Washington State Senate Democrats: Jim Hargrove

AUDIO: Legislature passes Logger Safety Initiative

Senate Democrats — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:02:54 GMT

A bill passed by the Legislature on Saturday is aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of injuries to manual loggers. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Sen. Hargrove’s statement on the House budget

Senate Democrats — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:41:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, the ranking member of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, today issued the following statement on the House budget proposal:

"We now have the tools in hand to create a budget for the 2013-15 biennium. I would like to thank the House budget writers for their contributions and look forward to working with the House, Gov. Inslee and Sen. Hill to reach a compromise that will create a budget that the House, Senate and governor's office can support and pass."

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen. Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646

VIDEO: Sen. Hargrove speaking on final passage of the 2013-15 budget

Senate Democrats — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 21:39:00 GMT

Sen. Hargrove statement on passage of Senate budget

Senate Democrats — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 03:17:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - Sen Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee, released the following statement on Friday's passage of the Senate 2013-15 biennial operating budget:

"This has been an inclusive and open process. We have compromised on many things.

“We supported middle class workers by validating collective bargaining agreements. We fully funded immigrant programs. We made additions in food assistance. We have fully funded the Affordable Care Act. We have committed $1 billion to fund the McCleary decision. We put money into mental health treatment. We have accomplished a lot through good faith negotiations and I would like to thank Sen. Hill for that.

“This is not the budget I would have written myself. But we had to come together to move this plan out of the Senate to avoid the kind of stalemate that has paralyzed Washington D.C.

“Today the amendments that we have heard have made it clear that there are holes in this budget. The impassioned speeches have made that clear. We will need to talk to the House and Gov. Inslee about the inclusion of new revenue to fill those holes.

“I would like to thank Sen. Murray and Sen. Nelson for the faith they have shown in me and for having had my back. I could not have done this without their help and the help of all my colleagues.

“Things are getting better in our state and I look forward to working on future budgets in improving times.”

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen. Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646

VIDEO: Sen. Hargrove 2013-15 operating budget remarks

Senate Democrats — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:34:00 GMT

Senate budget collaborative, more work ahead

Senate Democrats — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:23:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - While Washington State Senate budget negotiators have participated in an inclusive process to produce the 2013-15 biennial budget, much work remains to be done according to Senate Democrats.

"I appreciate that fact that Sen. Hill offered a bipartisan process as he and the majority caucus created their budget. He has received our input and negotiated in good faith," said Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, as the ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee. "However, whether or not the final budget is bipartisan depends on how the final votes come out."

“After a long series of negotiations the product presented to you today has the input of Democratic values in a Republican-majority budget,” said Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, and assistant ranking member on the Senate Ways & Means Committee. “We are by no means at a final product. This is the first step in the budget process and we look forward to continuing the discussion in public budget hearings and as amendments are brought forth. That additional process will prove very valuable to many Legislators and the public.”

Hargrove and Nelson agree that a fair and open negotiation process yielded many positive items in the Senate budget proposal, including:

$1 billion investment toward the McCleary decision
Full implementation of the Affordable Care Act
Ratification of collective bargaining contracts
An end to crippling cuts to programs assisting needy families
Protection of family planning funding for low-income women

However, the Democratic Caucus negotiators expressed their hope that the final proposal will include steps to do more in the areas of K-12, higher education and help for some of our most fragile citizens.

“Certain aspects of this budget have support, but in the final budget many will have a desire to do even more for McCleary, for higher-ed and for services for our most vulnerable,” said Hargrove.

“I’m not yet satisfied by many aspects of this budget,” Nelson said. “We have looked long and hard over every area of state spending and believe me the only way to solve these problems is to add some sort of revenue into the mix. As we work together in the weeks ahead, I hope that can be accomplished.”

Those issues and others will be publicly debated as the Senate proposal goes before the Ways & Means Committee. Hargrove says the goal of Senate Democrats was to be involved in a collaborative process that moved the Senate closer to its obligation of passing a budget before adjourning for the year.

“I want to mention in particular Sen. Murray’s stalwart support of Sen. Nelson and me through the process. It is his leadership that got us this far. Gov. Inslee has already released his priorities and he’s started an important conversation about closing some tax breaks as part of the overall fix to our budget challenge’” said Hargrove. “The House will have its budget soon. And then all of us will need to work together to fulfill our constitutional obligation to the state as well as ensuring our Democratic principles are reflected in the final budget. “

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535 and Nicole Vukonich, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7326

For interviews: Sen. Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646 and Sen. Sharon Nelson, 360-786-7667

Hargrove issues statement on governor’s budget

Senate Democrats — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:46:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, the ranking-member of the Washington State Senate Ways & Means Committee, today released the following statement on Gov. Jay Inslee's budget proposal:

"We are looking at Gov. Inslee's budget priorities and revenue sources and appreciate him letting us know what he thinks as he will obviously have to sign the final budget. The reality is we need 50 votes in the House and 25 in the Senate on any proposal or combination of proposals to solve this budget problem. I look forward to working with the governor to that end."

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646

AUDIO: Sen. Hargrove speaks at the memorial for Gov. Booth Gardner

Senate Democrats — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 19:01:03 GMT

Sen. Jim Hargrove shared his memories of Booth Gardner on Friday at a joint legislative session to honor the former governor, who passed away on March 15. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

AUDIO: Good news in revenue forecast: No new bad news

Senate Democrats — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:49:00 GMT

The good news in Wednesday's revenue forecast report is that there was no new bad news. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

Sen. Hargrove statement on March revenue forecast

Senate Democrats — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:02:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Ways & Means Committee, today released the following statement on the March revenue forecast:

"This news is what it is: a little unexpected, yet welcome. While I am encouraged that today's forecast shows our economy is starting to grow again, we continue to face serious decisions and difficult choices as we fulfill our ultimate responsibility to protect the public, create jobs and make smart investments in public education. With that in mind, Sen. Hill and I continue to work together to write a budget for the 2013-2015 biennium."

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For more information: Ian Cope, Senate Democratic Caucus, 360-786-7535

For interviews: Sen. Jim Hargrove, 360-786-7646