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January 15, 2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope your new year is going well. The 2024 legislative session has officially begun. It started on Monday, Jan. 8 and is expected to last 60 days before concluding on March 7. The Legislature has much work to be done and numerous important issues to address. I will keep you updated throughout the next two months on all the important issues and how they progress. It’s good to be back in Olympia representing the people of the 18th District.

Survey Results

My seatmates in the 18th District and I, recently asked you to share your opinions in an online survey. Here are those results.

Question 1: Please rank the most important issue for you right now, with 1 being the most important and 9 being the least important:

Question 2: Since Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (a carbon-pricing “cap-and-trade” law) took full effect in 2023, the average gas price here has consistently been one of the highest in the nation with California and Hawaii. How much has $5 per gallon gas affected your life?

Question 3: If legislators were to approve tax relief, what would you like to see most?

Question 4: Would you support legislation that restores the ability of law enforcement to pursue people based on “reasonable suspicion” that a crime has been committed – including property crimes like auto theft?

Question 5: If you have a child in K-12, is she/he at grade level in math and English?

Legislative Priorities

Thank you for responding to our survey. This is very helpful as we continue our work in the Legislature. It’s clear from your responses we have the same concerns and priorities. In fact, House Republicans are working on real solutions to all these problems. Click here to learn more about our legislative priorities this session as we continue trying to fix what’s wrong in Washington.

One of the major issues we face is the alarming rise in crime in our state. Over the past five years, criminal activity has exploded, with homicides up 96% since 2019 (WASPC). Our state also ranks #2 for property crime, #3 for auto theft and #1 for retail theft. No surprise, we are ranked #51 in police officers per capita and 61% of crimes go unsolved (WA Criminal Justice Snapshot). State and local law enforcement agencies require more officers and sound public policy to provide the resources to properly protect our communities. Republicans have filed several bills this session that would improve public safety.

Additionally, our state is at the epicenter of the fentanyl crisis. The amount of fentanyl seized by the DEA in our state has increased 1670% since 2019 (DEA). Opioid deaths have more than doubled since 2019 (UW) and we have also experienced the #1 largest increase in drug overdose deaths of any state this past year (CDC Data). Again, Republicans have several bills filed that would help address these issues.

Our most vulnerable face homelessness and mental health issues. House Republicans have introduced bills to make it easier to build new homes, create a new tax credit to incentivize landlords to lower or freeze rents, and help local governments address homeless encampments.

Housing and transportation costs 30% more in Washington compared to the national average and we now pay the 3rd highest gas prices in the nation  (Forbes). Republicans have filed several bills to address affordability, including legislation to combat high taxes and burdensome regulations that have driven up costs. The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) or the cap-and-trade program implemented on Jan. 1, 2023, has been particularly harmful and is driving up costs. Republicans are working to provide relief through House Bill 2040, known as The Carbon Auction Rebate (CAR) program. This newly introduced bill would give a significant rebate check to the 6.8 million registered vehicle owners in the state.

We must provide real solutions to the people we serve, by lowering inflated prices for struggling families and businesses, creating more affordable housing for those who require emergency help, and providing meaningful assistance to help those with mental health needs.

Lastly, we must do more for our young people. Over the past decade K-12 spending has grown exponentially while academic performance has plummeted. Right now, 70% of students are failing math and 50% are failing reading (OSPI Report Card). Scores are even worse for minority and low-income children who fell further behind their peers during the prolonged school closures. And public schools have recently lost over 60,000 students suggesting that families are not satisfied with the education they are receiving. Again, we have introduced several bills this session that would help fix education.

MLK Day Speech

Today is the day we celebrate the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was my honor to speak on the House floor and share my feelings about Dr. King and the impact his example has had on my life. You can watch my speech by clicking on the image below.

Thank You for Your Support!

We have a lot to cover in the next 60 days as we work together to make Washington a better place to live for everyone. I am grateful for your support, and I look forward to building a better Washington. It’s an honor to be your representative in the 18th District and serve you in Olympia. If you have any questions, concerns, or idea, please get in touch with me by using the contact info at the bottom of this email. I’m here to listen.

It’s an honor to serve you,

Stephanie McClintock