Bringing relief to families that are struggling. That's one of the goal 12th District State Senator Brad Hawkins has for the upcoming legislative session, which gets underway January 8th. Hawkins says families who have been dealing with inflation and higher gas prices are due some help, and that's the message Senate Republicans will be sending:
The primary task for the lawmakers this session will be updating the state budgets which were approved in the last session:
Since much of the state's revenue comes from sales taxes, Hawkins fears that if people let up on their spending, the state's budgets will be squeezed. The upcoming session will be a short, sixty-day session, so things will go fast; Hawkins says he's getting prepared by hearing from stakeholders:
Plus Hawkins will be meeting up with his fellow legislators later next month:
Hawkins says that cap and trade and the state's Climate Commitment Act have resulted in the higher prices at the pump; he adds they'll be discussed, and maybe modified, this coming session.