Warnick receives committee assignments for 2013 session

Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, received her 2013 committee assignments this week. She will serve on three House committees: Agriculture and Natural Resources; Capital Budget; and Education.

She has and will continue to serve as the ranking Republican on the Capital Budget Committee, which makes her responsible for negotiating with the chair of the committee on a final capital budget. Known as the “bricks and mortar” budget, the capital budget provides funding and bonds for long-term infrastructure needs throughout the state, from schools to hospitals to prisons and more.

“The capital budget is an essential part of the services our state provides. Great education and safe communities require great classrooms and secure prisons,” Warnick said. “This year will be different with Republicans chairing the Capital Budget Committee in the Senate, and I look forward to working with that leadership.”

With the 13th Legislative District being one of the largest agriculture areas in the state, serving on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee was important to Warnick, who grew up on a dairy farm and now partly owns a farm near Moses Lake.

“At each end of the 13th District, we are facing water management challenges. From the Kittitas County headwaters of the Yakima Valley Basin to the Odessa Aquifer, we must ensure we have a balanced approach that provides an adequate water supply for people and fish,” Warnick said. “I have already been involved in interactions between agriculture producers with the Departments of Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources, and I look forward to continuing that work.”

The Education Committee is a new assignment for Warnick, though not a new issue to the lawmaker who will begin her fourth term in January.

“With seven grandchildren, all in Washington state public schools, I am anxious to be part of the solution to education funding. I believe it must be our first and highest priority in the state budget,” Warnick said.

The 2013 session is scheduled to begin Jan. 14 and last 105 days.

More information can be obtained by visiting the website at: http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov.