The 2008 session of the Washington Legislature will convene on Monday, Jan. 14.

This year's session is limited to 60 days, and will adjourn sine die on March 13.

The Highline area is represented in Olympia by lawmakers from the 11th, 33rd and 34th legislative districts. All are Democrats. They are:

District 11, which includes Tukwila and Renton-Sen. Margarita Prentice, Rep. Zach Hudgins and Rep. Bob Hasegawa.

District 33, which includes Des Moines, Normandy Park and SeaTac-Sen. Karen Keiser, Rep. Shay Schual-Berke and Rep. Dave Upthegrove.

District 34, which includes Burien, North Highline and West Seattle-Sen. Joe McDermott, Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Sharon Nelson.

Issues with local impacts that may be considered by the Legislature include:

Funding for major transportation projects in the wake of the overwhelming defeat last November of the Puget Sound region's Roads and Transit package.

A tax break for Seattle, similar to tax breaks smaller cities get when they annex unincorporated urban areas, should the larger city rather than Burien annex North Highline.

Cracking down on foreclosure scams that target troubled homebuyers.

And revisiting the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, which remains a stumbling block to graduation for many students, especially in math.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed $327 million in supplemental spending, which would pay for new programs and cover cost increases for existing services.

These expenses include $31 million for a cost-of-living bump in teacher salaries, higher spending for human services, a crack down on sex offenders and an increase in safety on college campuses.

Her budget revisions also would set aside $1.2 billion in reserves for a potential economic downturn.

Gregoire's budget proposal would bump the 2007-09 state budget to about $33.6 billion.

Prentice, who is chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has endorsed the governor's supplemental budget.

"I believe in living within my means. That's just what she's proposing," Prentice said.

Gregoire also wants legislation that will ensure safety for patients, transportation safety and housing security for Washington families.

Daily updates of action on all bills and the votes of all legislators again will be available at www.washingtonvotes.org.