As you’ve probably heard by now, Seattle has given you the opportunity to opt-out of receiving yellow pages phone books from now on. And as you would expect, the yellow book publishers are fighting the opt-out option.

Advocates of the opt-out programs say the new provision will cut down on waste and save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on recycling unused books. Detractors argue the city registry violates free-speech rights and will cause financial harm to their companies.

As the battle wages in the courts, Seattle Rep. Reuven Carlyle says he hopes to expand the measure to become statewide next year.

In order to opt-out, you only need to follow three simple steps:

1. Create your stop yellow pages delivery account on the CatalogChoice website.
2. Click on Phone Books and choose the yellow pages phone books you want.
3. Your opt out selection must be in effect 30 days before a company starts its Seattle distribution cycle. Choices for DEX yellow pages phone books must be made by May 16, 2011 in order to prevent delivery of books this year.

If yellow pages books are still delivered to your home after you opted out 30 days or more before delivery, you can log in to that CatalogChoice account and file a complaint.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle of Seattle’s 36^th district began the new legislative session and his second term in Olympia as vice chair of the Higher Education Committee this month.

“What I hope to do is to really bring about some genuine reform in our education system—in K-12 and higher education,” said Carlyle. “I have four young children, and that’s the heart and soul of who I am and why I ran for office.”

Carlyle has worked on the committee during the last two sessions, but this is his first in a leadership position.

The state’s education system is moving in a troubling direction that warrants immediate and profound action, according to Carlyle. He said this area of state government distresses him the most and characterizes the shift of funding from the state to the students as “a disaster waiting to happen.”

“The state is retreating from its obligation to open the doors of access to higher education, and it’s going to become more and more elite and privatized,” Carlyle said. “But there’s many of us giving it all we have fighting tooth and nail to try to educate the public about the value of changing course and really being much more aggressive about allowing everybody to access higher education, not just a small segment of society.”

Photo from Carlyle’s Facebook page.

Carlyle will also serve as a member of the budget-writing Ways and Means Committee. This is his first time serving on the committee, which is especially critical given the state’s current economic woes.

“Our economy is going through the most extraordinary structural change in generations,” Carlyle said. “This is a time to break down old clichés and old stereotypes about state government and about taxes and services and to really honor the will of the public to rebuild our state.”

From Washington’s House Democrats website:

In the December special session, $588 million of the $1.6 billion budget deficit for the current budget cycle was addressed. How to address the remaining amount is the Ways and Means Committee’s first problem, before moving onto the projected $4.6 billion shortfall in the two-year budget starting in July.

“It’s time we thoughtfully lay out our state’s priorities and do our best to fund them,” Carlyle said.  “I’ll be challenging colleagues to start fresh with our budgeting, and put dollars where we can unleash opportunity and the entrepreneurial spirit in our state.”

Also serving on the Ways and Means Committee are Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, both representing the 36^th district.

Carlyle will continue to serve on the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, and hopes to use his voice to bring technological efficiency to the state infrastructure. The current session will run from Jan 10 to April 24.

Just a reminder that the 36th District legislators Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and Rep. Reuven Carlyle are hosting a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Monday, April 19, at the Q Café, located at 3223 15^th Ave West in Interbay.

At the meeting Kohl-Welles, Dickerson and Carlyle will be discussing the 2010 legislative session and how current legislation will affect the 36th District, which includes Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, Belltown, Fremont, Phinney Ridge, Greenwood and Blue Ridge. There will also be time set aside for a Q&A with community members. More information here.

On Monday, February 15, the 36th District legislators invite you to spend the day in Olympia. The day will start at 10 a.m. in Room ABC of the John A. Cherberg Building (driving directions, .pdf) on the Capitol Campus. Upon arrival, visitors will receive a legislative schedule for the day. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Reps. Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle will meet up with constituents at 1 p.m. in the same room to discuss important budget and legislative issues and answer your questions. For more information contact Adam Cooper at 360-786-7670 or Cooper.adam@leg.wa.gov. (Disclosure: Rep. Reuven Carlyle is a sponsor of QueenAnneView.)

State representatives Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle (both D-36th District) held a “telephone town hall” Tuesday evening Jan. 19 to discuss the important issues facing Olympia this legislative session. About 30,000 constituents district-wide were called to enter into the conversation, although the exact number who made it on the line is not known. Questions ranged from Dickerson’s controversial legalization of marijuana bill to broader issues including education, taxes and transportation.

The town hall worked as a sort of large conference call. Everyone on the call could hear the questions and answers, and if so inclined, could enter into a queue to ask questions themselves.

