A Dreamer named Francisco tells his story

Francisco Rodriguez told a tough story with a smile and charm.

He came to Olympia yesterday to testify in favor of The Dream Act (House Bill 1817), by Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila and co-sponsored by Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger.

The legislation is aimed at making college more affordable for undocumented students like Francisco, who's studying computer science at Eastern Washington University.

Francisco graduated from Sunnyside High School with a 3.7 GPA and struggled to pay for college.

"When I first started college," he told lawmakers on the committee, "I only had $3,000 in my pocket."

That money quickly ran out during his second quarter of studies at Eastern.

So he went back home to Sunnyside to pick cherries. His father also worked long hours picking in the fields, all to save up enough money to send Francisco back to college.

"I slept on couches," Francisco said. He got food from friends.

Then he got a $10,000 scholarship from Google, and another scholarship from Microsoft, and he hopes to intern at one of those companies.

The Dream Act, he told lawmakers, would help students like himself get the opportunity to finish school. The legislation would make undocumented students eligible for the state need grant, just like other college students in the state who can't afford to pay tuition out of pocket.

Francisco wasn't alone. The hearing room in Olympia was packed with supporters of the bill, with 110 people signed up to testify in favor of the bipartisan bill and zero signed up to testify against it.

Read this story in Spanish.

Reps. Hasegawa and Hudgins host a telephone town hall!

Rep. Zack Hudgins

Attention constituents of the 11th Legislative District!

What are you doing tomorrow night around 6 o’clock in the evening? Answering the phone, of course - Reps. Bob Hasegawa and Zack Hudgins will be hosting a live telephone town hall!

Around 6 o’clock, thousands of phones in the 11th LD will be ringing. When you pick up you’ll hear a recorded message inviting you to stay on the line and join the event. By doing so, you’ll have the opportunity to speak with Reps. Hasegawa and Hudgins.

To ask the representatives the questions that matter most to you, simply press *3 while you're listening to the call.

Rep. Bob Hasegawa

Constituents who do not receive a phone call may participate in the telephone town hall simply by calling 1-877-229-8493 and entering the ID code (PIN) number 18646 when prompted.

Journalists and other interested parties can dial into the town hall from a landline or cell. For that information call 360-786-7811.

To read this post in Spanish, click here.

Proposed changes to Discover Pass get public hearing today

Last session, legislators saved all 120 of our state parks from closure by implementing a new user fee system.  Beginning last July, vehicles entering state parks needed to display an annual "Discover Pass" (or a day pass) in order to park.  While there is some flexibility for those who are only parking momentarily to use the restroom or drop off recyclables, vehicles without a pass can be ticketed.

The intent behind the legislation was to prevent the shuttering of state parks, the majority of which are not self-supporting.  And in fact,  41 other states already charge user fees at their state parks, so Washington was in the minority of states that did not.

While thousands of Washingtonians have purchased Discover Passes since they became available last summer, these sales haven't generated enough revenue so far to stave off more cuts to the parks system.  So lawmakers are examining possible tweaks to the Discover Pass program that may make it more user-friendly, encourage more people to buy the pass, and keep the gates at our parks open.  Among the proposals being considered are allowing the pass to be transferable among vehicles in the same household, capping the pass fee at $30 even, and clarifying which state lands require a Discover Pass for parking.

Today in the House General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee, five bills that propose changes to the Discover Pass will get public hearings.  The bills are:

• House Bill 2153, sponsored by Rep. Zack Hudgins
• House Bill 2217, sponsored by Rep. Chris Hurst
• House Bill 2295, sponsored by Rep. Kevin Van De Wege
• House Bill 2373, sponsored by Rep. Van De Wege
• House Bill 2528, sponsored by Rep. Hudgins

The hearing takes place at 2:00 p.m. in the John L. O'Brien Building, Hearing Room C.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Proposed laws hope to boost voting, democracy

There’s nothing more fundamental to democracy than voting.

One citizen. One vote.

That was a radical concept, an idea that has now spread around the world.

Yet many people don’t vote. They haven’t even registered to do it.

As this story in The Stranger shows, three proposed laws – introduced by three Democrats and two Republicans -- would make it easier for Washington voters to get into the habit.

