Today is Children's Day at the state capital. So enjoy some photos of our caucus members getting a dose of their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and those they miss back home as they toil away in Olympia.
Showing posts with label Jim Jacks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Jacks. Show all posts
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Moeller hosting forum to discuss Gov proposals about Vancouver's school for blind and deaf
“Hey, not so fast there, Governor.”
That’s the message southwestern Washington lawmakers are broadcasting about a plan to change who has the ultimate say-so at the Schools for the Blind and the Deaf in Vancouver.
State Rep. Jim Moeller from Vancouver testified in a Senate committee hearing yesterday morning against the proposal in Senate Bill 6491. He said later that the ideas in the bill have received “neither the appropriate level of fiscal scrutiny nor the appropriate level of public involvement.”
Moeller has arranged a public forum to discuss the legislation this Saturday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. The forum will be held in hearing room A on the first floor of the John L. O’Brien Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. Citizens can call or e-mail Moeller for driving directions. His Olympia phone number is 360-786-7872, his local Clark County phone number is 693-0804, and his e-mail address is moeller.jim@leg.wa.gov.
State Rep. Jim Jacks, another Vancouver and 49th Legislative District Democrat, as well as fellow Vancouver Democratic state Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst, who both represent the 17th Legislative District, share Moeller’s concerns about the proposal. The legislation would transfer governance of the Washington State School for the Blind and the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The legislation was requested by the governor. It directs that the state Superintendent of Public Instruction would make all appointments that are now made by the governor for the two facilities. Currently, the State School for the Blind is under the direction of the school’s superintendent, who works with a board of trustees. The governor appoints the school’s superintendent and the trustees. The governor also appoints the director of the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, as well as the center’s board of trustees.
Moeller points out that “I simply haven’t heard any concrete reasoning, either financial or otherwise, for making such a dramatic change in the way these two long-standing, very successful institutions are governed. There is no specific information about how such a reorganization would save money or improve services provided to these unique populations. It seems to me that proponents of this idea haven’t done enough to involve the most obvious stakeholders. Students, parents and advocates for children who attend these facilities must certainly be involved in the process.
“I understand that our state is facing a huge budget and revenue crisis,” Moeller added. “I know that we have to make some very big changes in the way we do things. But let’s not make changes just for the sake of making changes – especially not if the proposed changes are not even going to save money, anyway, and certainly not if the proposed changes are going to foul up a perfectly sound system of governance at these two schools.”
All interested parties are certainly invited and encouraged to attend the forum. Staff from the governor’s office will be there, and interpreters and Braille copies of the legislation will be provided.
That’s the message southwestern Washington lawmakers are broadcasting about a plan to change who has the ultimate say-so at the Schools for the Blind and the Deaf in Vancouver.
State Rep. Jim Moeller from Vancouver testified in a Senate committee hearing yesterday morning against the proposal in Senate Bill 6491. He said later that the ideas in the bill have received “neither the appropriate level of fiscal scrutiny nor the appropriate level of public involvement.”
Moeller has arranged a public forum to discuss the legislation this Saturday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. The forum will be held in hearing room A on the first floor of the John L. O’Brien Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. Citizens can call or e-mail Moeller for driving directions. His Olympia phone number is 360-786-7872, his local Clark County phone number is 693-0804, and his e-mail address is moeller.jim@leg.wa.gov.
State Rep. Jim Jacks, another Vancouver and 49th Legislative District Democrat, as well as fellow Vancouver Democratic state Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst, who both represent the 17th Legislative District, share Moeller’s concerns about the proposal. The legislation would transfer governance of the Washington State School for the Blind and the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The legislation was requested by the governor. It directs that the state Superintendent of Public Instruction would make all appointments that are now made by the governor for the two facilities. Currently, the State School for the Blind is under the direction of the school’s superintendent, who works with a board of trustees. The governor appoints the school’s superintendent and the trustees. The governor also appoints the director of the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, as well as the center’s board of trustees.
Moeller points out that “I simply haven’t heard any concrete reasoning, either financial or otherwise, for making such a dramatic change in the way these two long-standing, very successful institutions are governed. There is no specific information about how such a reorganization would save money or improve services provided to these unique populations. It seems to me that proponents of this idea haven’t done enough to involve the most obvious stakeholders. Students, parents and advocates for children who attend these facilities must certainly be involved in the process.
“I understand that our state is facing a huge budget and revenue crisis,” Moeller added. “I know that we have to make some very big changes in the way we do things. But let’s not make changes just for the sake of making changes – especially not if the proposed changes are not even going to save money, anyway, and certainly not if the proposed changes are going to foul up a perfectly sound system of governance at these two schools.”
All interested parties are certainly invited and encouraged to attend the forum. Staff from the governor’s office will be there, and interpreters and Braille copies of the legislation will be provided.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Want to give your legislators a piece of your mind?
You read the news. You know the state is facing enormous challenges. You have opinions and you want to share them with people who can use them, right? Many of our legislators are hosting meetings in the next week and they'd love to hear from you.
Tonight
Town Hall at 6:30 with the 48th LD delegation (Senator Rodney Tom and Reps. Ross Hunter and Deb Eddy) at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Avenue)
Town Hall at 6:30 with Rep. Tim Probst of the 17th LD at the Creekside Estates Clubhouse (5101 NE 121st Ave, Vancouver)
Tele-town hall at 6 with Rep. Marko Liias from the 21st LD
Saturday
Town Hall at 10 a.m. with the 49th LD delegation (Senator Craig Pridemore and Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks) at the Public Service Center, 6th floor commissioners hearing room (1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver)
Coffee hour at 10 a.m. with Rep. Bob Hasegawa from the 11th LD at Renton Village Starbucks (601 S. Grady Way, Renton)
Town Hall at 11 a.m. with Rep. Deb Wallace from the 17th LD at Fisher's Landing Transit Center (3510 SE 164th Ave, Vancouver)
Town Hall at 10 a.m. with Rep. Steve Conway from the 29th LD at Bates Community College South Campus (2201 S 178th St., Tacoma)
Tuesday, January 12
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Pat Sullivan from the 47th LD
Thursday, January 14
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Ruth Kagi from the 32nd LD
Tonight
Town Hall at 6:30 with the 48th LD delegation (Senator Rodney Tom and Reps. Ross Hunter and Deb Eddy) at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Avenue)
Town Hall at 6:30 with Rep. Tim Probst of the 17th LD at the Creekside Estates Clubhouse (5101 NE 121st Ave, Vancouver)
Tele-town hall at 6 with Rep. Marko Liias from the 21st LD
Saturday
Town Hall at 10 a.m. with the 49th LD delegation (Senator Craig Pridemore and Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks) at the Public Service Center, 6th floor commissioners hearing room (1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver)
Coffee hour at 10 a.m. with Rep. Bob Hasegawa from the 11th LD at Renton Village Starbucks (601 S. Grady Way, Renton)
Town Hall at 11 a.m. with Rep. Deb Wallace from the 17th LD at Fisher's Landing Transit Center (3510 SE 164th Ave, Vancouver)
Town Hall at 10 a.m. with Rep. Steve Conway from the 29th LD at Bates Community College South Campus (2201 S 178th St., Tacoma)
Tuesday, January 12
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Pat Sullivan from the 47th LD
Thursday, January 14
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Ruth Kagi from the 32nd LD
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Jacks is selected as one of only forty 2009 Henry Toll Fellows
A relatively new Vancouver lawmaker has already been tapped to join an elite group of the nation’s emerging legislative leaders.
State Rep. Jim Jacks is one of 40 state leaders from across the nation selected for membership in the prestigious 2009 Toll Fellows Program. The national program is sponsored by the Council of State Governments.
Named in honor of Henry Toll, a Colorado legislator who founded CSG back in 1933, the Toll Fellows Program helps develop the next generation of leaders from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the nation’s state governments. The 2009 Toll Fellows Program will be held this September in Kentucky. The program will focus on trends analysis, policy development, media and constituent relations, and leadership and institutional changes.
“It’s a tremendous honor to represent our region and Washington state in this program,” said Jacks. “I’ll have an opportunity to learn from leaders from around the country about how they solve problems in their communities and states.”
The Clark County lawmaker was selected by a panel of state leaders on the look-out for the most-promising emerging leaders of state government. This year’s applicants included officials from all three government branches, representing 40 states and two U.S. territories. Past Toll Fellowship graduates include governors, U.S. senators and representatives, and leaders in state government. The first-term lawmaker was nominated by state Rep. Jeff Morris. He was endorsed by state Reps. Sam Hunt and Larry Springer.
Jacks is an Assistant House Majority Whip. He is also a member of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, the House Capital Budget Committee, and the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee. A former citizen-advocate for the City of Vancouver, Jacks also served as Gov. Chris Gregoire’s representative in southwestern Washington. He established the Clark County Juvenile Court’s Victim-Offender Mediation program, and he currently works in business development for the engineering, surveying and planning firm of MacKay & Sposito.
Having joined 146 colleagues in wrapping up the 2009 legislative session back in April, Jacks is glad to be back home from the state capital these days in America’s Vancouver.
State Rep. Jim Jacks is one of 40 state leaders from across the nation selected for membership in the prestigious 2009 Toll Fellows Program. The national program is sponsored by the Council of State Governments.
Named in honor of Henry Toll, a Colorado legislator who founded CSG back in 1933, the Toll Fellows Program helps develop the next generation of leaders from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the nation’s state governments. The 2009 Toll Fellows Program will be held this September in Kentucky. The program will focus on trends analysis, policy development, media and constituent relations, and leadership and institutional changes.
“It’s a tremendous honor to represent our region and Washington state in this program,” said Jacks. “I’ll have an opportunity to learn from leaders from around the country about how they solve problems in their communities and states.”
The Clark County lawmaker was selected by a panel of state leaders on the look-out for the most-promising emerging leaders of state government. This year’s applicants included officials from all three government branches, representing 40 states and two U.S. territories. Past Toll Fellowship graduates include governors, U.S. senators and representatives, and leaders in state government. The first-term lawmaker was nominated by state Rep. Jeff Morris. He was endorsed by state Reps. Sam Hunt and Larry Springer.
Jacks is an Assistant House Majority Whip. He is also a member of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee, the House Capital Budget Committee, and the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee. A former citizen-advocate for the City of Vancouver, Jacks also served as Gov. Chris Gregoire’s representative in southwestern Washington. He established the Clark County Juvenile Court’s Victim-Offender Mediation program, and he currently works in business development for the engineering, surveying and planning firm of MacKay & Sposito.
Having joined 146 colleagues in wrapping up the 2009 legislative session back in April, Jacks is glad to be back home from the state capital these days in America’s Vancouver.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
