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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I’d like to invite you to a Legislative Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, July 16 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the East Wenatchee City Hall, 271 9th St NE.
I’ll be joined by my colleagues from the 7th Legislative District, Reps. Hunter Abell and Andrew Engell, to give an update on the 2025 legislative session and to listen to your concerns and answer your questions.
As many of you know, the Washington State Legislature passed the largest tax and fee increase in state history this past session. I voted a strong NO on ALL tax increases. State spending has more than doubled over the past 10 years. This is irresponsible, unsustainable, and unconscionable when we have so many struggling to make ends meet. Our state has one of the highest costs of living in the nation. We have high housing costs, increases in energy prices, serious homelessness issues around the state, and a drug crisis. We also have one of the nation’s worst tax burdens that includes skyrocketing property taxes, one of the nation’s highest gas taxes, and onerous business taxes that prevent entrepreneurship and business expansion.
Our state needs to get serious about budgeting with YOUR tax dollars. In my opinion, state government – along with many elected officials – have taken you for granted. But how do you feel? Do you think your tax dollars are being spent wisely? Do you like the direction our state is going? Do you think our education system is working despite abysmal student outcomes? Do you feel we have safer streets? Is affordable and accessible child care a problem for you? What are the issues you’re most concerned about?
There is much to discuss and I’d love to hear from you. I hope to see you later this week at our Legislative Town Hall Meeting!
Out and about in the most beautiful legislative district in the state!
While the legislative session is over, my work for you continues. I’ve traveled around the district taking tours, meeting with industry leaders, government officials, members of the media, and many of you – all in an effort to better serve you!
Here is a sample set from the month of June…
A site tour of proposed Mission Ridge Resort Expansion with the owner and other stakeholders:
We were inside…and then outside!
Legislative Town Hall Meeting at the Cashmere Riverside Center with my 12th District seatmates, Sen. Keith Goehner and Rep. Mike Steele:
Meeting with Confluence Health along with 7th District Rep. Andrew Engell:
We also met with USFS Okanogan-Wenatchee (unfortunately, no photo). Their response to us: “Thank you for making the time to meet with us Rep. Andrew Engell and Rep. Brian Burnett to discuss wildfire readiness for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.”
Wenatchee Valley Chamber “Coffee & Commerce- Legislative Wrap-up” with (from Left to Right) Rep. Andrew Engell (7th LD), Rep. Tom Dent (13th LD) me, Rep. Alex Ybarra (13th LD), and my seatmate, Sen. Keith Goehner (12th LD):
Coffee with the City – A legislative wrap up at the Sultan City Hall with (from Left to Right) Sultan Mayor Russel Wiita, Sen. Keith Goehner, Rep. Carolyn Eslick (39th LD) and me. We met with council members and constituents. We also toured the Volunteers of America facility and met with many volunteers.
Also in June, I did an interview on the John Curley Show on KIRO News Radio and a press conference in Seattle to call for an extensive review and possible changes to the Amber Alert System. This was spurred by the tragedy in Chelan earlier this year that saw the tragic deaths of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker at the hands of their father Travis Decker during a custody visit. You can read more about this here.
You elected me to be YOUR VOICE in the state Legislature. I am working hard for you. This will be mantra for as long as I’m in office: You and I may not agree on every issue, but my door is always open and no one is going to work harder for our collective values, principles, and priorities.
Thank you for the honor of serving you in Olympia. It is a privilege I will never take for granted.
Sincerely,
Brian Burnett
