Yesterday, I spoke with Rep. Judy Clibborn, chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee. We talked about transportation funding — and she gave me a sneak preview of the $10 to $15 billion transportation funding package that she says the governor will talk about in her State of the State address today.

Tags: House, transportation

We’ll be interviewing legislators from 10 a.m. until noon on air. We have interviews lined up with Governor Chris Gregoire, budget writers, and legislators working on same-sex marriage, higher education, transportation, K-12 education, and more! Stay tuned, and right after that, you can watch the opening ceremonies live on TVW starting at noon.

The House is now on the floor, taking up HB 2058, the $480 million in cuts and fund transfers negotiated over special session. You can watch live on TVW.

Rep. Charles Ross brought up an amendment (that had previously failed in committee) to cut funding to Commute Trip Reduction (also here). The program provides incentives for state employees who carpool to work.

Rep. Ross Hunter said he urged members to vote against the amendment because it was not part of cuts negotiated with the Senate.

But Republican lawmakers argued that the program is unnecessary, especially as the state considers cutting social service programs.

That amendment — the only one — failed. Now, onto debate over the main bill.

“This has been the beginning of our budget process and I think we’re far from the end,” said Rep. Ross Hunter, chairman of the budget writing committee. He called the $480 million in cuts and transfers an “initial, partial down payment” on the state’s $1.4 billion budget problem.

“Yes, a very partial down payment,” said Rep. Gary Alexander, the lead Republican on the Ways and Means committee. “We have a lot left ahead of us,” he said, but urged Republican support. “Hopefully when we come back in January, we can take a quick step forward.”

Rep. Brad Klippert said he intended to vote for the bill, but can’t support so many of the fund transfers, which he says punish fiscally responsible agencies that have built up reserves, only to see their reserves clawed back by the legislature.

“This legislature is not doing this job. Now, I’m going to vote for this thing because it advances us a little bit,” said Rep. Ed Orcutt. But, he said, “in no way” is this what the citizens of Washington deserve.

Rep. Bill Hinkle said he supports the bill, but “either way, people are going to be mad at all of us, by the way,” he said, because lawmakers will return home without sewing up the entire budget problem.

The bill passed 86 to 8 and now heads to the Senate.

Tags: Budget, cuts

Now’s your chance to watch “Staying Afloat: Challenges facing Washington State Ferries,” a one-hour documentary by TVW’s Jessica Gao. Watch The Impact tonight at 7 p.m. on TVW for follow-up interviews.

Tags: documentary, ferries, The Impact

Gov. Chris Gregoire just sent out a congratulatory note to Boeing on the occasion of its 787 Dreamliner being certified. She said the “incredible milestone” marks “a new chapter in the company’s long history that will include one of the most innovative an fuel-efficient airplanes in the world.”

She also said she looks forward to the company’s first delivery of that plane next month to Nippon Airways.

She said Washington state is and will remain a global aerospace hub, with 84,000 aerospace workers on the forefront of innovation. She said she’s committed to maintaining that industry here.

Tags: 787, boeing, Dreamliner, Governor Gregoire

Here’s a relaxing photo to enjoy before you hear the bad news: Ferry fares are going up.

Earlier this week, the Washington State Transportation Commission adopted a 2.5 percent general fare increase, effective Oct. 1. A 3 percent increase will go into effect May 1, 2012, and every fare will have a capital surcharge of 25 cents. In addition to that, vehicle fares will be restructured to encourage people to bring smaller vehicles onto the ferry.

The changes will help bring in $310 million as required by this biennium’s transportation budget.

While fares are going up, some of the changes are designed to encourage ferry riders to ride bicycles or drive smaller cars to save space. The restructured vehicle fares, for example, will eventually mean that those driving cars under 14 feet long will pay significantly less for their vehicle fare. And the annual bicycle permit is eliminated: Those with multi-ride cards, monthly passes or an ORCA card can bring a bike for free (except for in the San Juan Islands, where only multi-ride cardholders will be able to bring a bike for free).

