First of all, what are your thoughts as you near completion of your first term in the legislature? What have been the key lessons you have learned that will make you more effective in serving your constituents in Olympia?
I think I have come through my first session very effectively. I came in with the idea of working across the aisle to accomplish things, and I feel like I have done that. I think I have built some strong relationships to hopefully build on what I have done this year and do more in the years to come.
I learned other things this first year, such as the many nuances involved in the process. For example, in addition to the two bills I got to the Governor’s desk – House Bill 1271 (organ transplant) and House Bill 1031 (Medal of Valor), I had another bill (House Bill 1504)about requiring schools to ensure kids get at least 30 minutes of recess. My bill in the House was a companion bill (Senate Bill 5257) to one in the Senate. This policy was worked heavily in both chambers, and in the end, leadership decided that the Senate version would be what we call the vehicle – or the version that gets to move forward – and that is okay. I believed in this policy, and it is now sitting on the Governor’s desk. It does not matter that the bill to get to him does not have my name on it because it is about the policy not whoever the bill’s sponsor is.
