2010 State Legislature session

[eridani]

If there is something you would like to see done, the time to start thinking about it is now.

King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee Newsletter
October 2009
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This month's Legislative Action Committee Meeting is this Sunday October 18, 2009 from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Shoreline Public Library, 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline, WA.

Our guest speaker will be Andrew Villeneuve of the NW Progressive Institute. The topic will be "Washington State's Initiative Process - Does it need Reform? Andrew is an expert on Tim Eyman's use and misuse of the initiative process.

Steve Zemke, the Co-Chair of the LAC will also be speaking on the initiative process in Washington State and some recent proposals to modify it.

Our other main topic of discussion will be reviewing and refiningg our Legislative Agenda for the 2010 Legislative session in anticipation of our November LAC meeting with House Speaker Frank Chopp.

This meeting will be on Sunday Nov. 15, 2009 from 2-4 PM at the Renton Carpenter's Hall, 231 Burnett Ave N in Renton.,


September Meeting
Draft Minutes
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King County Dems Legislative Action Committee
Meeting Notes
September 20, 2009
Northgate Library

Guests: Sen. Margarita Prentice, Chair, Senate Ways & Means
Rep. Ross Hunter, Chair, House Finance Committee

Rep. Hunter as chair of House Finance is in charge of how we raise money. Whether or not to do so is a decision of the whole caucus.

Friday he gave a speech to Assn. of Washington Business (AWB) on why Tim Eyman's I-1033 is a bad idea. Hunter labeled it stupid. Washington is not a high tax state. The conservatives talk about Tax Freedom Day because it comes late in the calendar and includes federal taxes. We are 8th in per capita personal income. In 2000, we were 2nd in the U.S. in per capita income and Federal taxes. Tax Freedom Day lines up exactly with per capita personal income. We are now 15th in per capita state and local income, but we are 35th in taxes as a percentage of income. We are not a high-tax state.

Rep. Hunter continued: A study looked at the biggest city in every state, looking at all the taxes they pay, by income sector. A family of three that earns $25,000 is about $150% of the poverty level. We're ranked 50th in terms of the total amount of taxes they pay. At the next income level, under $50,000, we are ranked 46th. At the very low end of income are a lot of seniors who do pay property taxes.

However, our sales tax is the highest, and it is a psychological barrier. You have to put it in context, when looking at the total tax burden in Washington.

The state is down another $238 million in revenue. The total deficit is around $1billion, the rest of it in new student enrollment and $400,000 in increased case load. We need to leave around $400 M in the reserve fund, because we are pretty bad at forecasting, up to now.

Q: What about revenue enhancements?
Hunter: I-960 requires a 2/3 vote to un-do tax exemptions, but the 2-year limitation on changes expires this year; then it can be by a simple majority vote. The caucus will take another look at it. If 1033 passes, we are screwed! Tim Eyman's bills are always bad. Any tax increase above population increases and cost of living will be capped and will cause us to permanently decrease property taxes. It will ratchet down revenues over time. The same thing devasted the economy in Colorado. It became the worst economic state in the region. They had no ability to come out of a recession.

Hunter: I haven't heard the Governor say "No new taxes or fees" this year. I don't know how to get the votes for an income tax. A flat-rate income tax would be legal at 1%, but you really don't want to do a flat-rate income tax, because it would hurt poor people. I guarantee you the votes don't exist to do an income tax.

The Lt. Gov. just endorsed Susan Hutchinson in the King County Executive's race.

Q: How could we fund public campaign financing for Supreme Court Justices?
Hunter: Adding new funding takes it away from something else, said Sen. Prentice. That would cost $2M to $10M per cycle.
Craig Salins: We're now looking at new revenue sources that would come from the judicial system, such as a new fee on attorneys' licenses.
Rep. Hunter: Anyone who wants to spend more money on things must answer how this fits into the priority queue. An idea that's attached to a revenue source is much more attractive.
Craig Salins: Clearly the courts matter, and now corporations will be able to write a check directly to the candidates. Stte Supreme Court justices Madsen, Johnson and ___ are up for reelection in 2011.
Elizabeth: How about having a commission to appoint them?
Hunter: I think that's a great idea, but I'm not on Judiciary.

Q: What about funding HB 2261, the education reform bill?
Hunter: We're changing the legal definition of education so that the Legislature will be held to a legal definition. Right now, it's a set of formulas. We want to change the formulas so that they are tied to a certain level of service to children, including class size and a certain amount of teacher planning time, number of ESL programs and so on. There are important differences between school districts. For example, Yakima has two languages, Federal Way has 105 languages. We need to get the right money to the right place, not spread it over everywhere, peanut butter it so that it doesn't have the impact that's needed.

Bellevue has some of the highest-income elementary schools in the state, but it also has five Title I schools, that have subsidized lunches. The courts may demand a phase-in plan, but it begs the question of revenue. That may be enough to motivate some legislators to provide additional money.

Q: How do we regain the trust of the $25k to $50k folks who don't trust government?
Hunter: I have no idea. Do you?

Sen.Margarita Prentice
I'm also a member of the Washington State Gambling Commission, ex officio, and, as such, I visit all the 29 tribes. It give me an idea of how the rest of the state looks at us.

Ross Hunter didn't say about revenue enhancement, we had a poll done about how the public feels about an income tax or a sales tax. They didn't like either one. We're putting out an anti-1033 letter to the tribes, to make sure that they understand how bad this is.

This summer I have had to meet with many of the groups that were cut. With a billion more shortfall, they are not going to be restored. It's difficult. Adult Day Health is a must for people to do what they need to do.

Early Childhood Education is so important to catch problems. I have a son with autism. He functions at a very high level and is an active Democrat. He's 45 now, but in those days, they used to blame the mother. They did a number on you.

I realize there's a whole lot that we're not doing for education, including Early Childhood Education. Sen. Lisa Brown is also an educator. She told me about a family who could not afford the 30-cent co-pay for breakfast and had the brother and sister eat breakfast on alternate days. Their teacher came and testified. It's heartbreaking. We have these extremes here in King County.

An income tax isn't going to happen, as far as I can see. It takes a 2/3 vote to change the Constitution. Last time we tried for a 1% income tax, it got seven votes and one was mine. For some, this will be a first re-election. This will be a tough re-election for them. It's a fact of life. I can take some more controversial votes, because I'm more embedded in my district. I've' been there 21 years now. These swing districts are a different matter.

Q: We see Democrats in swing districts taking votes against things we care about. Perhaps we could send a message to their grassroots that we need to support them, especially.
Prentice: There are 27 Senators in the Democratic caucus. We get to know each other really well. One of us out on the peninsula opposes choice, but we don't come down on him. We work with Republicans on other issues, just not choice or guns. Cheryl Pflug voted for domestic partnerships, as did two other Republicans. I don't think we've ever gotten Republican votes on those issues. With Tim Shelton, on certain votes I tell him I need him, but I don't fight with him.

Q: What kind of changes would you see to I-960?
Prentice: Brown the majority leader is talking about doing away with it. That woman can break arms! It is unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court wouldn't say so, and turned it back to the legislature. This would change it back to a simple majority to raise taxes or fees. It wouldn't take effect this year, because that would raise the issue of emergency clauses.

Q: Do you see a possibility of changing a sales tax for an income tax?
Prentice: The public doesn't trust us to do that. They expect there would be new taxes. The revenue stream for the stadiums expires in 2012. Restaurants and car rentals pay it, and some hoped that it would be rededicated, maybe to Seattle Center upgrades. The homeless and Husky Stadium were in the proposal as well. The idea of taking the end date off would cause us to lose any credibility we might have in the future. If it really expires in 2012, maybe somebody will believe us. Maybe we should ask for funds to maintain the stadiums. Husky Stadium really needs help.

Q: If we don't speak out on these issues, legislators create that lack of confidence.
Prentice: We actually don't have enough revenue. The R's have no candidate in Steve Hobbs' race. There are a couple of Senators that would come to us , but I don't know if we want them. They might be more trouble than they're worth. My district voted to approve I-695 by 1%. My district is just on the cusp on the Eyman issues.

Q: The problem we have is that there isn't a coherent voice from the legislature on the issue of raising revenues. There's a need for the Governor and the legislators to be speaking out on these are the issues that we're facing.
Prentice: Truly the public is scared to death right now about what's going to happen to the economy. The Governor's Finance office expects it to be bumping along for about a year. It isn't over if you're out of a job. I donated surplus campaign funds to food banks, and I was visiting one. It's really hard to see people there, to see them that insecure. Any loudmouth politician who says they have all the answers is just pretending. I wish the Governor had more to say about this.

Levy equalization is what caused the meltdown in the House at the end of the session. The richer school districts give to the poorer school districts. They're lucky that we're Democrats because we all share. That's socialism, if you want to call it that. We share-we always have.

Q: How are you going to solve the $1B shortfall?
Prentice: We're just beginning the conversation with the Governor's advisor, Victor Moore and Kelli Linville. We will talk more on Assembly Days, which are now just in Olympia. We used to go all over the state, but we stopped traveling to save money. Oct. 1-2 is when we hear from people about what's going one. What happens after the stimulus money runs out? The cuts we took are heartbreaking.

Q: What have your heard about who's interested in running for Governor?
Prentice: We have a number of people who are interested in running for Governor. Jay Inslee is really good and has been preparing to run. He's been learning and is ready now. Lisa Brown, Peter Goldberg are also thinking about it. Jim McIntire? I hadn't heard his name for Governor.

Lisa Brown is so damn smart! We have a lot of common interests. Anyone who wants to volunteer for her exploratory committee, I'd be happy to pass along your name. She certainly has the right values and principles. She grew up blue collar and was helped to get her Ph.D. in economics. We have plenty of potential leaders who really care about the whole state. I don't know why the Governor's so disengaged right now. I haven't seen her in a long time. Thank God Obama's campaigning hard right now, using technology and making himself available.

Regarding the push-poll that was done against Dow Constantine recently, it may be coming from John Stanton, who is the big East Side developer who supported making it non-partisan and threatened recently to take action. We need not to take this race for granted, and to ask our electeds to actively support Dow. We cannot assume all the Democrats will vote for Dow, and we certainly cannot assume that 1033 will be defeated.

Q: What about the tax breaks?
Prentice: Most of them go to non-profit organizations. Why do we give tax breaks to shop steward. Boeing is still griping that we made them pay for part of the road to their plant in Everett. They gripe about all the regulations. Pigott griped about all the regulations. We have tried to tie it to the number of jobs. If we solved health care issue, that wouldn't be the sticking point in all the collective bargaining negotiations. Boeing has no loyalty to us any more. I expect those jobs will be gone to South Carolina. The Governor is focusing on this, she says, but I'll bet they are going.

Q: I would keep urging my representatives to not raise the bloody shirt. The upper income people don't pay their share in taxes. That's where our edge is, but I don't hear this coming from our representatives.
Prentice: It's not a case of being afraid. You balance what you really care a lot about and want to get through. You try to figure out how you can bring people over to your side. No one wants to talk about income tax. They won't listen. I've been in the room when that happened.

Steve Zemke: I-1033 is a reverse Robin Hood wealth transfer: 54% of state revenue last year was sales taxes that would be capped. The refund will only go to property owners, and one third of those are commercial. Renters will get screwed, because 35% of residents are not property owners. The burden is on the progressives and others to get the word out.
A: Eyman constantly keeps us on the defensive.
A: We have a public with a short attention span. The income tax is a distraction. The R's said the biggest problem is bilingual education.

Sen. Prentice: People misunderstand their property tax statements.
Bob Rosenberger: Just because your valuation went down, doesn't mean your property taxes will go down. They just redistribute the total amount of taxes among the properties.

What if you don't receive your ballot in the mail? People should call in, but they don't. There are 12 regional centers in King County, including the Admin. Building downtown. The University District provisional ballots were the margin of winning for Maria Cantwell and Christine Gregoire.

Items for Legislative Agenda
Toxic chemicals in cosmetics-Europe doesn't permit them.
We passed a Children's Safe Toys Act. Our Dept. of Ecology is working to define a list of the 50 worst chemicals. Disclosure is a big thing. As we get this proof of what's in some of these products, the legislature will have to act.

The bisphenol-A (sp?) ban which is a hormonal disrupting chemical in baby bottles, passed the house but didn't pass the Senate. There are alternative products.

Safe Medicines Return Bill Rep. Morrell is the sponsor in the House. The whole pharmaceutical industry is lobbying against us, but we have a lot more support because it is such a community problem of kids abusing prescription drugs. Law enforcement is the only one allowed to collect them under law. Most abusers get these drugs for free from a medicine cabinet. Only Group Health and Bartell's have disposal bins. Jay Inslee is trying to provide for disposal at the federal level.

Craig Salins: What about taxing lobbyists? We would need a non-profit exemption, or to have a threshold on lobbyists' expenses.
Prentice: That's the last thing on earth I would care to try to regulate? It's like taxing you for doing your job.

Margaret Shields: The things I work on, the opposition money is all from outside the state.
Prentice: on Maury Island, I could look around and see who had been gotten to. It's heartbreaking.
Shields: Rep. Morell thinks they don't want the public to know how much extra medicine is sitting out there, that's overprescribed.

Siegfriedt: We are planning our legislative agenda for the next session. Last time we had too many bills to be truly effective. The whole environmental community, including about 20 organizations such as the Sierra Club and the Washington Conversation Voters, narrowed it down to four bills. For example, there was an education reform bill last one, and there isn't yet money to fund it, so we could omit education from our agenda for this session.
Prentice: That's the way the State Housing Trust Fund started. At first, there wasn't any funding in it, but we gradually built it up.
Shields: We could have a longer list of bills we take a position on, and then a narrower list of bills we're going to track and work on.
Zemke: We also need flexibility to respond to issues as they arise (or die). It makes perfect sense to prioritize things. Part of that is based on who is willing to work on things.

Prentice: If you only know what it takes just to get things through Rules Committee. It takes three steps. That is the stumbling block, where things get lost. It takes superhuman effort to get a bill from White to Green and onto the floor calendar. I know. I have been such a nag for my bills.

Suzie Sheary: Last session we passed Restoration of Felon's Voting rights needs more work. We did a test case. We mailed to a group of them from a list of 86,000 felons from the Secretary of State's list. We mailed to 200 in Renton as a test case. We got about 50 back. KCDCC is trying to get as many people registered as possible by October 4th.

Next meeting: Third Sunday in October, the 18th. Suggestions for location included Issaquah.

Notes by Sarajane Siegfriedt




Contact Information
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phone: Steve Zemke 206-366-0811

stevezemke {at} msn.com

[eridani]

1. Planned Parenthood lobby day 2/1/2010

Save the date!

Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington would like to invite you to join Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington for our annual Reproductive Health and Rights Lobby Day:

Monday, February 1st


Our representatives in Olympia promised they would protect funding for family planning in 2010. Now it's time to hold them accountable.
Join citizen activists from across Washington State for a day of lobbying to ensure access to basic reproductive health care services and information. No experience necessary!