Motor Voter, Turbo-Charged – House Bill 2203 would expand today’s motor-voter system. Instead of being offered the chance to register to vote when you get your driver’s license, or renew it (opt-in), the system would automatically register you to vote unless you say otherwise (opt-out).

Vote to the Deadline – House Bill 2204 would let citizens register to vote up to 5 p.m. on election day, or eight days in advance of a special election. Right now, state law cuts people off from registering to vote 29 days before elections if you do it online and eight days before the election when you do it live, in person, at your friendly county auditor’s office.

Pre-register 16-year-olds – House Bill 2205 is getting the most attention, because it would allow people 16 years and older to sign up to vote (when they turn 18) as they apply for their first driver’s license. Young people have the lowest voting turnout rates. This bill could get a lot more young adults into the habit of voting, especially now that the entire state is vote by mail. You don’t have to drive to a polling station anymore.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Reps. Hudgins and Hasegawa's District Office Open House

Reps. Zack Hudgins and Bob Hasegawa recently opened a new district office in the South Park neighborhood of the 11th District, and they invite you to join them as they host an Open House.

Here are the deets:

What: Open House and Sculpture Show
When: Thursday, September 1st 5-7pm
Where: Sparks Building, 8601 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108 (Across the street from the South Park Library)

View Larger Map

This is a great opportunity for constituents to have a little face time with their local legislators, get to know them, ask questions, and share ideas.  

There will also be a fantastic sculpture show opening in their building that night. The art theme is largely focused on issues related to sea life and marine ecosystems, including oil spills and overfishing. It will feature the work of local sculptors Den Fandrich, John Hoge, Don Carver, Sean Nelsen, Rob Hruska and the late Jim L. Acord.

To read this blog post in Spanish, go here.

Four House Dems named to military committee

House Speaker Frank Chopp has newly appointed three members of the House Democratic Caucus to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs.

Representatives Zack Hudgins and Tina Orwall, along with House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, are new to the committee this year. Speaker Chopp also reappointed Rep. Fred Finn, who already serves on the Executive Committee.

Rep. Finn, a United States Army veteran, was the House sponsor this year of a bill that directs the state Lottery Commission to conduct a raffle once a year to benefit the Veterans Innovations Program (VIP). VIP provides crisis and emergency relief, education, training and employment assistance to Washington state veterans and their families. State budget cutbacks have hit VIP as well, but the yearly raffle should bring in the necessary additional funds to continue helping Washington's veterans in need. Over 1800 veterans have been helped through the VIP program since it began in 2006.

The raffle won't compete with ongoing state lottery games because it is limited to the period between Labor Day (September) and Veteran's Day (November). Drawings will be held each year on Veteran's Day, beginning this year.

Photo: Members of Washington's National Guard are recognized in the House Gallery on National Guard Day, 2011. Photo courtesy of House of Representatives.

To read this blog post in Spanish, go here.

Tukwila representative Zack Hudgins wins appointment to state Arts Commission

Speaker of the House Frank Chopp has announced that State Representative Zack Hudgins has been appointed to the Washington State Arts Commission. Hudgins replaces former State Representative and long-time arts-supporter Lynn Kessler, and joins three other legislators and 19 governor-appointed citizen commissioners on the governing body.

Celebrating its fiftieth year of existence, the Arts Commission was created by the Legislature to address the “conservation and development of the State’s artistic resources [that] are essential to the social, educational, and economic growth of the State of Washington.”

From participating in events like the power tool race at the Georgetown Arts Festival, to serving on the SIFF-Renton host committee at Renton’s IKEA performing Arts Center, to hosting local art shows in his legislative office, Rep. Hudgins has gained a reputation around the capital as an ardent supporter of the arts in and around the communities of the 11th District he represents.

“I really enjoy showcasing the great art and artists from my local communities,” said Hudgins. “I can think of no better way to showcase what it means to be a member of such a vibrant, diverse community.”

Hudgins plans to make the most of this appointment, seeing it as a great opportunity to remind Washingtonians of the value added to the quality of life we enjoy, and believes we must protect and encourage local involvement in the arts throughout our state.

