State legislature agenda for 2011--the time to start is now!

[eridani]

The first planning event to hit my inbox is--

Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans's Legislative Committee meets Friday, Aug. 27th, 11 a.m. to begin planning for our fall legislative conference, development of our legislative agenda, and preliminary planning for our participation in the 2011 legislative session. We meet in Room 226 at the Labor Temple, 2800 First Av, Seattle. All interested members are invited.

[eridani]

1. Cannabis Defense Coalition 2011 legislation

To help our membership and the entire cannabis community make sense of the draft legislation proposed by Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, we created a color-coded guide to the bill. We have tried to pull out details of note or of concern to us or other community members. This color-coding is a judgment call, and may not represent everyone's opinion on the language, though we have tried to do a thoughtful job pulling out points worthy of discussion and debate. As such, please treat it with a critical eye, form your own opinions, and use it as a handy reference tool. We plan on having many (costly) copies of this markup at tonight's forum.


* Bill analysis: http://cdc.coop/docs/2011_bill_analysis.pdf
* Bill markup: http://cdc.coop/docs/2011_bill_markup.pdf

One may link to these, and the original draft, at:

* http://cdc.coop/2011_legislation

[eridani]

2. Environmentalists Outline Legislative Agenda for 2011 Session

http://www.publicola.net/2010/11/30/environmentalists-outline-legislative-agenda-for-2011-session/

After a so-so showing last year, environmental advocates have identified their agenda items for the 2011 legislative session in Olympia. They are: Phasing the TransAlta coal-fired plant off coal; cleaning up stormwater runoff around the state; restricting the use of phosphorous-based fertilizer; and protecting basic environmental programs in this year’s shaky budget.

Two of these are repeats from last year’s official agenda: 1) cleaning up stormwater runoff and 2) protecting green programs. They lost on the first item—a proposed hazardous substance tax on oil companies that would have funded stormwater cleanup failed last year.

Surprisingly, given last year’s budget shortfall, environmental lobbyists were able to protect core programs at the Department of Ecology, the state’s environmental regulatory agency, from getting axed. But given this year’s shortfall—$900 million for the remainder of the current biennium and more than $5.5 billion for the next biennium, protecting programs at Ecology is part of the game plan once again.

Transitioning TransAlta’s Centralia plant off coal is not only a new official agenda item (it’s been a hot topic for green lobbyists for a while), it’s also a direct affront to Governor Chris Gregoire. She is currently in negotiations with the company to phase out its reliance on coal—the plant is the number one single source of greenhouse-gas pollution in the state. The environmental community, which says the talks are going nowhere, has long insisted that the plant transition away from coal by 2015. Gregoire’s talks with the company are focused on 2025.

Last year, liberal state Sen. Eric Oemig (D-45) pushed legislation that would have ended a $4 to $5 million annual tax break for the company, but Gregoire killed that idea out of respect for the ongoing talks. (Oemig lost the election this year.)

Addressing an issue that dogged environmentalists last year—namely, that green issues aren’t viewed with the same urgency as economic issues during a recession—Craig Benjamin, spokesman for the Environmental Priorities Coalition says:

We are taking a very realistic and pragmatic approach this year, and have crafted priorities that will spur the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs while helping to protect our environment; win-wins for both the economy and the environment. Honestly, it’s even more important during these difficult times for our leaders in Olympia to make smart decisions that support our economy and protect the environment, and that’s what we’re proposing to work with them to accomplish this session.

What jobs is Benjamin talking about? He says “shovel-ready” stormwater cleanup projects will fund infrastructure projects. He also says the TransAlta effort will focus on creating jobs in Lewis County—home of the plant—rather than simply demanding a transition away from coal. (The plant is the biggest employer in the community.)

Benjamin says a number of legislators have expressed interest in sponsoring a TransAlta bill.

FRom Washington Conservation Voters

Now that the dust has settled from the elections, Washington Conservation Voters turns our attention to the upcoming state legislative session. A projected $5 billion budget shortfall means that even our core environmental protections are in danger. We'll meet this challenge head-on and advocate for policies that support both a strong economic recovery and move us towards our environmental goals.

Not only can we move forward on protecting the environment - we must if we are to spur economic growth and ensure a bright future for our state.

Washington Conservation Voters plays an unique role in Olympia – we are the lead lobbyists for environmental issues and hold our elected officials accountable for their votes. Teaming with our partner organizations in the state, we will work to pass the 2011 Environmental Priorities (click on each to read more on our website).

Working for Clean Water - creates thousands of green jobs cleaning up the toxic runoff into Puget Sound and rivers and lakes across Washington.
Budget Solutions for our Environment - a proactive approach to preserving core environmental protections in the state budget.
Reducing Phosphorus Pollution - restricting the sale of phosphorus fertilizer, which pollutes our lakes and rivers.
Coal Free Future for Washington - moving forward to find the right way to transition Washington beyond coal to clean energy by 2015.
Our 2011 Priorities will help ensure clean water, create new jobs, and reduce threats to our families’ health. Together we can build our economy and protect our quality of life in Washington.


I also want to invite you to attend the annual Legislative Workshop on Saturday, January 8th. You'll have the opportunity to learn more about the Priorities, hear from a panel of legislators, and participate in skill breakout sessions. Register online today. ttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1608&EID=8267

Now is the moment to forge a future that sustains our environment, fuels our economy, and protects our rich quality of life. I hope you'll join us again this upcoming legislative session.


Thanks for all you do,

Brendon Cechovic
Political Director

[eridani]

17. Lobby day is 2/15

This year Climate Solutions is excited to support the Environmental Priorities Coalition’s annual Environmental Lobby Day in Olympia on February 15th, 2011. Let’s make it a Power of the People day!

Join us and register today.

There are climate friendly bus options available from Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Bellevue, Seattle, Port Townsend, Bremerton, Silverdale, Tacoma, Vancouver and Spokane to make it easy, comfortable, and affordable for a large contingent of citizen advocates from across our state to descend upon Olympia in force. (Details on the registration page).

Check out this YouTube video from last year’s Environmental Lobby Day to get a taste of the day.

The Environmental Priorities Coalition’s 2011 legislative package:

Coal Free Future for Washington Moving Washington beyond the dirty fuels economy of the past to the clean energy economy of the future.
Budget Solutions for Our Environment A proactive approach that will protect our public health, economic future, and quality of life in Washington.
Clean Fertilizers, Healthier Lakes and Rivers A commonsense and cost effective approach to cleaning up our lakes and rivers.
2011 Clean Water Jobs Act The 2011 Clean Water Jobs Act will fund job-creating projects all over the state, by building clean water infrastructure that will restore our water ways.

Go here for more details about the four priorities.

Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Time: 9:00 am-6:00 pm
Location: United Churches, Olympia

Pre-Registration is required and closes on February 11th. Registration fee $20. Day of registration is $25. Includes all breakfast, lunch, materials, appointments and the reception. Bus transportation includes gas, parking, coffee and breakfast and stress free driving! (Details on the registration page.)

Register here.

Every year, the environmental community identifies legislative priorities to rally resources and grassroots support during Washington State’s legislative session. In the 2008, Environmental Priorities Coalition successfully passed all four environmental priorities. It was accomplished through dedicated citizen involvement at Lobby Day by people who are passionate about the environment. In 2009, over 500 citizen advocates descended upon the capitol.

In the words of Representative Tom Campbell (an environmental Republican) who spoke to attendees to inspire them and acknowledge the power of citizen advocacy, “When I see an army of real people, I love it. I absolutely love it.”

During Lobby Day, you will:

*Learn about the issues: Get briefed by experts on all four priorities.
*Attend lobbying trainings: Learn the tricks of the trade from top environmental lobbyists.
*Meet face-to-face with your legislators: Put your knowledge into action in a face to face meeting with your legislator.
*Attend an important committee hearing on the Capitol campus.
*Eat well, with a continental breakfast and catered lunch.
*Celebrate the day with food and drink at our post event reception! This year will be special as we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of People For Puget Sound.

For more information contact Rein Attemann, [e-mail], or [phone] x173.

Hope to see you in Olympia!


Joelle Robinson
Field Director, Climate Solutions

[eridani]

3. State League of Women Voters Sets Legislative Priorities

The 2011 regular session of the Washington State Legislature is scheduled to begin Jan. 10. The state League will again have its legislative action team in place and will lobby for its priorities.
League’s Priorities for the 2011 Legislative Session

Strengthen Democracy
- support public campaign financing for judicial positions
- protect state funding that invests in programs to promote a more positive future for all citizens

Support Education, Early Learning, Families and Children
- support development of a funding system for the K-12 basic education structure
- protect state and federal funding to meet basic needs of families and children
- promote policies and programs that promote the well-being and safety of all children
- improve and support child care program quality and access for low-income families

Improve Access to Health Care
- guarantee access for all residents in comprehensive, uniform, and affordable health services
- use implementation of the Affordable Care Act to help maintain funding for public health, health coverage for low income populations, and for incentives for primary care doctors to work in under-served areas

Protect Natural Resources and Human Health
- provide clean energy and good health by transitioning power plants away from burning coal
- reduce pollution by controlling phosphorus in lawn fertilizers
- adopt an effective program to clean up and prevent pollutants, including petroleum products, from entering the waters of the state
- reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals in children’s products quickly and effectively

Promote a Balanced Transportation System
- increase affordable and reliable access to public transportation
- decrease the number of single-occupancy vehicles on roads, bridges and ferries
- increase fuel efficiency by promoting development and use of alternative fuel sources across all modes of transportation

[eridani]

4. Washington Environmental Council workshop in Seattle 1/8/2011

Event: 2011 Legislative Workshop
Organization: Washington Environmental Council
When: Jan 08, 2011 09:30 AM - Jan 08, 2011 02:30 PM
Where: Seattle Pacific University
3310 Sixth Avenue West Seattle
WA United States 98119


View details and register online at:
ttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1608&EID=8267&LNG=EN&VER=



Read more: http://pugetsoundblogs.com/league-of-women-voters-kitsap/2010/12/06/state-league-sets-legislative-priorities/#ixzz17SMJ6yuN

[eridani]

5. Reproductive Health & Rights Lobby Day 2/28/2011

Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington and NARAL Pro-Choice Washington are hosting our annual
Reproductive Health & Rights Lobby Day on
Monday, February 28, 2011


In 2010, activists like you prevented devastating budget cuts to family planning, and kept some of Washington’s most vulnerable women and men safe.

Now, Washington is facing the worst budget crisis in history.
Hard choices have to be made, but cutting family planning just doesn't make sense. Losing access to birth control and cancer screenings would mean disaster for Washington women and families who are already teetering on the edge of hunger and homelessness – and it would also be a disaster for our state's budget.

Now, more than ever, is the time to make your voice heard.
Join citizen activists from across Washington State for our annual LOBBY DAY to ensure funding for and access to basic reproductive health care services and information. No experience necessary– we provide training, transportation, and hospitality.

Please stay tuned for more information about registration, training and Lobby Day logistics. We'll see you on February 28th!

[eridani]

6. House Democrats Cue Up New Committee Assignments

December 18, 2010
Publicola, Josh Feit

Here’s a close-to-final draft of committees and committee chairs that Democratic House leadership is circulating this afternoon.

Some things worth noting: education reformers will be disappointed that state Rep. Marcie Maxwell, who was up to chair the education committee, lost out to Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos; Rep. Ross Hunter’s finance committee has been folded into the powerful ways & means committee with Hunter at the helm.

Agriculture & Natural Resources
Blake Chair
Stanford Vice Chair
Dunshee
Lytton
Rolfes
Van De Wege

Business & Financial Services

Kirby Chair
Kelley Vice Chair
Blake
Hudgins
Hurst
Pedersen
Ryu
Stanford

Capital Budget

Dunshee Chair
Ormsby Vice Chair
Jacks
Jinkins
Lytton
Tharinger

Community Development & Housing

Kenney Chair
Finn Vice Chair
Maxwell
Ryu
Santos

Early Learning & Human Services

Kagi Chair
Roberts Vice Chair
Dickerson
Goodman
Orwall

Education

Santos Chair
Lytton Vice Chair
Billig
Finn
Haigh
Hunt
Ladenburg
Liias
Maxwell
McCoy
Probst

Education Appropriations & Oversight

Haigh Chair
Probst Vice Chair
Frockt
Maxwell
Orwall
Reykdal
Rolfes
Santos
Sells
Stanford

Environment

Upthegrove Chair
Rolfes Vice Chair
Fitzgibbon
Morris
Moscoso
Takko
Tharinger

General Government Appropriations & Oversight

Hudgins Chair
Miloscia Vice Chair
Blake
Darneille
Fitzgibbon
Pedersen
Van De Wege

Health & Human Services Appropriations & Oversight

Dickerson Chair
Appleton Vice Chair
Cody
Green
Kagi
Pettigrew
Seaquist

Health Care & Wellness

Cody Chair
Jinkins Vice Chair
Clibborn
Green
Kelley
Moeller
Van De Wege

Higher Education

Seaquist Chair
Carlyle Vice Chair
Hasegawa
Jacks
Probst
Reykdal
Sells
Springer

Judiciary

Pedersen Chair
Goodman Vice Chair
Eddy
Frockt
Kirby
Orwall
Roberts

Labor & Workforce Development

Sells Chair
Reykdal Vice Chair
Green
Kenney
Miloscia
Moeller
Ormsby
Roberts

Local Government

Takko Chair
Tharinger Vice Chair
Fitzgibbon
Springer
Upthegrove

Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness

Hurst Chair
Ladenburg Vice Chair
Appleton
Goodman
Kirby
Moscoso

Rules*

Eddy
Frockt
Goodman
Green
Kelley
Maxwell
Moeller
Orwall
Pettigrew
Probst
Ryu
Springer
Sullivan
Van De Wege