Look for registration details coming soon!

Questions? Contact ppaction {at} ppnetworkwa.org for more information.

[eridani]

4. Update

Hello,

Please join Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington for our annual

Reproductive Health and Rights Lobby Day!
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST 2010
Olympia

The 2010 Legislative session starts in six days and this year we need to protect up to 19 family planning clinics around Washington State.

You've seen the news. Congress is voting for tighter restrictions on abortion access in health care reform. And now, right in our own back yard, we could potentially lose up to $3 million dollars in family planning funding.


Enough is enough!

This $3 million cut was based on the hope that new family planning funding would become available from the federal government, but that hasn't happened. At least 12,500 more people may lose access to family planning services because of this funding cut. New unintended pregnancy care costs resulting from this cut will likely add over $11 million in new state health care costs to the budget THIS YEAR. That's bad for the budget and bad for Washington families who need access to preventive care.

YOU HAVE POWER! Your presence and your story at Lobby Day will get the attention of lawmakers. Together at Lobby Day, with hundreds of other activists around the state, we will signify that family planning funding and access to basic reproductive health care services and information are of the utmost importance.

Please click here to register for Lobby Day 2010. No experience necessary! We provide training, transportation and food. Questions? Visit our FAQ Page or Contact [e-mail] for more information.

http://www.ppaction.org/ppaow/events/PPGNWwaLobbyDay2010/details.tcl?preview_p=t&member_key=11_5_EY11111

Do you have a story to share? If so, please tell us! Sharing personal stories with lawmakers is the most effective way to get them to understand the issues. Email [e-mail] and tell us why you support family planning in Washington state. Please include your first name and zip code so we can deliver it to the appropriate legislators.

[eridani]

30. Try again next year for honesty in "crisis pregnacy" centers

Last Friday was the first major deadline of the legislative session, and with it came the defeat of a bill that would have drastically improved the accuracy, transparency, and privacy at so-called "crisis pregnancy centers."

Despite the efforts of activists like you, we are very disappointed to report that the Senate Health Care Committee failed to move SB 6452 forward. There are a couple of bright spots, however. Sen. Rodney Tom and Rep. Judy Clibborn stood up and fought hard for women's health and we owe them our thanks. In addition, our partners at NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and NOW did great work to support the bill, and Fuse members sent more than a thousand letters when we called on you to help.

We hope to have another chance next year to require "crisis pregnancy centers" to be honest with women. In the meantime there is still much to do to protect women's health this year in Olympia. The proposed budget would cut another $3 million in family planning funding - a cut that would result in the closure of as many as a quarter of the state's family planning clinics and leave thousands of low-income women without basic reproductive health care.

Legislators need to adopt new sources of revenue to help close this gap. Fuse and our partners are campaigning for a balanced approach to the state's deficit, including new sources of revenue.

The best way to support a budget that protects women's health is to join us at the Rally to Protect Our Future on February 15. Thousands of us will be supporting a balanced approach to the budget. Can you join us February 15 at noon on the steps of the Capitol?

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/rallyFeb15

[eridani]

2. Bicycle Alliance of WA Announces 2010 Legislative Agenda

The Bicycle Alliance of Washington and its Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee has identified its priorities for the 2010 legislative session. It’s an ambitious agenda and includes:

Complete Streets. Ensure that roads are designed with all users in mind by tying grant funding to projects that meet this requirement.

Mutual Courtesy and Safety Act. This attempts to refine existing safe passing laws by defining a minimum safe passing distance and other measures to improve education and enforcement.

Bike/Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools. Many motorists are sent to traffic school for defensive driver training when they receive traffic citations. This initiative would require traffic school curriculum to include information for driving safely among cyclists and pedestrians.

Texting and cell phone use. This bill proposes to make distracted driving a primary offense. Currently, using a hand-held cell phone while driving is a secondary offense and can be ticketed only when a motorist is stopped for a primary infraction, like speeding.

For our complete 2010 legislative agenda, refer to your December issue of The Advocate or visit the Legislative page of our website.

[eridani]

29. February update

Due to the shortness of this year’s legislative session, things are moving at a fast clip. Here’s a quick synopsis on the status of bills that the Bicycle Alliance of Washington is working on. Be sure to check www.bicyclealliance.org frequently for updates and more details.


· HB 3001, Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Education in Traffic Schools, was passed unanimously by the House Transportation Committee and is waiting for a vote in the House Rules Committee. We expect a floor vote in the House this week.

v TAKE ACTION! Please contact your House members before Friday morning and ask them to vote YES on HB 3001. Many licensed drivers do not understand how to safely interact with bikes and pedestrians and this is an opportunity to teach a segment of the driving public. The Bicycle Alliance will provide the curriculum and materials, so there is no cost to the state. Link to House e-mail list. Link to find your legislators.

· SB 6345, which will make texting and using a handheld cell phone while driving a primary offense, was passed by the Senate last week and sent to the House.

· HB 2911, Creating a Complete Streets Grant Program, was passed by the House Transportation Committee and sent to Rules.

· SB 5838, the Vulnerable Roadway User Bill, made it out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and referred to Rules.


Vancouver Driver Convicted of Vehicular Homicide in Death of Cyclist

In what’s believed to be Washington State’s first vehicular homicide conviction due to text-messaging, a Clark County judge sentenced Antonio Cellestine to 5 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of cyclist Gordon Patterson.

In September 2009, Patterson, a teacher, was cycling home from school in a bike lane when he was hit from behind by Cellestine’s car. Cellestine then sped away from the crash scene. Subpoenaed cell phone records show he had sent and received text messages at the time of the collision.

Recognizing the danger of texting and handheld cell phone use while driving, the Bicycle Alliance is working to pass a bill that will make this act a primary offense. The bill cleared the Senate last week.

“How many more deaths will it take before we do the right thing?” asked Alliance Executive Director Barbara Culp. “Texting and talking on cell phones while driving is as dangerous as driving drunk.”

This case has been closely watched by cyclists in Washington and Oregon. Read an article about this from The Columbian. This was also followed in the Bike Portland blog.


Peninsula Advocacy Group Tackles Cycling Issues

The Olympic Region Cyclists' Association (ORCA) started more than a year ago, the result of discussions held by activists on the west side of Puget Sound for a number of years. Since that first meeting at the home of Squeaky Wheels president Dana Berg, other meetings have taken place in Port Townsend and Sequim: the goal is 3 meeting per year to discuss issues of regional importance - such as Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) projects, trails and safety. One focus is to coordinate efforts for a Sound to the Sea trail that would connect the Mountains to Sound Trail that ends in Seattle with the Olympic-Discovery Trail, which currently ends just east of Blyn. Read full story. (Thanks to Gordon Black of ORCA)

Tacoma Bicycle Community Fair: Feb 24

Check out the bike culture, services and the growing bike movement in Tacoma and Pierce County at the Community Bicycle Fair, Wednesday, February 24, from 7 to 9 PM, at The Hub’s event room, 203 Tacoma Avenue South in Tacoma.

Hosted by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington and the Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club, the Community Bicycle Fair is an open house event that will feature information on bike clubs and rides, bicycle advocacy, Safe Routes to School, Pierce County bike maps, and more. There will be a brief presentation at 7:30 PM on the Tacoma Mobility Master Plan, which includes recommendations for improving biking and walking connections in the city. Light appetizers will be provided and a no-host bar will be available.


Community Transit Updating Snohomish County Bike Map

Attention Snohomish County cyclists! Community Transit is updating the Snohomish County Bike Map and they want to hear from you. Your riding experience and firsthand knowledge of cycling routes can help them identify suitable places for others to ride. CT will be hosting a meeting at its Everett offices in mid-February to review the map and recommended changes. Contact Kristin Kinnamon, CT Public Information Specialist, to submit map and route comments, and to be invited to the meeting.


Spokane Valley to Prepare a Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan

The City of Spokane Valley has launched a planning process to develop its first ever Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan (BPMP). Funded by a grant from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program, the plan will include safety analysis, route location, and implementation. Extensive public outreach will be an important part of the BPMP as the City wants to ensure that the plan represents the needs and desires of its citizens. Contact Mary Swank if you would like to participate in the BPMP. An open house is planned during the first quarter of this year. Learn more about the BPMP here.

Olympia Launches Public Pathways Pilot Program

In an effort to encourage more biking and walking, the City of Olympia has launched a Public Pathways Pilot Program. Public pathways are dirt or grass shortcuts for cyclists and pedestrians that connect streets to parks, schools and other streets where no motor vehicle connection exists. The City will select two projects for one time improvements in 2010. Pathways must be on public land under the City’s jurisdiction. Applications will be accepted beginning March 1.


Volunteer Spotlight: Louise Kornreich

In 2001, Seattle resident Louise Kornreich volunteered to help during the Bicycle Alliance of Washington’s annual auction. By the end of the evening, she asked to chair the 2002 event! She capably served as our auction chairperson for three years and helped us grow this annual fundraiser. Read the full story about Louise Kornreich.

A Win for the Rocky Reach Trail

The Court of Appeals rejected an appeal filed by some Wenatchee area orchardists to stop the extension of the Rocky Reach Trail from the Odabashian Bridge north to Lincoln Rock State Park. The trail project, managed by Washington State Parks, would use right-of-way owned by Washington State DOT to build the trail. The Bicycle Alliance worked with the local trail advocates in the past and weighed in to support the trail a number of times. Read a current story from the Wenatchee World on the trail.


McClinchy Mile

The McClinchy Mile, on March 20, is the first in a series of bike rides that supports the work of the Bicycle Alliance. This great early season ride tours the rolling farmlands of Snohomish County and is organized by BIKES Club of Snohomish County.

Bike to Work: Share Your Event With Us


May is National Bike Month and many communities organize Bike to Work events. Share your event with the Bicycle Alliance and we’ll post it on our website. Email Louise McGrody the following information by March 31: Name and date of your event, brief description of your event, web address to link to our website.


Tips for Using Metro’s Triple Rack

In last month’s edition of Bike Bites, we announced that as of February 6, cyclists can load and unload bikes at any regular bus stop in Downtown Seattle, including the Ride Free Area, at all times of the day. To ensure the success of this demonstration project, King County Metro has asked us to pass on the following tips:

Always alert the bus driver before stepping in front of a bus to load/unload a bike. Make sure the driver acknowledges your desire to load/unload.

When loading bikes in the middle position of the new three-position bike racks, do not stand in the traffic lane to load. There is a special way to line up your bike so you do not need to step into traffic. To learn how to load your bike correctly on the new racks, you are encouraged to watch the video and read the Frequently Asked Questions.

Cyclists are also invited to drop by Bikestation Seattle (soon to be called BIKE PORT) at 311 Third Ave. S. in Pioneer Square to try out the new rack prior to using it on an in-service bus.

[eridani]

31. 2/28 update

Thanks to all you bike advocates, we are another step closer to passing two bills.

SB 6345, which will make texting and handheld cell phone use while driving a primary offense, had a hearing in the House Transportation Committee yesterday. We need your help to move it out of committee and to the House floor for a vote.

Please contact your legislator right away, especially those on the House Transportation Committee and ask them to vote yes on SB 6345. The link to the call to action can be found at www.votervoice.net/groups/driven

Phone calls are even better, and a full list of phone numbers for House members can be found here.

SHB 3001, which will incorporate bicycle and pedestrian safety education into traffic school curriculum, had its hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee this week as well. Help us move it to the House floor for a vote!

Please contact your Senator ASAP if they sit on the Transportation Committee and ask them to vote YES on SHB 3001.

Here is a link to a description of the bill: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/3001-S%20SBA%20TRAN%2010.pdf

To find you legislator: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx



This link lists the committee members: http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/TRAN/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx

[eridani]

33. Last minute calls to senators needed

Many of you have already heard from me regarding HB 3001, our bike/ped safety bill. The bill has been doing well and now is our chance to get it significantly closer to being law. So, I am now asking you to make what I hope is the last phone call or email.

Contact your Senator right away and ask them to vote “Yes” on HB 3001 as amended by the Senate. To find out who your Senator is and get their contact information, click here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/ We prefer that you call them.


HB 3001 would require the already approved bicycle/pedestrian awareness curriculum be taught in traffic schools which are for drivers that have received infractions and may qualify to be granted a deferral of the infraction by attending the school. Many licensed drivers do not have knowledge about such safe driving practices. The materials for these classes will be paid for by the Bicycle Alliance so there is no cost to the state.

Expanding the curriculum requirement to traffic schools from drivers education schools where it is already required would increase this important knowledge about safe driving practices.


Thank you and please contact me if you have questions or need additional information.

Dave Janis, Policy Director
Bicycle Alliance of Washington
206.224.9252 Ext. 302

[eridani]

3. American Cancer Society Lobby Day January 26, 2010

Registration is now open for the 2010 Lobby Day in Olympia! Lobby Day is scheduled for 8 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. If you haven't attended before, you’re in for an exciting day! Lobby Day is when ACS CAN volunteers meet with their state legislators and show them that cancer issues must be a top priority.

This year we are again facing very difficult fiscal times and programs like the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program are facing potential cuts which would set us back in all of the work we have done. It is vital to our efforts that legislators here from volunteers like you!



You can register for the 2010 Lobby Day by clicking here.
* There is a capacity on the event room this year, so registration is on a first-come first-serve basis. Register now!

* Hotel on the night of January 25th will only be provided to people travelling over 120 miles each way to Olympia and is available on a first-come first-serve basis. If you want to book and pay for a hotel room on your own and need information on hotels close to the Capitol campus just respond to this email...we can get you that information.

* If you are eligible for a room, please be sure to list the name of your roommate preference, occupancy will be 2 per room, if you do not list a roommate we will provide you with another participant to room with.

* Light breakfast and a box lunch will be provided on the day of the event.



PLEASE REGISTER BY January 6, 2010!
For more information contact Carrie Glover at carrie.glover {at} cancer.org

If the registration link above doesn't work, copy and past this link into your browser: http://action.acscan.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=14162

[eridani]

5. Basic Health demonstration in Olympia 1/12

Tues., Jan. 12, 11:00 am
Capitol Steps, Olympia
State of Emergency Rally for Basic Health
While Governor Gregoire gives her “State of the State” address to the legislature, make your voice heard at a protest outside the Legislative Building. Say “NO!” to cuts to the state Basic Health Plan and other vital services that are impacting thousands of the most vulnerable people.

In a time of economic crisis and massive unemployment, health and welfare programs should be expanded. How? By taxing the income of the wealthy and corporate profits. This dramatic protest will present elected officials with over 3,000 signatures supporting Basic Health and will call on politicians to stop the assault on the poor.

