Facing a $970 million budget shortfall entering the 2013-2015 fiscal years, state Reps. Cyrus Habib and Ross Hunter and state Sen. Rodney Tom of the 48th Legislative District visited Redmond City Hall on March 16 to hear feedback from about 150 community members.

Central issues of discussion were strengthening gun control, fully funding K-12 education and mass transportation.

Reps. Habib and Hunter began the town hall meeting by addressing concerns over gun control.

“In the wake of tragedies like Sandy Hook and Munchbar in Bellevue, we tried to pass a gun-law bill that limited the capabilities of convicted felons and those with serious mental health issues,” Hunter explained.

The conversation quickly paced into education. Attendees had questions regarding last year’s State Supreme Court ruling that Washington state K-12 education was inadequately funded in the McCleary decision. Also on the discussion table were budget cuts on education decreasing transportation, increasing the number of students per classroom and reducing many kindergarten programs from all day to half day.

With these issues out of the dark, attendees feel lawmakers like Tom must step forward and invest the funds that Washington state education deserves.

“Our focus is on jobs and education in a collaborative environment,” Tom said.

Hunter said he understands the frustrations of the 48th District regarding the budget.

“Class size matters, but it is profoundly expensive,” he said.

Washington state lawmakers are required to channel the appropriate funds into education by 2018, according to the McCleary decision.

The final pillar of the town hall meeting focused on transportation. Today, global companies have firmly planted roots in the greater-Seattle area. “Googlers” and “Microsofties” prefer a quick bus ride to work over traditional methods of transportation,  which adds to a coordinated strategy, Habib noted.

“Mega-transportation projects are critical to economic development,” Habib said.

Washington lawmakers plan to pump $10 billion into funding transportation that will cut traffic for commuters and increase a web of transportation connectivity, according to Habib and the housedemocrats.wa.gov website.

Over the next month, Washington state Legislature will pass a budget that will shape the coming years.

Ejong Herd is a University of Washington, Bothell student.