Update from Rep Lytton

Dear friends and neighbors,  

Fall is here, school is back in session, and, believe it or not, I’m already preparing for next the next legislative session. Recently, I’ve been meeting with colleagues and stakeholders in our district and from across the state. Some of those meetings have included cochairing the Quality Education Council for an education policy discussion, sitting down with farmers and fishermen to talk about how we support these important industries and capitalize on our community’s unique assets, and visiting schools around the 40th.  

I especially want to highlight my stop at Washington Elementary in Mount Vernon. Washington Elementary is one of several pilot schools participating in the Collaborative Schools for Innovation and Success pilot program (CSIS). Created by House Bill 2799, the goal of the program is to support collaboration between colleges of education and school districts to improve student achievement and better prepare educators. Washington Elementary is collaborating with Western Washington University’s Woodring College of Education to serve its students in new and innovative ways. This is an exciting example of the good work being done for our students and communities, and I appreciated the update on how the program is working.

Rep Lytton meets with CSIS leaders at Washington Elementary

With things getting busy, I also wanted to take a brief moment and share a couple of updates with you on our recent revenue forecast and the upcoming implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Revenue Forecast

Last week, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its September revenue forecast. The forecast contained good news for Washingtonians as our state continues to recover from the Great Recession. Forecasted revenues for the current biennium and the next biennium are slightly higher than we thought in the June forecast.

However, even as revenue continues to recover, revenue growth remains below average. While the economy—and state revenues—continue to improve, we continue to face significant risk and budget pressures. That includes state, national, and international influences on our economy as well as the need to increase our investments in education to fully fund our paramount duty.

As I continue to prepare for the coming session, I look forward to productive conversations with my colleagues on how we can make the needed investments in education, work to grow our economy, and keep Washington a great place to live and work.

Healthcare Reform

You’ve probably been hearing and reading a lot about the next steps in implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that are coming soon. There’s a lot of information available on the ACA, and I hope that consolidating some of it here will be helpful. In Washington state, we’re committed to effectively and efficiently implementing the ACA (sometimes called Obamacare) – and Washington families are already benefitting from this decision. So far:

• Sick kids can’t be denied health insurance.
• Young adults can stay on their parents’ plan until the age of 26.
• Full coverage of FDA-approved birth control is available at no cost to women.
• There are no out-of-pocket costs for preventative services. 

We’ve also elected to accept federal dollars to expand the Medicaid program. This means:

• An additional 385,000 working Washingtonians will be covered by 2020.
• Adults earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level will be eligible for enrollment. To learn more, click here.
• We will provide health care in the most effective and least expensive setting – saving us all money in the long run.
• The decision to expand Medicaid saved us $200 million over the next two years alone.

And, finally, our state’s health insurance exchange is up and running. The Exchange, called the Washington Healthplanfinder, is an online marketplace for individuals, families and small businesses in Washington to compare and enroll in health insurance coverage.

Healthplanfinder also has a toll-free Customer Support Center up-and-running. Folks can get their questions answered about how it works, what types of health coverage will be offered, how to access financial help and what you need to know about the enrollment process that starts on Oct. 1.

Representatives will be on the line weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. by dialing 1-855-WAFINDER (1-855-923-4633) or by emailing customersupport@wahbexchange.org. Help will be available in up to 175 languages.

And you’re always welcome to call my office (360.786.7800) or email me (kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov) with questions or comments—on the ACA, the revenue forecast or anything else that’s on your mind! It’s an honor to serve you.  

Regards,Kristine

Update from Rep Lytton

Dear friends and neighbors, 

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer! In my most recent updates, I have touched on session outcomes with the operating and capital budgets and many policy bills. Today I’ll share an update on the transportation budget and a progress update on the Skagit River Bridge. 

I often hear from people confused about our budgets here in Washington. The first thing to remember is that Washington has three budgets—capital, operating, and transportation. Each of these budgets is considered and passed separately. The capital budget funds infrastructure investments, and the operating budget funds many programs including our schools and social services. And, of course, the transportation budget funds transportation in our state. 

2013-2015 Transportation Budget

On the last day of the regular session, the House and Senate came to agreement on the 2013-15 transportation budget, and the bill was signed by the Governor. This budget will continue work on critical transportation projects and maintain thousands of good jobs across the state. This budget compromise targeted both an emphasis on reforming the system and a push for the most-needed projects that will immediately benefit Washington businesses. From ferries to freight mobility, transit to road repairs, this budget makes investments to keep Washington moving forward. For more information on the budget, check out fiscal.wa.gov. 

Transportation Revenue Package

In addition to the bare-bones transportation budget discussed above, there was a major focus this session on developing and passing a revenue package to make additional investments in our transportation infrastructure across the state. A broad coalition of labor, business, environmental, and community stakeholders joined together in advocating for these additional investments to support job creation and ensure Washington’s continued reputation as a great place to live and do business. 

The House passed a revenue package in the closing days of the special session to help us address our long-term transportation needs and keep our economy moving. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to act on the package prior to the end of session. As Governor Inslee expressed, this was a great disappointment for people across our state who were hoping to see needed investments in roads, transit, ferries, and much more. 

Many of my colleagues are continuing the discussion around a revenue package, and I am hopeful that we can reach an agreement to move forward on many critical projects. 

Skagit River Bridge Update

I’m sure many of you have been monitoring the progress on the Skagit River Bridge closely. It was a relief to have the temporary span installed so quickly after the bridge collapse. I truly appreciate the hard work of the WSDOT crews and the patience of community members as work continues! 

The temporary span has been in place since mid-June, and we anticipate the installation of the permanent span in mid-September. The new bridge will be in place by October 1. For ongoing updates, including some interesting photos, please check the WSDOT website.  

I have heard from many constituents with questions about the safety other bridges in our district and around the state. WSDOT has comprehensive information about bridges in our state, including the Bridge Assessment Annual Report, an explanation of what the ratings mean, and a list of bridges identified as “structurally deficient” by county.

Out and About in the 40th

I often remind my fellow legislators that the 40th is one of the most beautiful districts in the state, and I’ve been taking every chance to enjoy the great community events and wonderful scenery. I’d like to highlight a couple of opportunities this summer.

• The Burke Museum has its travelling exhibit, Salish Bounty: Traditional Native American Foods of Puget Sound, on display at the Orcas Island Historical Museum in Eastsound until Sunday September 29th. Head over on the ferry for a day or the weekend, and check out this great exhibit.
• Take a Trail Tales Tour around the Anacortes waterfront to learn about Skagit Beaches and the Department of Ecology’s cleanup project. 

Trail Tales tour group and a view of the cleanup project.

If you have suggestions of other activities or events around the 40th District, let me know! And, as always, please continue to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. You can reach my via email (kristine.lytton@leg.wa.gov) or call my office (360.786.7800). 

Regards, Kristine