Tues., Jan. 12, 11am
Capitol Steps, 416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia


Sponsored by: Sisters Organize for Survival,
a campaign of Radical Women

For more information or to endorse the campaign, call 206-722-6057 • [e-mail] • www.SaveBasicHealth.org



Sign the petition to defend and expand Basic Health!


Carpools will leave Seattle at 9:00am from New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118 • Call 206-722-6057 to confirm rides.

[eridani]

8. Pix

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwhitlock/sets/72157623198737940/

[eridani]

6. Marijuana bills to be heard Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. 1/13

On January 13, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. the state legislature will hold a public hearing on HB 1177, which would decriminalize misdemeanor marijuana possession, and HB 2401, which would regulate marijuana like alcohol.


What: Public hearing on HB 1177 and HB 2401
When: Wednesday, January 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hearing Room B, John L. O'Brien Building, Capitol Campus
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=367+14th+Ave+SW+98504
More info: http://cdc.coop/2010_legislature



After the public hearing, the committee will enter Executive Session and decide whether to pass the bill out of committee. This is do or die time for both of these bills.


Public Safety committee agenda for 1/13/2010
http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/PSEP/Pages/Agendas.aspx


Public Safety committee members
http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/PSEP/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx


Chris Hurst (D) Chair - 360-786-7866 - [e-mail]
Al O'Brien (D) Vice-chair - 360-786-7928 - [e-mail]
Kirk Pearson (R) - 360-786-7816 - [e-mail]
Brad Klippert (R) - 360-786-7882 - [e-mail]
Steve Kirby (D) - 360-786-7996 - [e-mail]
Charles Ross (R) - 360-786-7856 - [e-mail]
Sherry Appleton (D) Co-sponsor - 360-786-7934 - [e-mail]
Roger Goodman (D) Co-sponsor - 360-786-7878 - [e-mail]


Please speak up and share your opinion with these people.


========================================
========================================
2. Rick Steves hosts marijuana forum in Olympia Tuesday night
========================================
========================================


The ACLU is screening its film "Marijuana: It's Time for a Conversation" tomorrow night at the Capitol Theater in downtown Olympia. Following the film will be a panel hosted by travel show host Rick Steves, with Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, and Rep. Brendan Williams, all sponsors of marijuana related bills in the state legislature.


What: ACLU marijuana forum in Olympia
When: Tuesday, January 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave SE in Olympia
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=206+5th+Ave+SE+98501
More info: http://www.aclu-wa.org/detail.cfm?id=1205


========================================
========================================
3. CDC lobby meeting after Tuesday night forum
========================================
========================================


After the marijuana forum at the Capitol Theater, the CDC lobby committee invites interested activists to the Fish Bowl Brewpub to eat, drink, and discuss the morrow's hearing -- not necessarily in that order.


What: CDC lobby meeting and social hour
When: Tuesday, January 12 at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Fish Tale Brewpub, 515 Jefferson St SE in Olympia
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=515+Jefferson+St+SE+98501


========================================
========================================
4. Carpools available from Seattle, lodging available
========================================
========================================


Carpools will leave the Cannabis Resource Center (8456 Dallas Ave S) at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. If you need a ride or can give a ride, please respond to this email.


If you want to head down Tuesday, at least one CDC member (Ben) will be driving down from Seattle, leaving around 2 p.m. He has a room at Short Stay Lodgings near the capitol (see http://www.shortstaylodgings.com/) which can fit at least 3 more people if they're willing to chip-in $20-40.


========================================


Cannabis Defense Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit member cooperative focused on marijuana activism in Washington State. To sign up for free email alerts, email [e-mail] or visit http://cdc.coop/.

To join as a voting member, send $40 to CDC, PO Box 45622, Seattle, WA 98145. One may donate to the CDC online through paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4258131

[eridani]

13. Another hearing on 1/20

========================================
========================================
1. Committee vote tomorrow on marijuana bills
========================================
========================================


Last week, the House Public Safety Committee heard public testimony about
HB 1177, which would decriminalize misdemeanor marijuana possession, and
HB 2401, which would regulate marijuana like alcohol.


The committee vote on both of these bills is scheduled for tomorrow,
January 20, at 1:30 p.m. If a bill fails to make it out of committee, it
is done for the year.


What: Committee vote on HB 1177 and HB 2401
When: Wednesday, January 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hearing Room B, John L. O'Brien Building, Capitol Campus
Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=367+14th+Ave+SW+98504
More info: http://cdc.coop/2010_legislature


At last week's hearing, HB 2401 co-sponsor Rep. Roger Goodman indicated a
desire to amend that bill to allow for home cultivation for personal and
medical use. Rep. Kirk Pearson made several negative comments about
President Obama's own administration saying marijuana is dangerous. Rep.
Brad Klippert asked a question about the American Medical Association,
reading off a list of health organizations that "reject smoked marijuana
as medicine." And Rep. Charles Ross asked a number of questions that
seemed to indicate his support.


Committee members:


Chris Hurst (D) Chair - 360-786-7866 - [e-mail]
Al O'Brien (D) Vice-chair - 360-786-7928 - [e-mail]
Kirk Pearson (R) - 360-786-7816 - [e-mail]
Brad Klippert (R) - 360-786-7882 - [e-mail]
Steve Kirby (D) - 360-786-7996 - [e-mail]
Charles Ross (R) - 360-786-7856 - [e-mail]
Sherry Appleton (D) Co-sponsor - 360-786-7934 - [e-mail]
Roger Goodman (D) Co-sponsor - 360-786-7878 - [e-mail]


Please speak up and share your opinion with these people.


For the record, the Cannabis Defense Coalition supports HB 1177 and
opposes HB 2401 as written. Our membership would support HB 2401 if it was
amended to allow for personal and medical cultivation. We oppose HB 2434,
which would forbid patients from using their medical marijuana defense as
long as marijuana is on the federal Schedule I drug list -- effectively
gutting I-692. And we support SSB 5798 and HB 2046, which would expand
I-692 to allow nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, and naturopaths
to authorize the use of medical marijuana.


========================================
========================================
2. CDC hires legislative lobbyist for SSB 5798
========================================
========================================


SSB 5798 would expand our state's medical marijuana law to allow nurse
practitioners, physicians assistants and naturopaths to authorize the use
of medical marijuana. The bill is universally supported by the medical
marijuana community -- a rarity these days -- yet nobody seems to be
talking about or working in support of the bill. Until now, that is.


This week, the CDC hired veteran lobbyist Lonnie Johns-Brown to work on
SSB 5798. Lonnie has been lobbying in Olympia since 1985 and specializes
in representing social service, health care and human rights issues. One
can read an in-depth 2004 Seattle P-I article about her at:


* http://www.seattlepi.com/local/166614_lobbyist26.html


We don't expect much in this legislative session, but we do want to get
our feet wet, and lead by example by proactively supporting 5798. Bills
must make it out of committee within 3 weeks, or they're dead. We have
contracted for 3 weeks of lobbying at $250/week -- $750 total.


This project has received two donations for $100 each, and one pledge for
$100. That means we need to raise $450 still. Please help by sending a
contribution to CDC, PO Box 45622, Seattle, WA 98145, dropping money by
the Cannabis Resource Center, or donating online:


https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4258131


Oh, and don't let the matter-of-fact nature of this email belie the
gravity of this announcement. We think this may be the first time in
Washington State history that a lobbyist has been hired specifically to
work on a marijuana bill. Please contribute and be a part of that.

[eridani]

19. Well, shit--didn't get out of committee

Regroup and try again next year.

[eridani]

21. King County LAC lobby day 2/15

Join the KCDCC - Legislation Action Committee in Olympia on President's Day, Monday February 15, 2010. This is our sixth annual day in Olympia and we are proud to host Governor Christine Gregoire who will help kick off the annual session.

[eridani]

22. More info on KCDCC lobby day

King County Democrats Lobby Day in Olympia

Monday Feb. 15, 2010 10 AM - 1 PM
John Cherberg Meeting Room ABC

keynote speaker - Governor Chris Gregoire

followed by numerous King County Democratic Legislators

$20 dollar registration includes lunch and coffee

RSVP to [e-mail] for reservations.
Just say you're coming and who is coming with you, how many lunches are needed and what LD you're from. You can pay at the event but we need to know how many lunches to order.

Please make sure someone in your LD contacts your Legislators and arranges a meeting time with your legislators, preferably before 10:30 or after 1 PM and let us know what that time is so we can inform p
Lobby Day Flyer for e-mailing and handing out

__________________________________________________________________________________

Legislative Priorities

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can Click on this link to see:

2010 King County Democrats Legislative Priorities

As the House Democrats Blog the Advance notes:

"This is cutoff week for policy committees. We're a bit light on interesting public hearings because committees are so focused on exec'ing (voting) bills out. This also means it's last call for any bills not related to the budget - members will be spending a lot of time this week twisting arms and trying to get their bills out of committee before the Tuesday deadline."

___________________________________________________________________________________

Arguments for Raising Revenue

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Washington State is facing an additional $2.6 million dollar shortfall in this year's state budget cycle. What are the arguments in favor of raising revenue by eliminating under performing tax exemptions and finding new sources of revenue? Here is some in depth analysis to help you communicate reasons to not keep cutting public services and jobs and why raising new revenue makes sense.

Please take time to read the full articles via the links:

"As 48 states confront monetary shortfalls this fiscal year, the budget will undoubtedly be the predominant focus of lawmakers. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that states will face cumulative deficits of approximately
$350 billion in 2010 and 2011. The downturn has also taken an enormous toll on tax revenue. Mark Zandi, Chief Economist at Moody's Economy.com, reports that state and local tax revenues have dropped 9 percent from last year, "the largest decline on record going back to just after World War II."
During an economic downturn, progressive revenue generation is far preferable to deep cuts, as it allows states to provide funding for essential programs, pump money into the economy, and protect working families in this time of hardship. A budget that relies too heavily on cuts will not only force layoffs of state employees, but will also cut off funding in the state for crucial services, thereby reducing spending pumping dollars in the private sector."


From Revenue Options in 2010: Making the Case and Debunking the Myths
Progressive States Network
___________________________________________________________________________

"Economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com estimates that every dollar of state spending results in $1.41 in economic activity.

Much of that spending - 62% or 88 cents - is in the private sector, through direct purchasing and contracting,transfers to individuals, and spending by public employees from their salaries." ...
"...the legislature faces an additional budget gap of $2.6 billion. A further reduction in state spending of that magnitude would strip the state economy of $3.7 billion in GSP and 33,600 jobs. A $1 billion state budget ut would deprive Washington's workforce of 13,000 jobs" ...

"During the 2001 recession, Peter Orszag, now serving as director of the Office of Management of Budget, and Joseph Stiglitz, economics professor at ColumbiaUniversity and formerly Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the WorldBank, also concluded that steep reductions in spending and services by state governments would damage local economies. They calculated that maintaining services by increasing taxes - especially on higher income individuals who would otherwise save a portion of the money or spend it out-of-state - was the better option for state governments facing deficits."
From Creating Jobs and Boosting Our Economy An Action Plan for Washington's 2010 Legislature Economic Opportunity Institute

___________________________________________________________________________


"While basic economics demonstrates that carefully chosen tax increases are preferable to spending cuts when the economy is weak, prominent economists argue that "tax increases on higher-income families are the least damaging mechanism for closing state fiscal deficits." Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz recently wrote that when the economy is weak: "Economic theory and evidence gives a clear and unambiguous answer: It is economically preferable to raise taxes on those with high incomes than to cut state expenditures."

From Budget Cuts or Tax Increase: Which are Preferable During an Economic Downturrn CBP

______________________________________________________________________________


Supreme Court Fair Elections bill
HB 1738 / SB 5912
Public financing of campaigns
for the Washington State Supreme Court
Funded by a modest $3 surcharge on court filing fees
To support this program,
Call the Legislative Hotline: [phone]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thirty-nine states hold judicial elections. Between 2000 and 2009, State Supreme Court candidates raised $205.8 million, according to the Justice at Stake Campaign, a watchdog group that monitors money in court races. That was more than double the $84.9 million raised the previous decade. One immediate result of the Citizens United ruling, as Justice John Paul Stevens noted in dissent, is that these states "may no longer have the ability to place modest limits on corporate electioneering even if they believe such limits to be critical to maintaining the integrity of their judicial systems."

Hanging a 'For Sale" Sign on the Judiciary - New York Times

_______________________________________________________________________________

Action Alert: from WashClean

Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, both the House and the Senate will each hold public hearings - at 1:30 PM - on the Judicial "Impartial Justice" bills, SB 5912, and HB 1738 - public financing for campaigns for seats on the state supreme court.

If you can, please join us on Tuesday - to be part of the "in-favor" crowd, and to observe these hearings and watch legislators as they vote at the end.
Details below.

We've arranged an 11 A.M. Briefing / Rendezvous - in Olympia on Tuesday, prior to the afternoon hearings.

We have reserved a room for a rendezvous and morning briefing - at 11 A.M., optional for any of you who can arrive that early. It will be held at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia - from 11 AM to 12 noon. The purpose is to brief you on these bills, to prepare you for the hearings and for any citizen lobbying of your legislators either over lunch or after the hearings. There is a free shuttle bus (the Dash) from there to the Capitol campus - which is nearby anyway, just 5-6 blocks. And, several deli's and eateries are nearby, for lunch. If folks want, perhaps we'll arrange pizza and sodas for all of us.

Here's a Map and info re: Temple Beth Hatfiloh:
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=temple+beth+olympia&aq=f&aqi=&oq=



LOGISTICS and DETAILS:

Simultaneous? The hearings will be held on the Capitol campus, both begin at 1:30 PM. One committee will likely delay calling up our bill, as a favor, so we can attend both hearings, one after the other. We'll ask the House to go first, then the Senate. House hearing in the John L. O'Brien (JLOB) building, 1st floor. Senate hearing across the way, in the John A. Cherburg (JAC) building.

Come early. Sign in early, before 1:30 PM, as "in favor" of these bills. Sign in sheets appear in the hallway lobby, generally by 1 PM. There are several hearing rooms. Find the ones announcing "State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee" (House JLOB building), and "Government Operations Committee" (Senate JAC building).

However, if you plan to attend, please RSVP with an email to WashClean, so we can give you specific instructions, carpooling information, and answer any questions. Best is to write us at [e-mail], Or call 206-784-2522.

Talk with are new part-time staff associates: Ian Jacobson, and Kenyon Foxworthy. Please get to know them - and if you hear them calling, answer the phone!


