Author Archives: ericcampbell

Rivers’ ‘more salmon for all’ bill set for Thursday public hearing

Adapting Alaska’s innovative hatchery approach could help feed orca sooner

Legislation that could lead to a dramatic increase in the number of salmon in Washington waters and boost the food supply for Puget Sound’s southern resident orcas will come before the Senate’s natural-resources committee at 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

The bipartisan bill is aimed at supporting the creation of a new private-public salmon hatchery in Bellingham, modeled after an approach that has proven to be productive and financially self-sustaining in Alaska.

Sen. Ann Rivers is prime sponsor of Senate Bill 6509, known as the Salmon Repopulation Act. She sees it as the most effective action lawmakers can take on behalf of the endangered orca as well as the commercial fishers, sport fishers, tribes and others in Washington who would benefit from having more salmon return to the state’s waterways.

“So far the things that have either been approved or proposed in the name of helping the orca tend to be restrictive, like putting more limits on whale-watching tours, or destructive – meaning the idea of breaching dams,” said Rivers, R-La Center. “I think the bipartisan support for this bill is due to its positive approach. What could be divisive or controversial about producing more fish in a way that would respect the environment and be a good investment for taxpayers?

“Our state has a robust hatchery program but the operation I saw in Alaska this past summer is at another level. I have no doubt this is the fastest and also the smartest way to make more salmon available for the orca to eat,” she added. “I’m convinced it can be adapted to our state, and the Port of Bellingham has the ideal location. The people who can make this happen have come to the table in recent weeks. The Legislature simply needs to say yes – and it needs to be this year, so the pilot project can get going. The orca can’t wait.”

18th District lawmakers set Jan. 4 town halls ahead of 2020 session

Residents of the 18th Legislative District are invited to town-hall meetings Saturday, Jan. 4, shortly before their legislative team heads to the state Capitol for a 60-day lawmaking session.

The meetings continue a tradition for Sen. Ann Rivers, Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Larry Hoff of engaging with their constituents in person ahead of the session’s opening day – which will be Jan. 13 in 2020.

The town hall times and locations are:

“This will be an important day for the legislators of the 18th District,” said Vick, R-Vancouver, who will be participating in his eighth legislative session in 2020. “Holding three separate meetings in three locations will allow us to receive important input from constituents throughout our district. I can use this valuable information as I continue to push for more government accountability and fiscal responsibility in Olympia. There will also be a number of other important issues to discuss this year, including transportation, education, and new tax proposals. Hearing from our constituents before the session begins, on these and other issues, is very helpful.”

“Meeting with our constituents and hearing their feedback on the issues they care most about helps us do our jobs more effectively as lawmakers,” said Hoff, R-Vancouver. “That’s why we held nine town hall meetings earlier this year, and are holding three more before the 2020 session gets under way January 13. From taxes to transportation, homelessness to affordable housing, there is much to discuss. I hope 18th District residents will come out and make their voices heard.”

“I’m a big believer in town halls because the people of our district do such a great job of sharing their thoughts. I never fail to come away with a list of ideas and issues that guide my work in Olympia,” said Rivers, R-La Center. “At this upcoming round of meetings I’ll also be ready to share some proposals – including one that would provide more money for transportation projects without any added taxes, and another to expand the state’s approach to salmon management in a way that would mean more fish for everyone. It’ll be great to get input on those.”

Residents seeking more information may contact any of the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Ann Rivers
Email: Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7634

Rep. Brandon Vick
Email: Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7850

Rep. Larry Hoff
Email: Larry.Hoff@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7812

In the News: Alaska’s nonprofit hatcheries give us hope for Washington’s salmon runs

I recently visited a very successful salmon hatchery in Alaska with Senator Shelly Short and Representative Luanne Van Werven. In a guest column published by The Seattle Times, we shared our observations — and just as important, the belief that our northern neighbor’s approach could be adapted to benefit salmon and all who rely on them (such as commercial fishers and orcas) in our state.

Many 18th District residents have already contacted me to express their interest in this idea: https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/alaskas-nonprofit-hatcheries-give-us-hope-for-washingtons-salmon-runs/ — let me know what you think at ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov!

18th District lawmakers coming to Yacolt, La Center on March 2

CLARK COUNTY… The three members of the 18th District’s legislative team will hold town halls in Yacolt and La Center on Saturday, March 2, as this year’s legislative session nears its halfway point.

It’ll be the second set of town-hall meetings in 2019 for Sen. Ann Rivers, Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Larry Hoff. They had four meetings in the district on Jan. 5, shortly before state lawmakers convened for the start of the 2019 legislative session on Jan. 14. The 105-day session is scheduled to continue through April 28.