*House Rules specify that Speaker is chair of Rules committee


State Government & Tribal Affairs

Hunt Chair
Appleton Vice Chair
Dunshee
Hurst
McCoy
Miloscia

Technology, Energy & Communications

McCoy Chair
Jacks Vice Chair
Billig
Carlyle
Eddy
Frockt
Hasegawa
Kelley
Liias
Morris

Transportation

Clibborn Chair
Billig Vice Chair
Liias Vice Chair
Eddy
Finn
Fitzgibbon
Jinkins
Ladenburg
Moeller
Morris
Moscoso
Reykdal
Rolfes
Ryu
Takko
Upthegrove

Ways & Means

Hunter Chair
Darneille Vice Chair, Appropriations
Hasegawa Vice Chair, Finance
Carlyle
Cody
Dickerson
Haigh
Hudgins
Hunt
Kagi
Kenney
Ormsby
Pettigrew
Seaquist
Springer
Sullivan

[eridani]

7. Medical cannabis bill review night 12/22

Bill review night Wednesday

This is not the final bill draft, but that time is near. We hope to digest this, put our concerns to paper, and provide that constructive feedback to the senator. Kohl-Welles has supported the medical cannabis community longer and stronger than any elected leader in Washington State; she deserves our gratitude and respect for that, and she is entitled to our community's constructive feedback, in lieu of the non-specific, unwritten fear-mongering and personal attack we sometimes produce.

To that end, we are hosting a bill review night this Wednesday, December 22 from 7-9 p.m. at that Seattle Cannabis Resource Center. The event is free and open to the public, though it will be part of the opinion gathering and consensus reaching process the CDC uses to form its legislative priorities and strategy.

* What: Medical cannabis bill review night
* When: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at 7 p.m.
* Where: Cannabis Resource Center, 1714 1st Ave S Seattle in Sodo
* Details: free and open to the public

[eridani]

8. Transportation Advocacy Day 2/10

http://www.bicyclealliance.org/programs/legislation.html#AdvocacyDay

On Transportation Advocacy Day February 10, 2011, we meet in Olympia to learn about legislative issues, meet with your legislators and network with other advocates.

Thursday February 10
9am - 5pm
United Churches
110 11th Ave SE
Olympia
Talking points and details to come.

If you are planning on attending you can Register online now. Carpool, take the train, even bike down for the day (it's been done!).

Legislative Resources

This section contains information and handouts that can be consulted for quick reference, printed for distribution or included in your organization's electronic newsletter, or placed in your group's resource web page.

BAW Mission Statement : This is a copy of the Bicycle Alliance of Washington mission statement. The mission statement guides the work of the BAW, including the work of the Committee. This is a one-page document.

Legislative Information Resources : This helpful document is full of handy references about such topics as where to find out about laws under consideration, who your legislators are, how you can attend Transportation Advocacy Day, and more.

2011 Bicycling Washington Legislative Summary A great one page handout on the key BAW legislative priorities for 2011, and highlights of our 2010 work. If you want a concise handout on what BAW is doing for bicyclists throughout the State, this is the handout to pass out to folks!

Past Accomplishments : This document covers the years 2006-2008 and summarizes many of the successful efforts the BAW has undertaken for bicyclists throughout Washington. A longer discussion of 2009 work is included in the Previous Legislative Efforts section.

Legislative Committee Charter : This is a copy of the Legislative and Statewide Issues Committee charter. This document provides details on the purpose and operation of the Committee. This document is several pages long and would be very useful for someone considering volunteering to serve on the Committee or anyone who would like a more in depth understanding of how the Committee works.

[eridani]

15. Update

PLEASE JOIN US FOR TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY DAY!



Transportation Advocacy Day is fast approaching! And the Bicycle Alliance is once again co-sponsoring it and has several bills under consideration.

TAD is a fun, exciting opportunity to meet and hear about the issues facing transportation advocates and support legislation to advance our cause.

The morning of TAD will be dedicated to informing you about the most pressing issues in Olympia and in the afternoon you’ll have the opportunity to lobby your Representatives and Senators to support more transportation choices. Come for all or part of the day. Lunch provided.

Please join us on February 10th in Olympia from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
United Churches, 110 11th Avenue SE, Olympia*

Click here to sign up:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5153/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=2894

Questions? Contact Dave Janis at davej {at} bicyclealliance.org

[eridani]

29. Ask House members to vote YES on HB 1339

Good news! The Senate version of the Vulnerable Users bill was passed by the Senate today. Many thanks to all who have worked hard for this result, and special thanks to Cascade Bicycle Club for spearheading this effort.

More action is needed. The House is expected to vote on their version of the bill (HB 1339) this Saturday or Monday. Please contact your Representative today and ask them to vote “Yea” for HB 1339. To find your Representative, go to http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

Check our Legislative Page for more information on the Vulnerable User bill and other legislative priorities that the Bicycle Alliance is working on.
http://www.bicyclealliance.org/programs/legislation.html#LegAgenda

[eridani]

9. Medical marijuana law draft

The CDC has released its bill markup and comments relating to the drat medical cannabis legislation planned for the 2011 Washington State legislative session. This product is a result of our December 22 bill review night, which was attended by twenty-one members and community activists.


The CDC has released its bill markup and comments relating to the drat medical cannabis legislation planned for the 2011 Washington State legislative session. This product is a result of our December 22 bill review night, which was attended by twenty-one members and community activists.

* Drat 9 comments: http://cdc.coop/docs/draft_9_comments.pdf
* Draft 9 markup: http://cdc.coop/docs/draft_9_markup.pdf
* Medical cannabis legislation page: http://cdc.coop/2011_legislation

[eridani]

10. Moms Rising to advocate for kids in Olympia 1/10

When: Monday, January 10th
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: The sundial on the Washington State Capitol in Olympia (The sundial is located across from the domed legislative building and in-between the O'Brian and the Cherberg buildings.

*Babies, kids and friends are all welcome. There'll be plenty of extra cookies and apples for everyone to munch while making this important delivery!

RSVP to Sarah {at} MomsRising.org

What we're doing: We're delivering special notes in lunch sacks to legislators reminding them not to forget children and families during this economic downturn. On the first day of school many moms across the country slip a little note into their child's lunch. And that is exactly what we are going to do for our legislators. Sure, loud pin-striped-lobbyists may host high-powered lunches for elected officials, but those don't hold a candle to a lunch packed by moms complete with special notes! Imagine a lunch sack including an apple, cookie, and note from you along with hundreds of other Washington folks -- sitting on top of your legislator's desk on their first day of session.