“During hard economic times some people think we can do without the Arts, but they don’t understand that the Arts are a strong economic driver,” Hudgins added. “They create better places to live and work, while creating jobs. And our Arts commission leverages private and Federal money to do this important work.”

Click on the links below to view the local artists showcased in Rep. Hudgins’ legislative office in Olympia:

Georgetown artists
Tukwila artists

Click here for more information on the Washington Arts Commission.

To read this blog post in Spanish, go here.

Rep. Zack Hudgins' Virtual Town Hall Tonight

Chaining up to chair up.

Before he could chair his committee in Olympia, Rep. Zack Hudgins was forced to chain his truck. Here he is bravely unchaining before heading back to Tukwila late last night.

If you know anything about pickups, you know that pickups + icy roads = driving adventures. Zack plans to sponsor a resolution next year banning snowstorms during session. We're sure it'll garner great bi-partisan support.

Keeping Washington safe from oil spills

Here in Washington, we pride ourselves and count ourselves lucky to live in such a beautiful place, with a great quality of life along Puget Sound. But as we saw last April in the Gulf of Mexico, one spill could devastate all we have for, a lifetime.

There may not be drilling platforms off our coast, but more than 4,000 vessel transports and 15 billion gallons of oil regularly travel to and from ports of call in the Northwest Straits & Puget Sound each year. Five large refineries receive tanker-loads of Alaskan oil hundreds of times annually.

Unlike the Gulf of Mexico, Puget Sound is a confined body of water, meaning an oil spill here cannot easily disperse into the open ocean. It’s estimated a significant oil spill could cause $10.8 billion in economic losses and affect 165,000 jobs in Washington, as the Puget Sound ports in Seattle and Tacoma together form the second-largest harbor in the country for container traffic.

And that doesn’t even account for the ecological damage and devastation of marine life. Such a spill could easily eliminate salmon runs and our resident orca populations.

Reps. Christine Rolfes, Zack Hudgins, and Dave Upthegrove are doing something about it. Check out the video.

E-gads, that’s a lot of e-waste

The state E-cycling program just past its second birthday, and has some good news to report: In those two years, Washingtonians have recycled 78 million pounds of TVs, computers, monitors, all free of charge. That's 5.8 pounds per person per year.

With so many of these products containing valuable metals and components, as well as toxic materials like lead, the Legislature established the program in 2006 to deal with the massive amount of these items choking our landfills.

Original sponsor of the legislation, plus an additional bill in '09 expanding the system to include refurbished items, Zack Hudgins welcomes the program's success. "Once again Washington is leading by example, providing a green solution that not only prevents environmental degradation, it spurs economic growth in a burgeoning eco-conscious industry."

The e-cycling program is administered by the state Department of Ecology, but completely funded by electronics manufacturers. Click here for more information on the program and to find out where you can bring your old tube TV.

The Tukwila Reporter reports on Tukwilan Zack Hudgins

The Tukwila Reporter's got the scoop on Rep. Hudgins' most recent leadership position. When the 2011 session convenes on Monday, Zack steps down from his position as Majority Floor Leader to become the new chair of the General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee.

The committee is a natural fit for Zack, whose previous work as a member of the committee lead to the implementation of cost-savings measures at several state agencies, which are projected to save millions of taxpayer dollars.

Here's Zack guiding us on a tour of Tukwila and the 11th District:

Government-streamlining measures introduced by Hudgins helping state save money

A report presented to the House General Government Appropriations Committee this past week demonstrates the impact a simple money-saving idea can have on a state budget still reeling from recession.

In an effort to implement new print management strategies, last year, Zack Hudgins hatched the simple idea: saving money at the State Printer (DOP) by simply reducing the number of envelopes used by state agencies. In total, the state made use of 309 different sizes, shapes, and colors of envelopes to conduct business and communicate with citizens. Thanks to Hudgins’ efforts, that number is now nine.

Along with a few other print management and streamlining processes the DOP estimates the state will save the state $1.5 million this coming biennium.

“This is no time for business as usual in state government,” said Hudgins. “With jobs, health care, and human services all on the chopping block due to the economic downturn, it’s important to scrutinize every tax dollar, where it goes, and if it’s being used most efficiently. This certainly won’t solve all our problems, but this could mean saving some from falling through the cracks.”