The town hall times and locations are:

  • 11 a.m. – Yacolt Town Hall, 202 W. Cushman Street
  • 2 p.m. – La Center, City Hall/Council Chambers, 214 East 4th Street

“We want to be as accessible as possible to everyone in the 18th, which is why we’ve been intentional about each of the locations for these town halls,” said Hoff, R-Vancouver. “We had a good turnout for our first-ever town hall in Salmon Creek in January, and we’re really looking forward to hearing what our constituents in Yacolt and La Center have to tell us.”

The town halls will take place during a brief gap in the 2019 session.

“We purposely scheduled these town halls just before the House and Senate spend the better part of a dozen days voting on bills that were moved forward by the various committees,” said Vick, R-Vancouver. “The timing means we’ll be able to discuss specific bills that did or did not make the initial cuts, and what that means to Clark County and to southwest Washington.”

“I think people in our district would be surprised by some of the bills that have gained traction in the Legislature this year, especially when it comes to health-care policy and environmental regulations,” added Rivers, R-La Center. “These meetings give us an opportunity to let our constituents know what may be looming on the horizon – which includes new taxes, even though state government’s financial position is better than I’ve ever seen it.”

Residents seeking more information may contact any of the legislators’ offices:

Sen. Ann Rivers
Email: Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7634

Rep. Brandon Vick
Email: Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7850

Rep. Larry Hoff
Email: Larry.Hoff@leg.wa.gov | Phone: (360) 786-7812

Sexual-harassment data within state government needs tracking, senators say

OLYMPIA…Legislation introduced today would require all three branches of state government to track and submit data regarding sexual harassment of employees for detailed annual reports that would be public.

Sen. John Braun and Sen. Ann Rivers come at Senate Bill 5845 from different directions but are sponsoring it with the same goal: learning the extent of sexual-harassment claims made by state employees and how those are addressed. If the bill becomes law, the initial report would look back three years to provide context for future tracking.

“It’s obvious that sexual harassment happens within state government – until yesterday, there was a vacant seat in the Senate for that reason. I know the Legislature has been stepping up its efforts to address workplace conduct, and maybe the other branches have also. But without better data, it’s going to be a challenge to tell whether any of this is having the desired effect,” said Rivers, R-La Center, who has been out front for Senate Republicans on the issue since the #MeToo movement emerged in late 2017.

For Braun, R-Centralia, the bill is his second try to get the requirement into law. The idea was part of budget legislation he proposed in 2018.

“My first concern is about the human cost of sexual harassment – this behavior is just plain wrong. We need to shine the brightest possible light within state government to make sure we are leading the way in eliminating sexual harassment from the workplace.

“But as sexual harassment is a management issue, it also can come with a financial cost. This bill would get at that by requiring the reporting of settlements or judgments as well as the claims themselves,” said Braun, who recently exposed more than $500 million worth of management missteps within the state’s executive branch.

“To paraphrase a saying, you can’t manage what you don’t measure. My hope is that tracking the data regarding sexual harassment will reveal any trends, and making the annual reports public will help improve policies and management where needed. For those of us who value the work our state employees do, this bill is a way to demonstrate it.”

The two lawmakers said their legislation is modeled after a proposal in California, requested by its governor after a series of newspaper reports revealed the state did not know the extent of sexual harassment claims or costs brought by state employees.

18th District team to hold four pre-session town halls Jan. 5

CLARK COUNTY… Residents of the 18th Legislative District are invited to town-hall meetings on this Saturday (Jan. 5) with Sen. Ann Rivers and Rep. Brandon Vick. The two lawmakers will be joined by Rep.-elect Larry Hoff, who will be sworn in when the Legislature convenes Jan. 14 at the state Capitol in Olympia for its 2019 session.

The meetings and locations are:

  • 9 a.m. – Clark County Fire & Rescue, Station 21, 911 N. 65th Avenue, Ridgefield
  • 11 a.m. – Battle Ground City Hall, 109 S.W. 1st Street, Battle Ground
  • 1 p.m. – Camas City Hall, 616 N.E. 4th Avenue, Camas
  • 3 p.m. – Three Creeks Community Library (Salmon Creek), 800 NE Tenney Road, Vancouver

“I am pleased we were able to add a meeting in the Salmon Creek area,” said Vick, R-Vancouver. “We are covering a lot of ground in one day, but we want to provide the constituents of the Eighteenth District as many opportunities as possible to meet with us before the legislative session.”

The town halls represent a particularly convenient opportunity for district residents to engage with their entire legislative team, said Rivers, R-La Center.

