Washington State House Democrats

Springer sworn in as State Representative

Jan. 10, 2004

OLYMPIA—Former Kirkland mayor Larry Springer officially became state Rep. Larry Springer on Monday during opening-day ceremonies of the House of Representatives.

Springer said his top 2005 priorities will be funding schools and colleges, health-care reform, transportation and "making sure that people in both the urban and rural parts of the 45th District are being heard and served by state government."

The 45th District includes the communities of Woodinville, Duvall, Carnation and parts of Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish and the northeast King County region. Springer and his wife, Penny, live in Kirkland, where the new legislator has owned and operated a retail wine store for 20 years.

In an unusual move, Springer, a Democrat, was named vice-chair of the new Housing Committee even before he was officially sworn into office. He will also serve on the Judiciary and Capital Budget committees.

A fiscal conservative, Springer said he opposes increasing sales, property or business taxes to solve a potential $1.6 billion shortfall in state revenues.

"People expect us to prioritize, reduce waste and to have the guts to cut non-essential spending," Springer said. "I have no appetite for a general tax increase, and neither does the public."

Springer outlined several legislative priorities for the 2005 session, including:

• Enacting a law to require independent performance audits of all state government agencies and operations.
• Improving transportation, including upgrading safety on S.R. 203, widening S.R. 202, advocating state funding for the S.R. 520 bridge and other traffic choke points in the district.
• Increasing access to affordable health care by addressing soaring costs for medical malpractice insurance, prescription drugs and small-business health insurance.
• Creating more local jobs by expanding workforce training opportunities at community colleges.

Springer urged 45th District residents to contact him whenever they have ideas about what the Legislature should do – or stop doing – to improve people's lives.

"I've hired a great legislative assistant in Amy Ockerlander, and we're committed to responding quickly to any constituent's ideas, concerns or questions," Springer said.

Representative Springer can be reached in several ways, and offers regular electronic updates on legislative issues to any constituent who emails his office and asks to be included.

Toll-free Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000.
Olympia Office Phone: (360) 786-7822.
Regular mail: Rep. Larry Springer
325 John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0600.
E-mail: springer.larry@leg.wa.gov
Web page: http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/springer/