These lunch sack notes will remind legislators that in a tough economy kids matter more than ever, and that family-friendly policies like early learning (childcare, preschool, kindergarten) benefit everyone in Washington.

Help us deliver this fun and effective message in Olympia this Monday.

Happy New Year!

Sarah and the whole MomsRising.org team

[eridani]

11. League of Education Voters resources for this session

Your state lawmakers convened in Olympia today for the start of the 2011 legislative session. In the next 105 days, they will pass laws and approve a new state budget that closes a $4.6 billion shortfall.

Our job at LEV will be to inform and engage you about what’s happening in Olympia that will affect your kids and schools. We have already prepared several resources to help:

Session 2011 webpage: This is your one-stop shop for the latest news, an education bill tracker and our legislative agenda. The site features a "Leg for Dummies" section for frequently asked questions about how the Legislature works. http://www.educationvoters.org/session-2011/

Online State Budget Calculator: How will state lawmakers balance the budget? The budget calculator gives you the opportunity to fund your priorities and make tough decisions about what to cut. http://www.educationvoters.org/session-2011/budget/

Issue Papers: How is K-12 funded? What are Common Core Standards? Our issue papers address “hot topics” that will come up during the legislative session. http://www.educationvoters.org/session-2011/issues-2/

Again, we are here to help you understand how the 2011 session will impact kids and education. If you have any questions, send us an email at [e-mail] and we will find you some answers.

[eridani]

12. Senate hearing on 3 strikes bill 1/19

SENATE HEARING ON 3-STRIKES: SB 5053
*WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010, 1:30-3:30
Senate Hearing Rm 1, Cherberg Bldg, 304 15th Ave. Olympia
MAP AND PARKING INFORMATION

We are writing to ask you to consider two actions to support 3-Strikes in the next few days. First, we encourage you to attend the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for SB 5053 next Wednesday. A room filled with supporters sends a powerful message to legislators. Second, please expect a call or email from us in the next few weeks on when to reach your legislators at the best time to support this bill.

A sample message that you can send to your legislators any time appears to the right.

More information about the bill and the hearing appears below.



DESCRIPTION OF SB 5053

Over the past decade, more than 30 legislators have sponsored 3-Strikes reform bills. Senator Kline, Chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, has been the most consistent champion of this reform. This year, he has crafted a narrow fix to 3-Strikes that would reduce the most disproportionate impact of this law.

Senate Bill 5053 would:

Apply to 3-Strikers convicted of B level felonies only - primarily Robbery 2 and Assault 2.
Reduce sentences for these individuals from Life Without Parole to 15 Years to Life.
Allow these individuals to apply for parole after serving 15 years of "hard time" (no reduction for good behavior).
Make continued parole conditional on adherence to a behavior plan in the community.
Exclude 3-Strikers convicted of crimes with deadly weapons or sexual motivation from eligibility.

This small - but critical -- reform would apply to future defendants, as well as affecting an estimated 15-20 individuals currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) for lower-seriousness crimes. It has a fighting chance this year. Your support WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ATTENDING THE HEARING

At the hearing, you will sign as an attendee supporting the bill. This show of public support is an important part of the public record on this issue. It gets noticed. Sometimes members of a committee even ask supporters of a bill to stand up or raise their hands.

Please arrive a little early, as parking can take some time. Here is information on parking for the Capitol Building: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx*Note: There had been a possibility that the hearing would be rescheduled. This date and time have been reconfirmed

[eridani]

13. Sample letter for Senators

OPTIONS FOR SUPPORTING 3 STRIKES REFORM

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, more than 30 legislators have sponsored 3-Strikes reform bills. Senator Kline, Chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, has been the most consistent champion of this reform. This year, he has crafted a fix to 3-Strikes that would reduce the most disproportionate impact of this law. This is one important step toward larger reform needed for this law. More information at: http://fix3strikes.org

HOW SUPPORTERS CAN HELP

· Attend the hearing for this bill on January 19. (details below) At the hearing, sign as an attendee supporting the bill. This show of public support is noticed by the members of the committee and is an important part of the public record on this issue. Arrive early, as parking can take time!

· Call, email, or write your legislators.
· Find out who they are at 1-800-562-6000 or http://leg.wa.gov
· For email, use the standard format: [e-mail]. For example: Senator Adam Kline: [e-mail]
· You can reach all three of your legislators on the 800 hotline number above.
· Interested in visiting your legislators on this issue? Contact Justice Works! justice_works {at}yahoo.com

SENATE HEARING ON 3-STRIKES BILL: SB 5053
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19 2010, 1:30-3:30pm
Senate Hearing Room 1, Cherberg Bldg, 304 15th Ave. Olympia

MAP AND PARKING INFO:
http://www.wsba.org/info/directions/olympia-cherberg.htm

SAMPLE MESSAGE TO LEGISLATORS

Below is basic information about Senate Bill 5053 and sample language for sending emails to support this important reform.

Senate Bill 5053, sponsored by Senators Kline, Hargrove, Nelson, and Chase. would:
· Apply to 3-Strikers convicted of Class B felonies only, primarily Robbery 2 and Assault 2.

· Reduce sentences for these individuals from Life Without Parole to 15 Years to Life.

· Allow these individuals to apply for parole after serving 15 years of "hard time" (no reduction for good behavior).

· Make continued parole conditional on adherence to a behavior plan in the community.

· Exclude 3-Strikers convicted of crimes with deadly weapons or sexual motivation from eligibility.

This small - but critical -- reform would apply to future defendants as well as affecting an estimated 15-20 individuals currently serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) for lower-seriousness crimes. It has a fighting chance this year. Your support WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.





This sample message is much more effective if you personalize it!
Dear ___:

Please support Senate Bill 5053, "Authorizing community custody after fifteen years for specified persistent offenders".

This bill would allow 3-Strikers who have only Class B felonies to apply for parole after 15 years of incarceration. It is a small - and critically important - step toward making this law more just and effective.

At http://fix3strikes.org you will find a link to the Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission's 2000/2001 Sentencing Reform Act Review which recommends reforming 3-Strikes. You'll also see a list of over 30 community organizations supporting reform or repeal of this law.

Research, experience, and conscience all tell us that Life Without Parole for non-heinous crimes is neither just nor cost-effective.

Sincerely,
Your name, address, phone

[eridani]

18. Report on hearing

http://www.washblog.com/story/2011/1/22/13855/7474

Senate Bill 5236 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. It would allow Washington 3-Strikers who have only Class B felonies and no weapons charges or sexual offenses to apply for parole after serving 15 years. The current sentence for all 3-Strikers is 777 years, 77 months, and 77 days with no possibility of release.


