Home | About John | News & Media | Email Updates | The Ledger | Contact
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Thank you so much for allowing me to serve you in Olympia. The 2025 session has begun, and I was officially sworn in on Monday, Jan. 13, along with 19 other new members of the Washington State House of Representatives. Over the next several months, I will send you important updates on everything going on in the Legislature. I hope you find these updates informative and helpful as I work to find the best solutions for everyone in our state.
My Legislation
As your state representative, I’m focused on several issues, not the least of which is the I-5 Interstate Bridge project. I recently filed House Bill 1559, which would prevent tolling on the I-5 Bridge.
House Bill 1559 would repeal legislation that passed along party lines in 2023. Senate Bill 5765 authorized the Legislature to impose tolls to help pay for the project. Proponents argue tolls are an important way to pay for a new bridge. However, the exact mechanisms have yet to be determined, and tolling has many downsides.
Tolling is a hugely regressive tax, harming hard-working, low—and middle-income families the most. It is currently estimated tolls could cost $2,350 per year for an individual crossing the bridge two times a day. Freight haulers and businesses crossing multiple times a day would pay much more. Click on the image below to watch me explain more about my legislation and how I’m fighting against tolling to fund the new bridge. And click here to read a recent KOIN TV news article about the Interstate Bridge Replacement project that I participated in.
Washington Citizens Pay $7,700 Per Ton of CO2 Reduction
I’m also concerned about the state’s Cap and Invest program. The House Environment and Energy Committee was briefed on the state’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) last week, providing the basis for discussions on what lies ahead in efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. According to the briefing, Washington took in $2.6 billion last year from the CCA in the “Cap and Invest” program, while CO2 emissions were reduced by 335,170 metric tons. The Cap and Invest program is not working. Click here to read my statement about the CCA.
I will continue to update you on these and my other legislative priorities, any bills I introduce, and all the important issues that come before the Legislature this session. Be sure to check in often to stay up to date.
State Spending Budgets
With the beginning of a new biennium, the Legislature will create the state’s two-year operating, transportation, and capital budgets. This is one of the biggest issues we will face this session, and much of the debate will revolve around the state’s projected operating budget shortfall. How significant that shortfall will be depends on who you believe. Some estimate a $10-12 billion gap, while more conservative estimates put it around $6.7 billion. However, the state is not experiencing a decline in revenue—tax collections have surged by 103% since 2014, reaching $36.4 billion in 2023. The real problem is unchecked government overreach and spending. Raising taxes is not the answer. Instead, we need to tighten our belts and control spending. Keep checking my website and reading these emails for further updates throughout the session.
Top Priorities
Together with other House Republicans, I will also be focused on several other key issues during the 2025 legislative session.
Reduce government spending—The majority party in Olympia has doubled state spending in just 10 years and raised nearly $80 billion in taxes. Our citizens are already struggling with high inflation, increases in fuel, food, and energy prices, and ever-increasing housing costs. This level of spending is unsustainable as more and more tax burdens fall on those who can least afford it. The state’s continuing record tax collections should result in tax relief, not more state programs and bureaucracy.
Relieving traffic congestion and improving mobility—I’m fighting for new bridge corridors to ease traffic congestion and improve freight mobility instead of supporting the resurrection of the failed Columbia River Crossing boondoggle. Instead of voting for the biggest gas tax in Washington history, I’m working to stretch scarce transportation dollars to benefit everyone. I will continue to fight against Oregon’s outrageous tolling scheme to pick your pockets.
Making communities safer—Crime is out of control in many places in our state. Criminals feel emboldened, while many people do not feel safe in their communities. Public safety should be a top priority of government. Unfortunately, in recent legislative sessions, the majority party has passed legislation to make life easier for criminals and more burdensome for law enforcement who are trying to keep our communities safe. Republicans continue to make public safety a top priority.
Making life more affordable—The majority party has made life more expensive for everyone in Washington through new taxes, fees, regulations, and a failure to provide meaningful tax relief. While many Washingtonians endure inflation and high gas prices, state tax collections have remained strong. Despite record revenue, state government continues to overspend, save little, and give almost nothing back to the taxpayers. In contrast, House Republicans continue to offer real solutions to provide significant tax relief, lower the cost of living, and improve affordability.
Committee Assignments
I’m serving on three House committees in my first term in the Legislature: the Environment and Energy Committee, the Postsecondary Education and Workforce Committee and the Transportation Committee. I look forward to working on positive, commonsense solutions for Washington in each of these committees.
Make Your Voice Heard
As state lawmakers, we represent you. Our job to bring your voice to the Legislature to ensure you are heard. Throughout this session and beyond, I want to hear from you. Your input and feedback are vital to the success of the 18th District. You can also share your feedback during the ongoing committee meetings.
There are several ways to be involved. You can come to Olympia to testify during public hearings or testify remotely. Just use these links to sign up:
Stay in Touch with Me
There are several ways you can keep up with the work of the Legislature. Here are some links that will help:
My legislative website | Here you will find my contact information, bio, news releases, email updates, videos, opinion pieces, bills, and other information.
The Capitol Buzz | A weekday roundup of online news stories. Click on the link to subscribe.
The Current | An online legislative publication from the Washington House Republicans. Click on the link to subscribe.
TVW | The state’s own version of C-SPAN, TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live online.
The Ledger| A legislative news aggregator.
Legislature’s website | Here you can see bill reports, committee agendas, and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature.
State agencies | You can find a list of all state agencies, boards, and commissions here.
Track a bill|Click the link to find information on specific bills. In addition, when you visit my website, you can easily view the legislation I’m sponsoring or co-sponsoring by clicking “Sponsored Bills.”
For a closer look at important upcoming committee hearings, consider signing up for The Week Ahead. This weekly publication provides an overview of bills scheduled for public hearings in House committees and includes links to help you share your input. Learn more and sign up here.
Thank You for Your Support!
I’m grateful for your support and look forward to building a better Washington. It’s an honor to serve as your representative in the 18th District. Thank you for your trust and for allowing me to serve you. Please contact me whenever you’d like. I look forward to meeting with you.
It’s an honor to serve you,
Sincerely,
John Ley
