Recently appointed Rep. Carolyn Eslick receives House committee assignments
Recently appointed Rep. Carolyn Eslick, R-Sultan, is jumping into her new role at the state Legislature with her sleeves rolled up, ready to work. House leadership has already assigned the new lawmaker to the House Capital Budget and Early Learning and Human Services committees.
“I'm excited to tackle these meaningful committee assignments. Some of our state's most pressing public policy issues fall under these two committees,” said Eslick. “There is a great deal of work ahead as we go into the 2018 session. With only a few more weeks before we begin, I'm not wasting any time.”
The capital budget is sometimes referred to as the “brick and mortar budget.” This budget typically funds infrastructure and construction projects throughout the state.
“I'm confident my assignment on the House Capital Budget Committee will allow me work proactively for the people of 39th District and the state,” said Eslick. “The capital budget is an essential financial tool in the building of our communities. It's an honor to be selected to serve on this committee.”
During the 2017 session, negotiations on the state capital budget reached a standstill when an agreement could not be reached on the Supreme Court's Hirst decision. For many rural communities, the Hirst decision has far-ranging implications for home builders, property owners and local businesses. The case set a precedent for how water rights would be handled statewide, threatening to halt all construction involving the use of residential wells.
“The Legislature has some big decisions ahead – especially for Hirst. This property rights issue is not going away on its own. We owe it to the individuals and families of Washington state to approve a capital budget and get a legislative fix in place for Hirst,” continued Eslick.
Eslick will also serve on the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee. The 13-member committee considers issues relating to early learning from birth to kindergarten, as well as a broad array of issues affecting children and families. Other public policy topics include parent education, foster care, dependency, child protective services, children's mental health, child welfare services and family reconciliation services.
“It is an incredible honor to serve on this committee. One of my biggest passions is helping young people get a good start in life. Success is no accident, we need to do all we can to ensure our children and families are given every opportunity to succeed,” she added.
