While in Olympia, Greater Spokane Incorporated and its 88 member delegation met with committee chair people from the transportation, health care, capital budget, and the state budget committees. It is safe to say that the largest concern on everyone’s mind is the state budget deficit. The biggest challenge yet, is to close the $4.6 billion dollar shortfall.  Legislators continue to echo the need for bipartisanship in order to make the crucial decisions that will protect spending for the most vulnerable and for ways to make state government more lean and efficient. 

The regional priorities we took to Olympia include:  improving the business climate of our region by supporting legislation that will remove unfunded regulatory mandates; funding for the Washington State University Biomedical Health Services Building; and the North Spokane South Corridor.  What do these projects have in common?  They all contribute to the economic development of our region.

The four-year medical school will transform Eastern Washington into a major health care hub, and is not off the table. As our President and CEO Rich Hadley, wrote last week, “There is broad support for this project and we will continue to make the case and work toward a solution.  The operating and capital budgets are the end game and that is when we will know how it turns out”. 

It is important to remember that the legislative season has just begun; Greater Spokane Incorporated, Washington State University, Avista, and other medical school partners will continue to strongly advocate for the capital and operating funds needed for the medical school building.  Last week during our capital budget issue session, Senator Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor), Vice-Chair (Capital) of the Senate Ways and Means committee emphasized that projects receiving priority this year will create jobs and will provide for economic development; our regional priorities meet this requirement.

As a region we must remain regional, unified, and focused. We must “Keep Spokane Moving” by advocating for the North Spokane Corridor; continue to diversify our workforce by building upon our leading health care sector through the construction of a four-year medical school, and improve our business climate by advocating for L&I and workers’ compensation reform.  Senator Mike Hewitt (R- Walla Walla) mentioned to our Olympia delegation that he will work to help small businesses because they are the heart beat of America. We at Greater Spokane Incorporated concur, and will continue to work with our state legislators to improve the business climate of our region.