Legislative Accomplishments
Improving our education system
As the Chair of the House Higher Education Committee, Deb is committed to the success of all students. She supported the creation of all-day kindergarten and believes that we have to reduce our class sizes to help our kids succeed.
Deb speaks with students at WSU Vancouver
Recognizing the need for students to have more options after high school, Deb helped to pass legislation to increase workforce training by broadening our current career and technical college education programs.
Making college degrees more accessible
In her position as the Chair of the House Higher Education Committee many students have told Deb that the two biggest barriers to completing their degrees are unclear expectations for transfer students and reliable, affordable childcare. Deb sponsored legislation that would create a transfer student’s bill of rights and make it more clear to students about which courses will transfer between institutions. Deb also helped to pass legislation that would help the over one thousand students statewide get affordable on-campus childcare by making it easier for higher education institutions to apply for matching childcare grant money.
Deb visits with WSDOT workers.
Traffic congestion
Despite a $1.8 billion budget deficit brought on by soaring gas prices, Deb fought to keep our transportation dollars working. As a result we can expect new road construction in the coming months throughout East Clark County aimed at reducing traffic congestion.
Property tax relief
Deb supported reinstating Initiative 747, which capped property tax increases at one percent. Deb was able to secure further property tax relief by helping to pass legislation that excludes disabled veteran’s benefits from income calculations for the senior property tax exception. In her time in office, the Legislature passed the largest expansion of senior/disability property tax relief since voters created the exemption over 40 years ago. While these are positive steps in the right direction, Deb believes there is more we can do to bring real relief to seniors and working families, and she will continue to fight for property tax relief.
Crime
Throughout her time in the Legislature Deb has fought to crack down on crime. Specifically, she has worked with law enforcement officials to restrict the sale of ingredients used to produce meth and has worked to pass legislation protecting consumers from the growing crime of identity theft. Deb has also fought to keep our kids safe by cracking down on sex offenders with strong, bipartisan laws to increase sentences, protect victims and increase monitoring of sex offenders who still present a threat to our community.
Environment
Deb has worked to pass key legislation to help our state address the challenges of climate change. She helped to pass legislation to offer incentives to consumers that use sustainable energy. Deb also led the effort to offer further incentives for the use and production of biofuels. Deb believes there is far more we can do to support our clean environment while increasing jobs and economic opportunity.
Deb visiting the Natal Intensive Care Unit at the Southwest Washington Medical Center.
Health Care
Recognizing the need for families to have the necessary tools to make informed decisions on healthcare, Deb co-sponsored the House version of the healthcare literacy project. Deb also believes that we not only have to educate families on healthcare options but also ensure that children in our state have access to quality, affordable healthcare options. With this in mind, she helped to champion the "cover all kids by 2010" program, which ensures that all children in Washington State have access to healthcare. Through her work in the Legislature, Deb also helped to streamline and organize the healthcare process by advocating for the use of technology.
Quality driver training
Following a highly-publicized case of driver education schools that were taking advantage of the lack of government regulation, Deb worked with the Department of Licensing and driving schools to create more oversight rules to ensure our teens stay safe on the road by having quality driver training.