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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
When our state certifies the election on December 6, I will no longer be your seated state representative in the 18th District, Position 1 – a position I was appointed to last August. Brandon Vick, who ran for and won this particular seat in November, will be our new state representative (Position 1). Welcome Brandon!
However, I remain your state representative-elect in the 18th District, Position 2, because I ran for and won this seat in the recent general election. I will be officially sworn in to office on January 14. Please know that from December 6 to January 14, my work on behalf of our communities continues. I will be studying issues, gathering ideas and working on solutions to move our state forward.
Honored to Serve
Since being appointed to the Washington State House of Representatives, this honorable opportunity has allowed me to hit the ground running and learn firsthand about the many challenges facing our state. Some of the knowledge I've gained is from the House committees I've served on to date. They include:
- Transportation – considers the transportation budget, revenue sources for transportation funding, and issues relating to transportation policy and transportation agencies, including the Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol.
- Agriculture and Natural Resources – considers issues relating to agricultural production, marketing, and sales; animal and plant disease control; fisheries and wildlife; forest practices and forest fire protection; water; and mining. The committee also considers the management of certain state-owned lands.
- Environment – considers issues relating to climate change, renewable energy standards, recycling and solid waste, hazardous waste, toxics, air quality, aquatic lands, oil spill prevention, the State Environmental Policy Act, and parks and recreation. The committee also oversees the Puget Sound Partnership's activities in Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
I look forward to continuing my committee work next month and want your input on how I can advocate for our communities.
I Welcome Your Feedback
Thank you for placing your confidence in me and being engaged in our citizen Legislature. The feedback and inquiries I have received from constituents offer a live pulse on the important issues in our communities. Please keep them coming!
In an effort to hear from you, but also share information with you, I want to provide a conduit communiqué directly to my constituents via an e-mail newsletter. This e-newsletter would be sent on a monthly basis during the legislative session, and bi-monthly in the interim. However, I also respect your privacy and want you to know that you can always opt out of these communications (see below).
You are my top priority. I'm in Olympia to represent your interests. I hope to hear from you with any questions or concerns you may have, and I look forward to being your happy servant warrior – standing for the principles of limited government and less regulation. Now, let's get to work!
A Preview of the 2013 Legislature
We now have a new governor and I expect there will be changes in many state agencies. I hope Governor-elect Jay Inslee will seize this opportunity to bring in fresh leadership from the private sector for his top posts, and be open to much-needed regulatory reform that will turn our state's economy around.
In Clark County, 20,000 of our citizens are out of work and looking for a job. This is unacceptable. When the 2013 Legislature convenes on January 14, I will continue to focus on areas that need to be addressed in order to get our economy moving again. For example, to create a better business environment, I will push for legislation that provides a path to privatization for industrial insurance so employers have options that can drive down costs. I will also support a plan for regulatory storm water relief so our residential and commercial construction industry can move forward. I will also advocate for real reform of our public education system.
A healthy and robust free enterprise system is the way to get Washington out of this terrible economic downturn. More government spending is simply not the answer.
Looking Ahead to Local Events
Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Legislative Outlook Breakfast at the Vancouver Hilton:
- Friday, December 14.
- 7:00 a.m.
- To register, contact the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce at (360) 694-2588.
Thank you for placing your confidence in me.
Sincerely,
Liz Pike
"Protecting life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness!"