“If this $1.5 million saves even a dozen families from losing their state-funded health care, or helps more students reach their goal of higher education, then it’s worth it to me. Our state government can’t and shouldn’t always run like a business, but this is one of those instances when smart business practices make sense.”

Rep. Hudgins has built a legislative career on taking a harder look at streamlining government and ending inefficiencies. He plans to continue this effort into the 2011 legislation session, beginning January 10, 2010.

L&I opens Chuck Norris style can o' Whoop-A$$ on Underground Economy

Amongst several new laws going into effect today is one giving the state Department of Labor & Industries the ability to pursue subpoenas for “purposes of agency investigations of underground economy activity.”

The new law sponsored by Reps. Steve Conway, Maralyn Chase, Zack Hudgins, Jim Moeller, and Geoff Simpson gives some teeth to the arm of the agency that’s keeping workplaces safe, and ensuring every business in Washington is playing by the same rules.

In related news, L&I just announced a pretty fascinating new blog called Nailed, written by Carl Hammersburg, the Fraud Prevention and Compliance Manager at the agency.

So that makes Carl the Chuck Norris of L&I. Because the videos on Nailed are just like watching Walker, Texas Ranger except with more corporate crime and fewer slow-motion roundhouse kicks.
Here’s Carl on Nailed:

“People tend to think fraud only involves workers cheating the workers’ comp system, but it’s much more than that. Millions of dollars are lost when employers, medical providers and contractors commit fraud. The blog will show how my staff is working to fight fraud and also how we bring cheaters into compliance. I also hope Nailed will attract attention to workers’ comp fraud and encourage more people to tip us off to fraudulent activities.”

In other words, cracking down on the few bad apples helps the businesses playing by the rules by keeping L&I costs down, and most importantly, keeps workers and consumers safe.

And that, my friends, is Chuck Norris (and Conway, Chase, Hudgins, Moeller, and Simpson) approved.

WA's high-tech industry is the Adrian to our Rocky.

When it comes to our economic engines, we just can't help but shout out our love for our state's high-tech industry like Rocky after laying the hurt on Apollo.

The truth is, diversifying our state's industrial base and encouraging the growth of highly sought-after businesses of the future, while providing the skilled workforce necessary for such growth have been priorities of the HDC for over two decades now, getting us in fighting shape. Just like chasing chickens around and running up stairs helped Rocky. Yeah, just like that.

Anyway, to the point of this post, which is: Can I get a high-tech five?


Reps. Ross Hunter, Zack Hudgins, and Jamie Pedersen were on hand at Google’s event Tuesday to celebrate not only the company’s success here, but our state’s collective awesomeness as a computing powerhouse.

The Seattle PI story states:

Google on Tuesday estimated that its online advertising injected more than $2.8 billion worth of business into the Washington state economy during 2009…That put Washington, despite being the 14th-most populous state in the country, at No. 7 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

"This is a tech state. There are a lot more dot-coms here than other places," Hunter said. "I'm excited that Washington has more companies than just Microsoft."

Many of those were started by former employees of Microsoft, which as we all know has spawned a tech ecosystem in Washington since it moved here in 1979. It's an "anchor" institution for the Seattle area, said Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila, who spoke at the Google event.

Hudgins also is a former program manager at Microsoft and project manager at Amazon. After the event, he and state Rep. Jamie Pederson, D-Seattle, spoke with seattlepi.com about the tech climate in Washington and its roots in Redmond.

"You get to a critical mass, then people who move here because they were hired by Microsoft can stay here if they want to do something else than Microsoft," Pederson said. "It's almost like an exponential expansion."

And, lest anyone still buys into the talking points stating Washington isn’t a good place to do business, here’s one more non-partisan report recently released – this one by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council – which lists Washington’s tax system the 5th best for entrepreneurship and small business.

(So how many times do we have to say it?)

It's Earth Day

On Earth Day, we thought it would be fun (okay, interesting, at least) to look back at what we've done here in Washington to play a part in keeping our air, land and water clean and healthy.

