Washington House Democrats

Vancouver lawmakers to discuss state priorities at town hall meeting

January 3, 2006

VANCOUVER– Sen. Craig Pridemore, Rep. Bill Fromhold and Rep. Jim Moeller will host a town hall meeting January 7 to talk about community issues and discuss the agenda for the 2006 Legislature, which convenes the following Monday.

For the next 60 days, lawmakers from the 49th district will help set the state’s priorities for the year in the areas of education, health care, economic development and the environment. In addition, lawmakers will determine how to invest a $1.4 billion surplus in the 2006 supplemental budget.

“We must continue the momentum from the banner 2005 session while maintaining Washington’s fiscal health,” said Pridemore. “This year, that means continuing our efforts to provide a world-class public education system that reaches out to all students, whatever their goals and strengths.

“It also means building on the environmental successes of the 2005 session. I’ll be working on a measure to establish responsible ways to recycle electronics in our state. ‘E-waste’ is a major issue in this age of cell phones and PDAs, and it’s time to act.”

Fromhold, who is chair of the Select Committee on Pension Policy and vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, will help set the tone for the supplemental budget.

“For the past several years, I’ve worked hard to help our state achieve a strong economic recovery by setting priorities and holding firm to a fiscally responsible budget,” said Fromhold.

"This year we have a duty to invest a small part of the surplus in remediation programs to ensure that we help all students meet the high standards set for them in the state of Washington,” added Fromhold. “But we also have a responsibility to save for future emergencies and fulfill our pension promise to retirees.”

Moeller, who is a member of the House Health Care Committee, has been a health care professional for 25 years.

“Last year, we made tremendous progress by covering an additional 70,000 children with health insurance,” said Moeller. “We will continue to seek out reforms that will make medical services and prescription drugs more affordable for families in our state.”

Agenda items for the 2006 Legislature include:

• Providing additional resources to help students pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning graduation requirements;
• Developing a strategic plan to decrease the state’s reliance on foreign energy sources and increase the use of homegrown biodiesel fuel;
• Increase funding to improve child abuse and neglect programs;
• Fulfilling the state’s obligation to adequately fund pensions for retirees; and
• Approving a 2006 Supplemental Budget.

The town hall meeting will be held at the Clark County Public Service Center, Sixth Floor Hearing Room, January 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

###

FOR INTERVIEWS:

Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver
(360) 786-7696
Pridemore.Craig@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver
(360) 786-7924
Fromhold.Bill@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver
(360) 786-7872
Moeller.Jim@leg.wa.gov

Media Staff Contact
Michael Itti
(360) 786-7631
Itti.Michael@leg.wa.gov