PORT TOWNSEND – Sitting in the Port of Port Townsend commissioners’ hot seat Thursday afternoon, state Rep. Kevin Van De Wege raised doubts that port-targeted legislation he has sponsored will ever see a House hearing.
Upset Port of Port Townsend officials were left asking why the legislation ever saw the light of day, saying they were unhappy with the first-year 24th District lawmaker’s answers.
“They raise some legitimate concerns,” Van De Wege, D-Sequim, said after the public meeting.
“But the bottom line is, I’m trying to serve the peoples’ needs and their concerns about taxes.”
Port of Port Townsend and Port of Port Angeles executives this week expressed serious concerns about five House bills.
Van De Wege is sponsoring House Bills 2404, 2405 and 2407, and co-sponsoring HB 2406 and 2408 with Rep. Geoff Simpson, D-Covington.
The bills, which raise port issues about paying prevailing wages and eminent domain, will be considered next year.
Officials at both ports say the bills threaten to devastate their economic development authority.
Port of Port Angeles commissioners plan a June meeting with Van De Wege, who represents Clallam, Jefferson and a portion of Gray’s Harbor counties.