Just this year, we led the way on banning the toxic chemical Bisphenol A from baby bottles, sippy cups and sports bottles. We were the second state to ban this chemical in sports bottles, and the fifth in children’s dishware. Representative Mary Lou Dickerson worked for over two years to help protect our children from this toxic estrogren-mimic. There's currently a big push to make this national law.

And remember the headlines a few years ago about the toxics being found in all kinds of children's toys and products? In 2008 we passed the first bill in the nation with strong standards for lead, cadmium, phthalates in children’s toys and products. Rep. Dickerson’s Toxic Toys bill was so successful that the next year the Federal Government passed their own version modeled on much of what we had accomplished.

This year we also passed the first law in the country that begins to phase out copper brake pads. Every time a car or truck hits the brakes, a little bit of copper dust falls to the roadway. Eventually that copper gets washed into our streams and rivers and damages our salmon runs. We’re hopeful that our efforts will help protect fish all across the country.

Another big win for the environment this year was the passage of the comprehensive producer responsibility program for mercury-containing light bulbs. This is the second such program to be launched in the whole country. People frequently toss their bulbs in their trash where the mercury slowly leaks into our groundwater supplies. Mercury harms the brain, kidney and liver, and Rep. Sam Hunt's legislation ensures convenient access to disposal in all areas of the state and holds the producers of these light bulbs accountable for paying for their safe disposal.

This is in addition to another trailblazing program passed a few years ago. Our state's E-Waste program was the first in the nation to provide manufacturer-funded free recycling of computers, monitors, laptops and televisions. The program went into effect last year and collected 38 million pounds of TVs and computers. Rep. Zack Hudgins helped lead this effort. Check here for drop-off information.

There's more we could highlight, but the point is that our legislators have long been champions of policies that not only protect our planet, but protect the health of the people who inhabit it.

For tips and ideas on how you can do the same, check here or head to an Earth Day event near you!

Rep. Hudgins helps explain the census to local high schoolers

Rep. Zack Hudgins recently spent some time with Tukwila High School student Adrian Quichocho who produced a video project to promote the upcoming U.S. Census.

The 11th District Zack represents, and specifically, the Tukwila school district, is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse in the nation. Over a hundred different languages are spoken in the high school alone.

As Adrian's video demonstrates, many of those students, and their families, have never experienced a census before, and consequently, may not realize how significant it is to our democracy. In fact, it's as important an exercise as voting.

We'll let Adrian and Zack do the explaining.

A View of Tukwila in Olympia

A View of Tukwila is this year’s theme to the art exhibit featured in hometown State Representative Zack Hudgins’ legislative office. The exhibit features nearly 30 pastoral paintings of the greener side of Tukwila – a side of the city often overlooked by commuters and passersby.

“I enjoy showcasing both the art and the artists of one of our state’s most vibrant districts,” said Hudgins. “The feedback I get from visitors and legislative colleagues of mine has been tremendous. I’m very proud to promote the communities and talents of the 11th District in Olympia.”

Come rub elbows with Rep. Hudgins and the artists, as they host an open house Tuesday, Feb.2, 6-8pm.

For those who can't make it, here's a virtual tour of Rep. Hudgins' office exhibit:

Phone card scams are WAC, knows Zack Hudgins

Update: For the Spanish-speakers in the audience, Zack explains his bill en espanol.


Not all state policy is bequeathed to us via legislative approval. Sometimes, state agencies, which oversee certain services and commodities, have the authority to institute rules and policies with guidance from the Legislature and the general public. It’s the difference between Statute – the laws passed by the Legislature and Governor into the Revised Code of Washington (the RCWs) – and Rules; the policies of each agency found in the Washington Administrative Code (that’s WAC).

In that sense, representatives don’t always need to pass a law to protect consumers and get things done. Sometimes you can use the rule-making process that is set up in law to get input from the community. This is the path State Rep. Zack Hudgins used last December, before the legislature was in session.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers who believe they’re purchasing a calling card often find the amount of minutes can be dramatically less than advertised, sometimes up to 60% less. That’s largely the result of “hidden fees” charged by the card company.

