Invitation to join Dr. Bobby Virk and

his partner, Dr. Ellen Polsky, for a Coalition to Fund Dental Access-sponsored forum on Dental Medicaid for legislators. A panel will present the impacts of adult dental program reductions on patient health, community clinic access and hospital ER use.

Thursday January 20, 2011, 5:00 pm

Cherberg Building at the Capitol

Conference Room ABC

Light refreshments will be served.

Please consider attending this important event and make reservations to - Kristen.Michal@washongton2advocates.com

Thank you,

Susan Sheary for

Dr. Bobby Virk

Port Commissioner John Creighton Announces Campaign For King County Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Wednesday, January 12th, 2011 John Creighton 425-636-8924

Port of Seattle Commissioner John Creighton announced today he will campaign for King County Council Position 6 (currently held by Councilmember Jane Hague).

“I’m proud of the work I’ve done with my colleagues on the Commission to bring the Port of Seattle from an agency that was under federal investigation to one that will set a record in container traffic for the year despite the down economy,” said Creighton. “I’d like to take that same focus on reform and results to the King County Council,” he added.

Reforming County Government

Creighton believes the King County Council needs to make tough reforms starting with the structure of the King County Council. Creighton proposes:

Lowering the number of King County Councilmembers to seven.
Reducing the pay of King County Councilmembers to under six figures.

“I know when compared to the overall county budget, the council reforms are small. However, we need to create a culture of efficient delivery of government services throughout the organization, and that needs to start at the top,” said Creighton. Creighton also proposes a number of reforms that will provide more accountability to taxpayers and lessen the burden on jobs-creating businesses:

Reducing duplicative efforts of regional governments by looking for areas to collaborate and share services.
Streamlining permitting and licensing processes at the county.
Providing more transparent accounting so taxpayers know where there money is being spent.

Protecting Our Environment

As a Port Commissioner, John Creighton spearheaded the passage of a 6-part environmental motion that made important environmental changes such as prohibiting cruise ship dumping in the Olympic Marine National Sanctuary, mandated the use of low sulfur diesel or shore power by cruise ships, and directed staff to work with King County on a biomass disposal. He supported the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a collaborative initiative with the ports of Tacoma and Vancouver and local port-related businesses to reduce port-related air emissions, and championed clean air and water initiatives at Sea-Tac Airport.

As a County Councilmember, Creighton proposes:

Prioritizing work on protecting Puget Sound including appointing one person to oversee all storm water management issues at the county level.
Incentivizing property owners to fix outdated septic systems to limit pollution and runoff.
Putting on the ballot a dedicated source of funding to clean up Puget Sound.
Exploring incentives for agricultural landowners in the county to switch to organic farming.

“I’ve taken the lead on a number of tough environmental issues such as cruise ship dumping. I’d like to take that same approach as a King County Councilmember on issues like storm water runoff and cleaning Puget Sound,” said Creighton.

Ensuring Transportation Choices

“Our regional governments get too mired in process and delay. A good example of this is the South Park Bridge project. The bridge will now be closed for three years because regional government couldn’t act and get a proposal in place. We need stronger leadership at the County level so projects that are vital to commuting and freight mobility move forward,” said Creighton.

As a County Councilmember, John Creighton supports:

Moving decisions on bus service and light rail away from political negotiations to decisions based on ridership and engineering recommendations.
Completing the South Park Bridge Project as soon as possible with no more delays.
Reducing overhead for both Sound Transit and Metro and reducing duplication of the agencies.



About John Creighton

John Creighton is a business lawyer who practiced on the east coast and overseas prior to returning to his home in the Northwest. He was elected to the Seattle Port Commission in November 2005, and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as Commission President for two consecutive years (2007-2008). He spearheaded the effort to find a new chief executive for the port, and has sat on both the audit and strategic planning subcommittees of the Port Commission.

Since being elected to the Commission, John has developed strong expertise in both transportation and economic policy. He was appointed by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to the State Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board in 2006. He has served on the board of enterpriseSeattle, the economic development organization for King County, and was appointed to the board of the Seattle Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2010. John is also currently the chair of the advisory board of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle's Pathways for Small Business Initiative, a program that helps equip small disadvantaged contractors with the business skills necessary to grow their businesses.

John grew up on the Eastside of King County and is a graduate of Interlake High School in Bellevue. John lives in Kirkland, WA.

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Port of Seattle unanimously adopts Tarleton's green-trade initiative

Press Release from Commissioner Gael Tarleton

SEATTLE - Port of Seattle Commissioners today unanimously adopted a new and accelerated clean air initiative introduced by Commissioner Gael Tarleton that is aimed at meeting federal clean air standards two years ahead of schedule.

