Tag Archives: 39th District

Little comfort from Interior secretary on grizzly reintroduction, Wagoner says

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s appearance in Sedro-Wooley Friday offered little comfort for those concerned about the reintroduction of grizzly bears in the North Cascades, said Sen. Keith Wagoner.

Zinke told reporters that work on an environmental impact statement is continuing, and that he expects a result by the end of the year. The return of the grizzly to the area surrounding North Cascades National Park, urged by tribes and environmental groups, is strongly opposed by landowners, farmers and ranchers for safety and commercial reasons.

“For those of us who think this is a terrible idea and actually live here, the secretary’s comments Friday were unsettling,” said Wagoner, R-Sedro-Wooley. “We’d been hoping he would announce Interior is dropping the plan. But not only is the effort continuing, the secretary provided scant insight about the decision his agency will make.

“I was left with no clear understanding of the secretary’s opinion on reintroduction, except that he seems to defer to the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as experts on the matter.

“I want to leave no ambiguity. I am 100 percent opposed to reintroducing this top-tier predator into our area. Grizzlies that are already present in the region should remain protected and unmolested, but there is no reason to artificially increase their numbers by importing bears from elsewhere.

“Washington state law states that ‘grizzly bears shall not be transplanted or introduced into the state.’ A federal agency may be able to sidestep state law, but it will clearly be a case of doing something because you can, not because you should. As a representative of the people of the 39th Legislative District, I will continue to oppose this flawed top-down policy.”

 

Wagoner frustrated that budget unnecessarily dips into rainy day fund

Gratified funding for vital 39th District projects is included

Now that legislature has reached sine die, meaning the last day of the 2018 session, Republican Senator Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, offered this comment about the 2018 supplemental operating budget, which was developed without bipartisan input and was presented to the Legislature for a vote on the last day of the legislative session:

“Despite my great disappointment with the Democrats’ budget in general, specifically the looting of our citizen’s “rainy day account,” I am gratified that our district will benefit greatly from funding in all three underlying budgets.  We were able to bring vital funding in the operating, transportation, and capital Budgets back to the 39th District to meet important community needs.”

The Supplemental Budget reduces the amount of money going into the rainy day fund by more than $700 million. Voters in every county approved Senate Joint Resolution 8206 in 2011, to protect extraordinary revenue during times of strong economic growth. Using the money generally requires a 60 percent vote in the Legislature. The rainy day fund is our state’s savings account. The money traditionally covers budget shortfalls during economic downturns or goes toward funding emergencies like natural disasters.

Wagoner is thankful that the operating, transportation and capital budgets passed this session each include funding for important projects throughout the 39th District including:

  • Landslide relief for the Town of Lyman – $300,000
  • Development of the Pressentin Park Trails – $603,000
  • The Arlington Innovation Center – $275,000
  • Sedro-Woolley Regional Library – $1.5 million
  • Radar activated signs for pedestrian safety near Sauk Suiattle tribal lands – $40,000
  • Sultan Decant Facility/Clean up – $340,000

“Given that this was a supplemental budget developed in a short session, I feel it has been extremely productive for the 39th.”

 

Senate backs Wagoner’s affordable-housing bill

Tax credit would promote residential construction in  smaller cities across state

Sen. Keith Wagoner’s effort to address a shortage of affordable housing won strong bipartisan support  today from the state Senate. Senate Bill 6347 would encourage development of multi-family dwellings; Wagoner said his proposal should be especially helpful in areas along the Interstate 5 corridor, including the communities he serves in the 39th Legislative District.

The bill would promote housing development by allowing developers in cities and towns across Washington take advantage of a tax credit for new and rehabilitated multiple-unit dwellings. That incentive is now available only in cities with at least 15,000 people.

As the economy booms in areas like Wagoner’s legislative district, employers are looking for attractive places where employees can live.

“Communities like Sedro-Woolley and Sultan would benefit from this tax exemption. I have met with several groups this year all discussing the need for jobs and housing and I believe that this bill will provide for both,” said Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley.

