South Sound Chambers of Commerce
Legislative Coalition
2008 State Legislative Agenda
Who We Are
The South Sound Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition is comprised 8 Chambers from the following communities: Auburn, Covington, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Fife Regional, Kent, Puyallup-Sumner, and Southwest King County Chambers of Commerce. We represent approximately 3,500 businesses that employ more than 117,216 workers in the South King County and North Pierce County region. Collectively we represent businesses in the following 16 cities: Algona, Auburn, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Edgewood, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Fife, Kent, Milton, Pacific, Puyallup, Tukwilla, Seatac, and Sumner.
Why The Coalition Is Necessary
The South Sound area which we represent is strategically located between our state's two largest ports, and is home to critically important manufacturing, warehousing, tourism, construction and service industries that play a vital role in the county, regional and state economies. Huge portions of the goods supplied to businesses and families, both regionally and throughout the state, are processed or shipped through our area. Without functional South Sound facilities and capital infrastructure, much of the trade that passes through the ports of Seattle and Tacoma would likely be diverted to other states.
For too long, the South Sound area has not received the funding parity it deserves, especially when viewed in the light of its important role in the state's economy. Significant ground must be made up to compensate for the prior lack of funding parity, and current and future needs must not be shortchanged in public sector funding and policy decisions.
We understand that addressing the lack of parity may necessitate an adjustment in the recent preferences that have been accorded to Seattle and the Eastside of King County. But we ask, and candidly - but respectfully - expect, that our elected state Representatives and Senators will work aggressively to ensure our local South Sound needs receive the parity and priority they deserve, but have not received. Similarly, we also look forward to working with our local elected officials as they likewise support these legislative priorities.
South Sound Transportation on Parity:
For far too long, the South Sound region has not received the transportation on funding parity it deserves given its vital role in our state’s economy. Constantly overshadowed by Seattle and Eastside projects, significant ground must now be made up to solidify our region’s transportation infrastructure. The following “Top Tier” Priority Projects have been identified by the Coalition:
SR167 Extension/Expansion • I-5/SR18/SR161 (“Federal Way Triangle”) Improvements• SR704 (“Cross-Base Highway”)
SR 509 Extension (West of SeaTac) • SR 516 (Kent-Kangley Road) Improvements
Parity in Regional Governance Structure:
With the failure of Proposition 1, regional transportation governance may be scrutinized. Unless that governance has equal and fair representation from EVERY region within its boundaries, we are concerned that the South Sound’s critically important, and too-long delayed, “Top Tier” projects will be compromised. We believe that the South Sound’s interests MUST be included in any discussions of transportation
governance changes.
Freight Mobility Funding:
Freight mobility funding options must recognize the general benefits to society, as well as a particular user, from needed freight mobility infrastructure investments. Because international trade and distribution activities are so important to our region, we urge legislators to avoid transportation funding options, such as container taxes, which would hamper the state’s competitiveness, drive economic activity to neighboring states or countries, or harm Washington’s ports, manufacturers, growers, and exporters.
Workforce Education and Training:
Our region is faced with a critical shortage of properly educated, highly skilled and motivated workers indispensable to our region’s employers. The needs of our region’s employers require educational programs which will promptly generate a workforce that is well-prepared, thinks critically, and adapts to a changing marketplace. We support innovative education policies within our region that provides curriculum developments and infrastructure investments that will directly enhance workforce training and employment readiness.
School Funding Structure Equity:
We believe that the state’s current education on funding structure (which has recently been ruled unconstitutional) must be replaced by a system that provides full equality for financing the basic education of all of state’s students, regardless of the region in which they a end school.
Flood Control Infrastructure:
We are deeply concerned about the severe regional economic impacts of a failed levee in our area. We learned, all to well, the high economic and human costs of the recent fl ooding in our state. Our region’s levees do not meet Army Corps of Engineers standards and will cause the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enlarge fl ood plain areas. This will result in higher insurance rates for landowners and less buildable lands. We will seek to partner with other communi es around the state to seek a stable, statewide funding mechanism to repair and replace aging levees across our state.
For more information, contact Tom Dooley (360) 870-5225 or visit www.southsoundcoalition.com.