Please consider taking the day off on Tuesday, and come to Olympia to see your government (and legislators) at work. It's fun! It's educational. Most important, it's a chance to make YOUR voice and opinions heard. Remember, YOU are democracy - the corporations are not!
________________________________________________________________________________

Go to Washington Public Campaigns for more information

_________________________________________________________________________________
Labor Report from Brad Larssen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HB 1992 - Concerning the application of chapter 39.12 RCW to construction projects that involve tax incentives, loans, or public land or property that is sold or leased

This bill is Regarding Prevailing Wage on Projects that involve Tax Incentives, Public Loans, Public Land, or Public Property that is Sold or Leased.
Prevailing Wage Laws have governed Public Works projects for generations. In recent years, however, an increasing amount of taxpayer dollars are going toward projects that evade these policies. Public/Private Partnerships; Sales, Leases, and Swaps of Public Lands, often at far below market value; Tax Incentives and Public Loans of all sorts... have been used in ways that evade Prevailing Wage Laws and allow substandard and often exploitive wages to be paid on projects largely or substantially financed by Public Funds. HB 1992 is designed to stop these abuses. The current version of the bill applies to projects over $ 1,ooo,ooo. This One Million Dollar threshold is a recent concession to business and corporate lobbyists, and would exclude smaller projects. This bill is long overdue, and is one of our LAC Legislative Priorities for this session.
HB 1992 was introduced last session. On Jan. 11, 2010 it was reintroduced. On Jan. 22, 2010 there was a Public Hearing in the House Commerce and Labor Committee, which I attended. We will continue to track and update you on this important bill. No action has taken place since the hearing.

HB 2789 -Authorizing issuance of subpoenas for purposes of agency investigations of underground economy activity.

Two of our priorities from last year were passed and became law: The Underground Economy Bill, and The Issuance of Stop Work Orders to help in enforcement of this law and existing laws. HB 2789 would further assist enforcement and investigation of contractors who fail to pay their required state payroll taxes. It would expedite investigation of contractors who refuse to cooperate with state agency investigations.
HB 2789 was introduced Jan. 14, 2010, given its First Reading, and referred to Committee. On Jan. 22, 2010 there was a Public Hearing in the House Commerce and Labor Committee. On Jan 29th the majority voted do substitute bill but no further activity is noted.


SB 6035 - Concerning retrospective rating plans.

Retro Programs involve insurance pools to reduce risks involving injured workers. These funds should be used for their stated purpose to insure against worker injuries and to reduce risks to the employers in these pools. Some Retro funds have diverted large amounts from such funds for other purposes, including political campaigns. SB 6035 would provide greater regulation and transparency concerning these Retro Programs. It was a priority of ours last year, and has been reintroduced this session. This bill nearly made it last year, passing in the Senate, but stalled in the House Rules Committee. It was reintroduced on Jan. 11, 2010, and is eligible to be placed on Third Reading. Bill has seen no further action.


Collective Bargaining Bills
Several bills have been introduced concerning extending Collective Bargaining Rights to several groups of workers not now covered, including early childhood educators, musicians, adult family home providers, 2-year college faculty, and other higher education faculty. Some of these bills had hearings scheduled Tues., Jan. 26 in the House Commerce and Labor Committee. The easiest way to track these bills is to enter Collective Bargaining in the Keyword Search box on the State Legislature website, bill information screen. This will give you a list of all these bills in one place.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Homebuilding Revitalization Act - Andrew Villeneuve

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On Thursday, the Senate Consumer Protection Committee reported out SSB 6701, prime sponsored by Senator Adam Kline, with a do pass recommendation subject to signature. SSB 6701 is the 2010 version of the Homebuilding Revitalization Act, previously known as the homeowner's bill of rights. The bill has seven Democratic cosponsors (Tom, Gordon, McAuliffe, Kohl-Welles, Jacobsen, Keiser, Fraser).

Now is the time to contact your Senators and ask them to vote "yes" on SSB 6701. We expect Senator Haugen to offer a poison pill amendment when SSB 6701 reaches the floor of the Senate; please ask your Senator to vote against that as well as voting in favor of the bill on final passage.

As the Bill Report for SSB 6701 notes:

"Statutory implied warranties are established for the new construction or substantial remodel of residential real property. Residential real property means a single-family home, a duplex, a triplex, or a quadraplex. A construction professional involved in the construction of new residential real property or the substantial remodel of existing residential real property warrants that the work will be suitable for the ordinary uses of real property of its type and that the work will be free from defective materials and constructed in accordance with sound engineering and construction standards, constructed in a work-like manner and in compliance with all laws applicable to the improvements."

____________________________________________________________________________________


Secure Medicine Return Bill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SB 5279 - Providing for the safe collection and disposal of unwanted drugs from residential sources through a producer provided and funded product stewardship program.

Sponsors include Kline, Ranker, Rockefeller, Pridemore, Oemig, Regala, Franklin, Murray, Kauffman, Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Haugen, McAuliffe, Pflug, Shin, McDermott

The bill has been voted out of the Senate Committee on Health & Long Term Care and has been referred to Ways and Means

HB1165 - the companion bill to SB 5279 has the following Representatives as spomnsors - Morrell, Campbell, Priest, Dickerson, Hudgins, Rodne, Cody, Nelson, Chase, O'Brien, Dunshee, Kenney, Wood, Hunt, McCoy, Upthegrove, Hasegawa, Anderson, Appleton, Pedersen, Hunter, Darneille, Roberts, Rolfes, White, Kagi, Ormsby, Conway, Orwall, Simpson, Goodman, Van De Wege, Santos

This bill has been placed on 2nd reading in the Rules Committee and has been there since Jan 15, 2010

Action Needed - Please contact your Legislators and urge they take action and pass this bill. If they are a sponsor thank them but ask why this bill is not moving in the House and moving faster in the Senate.


call 1-800-562-6000 or go to www.leg.wa.gov and e-mail your Legislators

[eridani]

26. Medical Marijuana bill SB 5798 passes Washington Senate, moves to House

Last month, the CDC hired veteran lobbyist Lonnie Johns-Brown to work on Senate Bill 5798, which would expand I-692 to allow nurse practioners, physicians' assistants, and naturopathic doctors to authorize the use of medical marijuana.

In looking at the various cannabis-related bills in the Washington State Legislature, SB 5798 was the most widely supported amongst our membership and the activist community in general. It was also the only bill with bipartisan sponsorship, and the only bill out of committee. It also seemed to us that nobody -- besides Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles -- was working on or even talking about the bill.

We actually hired a lobbyist expecting no results whatsoever, expecting only to "get our feet wet" this year in preparation for next year. With sights set so shallow, we were elated when our bill passed the Senate Rules Committee on January 28 with no fanfare, and similarly succeeded in front of the full senate last Friday on a vote of 37-11-1.

This morning, the bill was referred to the House Health Care Committee, and we expect it will come to a vote some time this week or next. Please contact members of the committee and ask them to vote yes on SB 5798.

* Barbara Bailey (R-10) - 360-786-7914 - bailey.barbara {at} leg.wa.gov
* Tom Campbell (R-2) - 360-786-7912 - campbell.tom {at} leg.wa.gov
* Judy Clibborn (D-41) - 360-786-7926 - clibborn.judy {at} leg.wa.gov
* Eileen Cody (D-34) - 360-786-7978 - cody.eileen {at} leg.wa.gov
* John Driscoll (D-6) - 360-786-7962 - driscoll.john {at} leg.wa.gov
* Doug Ericksen(R-42) - 360-786-7980 - ericksen.doug {at} leg.wa.gov
* Tami Green (D-28) - 360-786-7958 - green.tami {at} leg.wa.gov
* Jaime Herrera (R-18) - 360-786-7850 - herrera.jaime {at} leg.wa.gov
* Bill Hinkle (R-13) - 360-786-7808 - hinkle.bill {at} leg.wa.gov
* Troy Kelley (D-28) - 360-786-7890 - kelley.troy {at} leg.wa.gov
* Jim Moeller (D-49) - 360-786-7872 - moeller.jim {at} leg.wa.gov
* Dawn Morrell (D-25) - 360-786-7968 - morrell.dawn {at} leg.wa.gov
* Jamie Pedersen (D-43) - 360-786-7826 - pedersen.jamie {at} leg.wa.gov

We fundraised $750 for three weeks of lobbying, and now that our bill has passed the Senate and its first cutoff date, we need to fundraise another $750 for three weeks of lobbying in the House. To support and reward such proactive action, please donate to CDC, PO Box 45622, Seattle, WA 98145, or donate online at:


* https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4258131

[eridani]

32. The House bill is still alive

DO NOT ALLOW HOUSE SPEAKER FRANK CHOPP TO STAND IN THE WAY OF SAFE ACCESS
TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA. PLEASE MAKE ONE CALL TO FRANK CHOPP'S OFFICE TODAY.


Speaker of the House Frank Chopp
360-786-7920
chopp.frank {at} leg.wa.gov


Ask Speaker Chopp to support medical marijuana patients and pass SB 5798
out of committee. At this point, our bill is pretty much in the hands of
this single powerful democratic legislator. Win or lose, the outcome will
be determined by Frank Chopp.


SB 5798 TALKING POINTS.


Prescriptive authority. Naturopathic doctors, physicians' assistants, and
nurse practitioners can write prescriptions under federal law and should
have the authority to authorize the medical use of marijuana.


Access to medical marijuana. In less populous areas of Washington State,
doctors are few and far between, and finding a doctor with the courage to
recommend medical marijuana is difficult. Many, perhaps most, qualifying
medical marijuana patients must travel to urban centers and pay $200 to
see a doctor willing to authorize their medical use of marijuana. This
bill would provide patients with terminal or debilitating medical
conditions greater access to the protections afforded them by I-692.


PLEASE CALL FRANK CHOPP AT 360-786-7920. TELL HIM TO SUPPORT SB 5798.

[eridani]

7. Seattle journalist launches Olympia Newswire to cover legislature

http://www.reclaimthemedia.org/newswire/seattle_journalist_launches_ol1102

On Mon., Jan. 11, that idea becomes reality, when members of Olympia Newswire head to the Capitol to cover the first day of the State’s legislative session. Posting on the site http://www.olympianews.org, Newswire will serve as an independent, non-profit news collective relying on the reporting of three journalists, to, as Griffey says, “do more niche reporting” on state government. Slovan will handle the education beat; former Seattle Weekly editor and current part-time Seattle Channel communication director George Howland will cover the economy and taxation; a third reporter, to tackle human services, still remains to be finalized. (Both Griffey and Slovan have reported for Real Change; at press time, Real Change agreed to fulfill the role of Olympia Newswire’s human-service correspondent.)

And while sending three more reporters to cover state politics may not appear substantial, it signifies an attempt to solve a larger problem: the steady erosion of the Olympia press corps.

In an email proposal Griffey sent out to gauge interest in the project, he notes that in 1993, 34 professional (paid) journalists covered the state’s legislative session. By 2007, the number had been halved, to 17. This year, no more than eight paid journalists are slated to report on this session, and only half of those, says Griffey, have more than a year’s experience in the capitol. Olympia Newswire’s reporters would bring the total to 11.

By contrast, 145 legislators currently serve the state. But even that number pales to the number of lobbyists registered in Washington this year: 804, according to a representative at the state Public Disclosure Commission.

All of this complicates another reality: The State finds itself confronting a $2.6 billion budget deficit. Where will the money come from? Cuts to higher education? Human services? And when those cuts are proposed, how will people find out?

The lack of reporters concerns Slovan. “Who’s going to let us know what the government decides?” she says.


See alos-- http://www.tvw.org/capitolrecord/

[quiller4]

9. "Lift Every Voice" InterFaith Advocacy Day February 16th

Lift Every Voice
on InterFaith Advocacy Day
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
8:30 am to 3:00 pm
At United Churches of Olympia
and the State Capitol

$25 registration fee includes advocacy packet,
continental breakfast and lunch.

Sponsors include the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Associated Ministries of Tacoma/Pierce County, Lutheran Office of Public Policy, Alaska Synod Presbyterian Church USA

[eridani]

10. Tele-town hall for residents of 46th LD to be held 1/18

If you're a resident of the 46th District (North Seattle), Rep. Scott White is inviting you to a tele-town hall. Rep White explains, "The way it works is that I'll send a very brief phone message to 46th District residents at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. Anyone can listen in on the public meeting by just staying on the line. And anyone who wants to ask a question or share a comment or concern only needs to press *3 (star then 3) on their phone to indicate they want to say something to me and the listening public. It's that easy."

Residents of the 46th District who don't get a call, or who prefer to dial in from another phone, can participate by dialing 877-229-8493. The ID code for this event is 14971.

After the call, hold your Representative accountable. Leave a message with the legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000 or send a follow up email and ask them to preserve funding for housing by supporting the Housing Trust Fund at $100 million. The 2010 funding for the Housing Trust Fund is zero. There are shovel-ready low-income housing projects in the pipeline. This de-funding also jeopardizes the productivity of the Seattle Housing Levy, which is based on leveraging State and other funds.

Sarajane Siegfriedt
46th LD Legislative Action Chair

[eridani]

11. KIng County LAC Newsletter #2

King County Democrats 2010 Legislative Newsletter #2
January 16, 2010

Reminder King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee meets Sunday Jan 17, 2010
King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee
Sunday Jan 17th 2 PM to 4 PM
Aerospace Machinists Hall
9125 15th Pl S.
Seattle, WA 98108
_____________

King County Democrats Lobby Day in Olympia
Feb 15, 2010 10 AM to 1 PM
Cherberg Meeting Room ABC
$20 registration includes lunch
____________________________________________________________________________________________


Our last newsltter detailed our Legislative Agenda for the 2010 session. You can check it out anytime by going to our website at:

King County Democrats 2010 Legislative Priorities

How to contact your Legislators:

To look up Legislative bills and their status, when hearing and committee meetings are taking place and to find your legislators and how to contact your Legislators go to the legislative website at www.leg.wa.gov.

Use this link to contact your Legislators now about bills that you want to see passed. The session only lasts 60 days and the first week of Hearings has already happened. Legislators need to hear from you, particularly regarding the need for revenues to fund programs slated to be cut and to urge them to repeal tax exemptions that are not working.

Governor Gregoire proposes plan to fix state's budget Tacoma News Tribune 1/13/2010

Governor Gregoire's Tax Proposals Washington Budget and Policy Center

Modernizing the Sales Tax Washington Budget and Policy Center




______________________________________________________________________
Martin Luther King Lobby Day in Olympia from Lisa Plymate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Martin Luther King Jr Lobby Day - January 18, 2010

To cut or not to cut? That is the question. When Governor Gregoire released her proposed 2010 supplemental budget, she stated that an all-cuts budget "does not reflect our values as a state...or the Washington I want for our future and the future of our children." We couldn't agree more.

An all-cuts budget is UNACCEPTABLE. At a time when many families are already hurting, we cannot afford to cut programs that help them get back on their feet. Just look at some of the proposed cuts:

Elimination of Basic Health, leaving 100,000 Washingtonians without access to health care-including 16,000 children
Cuts to early learning programs for children under 5 and cuts to financial aid for 10,000 college students
The State would abandon programs to protect clean water and clean up toxic pollution
85,000 seniors would no longer be able to afford their medication
Working parents across the state would lose access to childcare, threatening their ability to work

We're demanding that our lawmakers secure funding for these important programs in the short and long term by closing unfair tax loopholes and exploring new revenue sources.

