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NEWS RELEASE Legislative committee to look at NASCAR proposal SEATTLE — A legislative panel chaired by Lt. Governor Brad Owen will take a look at a proposal to build a NASCAR race track on the Kitsap peninsula when it convenes at 2:30 p.m. May 31 at the Port of Seattle headquarters at Pier 69. The Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations (LCEDIR) will conduct a work session to hear the proposal by the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to build the track. Joining the meeting will be Ninth District Congressman Adam Smith, D-Tacoma and a host of local elected officials and regional organizations. Owen said the primary purpose of the session is to educate legislative members about the projected local and state economic impact from the ISC proposal, as well as to start a serious legislative discussion regarding the potential impacts of the proposed facility to the state. While the committee is interested in learning as much as it can about the project, the lieutenant governor noted that the meeting, while open to the public, is a work session and only invited guests will make presentations. “This is simply an opportunity for the committee to listen and learn about the proposal asput forth by the ISC,” Owen said. “While I see this facility as having tremendous potential for economic development, I realize there are lots of questions around the sales tax credit as well as local concerns that will need to be addressed before permits for this project can be issued.” Owen said there is no current legislation, but the meeting could begin to lay the groundwork for a legislative proposal if there is an interest by the Legislature. Numerous opportunities for public hearings would follow the introduction of any legislation, he said. The purpose of the LCEDIR is to study and review economic issues before the state. The committee’s duties include special emphasis on international trade, tourism, investment and industrial development, and assisting the legislature in developing a comprehensive and consistent economic development policy. Current House and Senate members include state senators Rosa Franklin, Mike Hewitt, Joyce Mulliken, Cheryl Pflug, Marilyn Rasmussen and Paull Shin, and state representatives Bruce Chandler, Bob Hasegawa, Phyllis Kenney, Lynn Kessler, Dan Roach and Mary Skinner. Port of Seattle headquarters is at 2711 Alaskan Way (Pier 69). For more information about the work session or the LCEDIR, contact Antonio Sanchez at (360) 786-7786 or Brian Hatfield at (360) 786-7745 or send an email to sanchez.antonio@leg.wa.gov. For information about the proposal itself or the ISC, contact Tim Thompson at (253) 879-1250 ### For media inquiries:
Brian
Dirks
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