Over the last decade, 11 or more bills proposing to reform 3-Strikes - primarily by removing lower-seriousness crimes from the list of Most Serious Offenses - have failed due to opposition from prosecutors, crime victims, and radio talk show host John Carlson. Carlson was a primary author of the 1993 ballot initiative that created the 3-Strikes law.


The current bill is much more narrow in scope than most previous proposals, allowing an estimated 15-20 3-Strikers to apply for conditional release under parole. It was supported at the hearing in testimony from King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and Tom McBride of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

[eridani]

32. SB 5236 ready for a floor vote--please call and write

Dear Supporter of 3-Strikes Reform,

Senate Bill 5236 was approved in both the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees. It is now ready to be considered by the Senate, where it must be approved by 5:00 on Monday, March 7 to stay alive.

The calls, emails, and visits to Senators that many of you have made have been key. More are needed.

Your contact with your Senator in the next few days can make the difference. Please see below on how to reach your Senator and a sample message you can send.

When the bill reaches the House, we will need to begin outreach to Representatives.




HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATOR

1. Find out who he or she is: http://leg.wa.gov

2. To call, use the hotline: [phone]

3. To email, use the standard format: [e-mail]

(for ex Senator Adam Kline = [e-mail])

SAMPLE EMAIL

Dear Senator (name),

Please support Senate Bill 5236, "Providing a minimum term sentence for certain persistent offenders". Please do not support any further amendments to the bill.

This bill would allow 3-Strikers who have no Class A felonies, assault 2s, sex offenses, or weapons convictions to apply for parole after serving 15 years. It is a small and important step toward making 3-Strikes more just and effective.

At fix3strikes.org you will find a link to the Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission's 2001 Sentencing Reform Act Review which recommends a much broader reform of 3-Strikes. You'll also see a list of over 30 community organizations supporting reform or repeal of this law.

Life Without Parole for lower seriousness crimes is neither just nor cost-effective.

Sincerely,
Your Name, address, phone

[eridani]

14. Tell your Senators to vote NO on SB 5124, and your Representatives to vote NO on HB 1079

What in heavens name do you mean by proposing such large increases in precinct size? The bulk of the Citizens United money is going to Republicans, and you want to take away one of the few counterweapons we have--person to person contact? How in bloody hell does someone with a regular job canvass 2000 people? This does nothing at all to reduce ballot complexity, since it does nothing about all the special fire, sewer and water districts that cover only parts of some precints now.


In addition, you are lousing up your own ability to track voting patters, as data for large precincts is much "blurrier." If you have a safe seat you might not care, but what about those Democrats who don't?

Starting vote counting at 8AM is fine, but why can't anyone seem to grasp the fact that it is SIGNATURE VERIFICATION that is the process bottlneck, not tabulation? It isn't exactly rocket science.

[eridani]

16. Stop fake "clinics" from collecting info about pregnant women and spreading it to whomever

Dear NARAL Rapid Responder,

The Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act is moving quickly! The Act, which I emailed about earlier, requires limited service pregnancy centers (so-called “crisis pregnancy centers” or fake clinics) to disclose the services they do and do not provide, to keep women’s medical information private, and to provide pregnancy tests results immediately.

A hearing has been scheduled for this bill in the House Health Care Committee this Monday, January 24 at 1:30 in Olympia. We need to fill the hearing room with as many pro-choice supporters as possible – WE NEED YOU! If you are able to join us on Monday, please email me at alisonmondi {at} prochoicewashington.org or call [phone] and I will give you all the details.

Thank you!
Alison Mondi, Public Policy Director

Today pro-choice champions State Senator Kevin Ranker and State Representative Judy Clibborn introduced the Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act, SB 5274 / HB 1366.

This legislation would protect women’s right to privacy, fairness and honest health information. Contact your legislators and let them know that you support the Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act!

Limited service pregnancy centers (also known as “crisis pregnancy centers” or fake clinics) often look like women's health care facilities, but most offer nothing beyond free pregnancy tests, anti-choice pregnancy and health care information, and sometimes ultrasound imaging. Women – often low-income and uninsured – who are facing unintended pregnancies go to these centers thinking they are going to get real medical care and unbiased counseling; instead, they get false or misleading information about what services are offered, their medical records are withheld, and they are denied needed referrals for reproductive health care.

There are at least 46 limited service pregnancy centers in Washington, in 21 counties and 33 legislative districts.

The Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act requires these centers to:
disclose that the center does not provide care or referrals for abortion or comprehensive birth control.
keep any medical information they collect private.
provide pregnancy test results immediately.
ALL women, regardless of income, deserve equal access to unbiased information about their reproductive health care options. Contact your legislators and let them know that you support the Limited Service Pregnancy Center Accountability Act!

The legislature has a full agenda this session – make sure your legislators take notice of this important bill!

Visit our website for more information about limited service pregnancy centers and this legislation.

Thank you for standing up for the right to choose,
Alison Mondi, Public Policy Director

[eridani]

35. Week 5

If you missed us last week, I was in the other Washington for a brief visit. I've been trying to catch up with the fast and furious action in Olympia since I returned. Co-chair Craig Salins is putting on a big event for Washington Public Campaigns Thursday March 10 at Kane Hall Room 210. He's also been digging up a broken sewer pipe in his front yard. Craig updated our Bill Status Chart as of Feb. 26th while I was away. This will be the last time you see those bills that died in committee last week. I will be updating it for this week's March 7th's cutoff as soon as I finish this newsletter and will send it separately. Then we'll be caught up. Meanwhile, of course, you can check the status of any bill on our chart at the inestimable State Legislature site: www.leg.wa.gov

This newsletter is long--I wouldn't print it out if I were you. It contains details and explanations that are hard to come by elsewhere. I have been asked many times in District meetings why we can't track and rate all our legislators votes on issues that are important to us. Trust me, we can't. Those kinds of databases are maintained by paid staff on much more narrow issues, such as the four priorities of the Environmental Priorities Coalition. However, below you will find lists of how Democrats voted on some of our key bills. Take note, if you need to, and ask questions in this Saturday's Town Hall Meetings. Holding legislators accountable is everybody's business.

Our next KCD Legislative Action Committee is the 3rd Sunday March 20th 2 to 4 p.m. at the Renton Carpenter's Hall, 231 Brunett Ave. N, Renton, where we have our KCDCC meetings. Rep. Bob Hasegawa (11th) is our confirmed guest and another legislator is invited. We will also talk about specific bill actions and our emerging local LACs in the 34th and 36th.

Session Cutoff Calendar

Today is Wednesday, March 9, day 59 of a 105-day session. March 7 at 5 p.m. was the last day for a bill to be voted out of the house of origin. (House bills are numbered 1000 and 2000 and Senate bills are 5000 and 6000).

March 25th is the cutoff for bills to be heard in policy committees of the opposite house. April 1st (no fooling) will be the last day for bills to clear appropriations, Transportation and Ways & Means Committees. April 12th is the last day for bills to clear the opposite house, except for initiatives, matters necessary to implement budgets, amendments, differences and business related to the interim. The 2011 session is scheduled to adjourn April 24th, assuming a budget has been adopted.