“I’m very pleased that this sensible bipartisan approach continues to move forward,” Wagoner added. “This bill would level the playing field and provide developers with the tools necessary to bring much needed housing to many of our rural communities.

“The fact that it’s the first of my bills to win the full Senate’s approval is right in line with my priority on families and improving the quality of life in our area.”

The first-year senator also sees his bill as a way to add housing to buildings in smaller downtown areas throughout the state. Wagoner adds, “This will help re-invigorate our downtown areas and preserve historically important architecture.”

His measure would basically suspend, for two years, the population-based restriction on the property-tax exemption related to multi-family housing.

SB 6347 now moves to the House of Representatives. This year’s 60-day legislative session ends March 8.

Sen. Wagoner and Rep. Eslick Holding Town Hall Meetings

Senator Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, and Representative Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, are hosting town hall meetings on Saturday, February 17, 2018. These meetings will offer residents the opportunity to speak with their 39th District lawmakers. The meetings are open to the public.

The first town hall meeting is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 319 Main Street in Sultan. The second meeting is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hadley Hall, 18513 59th Ave NE in Arlington.

“Town hall meetings give me the opportunity to be fully informed on the topics important to the communities I represent,” said Wagoner. “I look forward hearing from residents about the things they are concerned about.”

“It is important for me to hear from the people I represent,” said Eslick. “These town hall meetings are a great way for people to voice their thoughts and ideas directly to me.”

For more information about the upcoming town hall meetings, please feel free to contact the office of Senator Keith Wagoner (360) 786-7676, email keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov or call Rep. Carolyn Eslick at (360) 786-7816, email Carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov.

Wagoner votes to support public safety and local projects included in the capital budget

 

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, voted for the nearly $3 million dollars in local funding for non-profits and critical public safety improvements in the 39th District that are included in the capital budget.

“I’m happy to vote ‘yes’ on behalf of my predecessor, Senator Kirk Pearson, who worked so hard on such worthwhile things as the YMCA, the Skagit County Veterans Community Park, and the Helping Hands Food Bank,” said Wagoner.

The two-year capital budget, passed by both the Senate and the House and signed by the Governor, includes appropriations for a broad range of construction and repair projects throughout Washington State. It contains funding for such 39th District projects as $99,000 for the expansion of the Arlington Boys & Girls Club, $350,000 towards a new building for the Helping Hands Food Bank in Sedro-Woolley, $286,000 for the Flood Protection Wall & Storage Building in Sultan, $500,000 for the Skagit County Veterans Community Park, and $525,000 for the Skagit County Public Safety Emergency Communications Center.

“This is a vote that’s in line with the priorities and values of the 39th District,” Wagoner adds, “I worked closely with many of these local groups as a community leader and now I’m proud to support them as their senator.”

 

Wagoner stands up for property rights, property owners in Skagit County, votes against Hirst bill

Calling it a “slippery slope,” senator votes against Hirst bill

Saying it doesn’t do anything to help Skagit County land owners, Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley, voted against the Democrat-sponsored Hirst bill (ESSB 6091), dealing with water rights and wells in rural areas like the 39th District.

“We’re on a slippery slope,” said Wagoner. “I believe that supporters of property rights and property owners will regret this bill. Well users are adding to the rivers. I’m a physical oceanography major. I know this is not based in science. This bill is based in bureaucratic arguments.”

On Thursday night, Republicans and Democrats passed a measure in the state House and Senate creating new rules for household wells, which are crucial for new development in areas where city water is not available. A 2016 Supreme Court ruling in a Whatcom County case imposed near-impossible requirements on rural property owners and county planning departments. The Hirst legislation specifically exempts Skagit County, which is part of the 39th District, at the request of the tribes that want to work on other water measures, including two pilot metering projects.

As promised, Wagoner did not vote for this bill. “As the mayor of Sedro-Woolley and now as the senator for the 39th District, I’ve seen the enormous impact the Hirst decision has had on my neighbors in Skagit County. I’ve talked with many constituents whose property has been left in limbo and considered worthless because they are unable to develop it,” said Wagoner, “I hope this isn’t over. I will continue to fight for water rights in the 39th District and legislation that respects my neighbors.”