Southwest Washington lawmakers have promised in the past to work together to meet the region’s transportation needs; but at a legislative breakfast Friday morning, it was clear they might not be headed in the same direction.
“We have critical infrastructure needs that are tied to our jobs and economic development, and certainly one of those needs is a toll-free east county bridge,” said Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. “It’s absolutely imperative we bring that issue to the forefront and show how to lead the way in doing a bridge project that doesn’t waste $175 million with nothing to show for it.”
Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, could back up her colleague to a certain extent: aging infrastructure in the region must be addressed this session.
“The problem we need to address is the replacement of the antiquated I-5 Bridge and yet, my concern is this problem is being ignored in lieu of discussion of a third bridge with apparently no tolls, a third bridge that Oregon is magically apparently going to agree to,” Cleveland said.
But hey, Cleveland said, it’s the holidays.
“Frankly, this third-bridge wish is a wish that only Santa can fulfill, and I’m not Santa Claus, and I don’t see him in this room,” Cleveland said, adding that Benton does vaguely resemble St. Nicholas.
Despite the similarities, though, Cleveland doesn’t believe there will be a “bridge waiting for us under the Christmas tree.”
Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver and speaker pro tempore of the House, put it bluntly: “Regarding any kind of bridge to Oregon, I think that’s not going to happen in my lifetime,” he said.
The breakfast was hosted by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Identity Clark County and the Columbia River Economic Development Council and held at the Hilton Vancouver Washington. The conversation focused primarily on the Southwest Washington business climate, and representatives from small to large-sized businesses were encouraged to attend.
Lawmakers did agree on a couple of issues, including that cities and local jurisdictions should receive more of the taxes captured on the sale of marijuana and that career technical education should receive funding.
Washington lawmakers have a lot to tackle in the upcoming legislative session, which is scheduled to start Jan. 12.
The state is facing a reported $2 billion shortfall, in part due to a court ruling, called the McCleary decision, requiring the state to fully fund basic education. Washington voters dealt another blow to the budget when they approved Initiative 1351 to reduce class sizes.
One of the biggest battles this upcoming legislative session will surely be over how to fully fund education.
“We face one of the most difficult budget cycles in decades,” Moeller said.
And the only way to solve it, he said, is “find new, sustainable revenue, or we cut existing programs.”
The Republicans on the panel disagreed.
“Let’s get a grip on reality; we’re doing fine on revenue,” Benton said. “We don’t have a revenue problem in Olympia, it’s a spending problem.”
Next week, Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to unveil his proposed 2015-17 budget.
Lawmakers at the breakfast included Republican Reps. Ed Orcutt of Kalama, Liz Pike of Camas, Rep.-elect Lynda Wilson, Brandon Vick and Paul Harris, all of Vancouver. Sens. Benton, Cleveland and Ann River, R-La Center, represented the upper chamber and Moeller was the sole House Democrat.