After reading about these unfair advertising practices, Zack decided to do a little digging into our own state’s rules covering these pre-paid cards, and found our consumer protections lacking as well. So he contacted our state’s version of the FTC, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC), which has the ability to adopt and revise rules governing the pre-paid cards.

Zack wants prepaid calling card providers and distributors to clearly and accurately present the number of available domestic and international minutes on each card; the rate the card charges; and disclose any hidden fees. In addition, he wants this information translated into several different languages for those who are calling foreign countries.

Hudgins knows these consumer protections could potentially save families in his community, and across the state, millions.

“In our school district alone, there are over a hundred different languages spoken. Immigrant communities have contributed so much to the 11th Legislative District, and made it the vibrant place it is to work and raise a family. With so many challenges already facing non-native English speakers, disreputable businesses shouldn’t be allowed to prey on them by short-changing them."

The WUTC agrees with Rep. Hudgins, and will soon begin the process of revising the WACs, taking input from the public and drafting language to put protections into Rule prohibiting these calling-card scams from occurring in our state.

In the meantime, the FTC lists some guidelines consumers should follow before purchasing a pre-paid calling card:

• Ask any retailer if they will stand behind the card if it doesn’t deliver the number of minutes advertised.
• Check the card’s package or in-store advertising for domestic and international rates. If you can’t find the rate, consider buying a different card.
• Look for disclosures about surcharges, “maintenance” fees, and fees for making calls from a pay phone, to a cell phone, or using a toll-free access number.
• Compare rates. Very low rates, particularly for international calls, may be a warning sign that the card won’t deliver the number of advertised minutes.
• Look for expiration dates.
• Look for a toll-free customer service number. If the customer service number isn’t toll-free or displayed, it may be difficult to contact the company if you have a problem with the card.
• Make sure you can understand the instructions on the card.
• Make sure the card comes in a sealed envelope or that the PIN is not visible. Otherwise, anyone can copy the PIN and use the phone time you’re paying for.

If your pre-paid phone card doesn’t work — even after you’ve called the customer service number — contact:

• The Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov or 1-877-FTC-HELP)
• The state Attorney General (http://www.atg.wa.gov/fileacomplaint.aspx or 1.800.551.4636)
• Your local Better Business Bureau to file a complaint or get a report based on customer experience.

We're Sounders 'Til We Die

UPDATE: Watch the official Sounders FC video of their visit here.

The House and Senate took a few moments out of their Friday sessions to honor the incredible accomplishments of the Sounders FC, and their amazing inaugural season.

There are plenty of Sounders fans and ticket holders amongst the legislators and staff here in Olympia, and they welcomed General Manager Adrian Hanauer and hometown hero, Kasey Keller to both chambers as they passed resolutions celebrating the victories and champions of our favorite MLS team.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.4659, by Representative Hudgins

WHEREAS, The inaugural season of the Seattle Sounders FC will be remembered as an historic triumph, not only on the pitch, but for bringing Major League Soccer to the Pacific Northwest and along with it, the loudest and most devoted and loyal fans in the country; and

WHEREAS, The Sounders FC became the first expansion team since 1998 to qualify for the playoffs, achieving the best record and most goals of any expansion team; and

WHEREAS, Our Seattle Sounders FC are the U.S. Open Cup champions of 2009; and

WHEREAS, Sounders FC fans have become a force in the MLS, with 22,000 season ticket holders and an annual game attendance averaging 30,943, setting the MLS record and ranking them amongst the top 50 clubs in the world; and

WHEREAS, The crowds grew even larger in the 2009 postseason, setting another MLS record for playoff attendance; and

WHEREAS, The Seattle Sounders FC's success on the pitch is rivaled only by their success in the community, with players, coaches, and staff volunteering nearly 1,000 hours of service and 80 community appearances during the season; and

WHEREAS, Their efforts set another Major League Soccer record by raising more than 23,000
dollars for the "Nothing But Nets" program, which provides antimosquito, malaria prevention nets to developing countries around the world; and

WHEREAS, No other professional sports team provides their supporters with a better and more democratic administration, allowing their fans a greater voice in the direction of their team;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urges all citizens of the State of Washington to join us in congratulating and recognizing the players, the owners, the staff, and the fans of the Seattle Sounders Football Club.