Protect Low-Income Housing in the Capital Budget

As legislators work to finish the 2011-2013 biennium budget, this is the perfect opportunity for advocates to remind them to put the needs of the most vulnerable first, and to fund programs like the Housing Trust Fund, one of our priorities.

Since 1989, the Housing Trust Fund has invested more than $600 million in new and improved housing, leveraged more than $3 billion in private and public sector support, and has increased the stock of affordable housing by more than 35,000 units across the state. These investments have created thousands of jobs and have generated millions in state and local tax revenues. Yet, every year we have to push to get the program funded.

Will you go to the Town Hall meeting in your district and tell your legislators to fund the Housing Trust Fund at $200 million? Our friends at the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance have created this helpful Housing Trust Fund Guide for the Town Hall meetings, complete with facts, talking points, and possible responses.

Click here to find out where and when the Town Hall meeting is happening in your district. If your district isn't listed, contact your legislators directly.

Save The Date: Rally to Protect Our Future, Capital Steps, Olympia, noon 3/17

Our Economic Future Coalition is one of our coalition partners, spearheading the fight to include revenue sources, especially repealing some useless corporate tax giveaways and reforming the system of corporate tax breaks. Please consider attending their Lobby Day on St. Patrick's Day, Thursday, March 17th to make this point to our legislators. Put revenue on the table!

Grassroots demonstrations across the world have increased the visibility of basic worker and human rights during the past months. Let's make sure our lawmakers hear our vision for Washington as we join together at the Capitol and Rally to Protect Our Future. Join Poverty Action and our other partners as we demand that our lawmakers focus on raising revenue rather than making devastating cuts to education, healthcare, and other essential services.

Can't make it to the rally? Lawmakers need to hear from you as they begin negotiations for the 2011-2013 biennial budget. Ensure your voice is heard by emailing your lawmaker today or by calling them at 1-800-562-6000. Tell them that "families in Washington simply cannot afford another round of deep cuts. Please protect funding for critical basic needs programs in the biennial budget."

Banking, Foreclosure & Predatory Lending

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

Victory: Foreclosure Fairness Bill Passes the House


From Poverty Action Network

Foreclosure Avoidance--HB 1362 (Rep. Tina Orwall) and SB 5275 (Sen. Adam Kline) would slow banks' rush to foreclose on homes by requiring a "good faith review" to determine borrowers' eligibility for loan modification or some other option to avoid foreclosure. Borrowers who cannot reach loan-modification agreements with their lenders would get third-party mediation.

Thanks to your advocacy efforts, the foreclosure mediation bill, HB 1362, passed the House with a landslide victory of 83 votes! Washington is now one step closer to addressing the foreclosure crisis by giving homeowners tools to help them through this process.

Unfortunately, the Senate version of the bill, SB 5275, did not pass the Senate before the vote cutoff, and HB 1362 still has a long way to go before becoming law. We must keep the pressure on! Email your lawmakers now, ask their support at their Town Hall meeting, or call them at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to "support the Foreclosure Fairness Act, HB 1362."

The details on the foreclosure mediation bill amendments:

It is the House version that represents the most current agreements between stakeholders and it is anticipated that the Senate will also incorporate these amendments. The most significant difference from the original version is that now a homeowner needs to contact a housing counselor or attorney in order to trigger the mediation. The amendments in the House version also:

1) Add many new foreclosure housing counselors,

2) Put parts of the bill under the purview of the Attorney General,

3) Limit the bill only to beneficiaries that have more than 250 foreclosure trustee sales per year, meaning it would not apply to most credit unions and community banks and,

4) Implement a $250 fee on notices of default that will be paid by the lender. This fee will cover all costs of enforcement of the bill, will pay for education to the public about the program, and will also pay for many more housing counselors across the state.

More details:
The House bill extends the "meet & confer" timeline to sixty days. If a homeowner responds within 30 days after first being contacted, they are then given sixty days from the date of contact to deal with their lender or servicer to negotiate a different outcome. If they are not getting a response, they can evoke a right to mediation, but this must be initiated by an attorney or by a housing counselor. The housing counselor/attorney can trigger mediation on behalf of the homeowner at any time up until the notice of trustee sale is issued. If mediation is triggered, then a mediator must be named within 10 days and then the mediation must take place in 45 days.

If this bill passes, Washington will become one of three non-judicial foreclosure states* to implement mediation protections.

*Non-judicial in this context means that the foreclosure process in Washington does not require the courts to be involved. A little more than half of all states (27) are non-judicial, with judicial states requiring some oversight and involvement of the courts.

The Tacoma News Tribune on February 18th gave some attention to the progress of these bills.

Learn more: Poverty Action's next lunchtime phone briefing Do you have questions about how the state creates its biennial budget? Are you concerned about the deep budget cuts that have been proposed by lawmakers? Join Poverty Action for the second of our lunchtime phone briefings as Policy Director Tony Lee discusses the biennial budget. \

Friday, March 11, 12:00-12:45pm. When you RSVP, Danielle willl send you a call-in number. To sign-up, contact Danielle.

Next up: Outreach Coordinator Senait Brown discusses racial equity bills on Friday, March 18, 12:00pm.

Learn more: Poverty Action launches lunchtime phone briefings. Want to know what's happening with the foreclosure mediation bills? Have questions about the payday lending industry's efforts to repeal consumer protections? Join Poverty Action for the first of their lunchtime phone briefings with Public Policy Coordinator Danielle Friedman and Lobbyist Majken Ryherd.

Victory: Payday Lenders Fail to Repeal Protections

The cutoff for bills to move out off the floor was Monday at 5pm. At 4:59 p.m. the payday lending bill SB 5547 was called for a procedural vote-and it failed by two votes.

This dangerous bill would have repealed vital protections from the 2010 Payday Lending Law that we helped pass in 2009. Because this strong consumer protection law remains intact, payday loan consumers will continue to save hundreds of millions of dollars in fees each year and avoid the payday lending debt trap.

Please take a moment to thank Sen. Sharon Nelson for her strong leadership in preventing this bill from passing the Senate. An unwavering supporter of consumer protections, Senator Nelson sponsored the 2009 Payday Lending Reform Bill and has been a strong leader in the effort to defeat SB 5547.

Labor

Senate Oks Workers' Comp lump-sum payments
12 Democrats side with Republicans on vote

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

From David Groves, the Washington State Labor Council 3/7/11

By a 34-15 vote, the Washington State Senate approved a workers' compensation bill SB 5566 Saturday (March 5th) that allows employers to negotiate lump-sum buyouts that absolve employers of all current and future claims related to the injury or illness. The bill was made public for the first time on Friday and passed Saturday without a public hearing or vetting by policy committee. After word leaked out, legislators received more than 1,200 emails from constituents urging opposition to lump-sum buyouts. But in the end, the vote seemed predetermined by backroom negotiations between Senate leaders and business lobbying groups--all of which issued ebullient news releases on Saturday in anticipation of the predetermined vote.

