communities” when considering future projects. “Right now there is no way … but your statement doesn’t fall on deaf ears,” he said.
April 5th ~ 6th
A Service Guide For Health & Wellness On Whidbey Island
Alterations & Tailoring WHIDBEY INSPIRATION
Seamstress and Jewelry Designer 810 SE Pioneer Way, #102 Oak Harbor
• • • •
Alterations and Tailoring Custom Design Jewelry Custom Embroidery Gift Shop
360-240-1024 www.whidbeyinspiration.com
Massage Therapy ROXANNE FAIRFAX, LMP
Balancing Body - Mind - Soul Relaxation and deep tissue massage. Most insurance accepted for injury treatment. For more information, please contact me. 161 SE Barrington Dr., Oak Harbor 360-682-5491
Midwifery Greenbank Women’s Clinic and Birth Center
Full scope midwifery care. Annual exams/birth control services for women of all ages Serving Whidbey Island for over 20 years. All Major Insurance, Tricare Accepted
360-678-3594 or 360-222-0122 www.greenbankbirthcenter.com
OB/GYN ISLAND WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE DR. ROBERT J. BURNETT, MD, FACOG DR. MELISSA S.CHINN, DO, FACOG Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology
SARAH MEYER, CNM, ARNP 201 Birch St., Coupeville, WA 98239 360-678-0831
Physical Therapy Oak Harbor/Freeland/Clinton FAMILYCARE PHYSICAL THERAPY
Traditional Tai Chi & Medical Qigong Slow, yet invigorating movements, focused on increasing oxygen to brain & organs. Improves mental stability, opens neural pathways, builds core strength & muscles around arthritic joints, balance, BP. Relieves pain, depression. Mind and body energized yet calm. Leaves one relaxed with a sense of strength and well being. Weekly Classes - Morning & Evening ··Coupeville and Oak Harbor·· FREE Quarterly Workshops, “Intro to Traditional Tai Chi & Medical Qigong”, Sat., March 29, 2:00 - 4:00 Whidbey Gen. Hosp., Coupeville. Call teacher to register for workshop or classes. Missed some of the information? Attend again!! Jill Vulcano-Reed, Cert sifu, 6th dan 43 yrs exp Member of U.S. Martial Arts Association First Class Free … call 360-675-1464
April 5
Leavenworth International Film Festival
April 5
Dinner & La Boheme
April 12 Total Experience Gospel Choir April 12 Leavenworth Ale-Fest April 17 Music at the Mountain
April 20 Easter Bruch at Sleeping Lady April 26 Dinner & Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte April 27 Earth Day Community Fair
Island Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc.
80 N. Main Street • Coupeville 360-678-4700 WWW.ISLAND-PROSTHETICS.COM
ALL MONTH! Pear map to all things pear-fectly delicious in town
April 19 Icicle Creek Chamber Players
Prosthetics & Orthotics
DAVE MATHEWS, LCP
SPRING SENSATIONS EVENTS:
April 19 Easter Egg Hunt
Jim Christensen, PT Dan Markle, PTA Lesley Skarosi, PT 360-279-1445
AMERICAN BOARD CERTIFIED WASHINGTON STATE LICENSED
We are getting really yummy with our pear-centric food crawl. Bring your appetite and your sense of adventure and take a trip though flavor-town!
To advertise in this Service Guide, please contact THE WHIDBEY NEWS-TIMES at 360-675-6611.
JUST $1 PER LINE! (8 line min.)