Rep. Kelley: Jet lag for JAG

During the interim, like a lot of legislators, Rep. Troy Kelley is traveling out of district – in his case, far out of district.

He’s spending two weeks in Korea performing reserve military service. A major and judge advocate general who is transferring from the Army Reserve to the National Guard, Kelley is focusing on administrative law issues on this trip, his fifth to Korea in 18 years. On previous trips to Korea, he has worked on international law and provided legal assistance to soldiers, helping them with tax and family law issues and other legal matters.

Kelley, whose 28^th District in Pierce County includes part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is stationed at Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul while in Korea. He flew to the Far East Oct. 23 on a military plane, stopping en route on northern Honshu Island in Japan – where, he said, signs of the March tsunami were still evident.  He’s due to return Nov. 5.

First of four public meetings on Tacoma Smelter Plume cleanup slated for tonight

The state Department of Ecology has scheduled four public meetings over the next several weeks in order to gather public input on its cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

The first meeting takes place tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Point Defiance Elementary School cafeteria in Tacoma.

A former copper smelter in the Tacoma area spewed arsenic and lead into the air for nearly a century.  These emissions were deposited in soils throughout King, Pierce, Kitsap and Thurston Counties, creating an environmental and public health hazard.  Arsenic and lead both pose serious health risks to people, particularly children.

In 2005, state Rep. Dave Upthegrove sponsored legislation requiring playground soils in areas exposed to industrial pollution be tested for toxic contaminants like arsenic and lead, and that those contaminants be removed from the soil.  As a result of this measure, soil from many playgrounds and day cares in areas affected by the Tacoma Smelter Plume has been cleaned up and made safe again for children to play in.

The remaining public meetings are scheduled as follows:

Nov. 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., McMurry Middle School Cafeteria, Vashon Island

Nov. 16, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Curtis High School Cafeteria, University Place

Dec. 6, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Des Moines Activity Center, Des Moines

The DOE's draft cleanup plan can also be viewed online here, and public comments will be accepted by email and postal mail through December 20, 2011, at the address provided at the link.

Get your GET credits starting today!

Washington’s prepaid tuition program opens to new participants today, so it’s a good time to think about giving GET (Guaranteed Education Tuition) credits this holiday season.

The current price for one GET unit is $163 dollars.  In September of this year, the unit price increased from $117 dollars.  The program explains the cost increase and the reasons behind it in this Q&A document.

Even at the new, increased, price, GET credits are still a worthwhile investment, especially since tuition at Washington’s public colleges and universities is expected to continue to rise.  Last spring, state legislators gave Washington’s four-year colleges tuition-setting authority, while also increasing financial aid for low- and middle-income students.  This past summer, the University of Washington’s Board of Regents approved a 20 percent tuition increase for in-state undergraduates.  Financial aid for in-state undergraduates at the school was also increased by 45 percent.

The state’s community and technical colleges raised tuition by 12 percent for the 2011-2012 school year.

How Enron is helping Washington businesses today

Remember Enron? Back in the day – 2001 – the Texas-based energy holding company served as the poster child for the evils of capitalism, thanks to scandals that involved accounting fraud and manipulation of the market for electrical power. Enron has since lost its spot in the hall of shame to Wall Street, but payback from its role in the manufactured energy crisis continues to benefit Washington businesses.

On Oct. 27, company and government officials held an open house to inaugurate the $1.6 million energy-efficient cooling system at WaferTech, a semiconductor manufacturer in Camas. More than $1 million for the project came in a grant from Clark Public Utilities via the Bonneville Power Administration. WaferTech put up $352,000, another $120,000 came from federal stimulus money – and $100,000 was provided in a grant from the Washington State University Extension Energy Program in Olympia.

That grant  from WSU was part of the money the extension program received from the state’s $9 million settlement with Enron in 2009, the result of a multistate legal action against the company for market manipulation. The settlement cash was a rare windfall for the WSU operation, extension program industrial services manager Christine Love said, and much of that money has been distributed to companies such as WaferTech in incentive grants for energy-saving projects.

Local, state, national leader celebrated for his community works

"All politics," observed a shrewd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives now gone to his reward, "is local."

For talking about Washington State Rep. John McCoy, you might tweak ol' Tip O'Neill's proverb just a tad to read, "Leadership always starts locally." Rep. McCoy in a few weeks will be honored with the Pearl Capoeman-Baller Civic Participation Award from The Potlatch Fund. This local, state and national trailblazer will join other esteemed recipients of recognition in the 2011 Annual Potlatch Fund Gala, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 19, in Seattle.

"I'm so humbled and so very honored to be receiving this recognition," Rep. McCoy said. "Truly, I will accept this award on behalf of the multitude of folks in our communities who go the extra mile every day to make ours a better, safer, healthier place to call home."

A Tulalip Democrat who represents the 38th Legislative District, Rep. McCoy chairs the House Technology, Energy, & Communication Committee, and he sits on the House Education Committee and the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee. He also chairs the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators. He's an active member of the Environmental Management Roundtable, the Labor and Economic Development Committee, and the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Snohomish County lawmaker has championed an expansion of broadband across the state as a way to get everyone connected. He has also pushed to expand Washington’s renewable energy portfolio and create incentives for alternative energy, such as biomass and solar. Around his community, McCoy is active with the United Way, the Native American advisory boards for the National and Snohomish County Boys and Girls Clubs, the advisory board for the Cascade Land Conservancy, and several other philanthropic community-support groups.

Formed in 2002, Potlatch is a foundation and leadership-development organization serving Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. Potlatch strives to develop and empower Native leadership, and see to it that the wisest use is made of tribal resources.

Remembering Scott White

The HDC would just like to share some of our favorite photos of Scott White, as we mourn his passing.

The service for Senator Scott White will be held at 1:00 PM on Sunday, November 6, 2011 in the Meany Hall Theater located on the University of Washington Campus in Seattle. Meany Hall is located near the intersection of 15th Avenue NE and NE 40th St.

Scott leaves behind his wife Alison and two young children, ages 3 and 5. Memorial gifts may be directed to the college education funds for Scott and Alison's children. Donations may be sent to:

Scott White Memorial Fund
PO Box 95675
Seattle, WA 98145-5675

Or at any Wells Fargo Branch:
Account Number: 1559550528
Routing Number: 125008547

That’s Outstanding!

“Outstanding Legislator of 2011”– That’s a phrase that would be music to any lawmaker’s ears, but when it comes from the state’s military vets, there’s an extra-special ring to it.  Rep. Sherry Appleton was notified a few days ago by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee that she would be honored with that title, bestowed annually as one of several Outstanding Service to Veterans Awards. 

Sherry, who was first elected to the House in 2004, was recognized for her years of often-behind-the-scenes work on behalf of the state’s nearly 700,000 military veterans.A statement issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs described her as “a long-time supporter of veteran initiatives and friend to veterans throughout the state.  She has supported many veteran bills, including one to provide property tax relief to disabled veterans.”

Sherry comes by her concern for veterans naturally:  Her late husband, Ron Appleton, was a distinguished Vietnam veteran, and the Kitsap County district she represents is in the heart of one of Washington’s largest concentrations of military bases, active-duty personnel, and veterans from every branch of the service.  In Olympia, Sherry is vice chair of the House State Government Committee& Tribal Affairs Committee, which deals with veterans’ issues in the Legislaturehe and her fellow honorees will take part in the annual Veterans Day parade in Auburn Nov. 5, and will be recognized at an awards ceremony after the parade.