Pain at the pump is expanding to heating your home and the Attorney General’s office wants to keep the reason for the increase from you.
A new tax on carbon passed by legislative Democrats in 2021 under the Climate Commitment Act, which took effect this January, is beginning to cost Washingtonians more at the gas pump and now on their utility bills.
The Washington Attorney General’s Office, however, does not want ratepayers to know why they’ll see a price hike on their natural gas bills. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission has approved price increases for natural gas rates, but has barred utility companies from providing its customers with an explanation – a decision that was recommended by the attorney general’s office. Washingtonians deserve transparency. You deserve to know why you’ll be paying more for natural gas and why gas prices are increasing at a faster rate here than they are in neighboring states.
Visiting with Washington State Patrol (WSP)
I had the great privilege of meeting with members of the Washington State Patrol in August and touring their training academy in Shelton. As a strong supporter of law enforcement, I believe it’s important to hear directly from the men and women who protect and serve our communities. I sincerely enjoyed learning about their day-to-day routines and getting a glimpse into all they do to help the people of Washington.
Washington has the lowest per capita rate of commissioned law enforcement officers in the country, and the lowest rate in our state’s recorded history since the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC) began tracking this data in 1980. It’s critical that we boost our ranks and give our law enforcement professionals the backing they need to do their jobs effectively. Public safety needs to be our state’s top priority.
Did you know Washington State owns 297 miles of railroad tracks in Eastern Washington?
In November 2004, Washington state purchased the Palouse River and Coulee City short-line rail system to keep the systems from becoming abandoned. These rail systems move over 20% of Washington’s wheat to markets and saves on the expense of repairing highways because of truck traffic. I had the opportunity to ride along and visit the grain silos along the way. Washington state has been able to leverage federal funding to improve the tracks, and contracts with private railroads for the operation and maintenance.
Introducing my new legislative assistant (LA), Connie Bruno
I am thrilled to announce that Connie Bruno is serving as my new legislative assistant (LA). She’ll be helping me stay in touch with all of you, especially during the busy months of the legislative session. Before joining my office, Connie has experience working in both the private and public-school systems and worked in the insurance industry for nearly 17 years. She and her husband have two college-aged children: her son works in commercial construction and her daughter attends Eastern Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, walking, hiking, reading, and Bible study.
I know she’ll do great things for the 4th Legislative District!
Legislative resources
- My legislative website | Find my contact information, bio, news releases, email updates, videos, opinion pieces, bills, and other information.
- The Capitol Buzz | A weekday roundup of online news stories.
- The Current | An online legislative publication from the Washington House Republicans.
- TVW | TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live online.
- The Ledger | A legislative news aggregator.
- Legislature’s website | Bill reports, committee agendas, and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature here.
- State agencies | List of all state agencies, boards, and commissions here.
- Participating in the Process | Information about how you can participate in the legislative process
Thank you!
Please contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or comments. I work for you all year long and I encourage your feedback. I am here to serve you and everyone in the 4th Legislative District.
It’s an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,