Nathan Schlicher 'Disappointed' in Tacoma Narrows Bridge Toll Hike

(The following is the latest e-mail that state Sen. Nathan Schlicher, D-Gig Harbor, sends to his constituents every week.)

Dear friends,

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you in Olympia during the 2013 Legislative session and I look forward to completing our work in the special session in a timely manner.

Special session continues

Following a 105-day regular session, my colleagues and I returned to Olympia on May 13 for the start of the special session. I was disappointed that we did not complete our work in Olympia on time. While we have accomplished many great things for the state, our work will not be completed until we have reached an agreement on the 2013-15 biennial budget. Thus far, budget negotiators have come together for several “five-corner” meetings involving the governor’s office and Democratic and Republican leaders from the House and Senate. I am hopeful that they will reach an agreement before the end of the special session on June 13th. However, I do not believe that legislators should be rewarded for failing to meet their deadlines and as such will not be collecting the per diem for the special session. Spending $16,000 per day of tax payer money on legislators who could not finish their work is not efficient.

This is not a task to be taken lightly. The final budget we approve will be a roadmap for the next two years in Washington and I am determined to see that our best values are represented. This means a budget that assists the most vulnerable people in our state, rather than punishes them for their struggles. This means taking steps toward fully funding education and assisting Washington’s economic recovery by creating and nurturing a well-educated workforce, one that is ready for the challenges and opportunities of the coming years. This means a healthcare system that will provide security for the middle-class families that will be the backbone of Washington state for years to come.  We cannot miss the mark and fail to meet our requirements in funding education, supporting jobs, protecting the vulnerable and improving health care.

My opposition to the rate increases on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge

I am disappointed to report that the Washington State Transportation Commission has continued its default response to tough economic times by “passing the buck” to the consumer by increasing tolls. In this case, that means a 50-cent increase in tolls on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge which will be implemented over the next two years.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is an integral part of the Kitsap Peninsula and all of us who live and work here. Our families rely on the bridge to get to work and school and back again, so naturally any toll increase will be felt by our families first. While the addition on the second Narrows Bridge has been a blessing for their daily commute, the ever-increasing cost of crossing the bridge quickly becomes a curse for our families and a burden to household budgets that are already stretched thin.

On Monday, I had the opportunity to address the Transportation Commission before its vote to approve the rate increase. I reminded the members of the commission that, in addition to impacting families, the increase is “essentially a surcharge for businesses that operate on the Kitsap Peninsula. It is a deterrent to the vibrant tourism industry that makes the Kitsap Peninsula a destination for so many travelers. The transport of goods and people over the bridge is already costly enough, but to ask for two increases in the next year does nothing but add to the pressure for businesses that continue to struggle with the effects of the great recession.” To read my full statement, click HERE.

Mental health treatment bill signed into law

When dealing with a patient suffering the effects of a mental illness, differing opinions and a lack of communication can hinder treatment to the detriment of both the patient and public safety. A bill I sponsored to knock down those barriers was signed into law on Tuesday.

Senate Bill 5456 requires that county mental health agents consult with treating physicians and document any concerns they have regarding patients and the need for detention under the Involuntary Treatment Act. Often, initial treatment ordered by emergency physicians enables a patient to stabilize before a county mental health agent can examine him or her and determine if the patient should be involuntarily committed. Under my bill, the agent will be required to speak with the attending physician, ensuring that information and concerns are shared and documented, leading to the best possible treatment for the patient.

It does the patient and the public no good to leave gaps in the flow of information, diagnosis and treatment. Under this bill, we fill in those gaps and make sure that the agents who determine whether a man or woman poses a danger to themselves and others have the medical data they need to make an accurate determination. This way, the patients get the help they need and we keep potentially dangerous individuals from being released without treatment.

Governor signs hospital infection reporting bill

As an emergency room physician, I know that when patients check into a hospital for a surgery, they assume they will leave free of complications. However, post-operation infections are an issue that all hospital staffs have had to face from time to time. A bill approved on Tuesday by Gov. Inslee will require that those hospitals continue to report infections resulting from hip and knee replacements and cardiac surgeries for the next four years.

In four years, we will transition to align with the federal standards that are being developed to limit administrative duplication and decrease the cumbersome requirements on the health care industry. I was happy to see House Bill 1471 pass and was glad to sponsor the Senate companion.

As always, if you have an idea or a concern, send me an email or give me a phone call. Hearing from you is the best way for me to my job and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Thank you,

Nathan