While the focus of most questions was the economy, Dickerson’s bill (HB 2401) to legalize marijuana for those who are 21 and older may prove to be the most contentious issue facing the Legislature. On Wednesday, Jan. 20th, an executive session was scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness. The importance of this bill to Dickerson was expressed clearly in her opening remarks.

“The bill itself will generate $300 million worth of income that will go to pay for drug and alcohol treatment prevention services,” Dickerson said.

Carlyle, who stated that he supports some form of marijuana decriminalization, focused on the hot topic of cell phone use while driving a car. This would become a primary offense with the passage of a bill that Carlyle is sponsoring. The bill would make the use of a cell phone that is not hands-free, as well as texting or emailing, a primary offense.

The overwhelming theme of the meeting, however, was the budget: how to fix it and how it would affect other government services. With a projected $2.6 billion deficit facing the state, Carlyle spoke on the biggest problem at hand.

“Once again, we’re faced with some very serious questions about not only how to balance [the budget], but what’s the right thing from an equity, fairness and really a progressive approach to how we look at our funding in this state,” Carlyle said.

A couple questions from callers dealt with the potential for an income tax. Despite both representatives noting that an income tax has never received much support outside of Seattle, they talked about their belief in some sort of progressive tax, but with different approaches.

Carlyle made it clear that while he favors an income tax, his support is contingent on the lowering of other taxes such as sales and property. Dickerson, on the other hand, focused on a specific type of income tax known as the “millionaire’s tax.”

“It is a tax on high income earners,” Dickerson explained. “I have heard different scenarios on this, but it could raise hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars that we could use for education and basic health and human services.”

Education was also a big issue, with concerns about special-needs students attending colleges and universities, as well as how to make in-state universities more accessible to students graduating from in-state high schools. Serving on the committee of higher education, Carlyle addressed these questions and talked about a big priority in the Legislature known as “Reach to the Top.”

“The Obama administration has been very aggressive about setting the stage for education reform and Reach to the Top is how that’s playing out,” Carlyle clarified. “Reach to the top is a K-12 funding effort to have states compete for dollars.”

The other big issue of the evening was funding for transportation. Both reps talked about their desire to improve connections between downtown Seattle and Ballard, as well as work on linking transportation between the bus system, light rail and passenger cars.

Those who were unable to get on the call for the town hall, or have follow-up questions, may phone or email these representatives: Carlyle, (360) 786-7814, carlyle.reuven@leg.wa.gov; Dickerson, (360) 786-7860, Dickerson.marylou@leg.wa.gov.

(Contributor Scott Eisen is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.)

Representative Reuven Carlyle is entering his second year as a 36th District Representative to the state legislature. Before the session starts next week, Carlyle is reaching out to find out what’s important to you and give you an idea of what he’s planning for the session.

The following is written by Rep. Carlyle:

The bang of the gavel opens the 2010 session of the Legislature on January 11, and the depth of the challenges we face in the 60-day sprint reflect the seriousness that people are feeling in their daily lives.

Before I put my life as a husband, father and entrepreneur on hold to serve in Olympia as your citizen legislator, I wanted to reach out and connect about the pressing issues facing our state as we enter the legislative session.

What are the policy issues that inspire you to act, and what can state government do to be more responsive to your values and interests? Please make suggestions in the thread, spend some time on my active blog at www.reuvencarlyle36.com or email me anytime at carlyle.reuven@leg.wa.gov. Friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter where I’m working to keep you informed from inside your government. My goal is to be the first ‘paperless’ legislative office.

This year, given the difficult economic times in which we live, there is little besides the budget on the table. But how we handle the budget is a moral question not just a financial one. The state’s $32 billion two-year budget (driven by consumer-purchasing related taxes) is staggering under the weight of the economic downturn. This year’s projected $2.6 billion budget deficit–following a projected $9 billion gap last year that we balanced–has forced the most substantive reassessment of our public priorities in generations.

At the same time, the need for essential public services has greatly expanded. Schools, universities, nursing homes, child care centers, homeless shelters, unemployment assistance, job training, mass transit, roads and much more are all struggling to function while demand increases.

Adding to the crunch, more than 60% of the state’s budget is constitutionally protected for institutions like K-12 education, or federally driven for programs like Medicaid. This means the pressure to cut those services not protected—higher education, Basic Health Plan, environment, foster youth care and other programs—is immense.

It is widely recognized that we have one the most unfair, unjust and wildly inefficient tax structure in the nation. We should dust off the Gates Commission Tax Structure Study and have a courageously honest conversation about building a modern, 21st Century structure that is more stable, efficient and equitable.