There’s one more change that might not be as popular as free bike passes: A fuel surcharge. The surcharge would only go into effect if gas hits $4.08 per gallon, and the surcharge would be capped at 10 percent. Changes will be assessed quarterly and customers will get a 30 day notice if any surcharge changes are made.

All these changes are aimed at making the Washington State Ferry system slightly more sustainable. Currently, funding from the Legislature and fares doesn’t match costs. TVW’s Jessica Gao has spent the last month talking with ferry experts around the state and is preparing a documentary on the system that will air Tuesday, Sept. 27. Stay tuned to this blog for more information!

Tags: documentary, fares, ferries, transportation, TVW

Last week, I spoke to Tim Eyman about his latest initiative and how it would affect tolling across the state. This week, I spoke with Doug MacDonald, former secretary of transportation. He retired in 2007, just after the Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened. He’s an opponent of the initiative. Here’s what he had to say.

Q: First, what does this initiative do from your perspective?
MacDonald: Well, the worst part of the initiative is that it’s going to stop a whole lot of progress that’s been made on roadway improvements. I’m not sure that Tim Eyman, when he drafted this initiative, understood what some of its effects would be. But the kind of bomb that it dropped that’s most significant is on the 520 bridge project, because that’s structured to be financed by tolls to pay back bonds that would pay for some of its cost. That’s a good thing because it means that costs get paid in part by the users and not fall on taxpayers across the state. That’s a plan that’s been very attractive.

But the initiative says that tolls have to be set by the Legislature, which is absolutely not consistent with tolls being used to pay back that kind of a bond. And the confirmation of that isn’t coming from people like me, it’s coming from our state treasurer, Jim McIntire. McIntire has analyzed all this and he has put out a statement, reflected in the OFM fiscal analysis, that says that investors won’t buy bonds at as favorable a rate if there’s the political uncertainty of having tolls being set by the Legislature. (more…)

Tags: Doug MacDonald, funding, initiative 1125, Q&A, taxes, Tim Eyman, tolls, transportation

In preparation for tomorrow’s show The Impact, host Jessica Gao just interviewed Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt and Senate Majority Caucus Leader Karen Fraser.

With the session set to kick off next Monday the thing on everyone’s mind is the budget.  Both caucuses are busy trying to figure out how to balance the books with a $4.6 billion shortfall and with what legislators are referring to as  a resounding message from voters last November: no new taxes.

“The voters have spoken,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “It is a bit schizophrenic to be here these days. They want services but don’t want to pay for them.”

One of those services is Washington’s transportation infrastructure. When asked about the possibility of sending a tax package to the voters in order to fund it both Senators were reluctant to commit to any one idea. Both agreed though, on the importance of the state’s transportation system and its direct link to the economy.

Fraser, D-Olympia, added that there has been talk of exploring traditional sources of revenue for projects like gas tax and tolls as well as new measures.

To watch the entire interview tune into The Impact tomorrow evening at 7 or 10 p.m. on TVW.

Tags: Budget, The Impact, transportation

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, who presides over the Senate, just delivered his ruling of whether allowing the Transportation Commission to set tolls constitutes a tax under I-960.

Here’s what he had to say: “The test is whether there’s a nexus between the charge to be paid and where the proceeds will be spent … the language from I-960 is far from a model of clarity,” he said. Speaking on further confusion, he said “The president need not decide this question, however, as ambiguities within an initiative are a matter of a court of law.”

He turned down the challenge, so it will not require a two-thirds vote. But, as you can see above, he said the language in I-960 will need to be clarified in court.

Tags: transportation budget

Now, the Senate is talking about whether giving the Transportation Commission the authority to set tolls is a “tax” under 1-960.

“Taxes” and “fees” are different under I-960, but Sen. Val Stevens, who brought up the challenge, said the tolls would constitute a tax.

They’re going to go on with other amendments while Lt. Gov. Brad Owen comes up with a ruling.

Now, an amendment from Sen. Janea Holmquist. The amendment would restore money to the rail budget. Sen. Mark Schoessler said reducing the rail money constitutes “stealing.” But Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen said the state is using some money from the fund because it’s been sitting unused. She said it won’t delay any projects.

The amendment failed.

Tags: transportation budget