State Reps Hear Call For Road Funds

State Reps. Mark Sterk and Larry Crouse told a Valley business group this week that their goals for the upcoming legislative session include cutting crime, cutting taxes and funding transportation projects.

Those attending Monday’s Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon in turn told the two 4th District Republicans that they are most concerned with securing money for much-needed road projects, including the proposed Interstate 90 interchange at Evergreen Road.

Some made it clear to the Valley legislators that funding transportation was more important to them than additional tax breaks.

Crouse promised to deliver both.

“Our surplus is bigger than ever (this year),” he said. “There is enough money for both (tax cuts and transportation).”

Crouse didn’t offer any new funding strategies, but said he was optimistic area legislatures would be able to secure the $4 million in state funds they couldn’t get last session for the Evergreen interchange project.

Several businessmen urged the legislators to take a long-term view of the state’s transportation problems.

“One-time transfers from surpluses are great, but in the longrun, they don’t fix the system,” said Robert Henry, Valley Chamber chairman.

Sterk, who is running for Spokane County Sheriff, agreed that a dedicated source of transportation funding is needed. He suggested dedicating a portion of the sales tax to transportation, or finding another source to which the whole population contributes.

Sterk plans to propose several crime and educations bills this session. If approved, they would restrict young drivers, crack down on drunken drivers and allow police agencies to keep some of the money collected from seized property.

One bill would prohibit drivers under 17 from having teenage passengers when it’s dark outside. It also would require drivers under 16 to have an adult in the vehicle when they drive at night.

A second bill would prohibit persons convicted of felony domestic violence crimes from being let out of jail while they await sentencing or appeal. This, Sterk said, would prevent them from going after their victims.

A third bill would allow evidence collected illegally by police officers to be admissable in court, if the judge rules the officer collected it in good faith.

A fourth bill would increase the penalty and severity of a third DUI conviction by making it a felony, and subject the offender to more than a year in jail.

A fifth bill would allow law enforcement to get 40 percent of the money collected when it seizes property used in crimes. The money would be used to administer seizure programs, which currently aren’t doing much to collect money for victims, Sterk said.

Of the remaining 60 percent collected, 50 percent would go to victims and 10 percent would go to the state.

Sterk defended his “get tough on crime” stand by saying he doesn’t believe it will cost taxpayers more money.

“The basic hope I have is that if we come out with a tough statement, we will prevent some crimes from happening,” he said.

Other bills, he said, would make it easier to fire bad teachers and less expensive to deal with drivers who lose their licenses because they haven’t paid traffic fines.

Crouse said his goal this session will be to return some of the state’s $860 million surplus to citizens, through a variety of tax cuts. He supports a cut in the motor vehicle excise tax and an additional cut in property taxes.

He will work to repeal the state’s sales tax on services, which began in 1993. He also wants to see an additional reduction in the business and occupation tax.

“There will be other tax proposal reductions,” he said.

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