I have publicly said I will not vote for a second ‘all cuts’ budget as the basic safety net and lifeline of a moral and just society would be nearly paralyzed. But I also will not vote for a timid budget that fails to embrace the opportunity of this crisis. Yes, we need additional revenues to fund public education. But taxes alone are not a substitute for bold systems reforms in how we do business in Olympia.

I believe it is time for state government to consider outsourcing key aspects of the liquor business, for example, as well as some of its licensing, printing and technology functions. In my view, the state should reduce the number of ‘commodity’ lines of service delivery that the private sector can provide more efficiently and affordably with transparent government project management and financial oversight. And we must tackle hard questions about what level of government should provide what service.

In the months ahead, we are actively competing for hundreds of millions in federal dollars in education (Race to the Top funds continue to be one of my top priorities), clean energy (smart grid, utility infrastructure, efficiency programs), health care insurance reform support, nursing training (community colleges in cooperation with SEIU) environmental clean up priorities (Puget Sound, Hanford, parks) and much more. Securing these dollars is about more than money, it’s also about our willingness to embrace bold reforms.

My workplan this past year has been driven by an effort to introduce more discipline into the $1.2 billion a year that we spend on technology in state government. We have far too little strategic management, accountability or oversight over technology spending, and I’m working to help turn that ship.

Specifically, I’ve been locked in a battle against what I believe is technically misguided spending on a $300 million data center blocks from the Capitol building. I also have worked behind the scenes to reduce cut to higher education, basic safety net housing and food programs, natural resources, workforce development, foster care and much more.

I have been aggressively pushing the state Department of Transportation to improve their project management, financial oversight and accountability systems as they prepare for construction of the tunnel. Still, your 36th delegation of Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and I continue to share serious concerns about tunnel access and traffic flow for Magnolia and Ballard residents.

On the legislative front, here is a look at some of the bills I will be introducing and pushing for in 2010.

This year I’m sponsoring a bill to reinforce the policy that initiative and referendum petitions are public record. Open government and full public disclosure are part of the heart, soul and
DNA of our state since the progressive era of the 1880s despite Tim Eyman’s argument to the contrary. This question may be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court soon but we have a public responsibility to act decisively here at home.

I am also lead House sponsor of a bill to make text messaging and failing to use a headset when talking on a cellular phone in the car a primary offense, as it is in most other states. Teenagers will be prohibited from using a mobile phone while driving altogether.

In addition, I am working extremely hard with House and Senate leadership to find new methods and models to fund the University of Washington, community colleges and the rest of our higher education institutions.

Other legislation that I’ll support include efforts to reduce the adverse impact of stormwater runoff, decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, authority for King County to have more taxing flexibility for local needs and much more.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I am excited about the possibilities of a rejuvenated, more vibrant, open and healthy relationship between Seattle, King County and the state. With Mike McGinn and Dow Constantine new to office, and a sense of resolve in Olympia to help us climb out of this Great Recession, we can together do all those things we cannot do alone.

Your partner in service,

Reuven Carlyle
State Representative
36th District
www.reuvencarlyle36.com

Carlyle will also be hosting conversations over coffee this coming Saturday January, 9th. Here is the information on time and place for each neighborhood:

(Carlyle is a sponsor of Next Door Media.)

“The Legislature convenes on January 11 and we’re again facing a massive deficit of nearly $3 billion,” Carlyle said in a press release today. “It’s critical that I hear from our community directly about your views, issues, concerns and thoughts on the budget, taxes, education and other important issues.  I’m asking people to reach out and share your views so I can better represent you in Olympia during these difficult times.”

Coffee hour times and locations:

Queen Anne resident and 36th Legislative District Rep. Reuven Carlyle has invited to residents of Queen Anne and Magnolia to join him at two casual community meetings this Sunday, November 8, where constituents will have the opportunity to share any questions, concerns, criticisms, ideas or thoughts they have on state and local issues. The first meeting will be from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Serendipity Cafe in Magnolia, located at 3222 W. McGraw St. followed by a 10 to 11:30 a.m. meeting at Top Pot Doughnuts in Queen Anne, located at 325 W. Galer St. Rep. Carlyle plans to touch on issues including the economy, education, health care, transportation and technology.

The 36th Legislative District represents the neighborhoods of Belltown, Ballard, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Interbay, Crown Hill, Phinney Ridge, Blue Ridge and Fremont in the Washington State House of Representatives. Rep. Carlyle is holding these meetings as part of a yearlong string of public coffee hours in the neighborhoods he represents in anticipation of the next legislative session, which will begin on Monday, January 11, 2010.