Paul Harris

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 16, 2012 CONTACT: Lisa Fenton, Communications Director, cell (360) 789-6064 Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252 State House Republicans elect leadership team Leadership members are elected to serve two-year terms At a caucus reorganization meeting today, House Republicans in the Washington statehouse elected their leadership...

Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, voiced his frustration with yesterday’s King County Superior Court judge’s ruling on the voter-approved Initiative 1053, which requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes. Harris issued the following statement: “I am disappointed by the decision but I cannot say I am surprised. We...

The Legislature adjourned April 11, 2012 after a marathon 24-hour finish and agreement on operating and capital budgets, as well as a series of government reform bills. Bipartisanship played a role in the budgets and key pieces of reform legislation. There are many positive things that came out of both...

The 2012 legislative session adjourned March 8, but without a supplemental operating budget. State lawmakers failed to address a $1.1 billion shortfall in the state’s operating budget. Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, issued the following statement: “Once again we are leaving Olympia only to return for another special session. Frustration and...

‘This is a blatant attempt by the majority party to pass the buck to local governments and get around taxpayer protections continually approved by voters’ says Rep. Paul Harris   Democrats in the state House of Representatives introduced legislation this week that would give local governments new authority to raise...

Lack of priorities in spending taxpayer money is problem, say House Republican lawmakers, not lack of tax collections   Washington state is realizing a nearly $2 billion, or roughly 7 percent, increase in tax collections this two-year budget cycle as the economy slowly begins to turn a corner. Yet today,...

Sen. Don Benton and Rep. Paul Harris, will host a town hall meeting on Saturday, Feb. 18. Residents in the 17th District are encouraged to attend and bring their questions and concerns. The morning meeting will be a discussion about legislative and community issues. The time and location of the...

Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, issued the following statement today on the governor’s proposed budget cuts: “The governor has worked hard to find solutions to address our budget shortfall. However, her proposal hurts education and nursing homes, lacks reforms and has yet to establish priorities. “The proposed levy equalization cuts would...

Last month, the state’s chief economist, Dr. Arun Raha, announced we can expect another drop in tax collections over the next biennium, creating an estimated shortfall of $1.27 billion in the 2011-13 general fund budget. In fact, the governor has suggested the shortfall is closer to $2 billion if you...