Here is the roll-call vote for ESB 5566 (Democrats are listed in bold):

VOTING YES: Senators Baumgartner, Baxter, Becker, Benton, Brown, Carrell, Delvin, Ericksen, Fain, Hargrove, Hatfield, Haugen, Hewitt, Hill, Hobbs, Holmquist Newbry, Honeyford, Kastama, Kilmer, King, Litzow, Morton, Parlette, Pflug, Pridemore, Roach, Rockefeller, Schoesler, Sheldon, Shin, Stevens, Swecker, Tom, and Zarelli

VOTING NAY: Senators Chase, Conway, Eide, Fraser, Harper, Keiser, Kline, Kohl-Welles, McAuliffe, Murray, Nelson, Prentice, Ranker, Regala, and White

"Organized labor thanks the Democratic Senators who opposed this bill and fought to protect injured and disabled workers' families from this unwarranted attack," WSLC President Jeff Johnson said. "Now the fight moves to the House where we will strongly oppose this legislation."

More on weakening workers' comp

From the Washington Association of Justice, 3/8/11:

But last Saturday, special interests led by the state's largest corporate interests (like Wal-Mart, Weyerhaeuser, and BIAW) successfully pressured the State Senate to pass "compromise and release" (C & R) - a provision of Engrossed Senate Bill 5566 that will allow big corporations to coerce injured Washington workers into accepting bad settlements and rescinding benefits they rightfully deserve.

Now this dangerous bill heads to the State House-and we need to stop it in its tracks.

From Brendan Williams, former Olympia State Rep.

Having debated against I-1082 statewide, on TV, and before editorial boards, I feel my efforts--and the votes of the 59% of voters who opposed I-1082-were, ultimately, in vain. Far-right groups-including the AWB, NFIB, Farm Bureau, and WA Policy Center-are declaring they have smashed labor today.

Deregulating Workers' Compensation Retro (KCD Opposes)

HB 1487 (Rep. Larry Springer) gives employers in the Retrospective Rating Program more authority to set injured workers' medical exams and administer/close claims. After spending years trying to rein in abuse of this program and keep Retro groups from manipulating the system, it makes no sense to give them control over the fate of injured workers' claims when they are motivated solely by bigger refund checks.

HB 1487 passed the House 70-27. Thank you to the 27 Democrats who voted "no:" Reps. Appleton, Billig, Cody, Darneille, Dunshee, Fitzgibbon, Frockt, Goodman, Hasegawa, Hunt, Jinkins, Kenney, Kirby, Ladenburg, Liias, Lytton, McCoy, Miloscia, Moscoso, Ormsby, Reykdal, Rolfes, Ryu, Santos, Sells, Stanford, and Upthegrove .

Misclassification of Workers as Independent Contractors

From Brad Larssen, PCO 45th LD and LAC Labor Liaison

Another priority bill is moving forward. HB 1701 would enhance state revenue by legislating to eliminate and penalize tax and wage theft by contractors who misclassify their workers as independent contractors, thereby cheating the state out of millions of dollars of payroll taxes, and cheating their workers out of state unemployment and workers compensation benefits required by law. In addition, dishonest contractors who cheat on their taxes and benefits are often getting away with underbidding honest contractors on projects. The companion bill SB 5599 died in Senate Rules.

Please call and email in support of this bill. It has had hearings in both houses. On March 4 it was passed out of the House and will be heard in the Senate Labor Committee (which already passed the companion bill) on March 15th at 1:30 p.m.

Protect Capital and Transportation Budgets and Funds

Construction projects pay twice their share of sales tax revenues to the state as most other industries and businesses. Until these high-volume truckloads of sales tax revenues are resumed to significant, sustainable levels, our state budget will continue to experience large deficits year after year. We need to create jobs. We need to get willing, experienced workers back to work. And we need to fix this large structural hole in the state budget by protecting and recovering these vital sales tax revenues.

Sales taxes make up a very large proportion of state tax revenue. We cannot afford to ignore the urgent need to recover this significant portion of our depressed sales tax revenues. Consumer spending alone will not balance our state budget or recover our state's economy.

Revenue and Tax Reform
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Supplemental Budget

From Anne Martins, Communications Hub

Now the bad news, and it's bad. The supplemental budget passed by the House and Senate rips the Disability Lifeline cash benefit to $196 a month, effective April 1st, and ending June 30, 2011. State legislators are preparing to eliminate all cash benefits for people in the Disability Lifeline program in the 2011-2013.

So, what are we going to do? Well, as one of our allies in Olympia wrote, "It's never over 'til it's over. Olympia is a strange, frightening and sometimes wonderful place and things change hourly. So, we keep on fighting." You can be sure we are working on next steps, and we're not about to give up. We'll keep you posted about how you can help make sure that people too disabled to work are not left without help, hope, or soap.

Restoring the Disability Lifeline cuts depends on cutting elsewhere or raising revenue by eliminating unearned tax breaks for corporations--an uphill battle.

More on tax expenditure reform

At Publicola--Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) says her bill to close some tax loopholes to fund the Basic Health Plan is unlikely to get a hearing, much less a vote. Rep. Bob Hasegawa's (D-Beacon Hill) bill to require tax exemptions to count as budget expenditures in the governor's biennial budget received a hearing. Sen. Maralyn Chase (D-Shoreline) is sponsoring the corresponding bills in the Senate, but also a bill that would extend a B&O tax break for tech companies, which will cost the state $97 million in the next four years, that was set to expire.
Corporate Tax Break Vision

From Publicola, Afternoon Jolt, 2/23/22

Today's Loser(s): State house members fighting corporate loopholes.

This afternoon was a fateful one for the fight against the billions of dollars in tax exemptions legislators have sought to bring out into the open this session.

Rep. Eileen Cody's (D-34, West Seattle) office told PubliCola today that her HB 1847 to close some tax loopholes to fund the Basic Health Plan is unlikely to get a hearing in the ways and means committee, much less a vote.

The legislation would have closed a $50 million bank loophole on mortgage loans, as well as a tax break for cosmetic surgery, and used those funds to keep basic health up and running for the foreseeable future.

Rep. Bob Hasegawa's (D-11, Beacon Hill) to require tax exemptions to count as budget expenditures in the governor's biennial budget received a hearing today. Only one person testified in favor of Hasegawa's legislation: Nick Federici, a lobbyist for social services, labor, and low-income folks.

Sen. Maralyn Chase (D-32, Shoreline) is sponsoring the corresponding bills in the senate. Which brings us to today's winner-and today's big irony.

