Issaquah residents invited to legislative town hall
February 14, 2012
Residents can join Issaquah legislators to discuss the ongoing session in Olympia at town hall meetings in Mercer Island and Newcastle soon.
Meet state Sen. Steve Litzow and state Reps. Judy Clibborn and Marcie Maxwell — 41st Legislative District lawmakers — at the Feb. 18 meetings. The sessions come as the Legislature confronts a $1.5 billion shortfall in the state budget.
The bipartisan delegation — Republican Litzow; Democrats Clibborn and Maxwell — plans to answer participants’ questions.
The morning meeting is scheduled from 10-11:30 a.m. at Hazelwood Elementary School, 7100 116th Ave. S.E., Newcastle. The afternoon session is planned from 1:30-3 p.m. at Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St., Mercer Island.
Participants can submit questions before the meeting. Email questions to townhall41@leg.wa.gov or mail them to Sen. Steve Litzow, P.O. Box 40441, Olympia, WA 98504.
Washington State Redistricting Commission members shifted the 41st District from encompassing Cougar Mountain neighborhoods to include North Issaquah and Sammamish. (Remaining Issaquah neighborhoods fall inside the 5th Legislative District.)
The realigned political maps go into effect for the November election.
Governor signs same-sex marriage into law after Issaquah legislators support bill
February 13, 2012
NEW — 5 p.m. Feb. 13, 2012
Issaquah legislators joined Gov. Chris Gregoire to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington — a decision supporters hailed as an “historic” milestone.
Gov. Chris Gregoire
The governor, a Democrat, signed the legislation Monday as local state Sen. Cheryl Pflug and other supporters looked on from the packed State Reception Room at the Capitol.
The landmark legislation put Washington among the half-dozen states and Washington, D.C., to allow same-sex marriage, but the measure could face a challenge on the November ballot before any weddings occur.
“It is a day historians will mark as a milestone for equal rights — a day when we did what was right, we did what was just, and we did what was fair,” Gregoire said. “We stood up for equality and we did it together — Republicans and Democrats, gay and straight, young and old, and a variety of religious faiths. I’m proud of who and what we are in this state.”
Most Issaquah representatives support ‘historic’ same-sex marriage bill
February 9, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Feb. 9, 2012
Republican Glenn Anderson on Wednesday joined local Democrats in the state House of Representatives to approve a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Washington.
Glenn Anderson
The lawmakers representing Issaquah in the House joined the majority on the 55-43 decision. The delegation is comprised of Democrats, except for Anderson and state Rep. Jay Rodne.
The legislation heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire. The governor, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill in the days ahead.
In the Issaquah delegation, state Reps. Judy Clibborn, Marcie Maxwell, Deb Eddy and Ross Hunter supported the legislation.
Rodne opposed the measure to allow same-sex marriage. The legislator, a North Bend Republican, asked for a referendum clause to send the issue to voters in November; the proposed amendment failed.
Issaquah lawmakers invite residents to town hall meetings
February 7, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Feb. 7, 2012
Residents can join Issaquah legislators to discuss the ongoing session in Olympia at town hall meetings in Mercer Island and Newcastle soon.
Meet state Sen. Steve Litzow and state Reps. Judy Clibborn and Marcie Maxwell — 41st Legislative District lawmakers — at the Feb. 18 meetings. The sessions come as the Legislature confronts a $1.5 billion shortfall in the state budget.
The bipartisan delegation — Republican Litzow; Democrats Clibborn and Maxwell — plans to answer participants’ questions.
The morning meeting is scheduled for 10-11:30 a.m. at Hazelwood Elementary School, 7100 116th Ave. S.E., Newcastle. The afternoon session is planned for 1:30-3 p.m. at Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St., Mercer Island.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, lawmakers cancel events
January 18, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. Jan. 18, 2012
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce leaders and local lawmakers canceled planned Wednesday events amid a major snowstorm.
The chamber’s membership luncheon scheduled for noon had to be called off due to the weather. If attends prepaid for the event online, the chamber intends to issue a credit for another membership luncheon.
The chamber still plans to hold the I-90 Networking Breakfast on Friday, but chamber representatives said the schedule could change, depending on conditions.
State Reps. Judy Clibborn and Marcie Maxwell — 41st Legislative District Democrats representing West Issaquah — canceled a telephone “town hall” meeting scheduled for Wednesday due to concerns about transportation and weather.
The representatives plan to conduct a town hall-style meeting in person next month, and to reschedule a telephone “town hall” meeting for later in the legislative session or after the session concludes.
Issaquah lawmakers rank high on missed votes tally
June 14, 2011
The lawmakers representing Issaquah and the 5th Legislative District in Olympia ranked near the top for the number of missed votes during the 2011 regular and special sessions.
Read more
Press Editorial
March 8, 2011
Legislators need your input more than ever
State representatives will be more approachable than ever this Saturday, March 12. Constituents from both the 5th and 41st legislative districts might want to save the date for a face-to-face opportunity to share views about reduced services and possible fees now before the Legislature.
Your representatives are prepared to hear from you about increased classroom sizes in public schools, benefit changes for state employees, reduced road maintenance, tolling of the two Lake Washington bridges, user fees/permits for state parks, increases in college tuition, a proposed new tax district to pay for ferries, closure of mental health facilities, loss of state sponsored health insurance for children and myriad other issues heavy on your mind.
Hearing from the voters is what will help drive the tough decisions legislators are contemplating now to address a $4.6 billion deficit in the 2011-13 state budget.
Issaquah students serve as legislative pages
March 8, 2011
Iman Baghai, an Issaquah High School 10th-grader, and Issaquah Middle School eighth-grader Justine Connelly recently served as a legislative pages in January, seen here on the floor of the state House of Representatives with Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton.
Students ages 14-17 are eligible to serve as a legislative page in the state House or Senate, where for one week, they deliver messages for lawmakers and learn first hand about the democratic process
Meet legislators at town hall meetings Saturday
March 7, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. March 7, 2011
The bipartisan delegation representing the 41st Legislative District is hosting town hall meetings Saturday.
State Sen. Steve Litzow, a Republican, and state Reps. Judy Clibborn and Marcie Maxwell, both Democrats, represent western Issaquah, including Talus and other Cougar Mountain communities.
Meet the delegation at meetings scheduled for 10 a.m. at Hazelwood Elementary School, 116th Ave. S.E., Newcastle, and for 1:30 p.m. at Mercer Island High School, 9100 S.E. 42nd St.
Citizens can receive updates about the ongoing legislative session, and share questions, comments and concerns about legislation, state government and issues affecting the district.
The state faces a $4.6 billion hole in the budget for 2011-13. Residents could face increased fees and reduced services from state agencies, and larger class sizes in schools as a result of widespread cuts.
5th Legislative District lawmakers also plan a town hall meeting at Issaquah City Hall on the same day.
State Rep. Marcie Maxwell is tapped for leadership post
January 11, 2011
NEW — 12:30 p.m. Jan. 11, 2011
State Rep. Marcie Maxwell has been appointed to a key education role in the state House of Representatives.
House Democrats elected Maxwell and Kirkland Rep. Larry Springer to the leadership posts Monday, the opening day of the 105-day legislative session.
Maxwell is the deputy majority leader for education and opportunity. Springer is the deputy majority leader for jobs and economic development.
“Both Marcie and Larry bring unique talents and perspectives to the leadership team,” House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said in a statement. “Marcie has an extensive background in education, both inside and outside the Legislature. I observed her dedication to the children of our state firsthand when we served together on the Quality Education Council.”