Join us in sending a loud and clear message to lawmakers that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of working families, our kids, the most vulnerable, and the environment.

Attend our annual MLK lobby day, on January 18th, 2010 in Olympia. Transportation, childcare, lunch and interpretation will be provided. Click here to register or contact Lynne Nguyen at 206-805-6676.


Personal stories help remind our lawmakers that these cuts have a human impact.

Robin Moore from North Seattle shares how the Basic Health Plan, up for elimination in this year's budget, helped her in a time of need:


"I was one class away from my degree in network administration. Then one day, while I was at work the right side of my body suddenly went numb. I called a friend to take me to the hospital. My first thought was that I was having a stroke, but the results of my MRI revealed something else: Mild Demyelization disease.

After I got sick, I could no longer work or finish school. I got on the Basic Health plan because I was still ineligible for Medicare. Under Basic Health, I was never been denied treatment or had to wait very long for care. I never had to fight for care with a profit-driven insurance company.

My message to our lawmakers is to keep Basic health and other vital programs alive. During this bad recession, we need to invest in people."


Robin's story highlights the critical role programs like Basic Health play in the lives of ordinary individuals. We cannot allow MORE cuts to programs that are the lifeline for many families weathering this recession.

_______________________________________________________________________

Environmental Priorities Lobby Day - Jan 26, 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

United Churches of Olympia
110 East 11th Ave
Olympia, WA
8:30 AM - 6:00 PM

for more information visit the Environmental Priorities Lobby Day webpage
The King County Democrats are supporting the Environmental Priorities Coalition efforts.

The Environmental Priorities this year are:
1. The Working for Clean Water bill is about creating jobs, rebuilding our local economies, and cleaning up polluted waterways like Puget Sound and Spokane River.

2. Safe Baby Bottles to protect children's health and the environment by phasing out the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, food and beverage cans, and other consumer products.

3. Budget for our Environment to ensure adequate funding for the core environmental protections that make Washington State a healthy place to live.



__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some Specific Bills Being Tracked - Sarajane Siegfriedt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2010 LAC Bills of Interest


Support


2SHB 1165/PSSB 5279 The Secure Medicine Return Bill introduced by Rep. Dawn Morell and Sen. Adam Kline will ensure that a secure and convenient statewide medicine return program is provided by medicine producers. These companies already provide and pay for medicine return in British Columbia and several European countries. Getting rid of unneeded medicines from our homes safely helps reduce access to drugs that could be abused. Flushing medicines is bad for the environment, and measurable amounts of drugs end up in downstream drinking water. Throwing medicines in the garbage-especially drugs like OxyContin-is just not safe because the drugs can be obtained and used illegally.


HB 2753 Relating to the creation of a workforce housing program
Introduced by Rep. Tina Orwall, (D) on January 13, 2010, allows the housing finance commission to have $1 billion more in outstanding debt, to be used towards implementing a workforce housing program. The financing is to be used by nonprofit and government agencies to provide affordable housing for low-income residents specified in the bill. The act also raises the percentage of government bonds that are allowed to go towards housing. Referred to the House Capital Budget Committee on January 13, 2010.

Comment:

King County Democrats have included support for workforce housing in our Legislative Agenda. We are excited about this possibility to increase affordable housing for working people in mixed-income projects by non-profits and housing authorities. We see the unmet need for workforce housing as serving working families who earn from minimum wage to 80% of the area median income, and primarily below 60% of the area income, that it, to address the gap between minimum wage and a living wage.


Senate Bill 6338 (Providing transitional housing for persons at risk for homelessness.)
Introduced by Sen. Debbie Regala (D) on January 12, 2010, amends the provisions for transitional housing for homeless people to include "persons at risk of experiencing homelessness," including those released from state institutions, recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, and mentally ill persons.


Comment:

We know that putting prisoners out on the street with a few dollars and no support is a recipe for recidivism. Pilot programs have shown that providing transitional housing and job services for a limited time pays off in terms of returning ex-felons to useful participation in society. Those "at risk of homelessness" include people who are doubled up or couch-surfing, which surely feels like homeless to them.

HB 2495 (Allowing early tabulation of absentee ballots)

Introduced by Scott White: allows absentee return envelopes to be tabulated at 8:00 a.m. on the Monday immediately before a primary or election.

The act further states that results must be kept in secrecy until 8:00 p.m. on the day of the primary or election.

2010 House Bill 2495 (Allowing early tabulation of absentee ballots )



HB 2497 (Increasing punishment for crimes intentionally against homeless people)

Introduced by Scott White: adds 24 months of imprisonment to major crimes committed intentionally due to perceiving the victim to be homeless. The act makes crimes against homeless people due to their being homeless a hate crime.


King County Democrats Join Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have joined with other organizations to urge the Legislature and Governor Gregoire to:

* Protect our economic future by preventing further erosion of the things that residents value so much about our state: quality schools, affordable health care, a safety net for the most vulnerable, affordable housing, public safety, and a clean environment.

* Adopt a balanced approach to closing the current budget shortfall that includes closing unfair tax loopholes and identifying new revenue sources to stabilize the funding for these programs in the short and long term.

Click onto the Rebuilding Our Economic Future's website to learn more, read what's happening in the press, and how you can help, including signing the petition.
http://fusewashington.org/budget


Contact Information
e-mail stevezemke {at} msn.com

[eridani]

12. Statewide Poverty Action Network sponsoring Peoples' summit in Olympia 1/18

This is an incredibly important opportunity.

The 2010 People’s Summit offers a multifaceted opportunity for learning more about issues related to economic justice, sharpening our skills in forwarding our positions, and actually carrying our message into the streets AND into the offices of our legislators.
To register (free) and for more information, visit the Poverty Action Network website . https://www.povertyaction.org/getinvolved/event_reg.cfm

Although we will not be presenting or facilitating workshops, Olympia Single Payer Action will be present. We will have plenty of “Health Care For All = Single Payer” signs for those who would like to carry them in the march. You can meet up with us outside the Capitol Theater at 11:30 AM as we prepare for the march to the Capitol steps.
OSPA will also be tabling in Office Building Two from 1 - 4 PM.


###

The People's Summit agenda includes:

8:30 AM Registration, Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave SE
9:00 AM Summit, Capitol Theater
11:30 AM March & Rally, Capitol Theater & Capitol Campus
1:00 PM Workshops & Lawmaker Meetings, Capitol Campus

Join us as we urge our lawmakers to fight for:
Affordable housing and mortgage foreclosure protections
Opportunities for low-income families
The protection of safety net programs and critical services
Progressive revenue options
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
olympiansforpeace-unsubscribe {at} lists.riseup.net


Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace Email List
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/olympiansforpeace

[eridani]

14. Environmental lobby day 1/26

http://www.pugetsound.org/forms/lobbyday

In six days, hundreds of citizen activists like you will convene in Olympia for Environmental Lobby Day.

You don't want to miss out. Tuesday is the environmental community's day to come together and make a visual statement that says we support clean water, green jobs, reducing toxic chemicals, and maintaining core environmental protections in the budget.


Environmental Lobby Day 2010
Who: YOU & hundreds of people who care about Washington's environment

Date: Tuesday, January 26th
Time: 8:30 am - 6:30 pm
Location: United Churches of Olympia, 110 East 11th Ave.
Event Price: $15 (includes breakfast, lunch, and materials)

During Lobby Day, you'll hear from legislators who are championing the 2010 Environmental Priorities, receive a training on how to lobby from top environmental lobbyists, and have a chance to meet face to face with your elected officials.

Register today - the event price increases to $20 after Friday, January 22.

Join us January 26th and make sure your voice is heard!

[eridani]

15. Washington CAN lobby day 2/15

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/2723/t/2786/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=753

This session, lawmakers can stop devastating cuts to education, health care, environmental programs, and services for the most vulnerable in our state by closing tax loopholes and creating other sources of revenue.


Will lawmakers have the courage to stand up for Washingtonians or will they choose to listen to Eyman extremists and gut essential safety net programs?

Join us on Monday, February 15th as we return to Olympia to make sure our lawmakers hear our message loud and clear: We cannot balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable in our state! We need revenue!

Register today to be a part of Washington CAN's lobby day on February 15th!

On the same day as our lobby day, the Tea Party and Eyman extremists will be organizing their own rally at the Capitol. It is crucial that our lawmakers hear from US.

Sign up TODAY to attend our lobby day on February 15th!



Thank you for all the work you do!
The Washington CAN! Team

[eridani]

16. Senior lobby day 2/15

The week of Feb. 15th is a week of legislative action for PSARA.



- On Thurs., Feb. 18th is our annual Senior Lobby Day. This is an all day event beginning at 9 a.m. We meet together with other Washington seniors and also meet with our legislators to explain to them why they need to raise additional revenue, protect senior programs and other safety net programs. PSARA members are making appointments with our legislators and we are organizing carpools for PSARA members to travel back and forth to Olympia .



Please RSVP to Robby Stern at [e-mail] or call 448-9646 and leave a message if you are able to participate in Senior Lobby Day. We will work to arrange rides for those of you who wish to carpool.



- On Monday, Feb. 15th, Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition will be holding a mass rally on the steps of the Capitol in Olympia at noon. The theme of the rally is that additional cuts to the safety net and education are intolerable. The legislature needs to take a balanced approach to dealing with the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Their action this session needs to protect working families, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly across Washington . Last year the legislature chose an all cuts approach and such an approach this session to the $2.6 billion deficit is intolerable. The legislature must raise new revenue by closing tax exemptions and creating additional revenue sources in order to avoid further erosion of those things residents of our state value.



Please join PSARA members at this rally at noon, Monday, Feb. 15th. We will try to arrange ride sharing. If you are interested in attending and need to ride with someone else or if you are willing to drive, call the PSARA office, 448-9646 before Feb. 11th.

[eridani]

17. Homeless lobby day 2/12

Feb 12

Housing & Homelessness Advocacy Day
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance

Location: United Churches of Olympia; Time: 9:00 am

Contact: Michael Kelly, michael {at} wliha.org

Go to www.wliha.org to register for Housing Day.

The Washington Low Income Housing Alliance is supportive SB 5550 Two Year Notice of Closure

big time for Manufactured/ Mobile Home Communities.

Come to Olympia, wear your green and yellow shirts be seen and support this effort.

If you cannot afford it don't let the fee stop you.

[eridani]

18. Hearing for public funding for judicial campaigns 2/2

WashClean friends,


This is an 'All Hands On Deck' Action Alert.

Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, both House and Senate will hold public hearings, in Olympia, at 1:30 PM, on the Judicial "Impartial Justice" bills, SB 5912, and HB 1738 - public financing for campaigns for seats on the state supreme court.

Details on these bills,

WashClean's campaign for judicial public financing,
The Case for Impartial Justice,
One-page summary of the Impartial Justice Act bills.
Detailed info on the legislative website, for SB 5912, or HB 1738
Achieving hearings is a partial victory. Legislative willingness to hold hearings at all is a victory for grassroots action around the state - hundreds of WashClean supporters emailing, calling and writing to say: We want our state supreme court to be independent of huge sums of special-interest money trying to buy influence on the court.



And this is a small example of how publicly-financed campaigns can guarantee that the voice of voters - rather than Wall Street wealth - will prevail.

However - it's no time to stop and relax.

Just last week, the U.S. Supreme Court issued one of the most alarming rulings in decades, sweeping aside 100 years of settled law to allow corporations to spend unlimited funds to influence the outcome of elections - as if these Wall Street fictional entities deserved constitutional protections of the Bill of Rights (and Free Speech) just like human voters, and therefore must be allowed to spend billions any way they want, to shout louder than real persons, and to subvert our democracy.

What a perverse interpretation of the First Amendment right to Free Speech! Actually, it enshrines "one-dollar, one-vote" - and we must fight back!

The Court could have issued a much more restrictive ruling - for example recognizing the difference between small nonprofits and civic organizations, and Wall Street behemoths. But they didn't.

Let's not mourn. We have organizing work to do!

Let's show our state lawmakers that we want the people's voice to be louder than any corporate entity. We won't stand for seats on our state's highest court to be auctioned off to the highest bidder - be it a group of well-heeled ideological financiers OR a state-chartered corporation.

Washington voters want fairness and impartiality - not extreme ideology - on the court.

The integrity and impartiality of our courts is too important, to allow campaigns for these seats to be financed the old fashioned way. So long as court justices are selected through popular elections, the campaigns should be financed publicly. And that's exactly what these twin bills will do - IF they are enacted into law.

Like the idea? Take action! Here's what to do:

First, call or write each of your legislators (senator, two representatives).

Tell them YOU know there are hearings on Tuesday, and you want THEM to pay attention, and if they're on a relevant committee, to vote these bills along into law. Tell them: Make it law; make it happen. Protect the integrity and impartiality of the state Supreme Court. Enact public financing for these campaigns!



And if one or more of your legislators is a bill sponsor, thank them - and ask them to keep fighting for final enactment! (If you don't already know, click on the legislative site bill numbers - SB 5912, or HB 1738 - to see a list of bill cosponsors.)

You can leave short messages for each of your legislators, by calling the Legislative Hotline: [phone]. Operators help you locate your legislators, and leave all three of them your message. Ask to leave messages as well for House Speaker Frank Chopp, House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown - because as legislative leaders, they must be accountable to ALL of us.

Or, click here for direct contact info for your legislators, and send each of them a short email, asking them to support these bills: SB 5912 (in the Senate), and HB 1738 (in the House).
www.washclean.org/contactlegislators.htm

Second - if you can - please join us on Tuesday - to be part of the "in-favor-of-bills" crowd, to observe these hearings, and to watch legislators as they vote at the end.

The hearings will be held on the Capitol campus (Olympia) - House hearing in the John L O'Brien (JLOB) building, 1st floor. Senate hearing is across the way, in the John A Cherburg (JAC) building, 1st floor.

Come early. Sign in early, before 1:30 PM, as "in favor" of these bills. Sign in sheets appear in the hallway lobby outside the hearing rooms, generally by 1 PM. There are several hearing rooms. Find the ones announcing "State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee" (House JLOB building), and "Government Operations Committee" (Senate JAC building).

However, if you plan to attend, please RSVP with an email to WashClean, so we can give you specific instructions, carpooling information, and answer any questions. Best is to write us at: [e-mail], Or call 206-784-2522.

We have two new part-time staff associates: Ian Jacobson, and Kenyon Foxworthy. Please get to know them - and if you hear them calling, answer the phone!

Optional: We've arranged an 11 A.M. Briefing / Rendezvous - in Olympia on Tuesday.

