PORT TOWNSEND — After experiencing what she called her toughest legislative session in 17 years, state Rep. Lynn Kessler is already looking to run for a 10th two-year term in 2010.
“I really like being involved, and I think there has been a certain value to my leadership role,” said Kessler, 68, a Hoquiam Democrat, after addressing about 75 attending the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce luncheon Monday at Fort Worden Commons.
Kessler, who has served much of her time in office as House majority leader, called the 2008 “the most challenging legislative session I’ve ever had,” facing a more than $9 billion deficit.
The result was a $31 billion state spending proposal, which she described as an “all-cuts budget” during her review of the last legislative session.
“We did not raise any general revenue at all,” she said, adding that no government entity “escaped the budget ax.”
A special session “may or may not” be called this year, she said.
“All that means is we would go back and cut some more.”
The state heads into its new biennial budget today.
Kessler, a member of the powerful House Ways and Means and Rules committees, said with no raises for state employees and no furloughs scheduled, she led the charge against raises for herself and fellow lawmakers.
Kessler called it “almost a miracle” that the Port Townsend-Keystone route came away with two new 64-car ferries budgeted, with a third planned to use as backup to those vessels.
“I thought that was just an incredible outcome,” she told the audience.
Todd Shipyards of Seattle is teaming up with Nichols Brothers Boatbuilders of Whidbey Island and the Everett Shipyard to build the first new ferry, now under construction and expected to be launched in June 2010 for sea trials.
Kessler credits state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, her close Democratic colleague from Oak Harbor, for her leadership in pushing through the new vessels, which will replace four Steel Electric ferries older than 80 years, which Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond pulled from service in late 2007, citing corroding and unsafe hulls.
Ferries construction was part of the largest transportation budget in state history, she said, adding that it will create 45,000 jobs.
Kessler said the new $5 donation available to motorists renewing their annual auto license tabs is expected to generate enough revenues to keep Old Fort Townsend State Park, south of Port Townsend, and Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island open.
“We assume a 40 percent return on our parks that should keep every one of them open,” Kessler said, drawing applause over the plan that allows motorists to “opt out” if they do not want to donate to state parks.
“Those are big draws for our state when there are tourists here,” she said, adding that there was no public opposition to the opt-out proposal.
With education as one of her main priorities, Kessler said the deficit required that several less-critical teacher mandates be suspended, leading to legislation that resulted in adding on average about 1 ½ students per classroom.
While kindergarten through 12th grade was spared, higher education “got whacked,” Kessler said, although student aid to the poor remained totally funded.
A $2,500 tax break for those paying tuition was also approved.
Unemployment insurance was protected by a $7 billion reserve fund that allowed on average about $70 more a week in unemployment compensation, she said.
“That felt really good at this time, because everything was on the chopping block,” she said.
One Jefferson County program spared was Centrum’s 1987 “highly capable students” program,” she said, which was granted $370,000.
“That was a little bit of pork, a very small pork rind,” she said.
Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
