GREG GILDAY: A legislative update from Rep. Greg Gilday

State Representative Greg Gilday sent the following update from his official email account on Mon., Jan. 11, 2021.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Welcome to my first email update as your 10th District state representative. I’d like to begin by thanking you for allowing me to work on your behalf at the Legislature.

Virtual session | 2021

The legislative session began Monday, January 11th. This regularly scheduled 105-day session will be like none other before it. Instead of meeting in-person, the Legislature will convene virtually. Conducting the people’s business over computer screens will challenge both lawmakers and constituents. Although it’s not a perfect solution, the intention is to keep everyone safe from the spread of COVID-19.

Government accountability and transparency are top priorities for me. That’s why in the months to come, I will do my utmost to keep you informed on the work of the Legislature. Along with regular email updates, I’ll be answering phone calls, emails, and meeting with constituents via Zoom. Reach out to me anytime with your ideas, comments, and concerns about state-government related matters. My contact information is at the bottom of this update.

Stay connected

Want to stay connected to the work of the Legislature? Here are some links that will help:

• My legislative website | Here you will find my contact information, bio, news releases, email updates, videos, opinion pieces, bills, and other information.
• The Capitol Buzz | A weekday roundup of online news stories. Click on the link to subscribe.
• The Current | An online legislative publication from the Washington House Republicans. Click on the link to subscribe.
• TVW | The state’s own version of C-SPAN, TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live online.
• The Ledger| A legislative news aggregator.
• Legislature’s website | Bill reports, committee agendas, and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature.
• State agencies | You can find a list of all state agencies, boards, and commissions here.

Tracking a bill?

Click here to find information on specific bills. In addition, when you visit my website you can easily view the legislation I’m sponsoring or co-sponsoring by clicking “Sponsored Bills.”

Here is a quick set of “bill tracking” instructions

• Go to leg.wa.gov
• On the left-hand panel, click “Bill Information.”
• If you know the bill number, enter it in the search field and hit enter.
• Don’t have a bill number? Under the section “Standard Reports,” you’ll find alternative tracking tools. You can search based on topic, legislative digests, cross-references and or within a specific biennium.
• Click on the House Floor Calendar, this helpful tool gives you a detailed list of all bills scheduled to be heard on the House floor each day.

Remote Testimony

Want to testify on a bill or other important public policy? I encourage you to let your voice be heard. Here’s the link that will help you do that.

Need more information? Feel free to contact me directly if you need more details on specific bills or key public policy proposals.

Focusing on what matters

The primary task of lawmakers during the 2021 session is to adopt a new two-year state budget. Just a few short months ago, state revenue was in steep decline. Since that time, we’ve rebounded and the state’s financial outlook has steadily improved. This modest budget growth means lawmakers can balance the budget without raising taxes. I believe lawmakers should focus on revitalizing our economy, not taxing individuals and businesses more.

As is often the case amid a crisis, opportunities for rebuilding abound. I’ll be fighting for commonsense solutions that will get job-producing industries back on their feet. Along with supporting struggling businesses during this session, I’ll be entering the fray on one of the most controversial aspects of the coronavirus restrictions: getting our kids back in school in the best, quickest, and safest way possible.

Committee assignments

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been appointed as assistant ranking member of both the House Civil Rights and Judiciary, and the Housing, Human Services and Veterans committees. As a freshman legislator, it’s an honor to have been asked by my colleagues to help lead these committees. I’ll also serve on the House Capital Budget Committee, which considers many of the long-term infrastructure investments across our state.

And finally, in addition to the aforementioned committees, I will serve on the House Rules Committee, which considers all bills reported from policy and fiscal committees and determines whether, and in what order, to schedule their consideration on the floor of the House. 

Thank you!

Your feedback is important as we consider the many issues that impact our communities and state. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

It’s an honor to serve you!

In your service,

Greg Gilday