Washington's longest-serving House speaker reflects on three decades in Olympia

Come January, when lawmakers sit down for the new legislative term in Olympia , there will be several new faces. More than a dozen legislators make up the new freshman class, and they’ll be facing what some have described as a ‘perfect storm’: the state is bracing for an anticipated 10 to 12 billion dollar budget gap. It’s been nearly 15 years since Washington faced a fiscal shortfall this significant. Back then, at the center of finding the cuts, and compromises, to deal with it -- was state representative and then-Speaker of the House -- Frank Chopp, of Washington’s 43rd Legislative District. But lawmakers won’t be drawing on Chopp’s negotiating expertise this time around. He announced back in March that he would not be running for reelection. Throughout his tenure in Olympia, Chopp championed new laws related to housing, homelessness, and mental health – still just as relevant today as when he was first elected, in 1994. GUEST: Representative Frank Chopp Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.