We have reserved a room for a rendezvous and morning briefing - from 11 AM, optional for any of you who can arrive that early. It will be held at Temple Beth Hatfiloh, 201 8th Ave SE, Olympia, just blocks from the Capitol Campus - from 11 AM to 12 noon. The purpose is to brief you on these bills, and to prepare you for the hearings and for any citizen lobbying of your legislators over lunch or after the hearings. There is a free shuttle bus (the Dash) from there to the Capitol campus - which is nearby anyway, just 5-6 blocks. And, several deli's and eateries nearby. We might arrange pizza and sodas for all of us.

Here's a Map and info re: Temple Beth Hatfiloh:
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=temple+beth+olympia&aq=f&aqi=&oq=

Please take the day off, on Tuesday, and come to see your government (and legislators) at work. It's fun! It's educational. Most important, it's a chance to make YOUR voice and opinions heard. Remember, YOU are democracy - the corporations are not! Let's fight for public financing of campaigns - as one means to fight back against the odious U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued last week.

Thank you!

~ Craig
_________________________
Craig Salins
Washington Public Campaigns
www.washclean.org
wpc {at} washclean.org
206-784-2522

[eridani]

27. Now it needs to get voted on by the Senate

You DID IT! What a great grassroots lobbying effort.

Tonight the Senate Ways & Means Committee approved our Supreme Court Fair Elections bill - SB 5912 - and sent it on to the Senate Rules Committee, with a "Do Pass" recommendation.

Wahoo! - our Supreme Court Fair Elections bill is still moving! - but there's more to do.

Many thanks are due to our bill sponsors and supporters in the Senate: bill sponsor Sen. Eric Oemig, co-sponsors Sens. Joe McDermott, Craig Pridemore, and Jeanne Kohl-Welles - all of whom serve on the Ways & Means Committee. Also, to Committee Chair Sen. Margarita Prentice, for adding it to the agenda for action, and to Vice-Chair Sen. Rodney Tom, who has promised to support the bill all the way to the Governor's desk!

Actually, 14 Committee members signed as voting for the bill: Prentice, Fraser, Tom, Fairley, Hobbs, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McDermott, Murray, Oemig, Pridemore, Regala, and Rockefeller.

Click here for SB 5912 ill tracking information - including the latest Senate Bill Report (once it's posted - as amended and approved by the Ways & Means Committee).

NEXT, we must get the bill approved by the Senate Rules Committee, and onto the Senate floor for a vote - by Tuesday, February 16th, at 5 PM. That's the deadline set by the Session Cutoff Calendar, for bills to be approved in the "house of origin" - otherwise they're dead for the session.

DON'T LET UP. We must continue the citizen grassroots lobbying!

Contact members of the Senate Rules Committee (members listed here - or below)
Ask them to approve the bill for consideration (vote) on the full Senate floor.

Quick action in the Rules Committee - A.S.A.P. - is preferred. Why? Because as it gets close to cutoff day (Tuesday, Feb. 16th), there is a flurry of last minute activity with pressure to approve essential budget bills in time - and some less-important bills simply get pushed aside in the final frenzy. We don't want that to happen to us.

Think getting in line early, for a movie or concert. You're more likely to get a seat!

HOUSE REPORT: The House Ways & Means Committee did not consider the bill in their final meeting today. We were told there was insufficient support among the House W&M Committee members - at least, for now. But Rep. Marko Liias, House sponsor of HB 1738, the companion bill - has continued to advocate, as has Rep. Sam Hunt, who chairs the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee. And, we have several indications that Speaker Frank Chopp supports the bill and wants it to pass.

But we can still walk on one leg! - one bill - hooray for the Senate.

Also, Senate progress of the bill helps to create support in the House in coming weeks - especially if the Senate will pass the bill by next Tuesday and send it to the House for concurrence. That's because House members will know the Senate has already approved the bill (if they do), and so House members won't be "out on a limb" in approving the bill in their own chamber.

(FYI - The bill will need to "travel" the same route in the House - through committees, then on to Rules, then to the House floor - in order to become law.)

Overall, we are proving the axiom: Never underestimate the people, united!

Truly - it has been your citizen activism, your calls and letters, that has convinced the legislature to act so far - to protect the integrity of the state's top court, through a program of public financing for supreme court campaigns! We will not tolerate justice for sale - especially in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, which may open the floodgates of corporate special interest cash, seeking to influence election outcomes.

Thanks for all you do!

~ Craig
________________________
Craig Salins
Washington Public Campaigns
www.washclean.org

[eridani]

28. Oops--forgot Rules Committee contact info

SENATE RULES COMMITTEE MEMBERS
www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/RULE/Pages/default.aspx

* denotes co-sponsor of SB 5912

Brad Owen (D), Chair, [e-mail] 360-786-7700
Rosa Franklin (D-27th) Vice Chair, [e-mail] 360-786-7656
Mike Hewitt (R-16th), Ranking Minority Member, [e-mail] 360-786-7630
Lisa Brown (D-3rd), [e-mail] 360-786-7604
Tracey Eide (D-30th), [e-mail] 360-786-7658
Karen Fraser (D-22nd), [e-mail] 360-786-7642
* Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10th), [e-mail] 360-786-7618
Claudia Kauffman (D-47th), [e-mail] 360-786-7692
Karen Keiser (D-33rd), [e-mail] 360-786-7664
Curtis King (R-14th), [e-mail] 360-786-7626
* Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36th), [e-mail] 360-786-7670
Chris Marr (D-6th), [e-mail] 360-786-7610
Ed Murray (D-43rd), murray,[e-mail] 360-786-7628
Linda Evans Parlette (R-12th), [e-mail] 360-786-7622
* Craig Pridemore (D-49th), [e-mail] 360-786-7696
Debbie Regala (D-27th), [e-mail] 360-786-7652
Mark Schoesler (R-9th), [e-mail] 360-786-7620
Val Stevens (R-39th), [e-mail] 360-786-7676
Joseph Zarelli (R-18th), [e-mail] 360-786-7634

LEGISLATIVE HOTLINE: [phone] - to leave messages for any legislators.

[eridani]

34. ONE MORE WEEK to get judicial clean elections out of the Senate

WashClean friends,


It may seem WPC has dropped everything but the judicial bill in the Legislature. Not so.

We know this is only a battle, not the war. And we're growing as a respected and thoughtful grassroots organization, with a vision that is national - as well as local - in scope. There is life after March 11th (legislative final day). Very soon we'll turn attention to the Fair Elections Now Act in Congress - and strategies such as a possible statewide initiative around Voter-Owned Campaigns.

But we have one more week to establish new law in Washington state, whereby seats on our supreme court are not for sale, and voters - not special interest dollars - decide the outcome of judicial elections. This would be a serious policy change - it's overdue - and it's achievable this year.

So let's not quit while the legislature remains in session!

FYI - Friday, March 5th, is the final day to consider any non-budget bills (NOT ours) from the opposite house. That may explain why SB 5912 has been sidelined for a few days. After Friday, only budget bills and bills considered "necessary to implement the budget" (NTIB) are still in play - far fewer than are on the Senate docket right now.

Start-up funding for our bill (SB 5912) IS in the Senate's budget, and therefore may still be considered up until March 11th. It's not subject to early cutoff. However, Senate and House leaders still face many bills clamoring for attention.

We must urge Senate leaders to schedule a vote on SB 5912 very soon! - giving the House time to act in response. After Senate approval, it still must be approved by the House Ways & Means Committee. Then on to the House Rules Committee which must "pull" the bill for a House floor vote. All this within the next 7 days! It's tight - but possible.

ACTION ALERT: Continue to urge Senate and House leaders (listed below) to schedule SB 5912 promptly for a vote. Ask lawmakers who have supported it so far to urge their caucuses and leaders to schedule action on the bill.

When the Senate approves the bill (if they do), we must IMMEDIATELY ask the House Ways & Means Committee to schedule quick approval of the bill, to move it to House Rules and the floor.

Key message points:


Seats on our state Supreme Court must not be for sale to special interests - or even to appear so. That's why public financing of Supreme Court judicial campaigns is essential.



We want judges - not political partisans - on the court, interpreting law and upholding the constitution.


Election outcomes must be decided by VOTERS - not corporate cash!

So long as the legislature is in session, we need to keep up a grassroots drumbeat, asking our lawmakers:


What will you do about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, that corporations are "persons" and can spend lavishly to influence the outcome of elections?


Will you respond to this outrageous Supreme Court ruling? - with laws and programs in Washington state that put voters - not special interests - in charge of our election results.
Let's keep the heat on - letting legislative leaders and all lawmakers know that we're not sitting back! - also, thanking our bill sponsors and friends.


For reference, here's a repeat of earlier Action Alert info:

WATCH or read this excellent program - archived transcripts:
"Justice For Sale?" - from Bill Moyers Journal, Friday, Feb. 19th:
www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02192010/profile2.html


Keep in mind: There are very significant cases that bubble up to the court. At that level, we cannot afford extremist ideologues to be making the rulings - on issues as far-reaching as tax policy, environmental regulation, worker-business disputes, and how power is shared between state government and local jurisdictions.

When judicial campaigns are financed privately by special interests, increasingly what we get as a result is a polarized, partisan court. Why? Because candidates who are moderate and focused on the law (rather than ideology) don't receive sufficient financial backing, and so they choose not to run, or can't afford a competitive campaign.

That's why public financing of judicial races is so important. So long as judges are chosen by popular election, their campaigns should be financed publicly - not by special interests.

Until the legislature is finished for the year, let's not let them off the hook! Tell them: We want a legislative response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. We want some indication that you hear us, and notice the importance of this issue.

Important contact info is below - legislative leaders, and contacting your legislator.

Also, we're posting recent Action Alerts on our website:
www.washclean.org/download.htm#actionalerts

Thanks for your support! And - stay alert for additional news and action steps.

~ Craig
_________________________
Craig Salins
Washington Public Campaigns
www.washclean.org
[e-mail]
206-784-2522


Get contact info for your legislator, here (it's very quick):
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx
Then, click on your legislator's name, to get their phone and email address.
Type in a message - or call them up.


SENATE Leaders:
http://www.sdc.wa.gov/

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown, [e-mail] 360-786-7604
Senate Dems Caucus chair Ed Murray, [e-mail] 360-786-7628
Senate Floor Leader Sen. Tracey Eide, [e-mail] 360-786-7658
Senate Dems Whip Chris Marr, [e-mail] 360-786-7610

HOUSE Leaders,
All House party leaders listed here:
www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/Leadership.aspx

Speaker Frank Chopp, [e-mail] 360-786-7920
Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, [e-mail] 360-786-7904
Ways & Means Committee Chair Kelli Linville, [e-mail] 360-786-7854
Ways & Means Committee Vice Chair Mark Ericks, [e-mail] 360-786-7900

Legislative Hotline: [phone]

[eridani]

42. Well, we didn't get it passed. Let's try again next year

As you may know or guess, our judicial public financing bill - SB 5912 - has not been called for a vote in the state Senate. It probably won't be, before they end the special session - although technically the bill is still alive. Governor Gregoire has said to legislative leaders: Only a supplemental budget, now; nothing else.

This year we did achieve a small victory in approval of SB 6344 - extending to all cities and counties in the state, the $800 upper limit on allowed campaign contributions. Previously these limits applied only to local districts with more than 200,000 registered voters. Cities and towns can still set lower limits, if they want.

On the judicial public campaign financing bill, we got so close this session, it's hard not to feel disappointed that we didn't get to the Governor's desk. But in perspective, we knew last fall that this would be an uphill fight - due primarily to the state's budget challenges, and also due to resistance in some quarters to the proposal itself, and to how our proposed program was to be funded (through a $3 surcharge on selected court fees).

Yet - we should consider our progress on this issue as a huge forward step:

We moved the bill way beyond our initial expectations, in a very challenging legislative environment;


We focused legislative attention to the specific issue: Should courts be for sale to special interests? - and if not, how do we reform the judicial campaign finance system? In raising this issue, we moved likely votes in the Senate, from perhaps only 8-9 in support last fall, to 27-28 in support, and in the House we maintained support from 32 bill co-sponsors.


Equally important, we demonstrated to the WashClean community - and to partner organizations and friends - that focused grassroots lobbying by citizens can change legislative minds and move mountains. It underscores the point: Never underestimate the power of the people, organized!
On our website is a brief summary of what happened in the legislature this year, and our plans to rework the bill and bring it up again in 2011.

http://www.washclean.org/Library/2010-LegReport-HB1738-SB5912.pdf

Planning and preparing for a statewide citizen initiative

In most states, Clean Elections Act programs were brought about by citizen initiative. We believe that's necessary in Washington state, and we are launching a planning effort to that end. There are myriad details to be worked out - strategy and timing, program provisions and funding, initiative language, consulting with coalition partners, and more.

Yet there are at least three essential ingredients to any successful initiative effort: (1) a public that is aware and supportive of the issue; (2) local volunteers - organized, trained and coordinated; and (3) resources to fuel the effort.

So while detailed planning is underway, this is a year to accomplish the following:

broaden public awareness (think preparing the soil, before planting the garden);
grow and strengthen our local chapters and our base of volunteer organizers; and
generate financial resources to carry forward this work.
This is a year of opportunity.

The political climate favors our work. National polls suggest that 80% of the American public disagrees with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United. Voters are angry (as they should be) about partisan stalemate and back room deals. They believe that Congress is owned by special interests and well-heeled lobbyists - and they know the recent Supreme Court ruling is likely to make it worse: money flows in; political favors roll out to the big donors.

And - it's a year of election campaigns at every level: a U.S. Senate race, all members of Congress, three state supreme court seats, and in the legislature, all House members and half the Senate. We'll see dialing for dollars and candidate forums everywhere, from now to November.

This year is ready-made to build a stronger movement for Voter-Owned Elections. What an opportunity to show up and raise the fundamental question: Shouldn't these campaigns be financed publicly, so elected winners are beholden to voters and not to corporate campaign financiers? - and so that Congress works for Main Street households, not Wall Street corporations?

Along the way, town-by-town, we'll create a strong push for the Fair Elections Now Act - public financing of campaigns for Congress, where it's needed the most! We need a chorus of voices so strong, that every incumbent and candidate for Congress is compelled to sign on as a sponsor of the FENA bills in the Senate and House.

And it's a chance for volunteer organizers to gain experience and to grow local WashClean chapters - something we'll need, to be able eventually to mount a statewide initiative campaign.

Please get on board, as we work to establish active WashClean councils and chapters all over the state. We want a WashClean presence at summer festivals and farmers markets, spreading information about our work. We want WashClean advocates raising questions and connecting with audience volunteers at town hall meetings and campaign events.

Please support the work of WPC. Get involved - bring along your friends - and make a financial contribution to keep us humming along.

[eridani]

20. Oh for fuck's sake!!! Shoot down this internet voting shit!!

I'm writing to oppose the bill Concerning Overseas and Service Voters (HB 2483 / SB 6238).