“We appreciate visits from our constituents when we’re at the Capitol, but once the session begins it’s going to be nearly impossible to catch the three of us in one place. The town halls allow us to all be part of the same conversation, whether it’s about an idea for legislation or a concern about state government,” she said.

Rivers is especially pleased that Hoff will take part.

“The fact that Larry won’t officially be in office, yet he’s wanting to be there to listen, says a lot about the level of service and representation the people of our district will get from him. It’s also an indicator of the solid teamwork I’m expecting to see from our district’s delegation.”

Residents needing more information may contact either lawmaker’s office: Rivers’ e-mail is Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov, and her Olympia telephone number is 360-786-7634; Vick’s e-mail address is Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov, and the telephone number at his 18th District office is 360-723-0704.

18th District lawmakers schedule April 14 town halls in Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield

CLARK COUNTY… Sen. Ann Rivers and Rep. Brandon Vick will hold town-hall meetings Saturday, April 14 in Ridgefield, Battle Ground and Camas. Topics will include issues from the 2018 legislative session, which ended March 8, as well as other matters of interest to 18th District residents.

The meetings and locations are:

  • 9 a.m. — Camas City Hall, 616 N.E. 4th Avenue, Camas
  • 11 a.m. – Battle Ground City Hall, 109 S.W. 1st Street, Battle Ground
  • 1 p.m. – Clark County Fire & Rescue, Station 21, 911 N. 65th Avenue, Ridgefield

Residents needing more information may contact either lawmaker’s office: Rivers’ e-mail is Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov, and her Olympia telephone number is 360-786-7634; Vick’s e-mail address is Brandon.Vick@leg.wa.gov, and the telephone number at his 18th District office is 360-723-0704.

 

 

Rivers sets Feb. 17 town halls in Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield

OLYMPIA… Sen. Ann Rivers will hold three town-hall meetings across her Clark County legislative district on Saturday, Feb. 17. The 18th District lawmaker said she wants to check in with her constituents before the Legislature enters the homestretch of its 2018 session.

“We’re at the point where the bills still under consideration have already been passed by the Senate or the House of Representatives, so they’re halfway to becoming law,” said Rivers, R-La Center. “This is a good time to not only take questions but also to let people know where certain issues stand, especially proposals having to do with taxes and health care.

“It’s an opportunity for me to learn what’s in the hearts of my constituents so I can take that back to the Capitol ahead of the votes that will define this year’s session. ”

The meeting locations span the 18th Legislative District represented by Rivers since 2011:

9 a.m. — Camas City Hall, 616 N.E. 4th Avenue, Camas

11 a.m. – Battle Ground City Hall, 109 S.W. 1st Street, Battle Ground

1 p.m. – Clark County Fire & Rescue, Station 21, 911 N. 65th Avenue, Ridgefield

Residents needing more information should contact Rivers’ Olympia office via email at Ann.Rivers@leg.wa.gov or by telephone at 360-786-7634.

Rivers proposes Sasquatch license plate to support state parks

 

OLYMPIA… Sen. Ann Rivers thinks the state’s best-known cryptid, Sasquatch, ought to have an opportunity to help raise money for state parks and recreation areas. Today she introduced legislation that would create a Sasquatch license plate and direct revenue from its sales toward park maintenance and improvements.

“I’m guessing Sasquatch has a hidden talent as a fundraiser,” said Rivers. “And assuming that Sasquatch is a native Washingtonian, and our state parks are part of Sasquatch’s native habitat, it makes perfect sense to capitalize on Sasquatch’s popularity in a way that would help protect and improve that habitat.”

Senate Bill 6151 complements Rivers’ effort to designate Sasquatch as the state cryptid – short for cryptozoological creature, which refers to an animal not proven to exist. Senate Bill 5816, which would add Sasquatch (or “Bigfoot”) to the collection of state symbols, was inspired by a letter she received from a young constituent in early 2017.

SB 6151’s co-sponsors include the Senate Transportation Committee’s Democrat chair and lead Republican, and Rivers is hopeful the bill will come before the committee later this month.

Rivers, who says the idea for her legislation came from a friend, was among a bipartisan majority of senators who supported last year’s legislation to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in park maintenance and improvements. The bill went nowhere in the House of Representatives, however, and money from the special state-parks license plate created in 2006 only supports arts and education in parks.

“This won’t generate the $500 million that our Senate bill from last year would have, but the proceeds can’t help but make a dent in the backlog of maintenance that we were wanting to address,” Rivers explained.

“The strong positive reaction to my bill to make Sasquatch the state cryptid proved that people of all ages are still taken by the idea that such a creature is out there. I have no doubt that some of them will like the idea of a Sasquatch license plate, and appreciate that buying one is good for the park system,” she said.