Tag Archives: transportation

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

Rivers to host transportation discussions March 21

Ann photo

Sen. Ann Rivers invites residents of the 18th Legislative District to participate in upcoming transportation discussions. The forums will allow people to ask questions and receive more information regarding a proposed package of transportation reforms and revenue passed by the Senate and awaiting consideration from the House of Representatives.

The community conversations will take place Saturday, March 21 at the following times and locations:

10 a.m. – Ridgefield Community Center, 210 N Main Ave., Ridgefield

Noon – Battle Ground City Hall, council chambers, 109 SW 1st Street, Battle Ground

2 p.m. – Camas Public Library, 625 NE 4th Ave., Camas

Each meeting will last one hour.

“This gathering is great way to bring folks from my communities together. I’m excited to share with my friends and neighbors about the benefits of the transportation projects that would be coming to our district,” said Rivers, R-La Center.

Rivers supports transportation-construction jobs and economic development

Today, after nearly three years of negotiations, the Senate passed a $15 billion transportation revenue package with a broad bipartisan vote. The package devotes $8 billion to new construction and $1.4 billion to maintenance and preservation of existing roads and bridges across the state.

“I’m tired of the people of southwest Washington paying for everyone’s steak dinner, but not even allowed a piece of bread. The projects slated for our legislative district alone will produce an enormous return on investment for the folks in southwest Washington,” said Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, who serves the state’s 18th Legislative District. “Between the enhanced economic development our area will enjoy and the family-wage construction jobs that will result from these projects and the others in surrounding districts, this is a great deal for Clark County.”

The transportation-revenue package totaled 11 bills. The first eight bills passed in the Senate addressed key reforms that had been must-have changes for Rivers and her Majority Coalition Caucus colleagues to move forward with the next leg of the package – a proposed 11.7 cent-per-gallon gas-tax increase, phased in over three years.

“People can always find a reason to say ‘no’ to a proposal. It’s harder to say ‘yes,’ but if that’s the best way to reverse the decline in our state’s transportation infrastructure, then that’s what you do as a leader. I wish there were a ‘no tax of any kind’ option, but taxes are how we have always paid for roads. There has to be a revenue source, and while this package isn’t perfect, it’s a big improvement over 10 years ago,” said Rivers.

The Legislature has not approved a transportation-revenue package since 2005, and that one allocated no money to maintenance and preservation.

“Those who controlled the Legislature and the governor’s mansion a decade ago made the decision to neglect our existing infrastructure. As a member of the Majority Coalition Caucus, I am choosing the difficult decision of leading and cleaning up their mess. Our state’s roads will only continue to crumble and become further dilapidated. Pretending that isn’t the case and saying no to economic growth for our area would have been irresponsible,” said Rivers.