Serving as Vice Chair of the House Higher Education Committee, looking for ways to create access to education training that will lead to family wage jobs has been a priority for me. In the 2010 special session, I was able to get the following done:

• Legislation passed creating a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University Center of North Puget Sound. This is in partnership with the University of Washington/Bothell, and the Everett Community College administered University Center. Health care is an area of greatest workforce need in the State.

• Budget amendment action I sponsored made the Washington Aerospace Training and Research Center at Paine Field a reality. It was a vision I pushed in the 2010 session. Many of our aerospace tech and engineering staff will be retiring over the next several years, and the need for qualified workforce in this area will grow. The Center will be industry driven training in partnership with Edmonds Community College and the University of Washington/Bothell.

• Seacast in Marysville, a precision metal casting company, faced what amounted to a Department of Revenue ruling creating extra taxation on their processes that amounted to a double taxation. I was able to get into the House Finance package a tax exemption, and keep over 200 jobs in the area.