Casting votes via email or fax is a very bad idea. There is no way to verify the voter's identity. There is no way to protect the secret ballot. The Dept of Defense's SERVE report is conclusive on these points.

Counties can already issue ballots via email or fax. All ballots received before an election is certified get counted. Military and overseas voters are not being routinely disenfranchised in Washington State through any shortcoming of our current system.

Sam Reed's latest effort to undermine the integrity of our elections is a solution looking for a problem. No one is asking for voting via email. In fact, the Dept of Defense opposes this scheme. This "thin end of the wedge" is merely part of nationwide vendor financed effort to bring about Internet voting.

I apologize that this note is so tardy. Election integrity advocates soundly defeated Reed's Internet voting proposal last year. I thought, "Surely, with so much going on this year, and a short session, and everyone knowing that Internet voting is a horrible idea, Olympia won't touch this."

I'm sorry I was wrong. I'll try to not make the same mistake again.

[eridani]

25. Links to contact legislators

We need to push back on Sam Reed's latest assault against the integrity of our elections. His bill Concerning Overseas and Service Voters would permit casting votes via the Internet. Use Verified Voting's online form to contact your state senator and the caucus leaders.
The action alert email is below the fold. Here's the most important point:


Military and overseas voters can be served without compromising security and privacy.
Truer words have never been spoken.

We need your help. Last year, Washington citizens helped beat back a proposal that would threaten verifiable voting in Washington by allowing ballots to be cast over the Internet. This year, a new effort is under way. House Bill 2483 and Senate Bill 6238 are a well-intended effort to enfranchise service voters and overseas voters, but they do not offer voters a secret, secure ballot. These bills would allow voters to return their ballot by fax or e-mail, one of the least secure methods of transmission, and one that would require voters to give up a secret ballot. Military and overseas voters can be served without compromising security and privacy.

The House bill has passed, so the action is now on the Senate side. You can help! Take just a minute to send Senators a message opposing Senate Bill 6238 in its current form, and then pass this on:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=28208

If voted ballots are returned electronically, there's no security, there's no secrecy and there's no way to recount or audit. Those ballots and even the voting system are endangered. Our men and women in uniform, and our citizens overseas, deserve every opportunity to vote, but it does not enfranchise voters if a systems allows votes to be lost or stolen undetectably. There is a better alternative: send blank ballots to voters electronically, so they can print, mark and send them back more through more secure channels.

Please tell your lawmakers to oppose SB 6238 as written:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/199/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=28208

Your letter will be sent to Senate leaders Lisa Brown and Tracy Eide, SB 6238 sponsor Steve Hobbs, and to your own Senator, so you should expect replies from Senators other than your own.

Thank you for taking action, and for all you do!

Best regards,

The Team at Verified Voting

[eridani]

23. We need public hearings on Senate Bills 6250 and 6147

Washington has the most regressive tax structure in the U.S. The poorest pay 17% of their income in taxes while the richest pay a mere 3%. It’s unjust. It’s also unstable – as the current budget crisis shows.

Tax reform bills have been repeatedly submitted to the Senate Ways & Means Committee, but always denied a hearing. Outrageous! Washingtonians deserve the right to speak on this issue.

While no current bill provides everything SOS would like to see, Senate Bills 6250 and 6147 each have positive features and deserve the chance for public comment.

SB 6250 establishes a graduated personal income tax
and reduces state sales and property taxes.

SB 6147 establishes a flat 1% tax on people earning
more than $500,000 a year. The money would be
earmarked for education.

To fully fund Basic Health and other services, we need to change the way Washington collects taxes. Call, fax or email the Senators listed below. Let your voice be heard!

Please contact:
Sen. Margarita Prentice,
Ways & Means Chair
360-786-7616 (phone); 360-786-1999 (fax)
prentice.margarita {at} leg.wa.gov

Sen. Karen Fraser,
Ways & Means Vice Chair
360-786-7642 (phone); 360-786-1999 (fax)
fraser.karen {at} leg.wa.gov

Sen. Rodney Tom,
Ways & Means Vice Chair
360-786-7694 (phone); 360-786-7450 (fax)
tom.rodney {at} leg.wa.gov

Urge them to:
- Hold public hearings on SB 6250 and 6147
- Institute a graduated income tax on millionaires; tax corporate profits
- Fully fund Basic Health, education and other vital services!

[eridani]

24. WA state initiative against corporate personhood

Senator Jacobsen has introduced a Senate Joint Memorial asking for Congress to submit to the states a Federal Constitutional Amendment limiting the political activities of Corporations. The bill has been sent to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee, where Darlene Fairley from your district is the chair. Can I get your help to push this through committee AS FAST AS POSSIBLE before first cutoff goes by and we miss the opportunity for this year?

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=8027

Please read the bill as submitted. As you can see, this is one of the most critical issues that we have ever dealt with in this country in over 230 years. This is literally a "Drop Everything" moment. I'm not joking. Specific actions to take are below the text of the bill.


SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8027

State of Washington 61st Legislature 2010 Regular Session
By Senator Jacobsen

TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution was designed to protect the free speech rights of people, not corporations; and

WHEREAS, For the past three decades, a divided United States Supreme Court has misinterpreted the First Amendment favoring the corporations' agenda over the people's voice; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC overturned longstanding precedent prohibiting corporations from freely spending their general treasury funds for purposes of electioneering communications or direct contributions to candidates for public office; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC will now permit unprecedented spending of corporate money in our political process unrivaled by any campaign expenditure totals in United States history; and

WHEREAS, An individual can use his or her money to speak on his or her singular behalf, the money corporations use to speak belongs to its shareholders, who presumably come from disparate political ideologies; and

WHEREAS, It took over one million individual donors to raise about seven hundred fifty million dollars for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately five percent of ExxonMobil's third quarter profits in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately five percent of Bank of America's profits in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately 18 percent of Bank of America's profits in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately 37.5 percent of Goldman Sachs's first quarter profits in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately 18 percent of JPMorgan Chase's third quarter profits in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately 25 percent of Ford's profits in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Seven hundred fifty million dollars is approximately five percent of Philip Morris's profits in 2008; and

WHEREAS, Individual shareholders will now be inextricably absorbed into the corporation's powerful political action, regardless of their individual political beliefs and affiliations; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC threatens to dilute an individual's power as a voting citizen and compromise the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v. FEC presents a serious and direct threat to our democracy;

WHEREAS, The people of the United States have previously used the constitutional amendment process to correct those egregiously wrong decisions of the United States Supreme Court that go to the heart of our democracy and self-government;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memoralists respectfully pray that Congress, in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States, immediately transmit to the several states for ratification an amendment to the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution so that corporations will not be considered as persons for the purposes of electioneering communications or direct contributions to candidates for public office.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

So how do we push this through? The bill is currently in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee. Here are the members:

Senator Room Phone
Fairley, Darlene (D-32) Chair JAC 227 [phone]
Oemig, Eric (D-45) Vice Chair LEG 416 [phone]
Roach, Pam (R-31) Ranking INB 202 [phone]
Benton, Don (R-17) INB 109B [phone]
McDermott, Joe (D-34) JAC 230 [phone]
Pridemore, Craig (D-49) JAC 212 [phone]
Swecker, Dan (R-20) INB 103 [phone]

Government Operations & Elections
439 J.A. Cherberg Bldg., P.O. Box 40466, Olympia, WA 98504-0466
Telephone: [phone] / Legislative Hotline: [phone]

If you live in one of the districts represented above, please contact your Senators office directly and ask them to co-sponsor and support the bill. Then we need EVERYONE to call the committee office itself and ask that SJM 8027 be put on the hearings schedule as soon as possible so it can then be scheduled for a vote in committee. The first cutoff, where all bills must be out of the first committee, is tomorrow, February 5th. So this is a drop everything moment to get this done.

[eridani]

35. Looks like we've got a bill against school bullying!

It’s a victory for everyone in Washington State, especially students, and a milestone in how far society has come in their understanding of LGBT Washingtonians.

Yesterday the Washington State Senate passed HB 2801, An act relating to anti-harassment strategies in public schools. What made this vote so impressive was that it was 48-0 in the State Senate. Earlier in the session the bill passed the State House 97-0.

Background

In 2002 the Washington State legislature passed an anti-bullying law. At the time the bill that was meant to protect ALL students from bullying was controversial because it included sexual orientation. The anti-bullying law required schools to adopt an anti-bullying policy that covered, at a minimum, all the classes contained in Washington State’s hate crimes law and this included sexual orientation. In 2009 the definition of sexual orientation was amended to include gender identity and expression.

In 2007 the scope of the anti-bullying law was expanded to include electronic acts, and the Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA) was directed to develop a model policy and sample materials prohibiting acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying conducted via electronic means by a student while on school grounds and during the school day.

Meanwhile, the legislature commissioned a report to study the effectiveness of the State’s anti-bullying law. The Report was released in late 2008 and found that bullying in Washington Schools had not diminished. New legislation was needed.

You can read the full report here:
http://equalrightswashington.org/pdfs/Bullying%20in%20Washington%20Schools_electronic%20version_FINAL.pdf

Representative Marko Liias who serves on the education committee immediately responded to the report and introduced legislation in the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions. Among the challenges facing the legislature was how to address the persistent problem of bullying in the context of the economic crisis. HB 2801 is an important step in reducing bullying in our schools and reflects the legislature’s ability to address important issues even during the economic downturn.

HB 2801: What it does

The new law begins with an assessment of the current situation and a strong desire to improve the situation.

“The legislature finds that despite a recognized law prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students in public schools and despite widespread adoption of antiharassment policies by school districts, harassment of students continues and has not declined since the law was enacted. Furthermore, students and parents continue to seek assistance against harassment, and schools need to disseminate more widely their antiharassment policies and procedures. The legislature intends to expand the tools, information, and strategies that can be used to combat harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students, and increase awareness of the need for respectful learning communities in all public schools.”

The law that will now go to Governor Gregoire to be signed into law includes the following provisions:

By august 1, 2011 each school district must adopt or amend its anti-harrasment policy and procedures to at a minimum incorporate the revised model policy that will be drafted by the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with representatives of parents, school personnel, the office of the education ombudsman, the Washington state school directors' association, and other interested parties.
Each school district shall designate one person in the district as the primary contact regarding the antiharassment, intimidation, or bullying policy. The primary contact shall receive copies of all formal and informal complaints, have responsibility for assuring the implementation of the policy and procedure, and serve as primary contact on the policy and procedures between the school district, the office of the education ombudsman, and the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
The superintendent of public instruction shall publish on its web site, with a link to the safety center web page, the revised and updated model harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention policy and procedure, along with training and instructional materials on the components that shall be included in any district policy and procedure.

The superintendent shall adopt rules regarding school districts' communication of the policy and procedure to parents, students, employees, and volunteers.

Each school district shall by August 15, 2011, provide to the superintendent of public instruction a brief summary of its policies, procedures, programs, partnerships, vendors, and instructional and training materials to be posted on the school safety center web site, and shall also provide the superintendent with a link to the school district's web site for further information. The district's primary contact for bullying and harassment issues shall annually by August 15th verify posted information and links and notify the school safety center of any updates or changes.

The office of the education ombudsman shall serve as the lead agency to provide resources and tools to parents and families about public school antiharassment policies and strategies."

To be certain much work remains to be done to combat bullying in Washington Public Schools but HB 2801 is an important step forward. A key finding of the 2008 report was that anti-bullying programs need to be funded. When the economic crisis lessons we will need to return to address the budgetary needs of anti-bullying programs. Happily Washington State has a strong Safe Schools Coalition that will continue to work with the legislature to make sure that Washington State Law reflects best practices in combating bullying in schools. The Safe Schools Coalition website is an important resource for Parents, Educators and students alike.

Today let us celebrate the leadership of Representative Marko Liias who championed this legislation, the commitment of the legislature to ensuring that every student enjoys a safe learning environment and the ongoing work of the Safe Schools Coalition.

[eridani]

36. King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee Newsletter #5

March 8, 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End of Session Nears as Budgets are debated and voted on

The Washington State Legislature is nearing the end of its current session. Only 4 days remain until the end of the regular session at midnight on Thursday, March 11, 2010. The big question remaining is whether Legislators will be able to reconcile the House and Senate budgets with sufficient revenue from new sources while repealing questionable tax exemptions. In addition hard choices will have to be made in terms of which programs and services to cut.

Last year some $3 billion was cut from the budget and the shortfall this year is some $2.8 billion additional. If the House and Senate are not able to reach agreement on the budget, a special session will be called to extend the session. This is not a good idea politically in an election year when the state is cutting so many services. Urge Legislators to complete their business on time.

Contact your Legislators with your ideas on raising revenue, cutting under performing tax exemptions and where you think savings might be in current programs and any cuts you might accept. There are hard choices to be made. Go to www.leg.wa.gov and e-mail your Legislators with your views. You can't complain about what they do if they don't hear from you. They are hearing plenty it seems from those that oppose any revenue increases.

Budget News

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WA Governor approves suspension of anti-tax law
Feb 24, 2010 - Seattle Times
"A measure to temporarily suspend the tax-limiting constraints placed on lawmakers by a voter-approved initiative was signed into law by Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday.
Gregoire signed the bill just days after the Legislature approved the measure. The measure takes effect immediately.

The bill spurred two weeks of heated debate in both the House and Senate. Initiative 960 makes it harder for lawmakers to raise taxes or to close tax exemptions, which is why the Democratic majority needed the suspension. ..."

The bill to suspend I-960 was a key component of passing this year's budget. Thank you are needed to Governor Gregoire and State Legislators who voted to suspend I-960.
You can check out the vote by going to SB 6130



Wash. Senate passes $890 million tax package
March 7, 2010 - from the Seattle Times
"After two days of contentious debate, the state Senate on Sunday approved an $890 million tax package that is centered on a temporary three-tenths-of-a-cent sales tax increase.
The main $804 million measure passed on a 25-23 vote, with six Democrats crossing the aisle to vote against it. A bill to add an extra $1-per-pack cigarette tax, bringing the state an extra $86 million, passed on a 29-19 vote. Once the House passes its proposed revenue plan, both chambers will go into final budget negotiations

..." click on link above for full article
Senate proposal: Add income tax on wealthy to cut sales tax for everyone , March 19, 2010 from the Seattle Times

"Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown wants to send voters an income-tax proposal that would hit the wealthy and give everyone a sales-tax break.
The fall ballot measure would put an income tax of 4.5 percent on income over $200,000 for individuals, $300,000 for heads of households, and $400,000 for married couples. It would not apply to corporations.

The pot sweetener: Voters would get to bring the state sales tax down by a penny.

