I took part in my first interim Select Committee Pension Policy meeting yesterday. This may not seem like the most thrilling legislative activity, but it is of vital concern to those enrolled in state pension funds. The committee is comprised of fellow legislators, experts in the pension field and State Actuary Matt Smith. Smith's testimony raised the importance of making full payments to the pension fund. By short changing the current payments, we risk harming future budgets. Our goal is actually to filter bills that relate to pension policy. Our goal as a committee is to ensure that the state is on top of the payment schedule with regard to the pension funds, and we are attempting to set aside as much money as possible (and avoid just meeting the minimum amount), as this will only help us in the long term.

In other news, I am preparing commemorative copies of Senate Bill 5248, a bill I authored that enters Washington into the Military Children Educational Compact alongside ten other states. This legislation eases the transition from school-to-school for the children of our active military members. I will be presenting these bills to several of the military officers who worked to see this legislation passed. It was an arduous process that took quite a bit of elbow grease from all involved, but I am proud that the bill is now law.

As for me, I am busy with my day job (gotta feed the family!) and I wish I had more time to work on my legislative duties, as that is my true passion. Such is the life of a citizen legislator. I'll be checking in soon with more updates. Please feel free to email me at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

Photo: Bill signing of SB 5248 May 7, 2009. Sen. Hobbs is standing to the Governor’s right.