Legislative trio sendoff

State legislators shared their priorities for the upcoming year at a sendoff breakfast at the Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club in Union Wednesday.

The Shelton-Mason County Chamber, North Mason Chamber and Mason County Economic Development Council hosted the event featuring 35th District Reps. Travis Couture and Dan Griffey, both Republicans from Allyn, and state Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton.

Chamber President and CEO Diedre Peterson said the new legislative budget will have long-term impacts for Mason County.

"As business leaders, it's crucial we remain engaged through the session," she said.

Peterson and Kevin Shutty, executive director of the Mason County Economic Development Council, took turns questioning the legislators.

Peterson asked what they thought was realistic and "achievable" as minority party members in a Democrat-dominated state Legislature.

Couture said he is "pragmatic and realistic."

He pointed to "incredible wins" last year in the capital and transportation budgets as an example of what state Republicans can achieve.

Couture was more pessimistic about the "flavor" of this session, saying the 10-to-12-billion-dollar state debt is daunting.

He also hopes to work on school funding.

"The funding model is broken," he said.

Couture is hoping the issue can draw bipartisan support. He said it's almost impossible to pass levies or bonds.

One thing that may help is rebuilding trust in schools. He said there are record numbers of students being homeschooled or in private schools now.

"It's unacceptable that 70 % of kids in our state can't do math at grade level," he said.

MacEwen is also being practical.

"What can I get done?" he asked.

He said bringing more dollars back to the community will make the session more palatable.

"We'll get things done where we can," he said.

One of MacEwen's priorities will be tackling the deficit.

"Let's get back to budget basics," he said.

He also wants to make sure money the state receives as part of the Climate Commitment Act is being spent properly.

He cited $250,000 in climate commitment dollars being used by the state Department of Archaeology to study climate change as an example of waste.

"These studies have been done," he said.

Voters just rejected an initiative on the November ballot that would have repealed the Act and also approved blocking state and local governments from banning natural gas.

MacEwen said if the pro-natural gas initiative had not passed, an additional $30,000 to $40,000 would have been added onto the price of a new home.

Griffey will be focusing on curbing retail theft and keeping sexually violent predators out of communities.

Griffey said state retailers have

$4 billion in theft just this year.

"The cost of goods reflects that loss," he said.

He's hoping legislation that changes the definition of theft, making it a crime to conceal the item, will help.

Another project Griffey is excited about is the long-awaited Belfair Bypass.

"We're buying land now," he said.

"I think there's a lot of good in store for Mason County," Griffey said.

MacEwen agreed that "brighter days are ahead" for the county, but also said that Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson has yet to return MacEwen's phone call congratulating him on his win.

"The ball's in his court."

Griffey was re-elected as whip for the House Republican Caucus and Couture was elected assistant floor leader for 2025 session, beginning Jan. 13 and scheduled to run 105 days.