A tax on high earners would "bring more fairness and stability to our sales-tax-dependent tax structure," Brown said on her blog Thursday." click on link above for full article


Vote on special Tax exemptions every 2 years by John Burbank, Economic Opportunity Institute, special to the Everett Herald March 3, 2010

Exemptions to Ax - Sins to Tax $2.2 billion in new revenue to stimulate Washington's economy and remodel its tax structure
briefing paper by Economic Opportunities Institute
updated Feb 17, 2010

Creating Jobs and Boosting Our Economy - An Action Plan for Washington's 2010 Legislature by Marilyn Watkins, PhD, Economic Opportunity Institute

see also:
Washington State Budget and Policy Center

Rebuilding Our Economic Future


Bills Still Moving:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Safe Baby Bottle Bill passes House:

"The Safe Baby Bottle Bill took a major step toward becoming law today (March 3, 2010), as the House voted 96-1 to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles, sippy cups and other food and beverage containers used by children under the age of three.
The ban on baby food and drink containers manufactured with BPA would take effect in July, 2011, and would be followed a year later by a ban on BPA-containing sports bottles, which are often used by pregnant women. " see full article for more detail

House passes bill to require recycling mercury containing lights
Rep "Hunt marshaled support in the House of Representatives yesterday (Tuesday, March 2, 2010) for legislation establishing a producer-financed product-stewardship program for collecting, recycling, and disposing mercury-containing fluorescent lights. The vote was 71-27. He said he hopes the Senate will go along with House amendments to the bill and send it on to the governor's desk.

Hunt, D-Olympia (22nd Legislative District), said Senate Bill 5543 requires producers of mercury-containing fluorescent lights to participate in a product-stewardship program and fully implement the program by Jan. 1, 2013. The sale of bulk mercury would be prohibited by June 30, 2012. ..." see full article by clicking on link


Still Time to Enact SB 5912-Supreme Court Fair Elections Because the bill to publicly finance State Supreme Court races is a budget item, the bill is still alive but it needs support. It's stuck in the Senate. Urge your Senators to act now. Then contact your House members. Go to WashClean for the latest information.
Labor Update from Brad Larssen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAC Labor Update: March 6, 2010:

First the good news:

HB 2789 - Passed by both House and Senate. Delivered to Governor March 6.

HB 2805 - Amended in the Senate, then Passed. The House concurred, and passed the bill as amended by the Senate.
Unfortunately, the amendment appears to have weakened enforcement for violations, and to exempt D.O.T. projects.
Even so, 6 Dems voted against the bill: Eddy (48th), Hunter (48th), O'Brien (1st), Morris (40th), Probst (17th), and Haigh (35th). And 3 others were excused.

Of the 3 collective bargaining bills that survived until last week, 2 have passed both houses and been sent to the Governor.

HB 1560 - Higher Ed. Employees. Passed by both House and Senate. Delivered to Governor March 6.

SB 5046 - Symphony musicians. (We were tracking HB 3003, but the Senate version was the one passed.)
Passed by both Senate and House. Delivered to Governor March 5.

Action still needed!

HB 2561 - Jobs Act of 2010. This bill has seen no action in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. We should call Senators and Senate leadership and urge them to pass this bill. They can still do this if they consider it necessary to implement the budget. These are bonds, not deficit spending. They are for energy efficiency improvements in schools and other public buildings, which will save costs in the long run. Plus these jobs are desperately needed now.

Now for the bad news:

Two of our top priorities went nowhere:

HB 1992 - Prevailing Wage on Public/Private Partnerships. Died in Hose Capitol Budget Committee.

SB 6035 - Retro Reform. Ignored entirely this session.

Recent demise of HB 1329 - Collective Bargaining rights for child care center workers:
The other prevailing wage bill we were following died in the Senate Ways and Means, without being brought to a vote, after Sen. Cheryl Pflug (R-5th) claimed that a deal "that we would not unionize child care centers" had been
From Wa Low-Income Housing Alliance: Senate Cuts HTF 40%!

The Housing Trust Fund: Tell YOUR Senator $100 million means housing and jobs!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday, March 5, 2010
Last week the House of Representatives proposed $100 million for the Trust Fund, but the Senate has proposed cuts of $39.5 million. This would take money away from affordable housing projects already counting on a commitment from the State and will literally leave gapping holes in our communities where affordable housing was slated to go.

The Housing Trust Fund is the most important tool Washington State has to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live in a safe, decent, affordable home. Virtually no project can happen without the Housing Trust Fund playing a role.


Please call or email your Senator today to tell them that, "My community needs affordable housing and the jobs that affordable housing production brings. Fund the Housing Trust Fund at $100 milllion - cuts are unacceptable at time when our communities are struggling to make ends meet."


Visit this page to send a message to your Senator and Senate Leadership

Are we seriously talking about cutting GAU again?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Solid Ground Blog (Solid Ground was formerly the Fremont Public Association
March 5, 2010
read the full post by clicking on the link above

"We all hope that if we face a job loss or become disabled, we will have the support we need and the opportunity for a good quality of life. Strong public systems like General Assistance for the Unemployable (GAU), which is in the process of being renamed the Disability Lifeline, ensure all people can meet their basic needs when times are tough, as well as lay the foundation for economic recovery ....

...The $339 monthly cash grant and medical coverage that this program provides is often the difference between housing and homelessness, between a meal and going hungry. Currently, 21,000 people rely on GAU/Disability Lifeline to pay rent, cover critical medications, and pay for basic needs. Despite all of this, both the Governor and the Senate have proposed to drastically cut this much-needed program.
In their proposals, both the Governor and the Senate limit the amount of time a person can receive GAU, and the Senate reduces the already small monthly grant to a $50 stipend. This is outrageous. Now is not the time to make such drastic reductions to this crucial program. With less than one week left in the legislative session and legislators debating their budget proposals as I type, we must act NOW! We must urge our legislators to raise more revenue to protect GAU and the other critical programs that help people meet their basic needs....

Email your lawmakers or call them toll-free at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to raise more revenue to protect the Disability Lifeline, formerly GAU, and other crucial programs. If you or someone close to you would be personally affected by the elimination of GAU or any other crucial program, please include that in your message.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Fighting Big Oil for Clean Water
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message from People for Puget Sound

hese are the last days of the legislative session and your support of the Working for Clean Water Bill is now more critical than ever. Please join the fight for clean water by contacting your legislators ASAP!

Click here to: Fight Big Oil, Take Action Today!



Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
e-mail:
stevezemke {at} msn.com
sarajane3h {at} comcast.net

[eridani]

37. Please ask the Gov to veto House Bill 2876

Bill to combat prescription abuse really will harm patients in pain
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire should veto House Bill 2876, write physician leaders whose expertise is in pain treatment. Though the bill is aimed at reducing prescription-drug abuse, it will end up harming patients who need pain relief.

By Perry G. Fine, Scott M. Fishman and Seddon R. Savage

Special to The Times

House Bill 2876, which sits on the desk of Washington's governor awaiting her signature, aims to reduce the serious and growing problem of prescription-drug abuse. However, the current legislation has little likelihood of improving this scourge and risks punishing the patients who need these medications and their physicians.

Major professional organizations with the perspective to make objective and fair-minded evaluations oppose it. In the interest of the public health, it is critical that policymakers create balanced solutions that prevent prescription-drug abuse without undermining responsible humane care of ongoing pain.

Key among concerns with HB 2876 is that it implements guidelines requiring a prescriber for any patient with chronic pain who needs a moderate to high dose of a strong painkiller called an opioid, to obtain consultation with a pain specialist. This means that if the bill were enacted today, many patients would unnecessarily suffer from severe but treatable pain.

The guideline that is the law's premise has been denounced by many leading medical organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Pain Society, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Pain Foundation, American Society for Pain Management Nursing, and the Pain & Policy Studies Group at the University of Wisconsin. These groups argue it fails for several reasons:

• There are not enough pain specialists resulting in long delays while patients suffer and in many geographic areas consultations may not be available at all.

• Pain consultations are expensive and the bill does not address how they would be paid.

• The message to prescribers emphasizes getting help too late — after dosing has already gone up rather than applying risk management at the beginning of treatment.

• It imposes new liability concerns on physicians that will drive doctors from treating pain.

The combination of these issues will leave many patients to suffer with unnecessary pain and caregivers to defer pain management, ultimately resulting in greater socioeconomic burden and cost.

Equally troubling as a law doomed to failure is that Washington recently disbanded a system with proven success in capturing abusers of painkillers. Such Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMPs) exist in most other states and make data available to prescribers who can identify patients who may be abusing drugs before writing a new prescription.

PMPs allow doctors to treat legitimate pain patients while identifying those who go from doctor to doctor seeking prescriptions for illicit use.

It is important that Washington physicians are up-to-date in employing best practices for prescribing controlled substances and have ready access to prescription-management tools that help patients and address prescription-drug abuse. This however requires education and investment in programs like a PMP rather than laws that simply restrict practice.

Pain is the most common reason that people go to the doctor. Balance must be struck between the need to stop prescription-drug abuse and patients' legitimate need for pain relief. Washington must find that balance without harming legitimate pain patients or their doctors.

Simply put, Gov. Chris Gregoire should veto this bill so that patient care continues to be based on the patient's best interest.

Rather than legislating dubious restrictions, why not start with actions that prevent problems early in the process? State leaders should immediately support a PMP that helps physicians deter prescription abuse. All prescribers must be educated and supported to use safe risk management at the outset of treatment rather than restricting them once treatment has begun.

Effective solutions to prescription-drug abuse are critical to the public health but HB 2876 is a false "fix" at the expense of sound public-health policy and patients in pain.

Perry G. Fine, M.D., is president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine; Scott M. Fishman, M.D., is president of the American Pain Foundation; and Seddon R. Savage, M.D., is president-elect of the American Pain Society.

[eridani]

38. Gregoire's #

Please take a moment to call Governor Gregoire at 360.902.4111 to encourage her to VETO this bill. ADDED BURDEN TO THE ELDERLY, UNLIKELY TO PREVENT DRUG ABUSE.

[eridani]

39. Please counteract anti-tax whackjobs

We are hearing that some House members that have been standing strong on revenue are getting a lot of heat from anti-tax forces.


House members reportedly receiving the most negative pressure include:
Appleton, Blake, Dunshee, Finn, Flannigan, Goodman, Haigh, Linville, Maxwell, Morris, O'Brien, Rolfes, Springer, Sullivan, Takko, and Wallace.

These legislators stood up for us, and we should let them know we appreciate their commitment to passing a responsible budget that includes significant new revenue.


Also, two other House members -- Morrell and Eddy -- are possible yes votes on revenue. Messages to them from constituents saying we will have their back if they support revenue would also be helpful.

If you have the capacity to generate positive e-mails or calls (use the legislative hotline at 1 800 562 6000), please get them a message ASAP.



For more information and to sign up for news, information, and action about housing please visit www.wliha.org. You can also find the Housing Alliance on Facebook and follow up on Twitter.

[eridani]

40. March King County LAC meeting 3/21 in Renton

March 20, 2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reminder:
Legislative Action Committee Regular Meeting

Sunday, March 21, 2010 2 PM - 4 PM
Renton Carpenter's Hall
231 Burnett Ave N

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Guest - John Burbank
Economic Opportunities Instituite

will be discussing the State Budget, Revenue, and Tax Exemptions and the
Proposed Income Tax Initiative being considered for Washington State

see Economic Opportunities Institute website for background information
Washington State Legislature Still in Special Session
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
from The Hopper - the Senate Democratic Blog:

"The state Senate on Friday revised a major revenue bill and again sent it to the House of Representatives as part of a balanced approach to closing a $2.8 billion budget shortfall.
The Senate's two-bill revenue package would now raise $809 million through June 30, 2011.

Senate Bill 6143, approved Friday on a 25-18 vote, closes more than a dozen tax loopholes and extends the sales tax to bottled water for three years.

It would increase the state sales tax by two-tenths of 1 percent and the state's business and occupation tax on service businesses by one-quarter of 1 percent for three years each. Under the revised version, Realtors, research and development businesses, and nonprofit and public hospitals would not be affected by the surcharge. The sales tax increase is expected to cost the typical household $20 a year.

The bill also doubles the small business tax credit permanently for service businesses and funds the implementation of the Working Families Tax Rebate. Low-income families would start receiving checks in 2012".

[eridani]

41. Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans discussing session 3/25

The Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans will be holding its first annual legislative overview meeting Wednesday, March 25th at 1:30 p.m at the UFCW hall at 5030 1st Ave South. We will have several state legislators present to give us some background info on the past legislative session and will discuss anticipated issues for the next session. We do hope you can make it to this one.

[eridani]

43. Do NOT let these wasteful tax breaks stay in the budget! Call your representatives!

http://www.publicola.net/2010/04/08/tax-break-for-centralia-coal-powered-plant-back-in-budget/?utm_source=RSS+Feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+publicola+%28PubliCola+%7C+Seattle%27s+News+Elixir%29

A lot of corporate tax breaks that had been on the chopping block in this year’s budget negotiations—a $50 million exemption for big banks and a $76.5 million exemption for custom software—are preserved in the current budget deal.

A much smaller break, but a much more controversial one, a $4 million break for a coal-powered steam plant in Centralia—which the state House and Senate had originally reneged in this year’s budget—is also back according to the revenue list we’ve seen (meaning no $4 million from TransAlta.)

[eridani]

44. Final wrap-up discussion with the King County Legislative Action Committee; Redmond 4/18

Please come this

Sunday April 18, 2010
from 2 PM to 4 PM for a special post Legislative session briefing
with special guests

Representative Ross Hunter

Representative Larry Springer

and Senator Eric Oemig!


Redmond Public Library
15990 NE 85th St
Redmond, WA


This is a great opportunity to be updated on the just completed Legislative session in Olympia and what we can look forward to next year regarding new and unfinished legislation. In addition we expect a lively discussion of what we can expect to look forward to next year regarding the budget and its impact on services and revenue sources. This event is open to the public.

[eridani]

45. 36th District lawmakers town hall meeting 4/19 in Seattle

36th District lawmakers invite citizens to town hall meeting

OLYMPIA — Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson and Rep. Reuven Carlyle will host a town hall meeting to talk about the 2010 Legislative Session and what future steps our state should take.

“For the past two legislative sessions, the state has faced fiscal challenges not seen since the Great Depression,” Kohl-Welles said. “We will be sharing with constituents how the Legislature addressed these challenges in passing the operating budget with a combination of budget cuts, new revenue and closing of tax loopholes, federal stimulus funds and using some of the reserves.”

The town hall will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 19th at the Q Café.

“We have a lot to talk about,” Dickerson said.

The legislators will also discuss issues including legislation affecting the 36th District and take comments and questions from constituents.

“While email and phone calls during session are great, getting together and talking about our community is hugely informative and motivating as a lawmaker,” Carlyle said. “Our state is facing huge issues and we need everyone involved in the solutions.”

The Q Café is located at 3223 15th Ave West in the Interbay neighborhood, just south of the Ballard Bridge and by the Quest Church. There is ample parking, but public transit is encouraged using Metro routes 15, 18 and 81