2024 Legislature wrap-up: Republican lawmakers push financial restraint

The final gavel has fallen in Olympia and the Legislature is adjourned. I thought I might wax philosophical about this year's events as I've done in previous columns, but let's start with a high-level accounting of what your state government is doing for you.

Given it's an even-numbered year, our main task was to develop a supplemental budget, making tweaks to the two-year spending plan we adopted last year. Incredibly, our state continues to see ever-increasing tax collections and that's both good and bad news.

The good news is that my Senate Republican colleagues and I pushed for a more restrained approach and in many ways that was reflected in this budget that includes no new taxes. That's a big win considering we were staring down proposals to triple the growth rate in property taxes, costing nearly $6 billion. The bad news is that our budget is paid for with the people's money and, despite rising costs, working families aren't seeing any tax relief. The state budget is now just over $71 billion, pushing up spending levels more than 100% since 2015.

We also approved the state's construction budget to fund important community infrastructure projects such as parks, schools, community centers and needed environmental works. I voted in favor of this proposal and worked to secure just over $10 million in this supplemental appropriation for projects around the district. I'm proud to have worked to secure $77,000 for the Camano Lutheran Childcare Center upgrade of fire suppression systems to meet new licensing requirements. Local media reported that Camano Island is already a child-care desert as local officials halted an innovative outdoor program. The Stanwood Police Station is also set to receive $100,000 in this budget.

Spending reflects priorities and so does the legislation that I sponsor. I've taken the approach over my short time serving as your state senator to dig deep into issues, listen to those affected, and work hard on what unites us and makes good sense.

Last year, I wrote in these pages about the challenges of the abortion debate and pointed out how if we want to support women and children, we've got to make the investments. I sponsored a slate of bills and one of the most impactful will soon be signed into law. Not only will Senate Bill 5580 make important policy changes, but I also worked to secure over $5 million in additional funding to implement it. This law would expand access to critical maternal care aimed at improving outcomes for those struggling with behavioral- and substance-abuse problems. Overall, I worked to invest over $20 million in a variety of maternal- and infant-support programs over the next four years.

Health care continues to be a policy area where I've focused a great deal of my efforts in the Legislature. I've seen firsthand the problems, complexities and possible solutions. Our system is overburdened and that is why I've worked across the aisle to boost our workforce, supporting several interstate compact bills that streamline credentialing for qualified practitioners living in other states to move here and begin working faster and deliver needed medical care. Reducing red tape in our health-care system is a win for patients, providers and taxpayers.

Against substantial opposition, the legislative majority pushed through what I called "corporate welfare" in a 2 a.m. vote. House Bill 1589 gives Puget Sound Energy (PSE) special permission to submit plans to the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) without legislative or customer approval. PSE, the largest monopoly utility in the state, supplies electric and natural gas service in much of Western Washington and under this law can get approval to stop providing natural gas without the Legislature or the people standing in the way. The costs to eventually convert from gas to electricity are estimated to be more than $30,000 per household according to our state's building industry. At a time when customers are already cost-burdened and housing costs continue to rise, working Washingtonians simply can't afford this experiment.

My commitment to you is to be open, accessible and candid about the problems we face. Through dialogue, understanding and a sense of shared responsibility we can tackle these issues head-on. As I've said before, it can be uncomfortable and challenging. Still, at the end of the day, our collective efforts will be rewarded with a vibrant economy, thriving environment and affordable, sustainable Washington for future generations.

Ron Muzzall is a Republican state senator representing the 10th Legislative District.