"We have already removed more than 260 of the dirtiest short-haul trucks off the road while still working to protect Puget Sound air and jobs," Tarleton said. "We are cleaning the air, protecting and creating jobs while growing trade in one of the toughest economies we've ever faced. This is a major accomplishment for Seattle's clean-trade goals."

The Port launched a special buy-back and retrofit program in 2009 by leveraging approximately $5 million from Port operating dollars and grants from the EPA and the state's Department of Ecology to retrofit pre-1994 trucks. The Port invested an estimated $1.7 million of its own operating dollars towards the total $5 million utilized for the program.

The new initiative is designed to further accelerate the Port's success by beefing up incentives to grow Seattle's clean trade. Key components of the new initiative include:

· A new affordable and reduced insurance program for drivers who participate in the Port's clean trucks/clean fuels program;
· A clean fuels tax incentive, providing benefits to drivers and companies whose trucks use clean fuels;
· A clean-trade rewards program for companies in Washington that support drivers who participate in the Port's clean truck/clean fuels programs;
· A detailed audit of Port truck emissions to ensure the Port is on track to meet federal clean air requirements by 2015 - two years earlier than the federal mandate of 2017. The Port will present the findings of its audit to the Commission in December 2011.

Since 2009, the Port has registered more than 5,900 trucks and more than 1,100 trucking companies and truck owners who operate drayage trucks (short-haul truckers) at the Port's cargo terminals for its clean-truck initiative. Drayage trucks with engines older than model-year 1994 may be eligible for a $5,000 incentive through the Port's ScRAPS (Scrappage and Retrofits for Air in Puget Sound) program which continues until the end of this January.

"We have the highest number of containers and cruise ships coming into the Port of Seattle when the rest of the ports in America have witnessed dramatic declines," said Tarleton. "When California launched its program, it taxed containers to scrap old trucks, but they scrapped the fees and mandates when they lost jobs and 40 percent of the port market share literally drove away. Seattle's program is a model for the nation and this economy."

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LAC Meeting, January 16th

The next meeting of the King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee is the 3rd Sunday January 16th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Des Moines Library. We will be discussing the issues in our proposed legislative agenda, and issues coordinators are invited to give a five minute presentation and answer questions. The Washington State Budget & Policy Center will have an analyst to discuss revenue priorities & strategy.

We are asking each Legislative District, as part of your reorganization, to elect or appoint an LAC representative or chair. This job is to attend our monthly meetings on the 3rd Sunday of the month and to report back to LD meetings, including organizing carpool groups to attend our Lobby Day in Olympia on Monday, February 21st.

Attendees will get briefings on our issues to prepare them to meet directly with their legislators and a box lunch ($20 registration in advance). All the King County legislators are invited to address the meeting, and the Governor has been invited to keynote. Attendance is limited and pre-registration is required. Sarajane Siegfriedt, Sarajane3h@comcast.net, 206-440-5829 for questions. Many will stay in Olympia for the Washington State Democrats Crab Feed at 5 p.m. in Lacey.

Thanks,
Sarajane Siegfriedt, Chair
King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee
Des Moines Library

21620 11th Avenue S., Des Moines, 98198
206-824-6066

Directions:

The library is located on the corner of South 216th Street and 11th Avenue South, next to Des Moines City Hall and across the street from Wesley Homes Retirement Center.

Click here for a "printer friendly" version of the map & directions


I-5 Northbound: Take Exit 149B, and head west on Highway 516 (Kent-Des Moines Road). Turn right on Pacific Highway S (Highway 99). At the next major intersection, turn left on 216th Street. After going down the hill, turn left on 11th Avenue.

I-5 Southbound:
Take Exit 151. At the stop sign, go straight ahead on 200th Street. At the next major intersection, turn left on International Boulevard (Highway 99/Pacific Highway S). At the third stoplight, turn right on 216th Street. After going down the hill, turn left on 11th Avenue.

From Burien:
Head south on First Avenue, which becomes Marine View Drive. At the first four-way intersection with lights, turn left on 7th Place South, which becomes 216th Street. At the top of the small hill, turn right on 11th Avenue.

Bus Routes:
The Des Moines Library is served by bus routes 121, 122, 131, 132, and 166.
Metro Route 166 stops immediately outside the Des Moines Library on South 216th Street. Route 132 has a stop across the street from the QFC in Des Moines, which is about 1/4 of a mile from the library.

For bus times, call Metro's Rider Information line at 206-553-3000 or 800-542-7876 or visit their Web site.

Draft LAC Agenda for 2011