Today's winner: Tech companies

Flaming lefty Chase has joined up with a handful of conservative Democrats to sponsor SB 5735 that would extend a tax break for tech company investment in research and development on R&D expenditures that exceed 0.92 percent of gross income. The B&O tax loophole, which will cost the state $97 million in the next four years, was set to expire and Chase's bill eliminates the end date (2015).

Oddly, as we noted up above, Chase is simultaneously sponsoring SB 5816 to close a batch of corporate tax breaks to help fund the Basic Health Plan.

Asked about the contradiction, Sen. Chase's office said "many individual breaks are justified, but without an honest assessment of the effect of these breaks on the state budget, legislators are hamstrung in their ability to be fair and accountable stewards of taxpayer money."

Labor, typically big fans of Chase, was disappointed. "I'm confused," says Jonathan Rosenblum, assistant to the president at SEIU Healthcare 1199 NW, referring to Chase's clashing bills. "Does the majority party want to close tax loopholes in order to protect vital services, or extend tax loopholes?"

Repeal Hundreds of Tax Exemptions

From Publicola, Morning Fizz, 2/24/11

State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Ballard) introduced yesterday that would repeal hundreds of sales and B&O tax exemptions and mandate that they become part of the regular budget process as state expenditures.

Kohl-Welles has 10 co-sponsors (all Democrats) including Seattle Sens. Adam Kline, Ed Murray, Sharon Nelson, and Scott White. The bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee where Sen. Murray is chair.

Cutoff dates do not apply to bills deemed Necessary to Implement the Budget.

Environment

Environment bills get past important deadline

Despite industry opposition, a budget shortfall and vows by Republican lawmakers to focus on economic recovery alone this session, environmentalists in Olympia had reason to celebrate Monday , with two of their biggest legislative priorities moving on ahead of the deadline for voting bills out of their houses of origin. Katie Schmidt in TNT

The Environmental Priorities Coalition, which represents 24 environmental groups in the state, started off the year with four main legislative goals: end coal-fired electricity generation, limit phosphorus pollution from fertilizer, fund stormwater cleanup and mitigate budget cuts to environmental programs.

Ahead of Monday's deadline for the each house to vote on its own policy bills, the Legislature passed bills to end coal power and limit phosphorus Representatives from the environmental lobby said they were pleased with the progress so far.

Bills to limit stormwater pollution, for example, House Bill 1735 and Senate Bill 5604, have been stalled in committee by the oil and gas industry, Clifford Traisman, lobbyist for the Washington Conservation Voters, said. Environmentalists will have more time to work on that issue than they did on the phosphorus and coal bills because it relates to the state budget, and bills that are necessary to implement the budget do not have to make the same cutoff deadlines as policy bills.

From Publicola, 2/24/11

The TransAlta showdown: Sen. Phil Rockefeller's (D-23, Bainbridge Island) SB 5759 to wind down the TransAlta coal-fired electricity plant in Centralia made it through the Senate Environment Committee (Rep. Marko Liias's stronger version HB 1825 did not).

By Josh Feit, Saturday, March 5, 2011

Update: The senate passed the bill, 36-13

State Sen. Phil Rockefeller (D-23, Bainbridge Island) offered a new version <2SSB 5769> of his TransAlta bill today. His "striker" reflects a deal that was struck over the last several days between environmentalists and TransAlta, which runs a controversial coal powered electricity plan in Centralia-the number one single source greenhouse gas culprit in the sate: The company will close one coal boiler by 2020 and a second by 2025. And the Centralia plant will have to meet a schedule of emissions reductions along the way.

Republican Sen. Dan Swecker (R-20, Rochester), whose district includes Centralia, has signed off on the new version.

Perhaps the biggest news, though: The company has agreed to pay $55 million into an economic development fund starting in 2012 to help transition the community; the plant currently has 300 employees.

"It's progress," says Rep. Marko Liias (D-21, Edmonds), sponsor of an earlier, stronger, house version, which initially came with a $94 million fund (and ended the company's $5 million annual tax break), but was replaced by Sen. Rockefeller's original, neutered senate version, which kept the tax break in place and came without a clear transition fund or shutdown date. (Liias had initially wanted the coal operation shut down by 2015, but later went with 2020.) Despite Liias' bill's hefty community transition fund, plant workers showed up in full force to protest that bill last month because of the quicker shutdown timeline.

However, Liias likes the upgraded Rockefeller bill.


"Clean air and water have always been my top priority," Liias said in a statement today. "And this compromise goes a long way toward protecting our environment and preserving good jobs. I'm glad to see TransAlta has agreed to this solution, which will provide $55 million towards the local community and economy."

Washington Environmental Council lobbyist Cliff Traisman says, "We have an agreement. It's a win for the environment and the public. It's a win for the community. And it's a win for the public."

Update:

Gov. Chris Gregoire just sent out a statement about the deal. (Gregoire's office had been in official negotiations with TransAlta to phase out coal by 2025, but those formal talks ended last year without resolution. Informal discussions, with the Liias and Rockefeller bills acting as an incentive for the company to work out a deal, resumed this year.)

Gregoire said:

This compromise promises cleaner air for our future, while providing the necessary time to ensure economic stability, job protection and enough power on the grid to keep our homes and businesses running. I encourage the Legislature to take timely action to ensure this agreement moves forward.


The statement also summarized Sen. Rockefeller's new bill:

TransAlta will be allowed in the interim to sell coal power under long-term contracts within Washington - which will give the company the financial stability needed to transition to a cleaner source of energy;
The plant's two coal boilers will meet the state's emissions performance standard for new and modified power plants, which will require the boilers to shut down. The standard will apply to one boiler on Dec. 31, 2020, and to the other boiler on Dec. 31, 2025 - essentially ending coal-fired power in Washington state in the next 14 years;
In 2013, TransAlta will install additional air pollution control technology to further reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides at the plant. This technology is called selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR). The TransAlta plant is the state's largest single industrial source of nitrogen oxide emissions. Nitrogen oxides are one of the causes of visibility-limiting regional haze in national parks and on federal lands; and
TransAlta agrees to contribute $30 million in a community investment fund to help with energy efficiency projects, as well as $25 million in an energy technology transition fund, which must be spent on supporting innovative energy technologies and companies in Washington state.

And from President and CEO of Canadian-based TransAlta, Stephen Snyder: "We're pleased to see all parties agree on legislation that balances the interests of jobs, the economy, energy and the environment. This legislation meets our commitment to a low-carbon future through transition from coal to gas in Washington, significantly reduces our environmental risk and allows us to provide fair shareholder value through favorable long-term contracts while protecting jobs and the economy of the local community."

Gregoire's press release also included a quote from the Sierra Club, which has been campaigning for years to phase TransAlta's Centralia plant off of coal.

"This is a giant step forward toward a healthier and safer Washington, free from coal," said Bruce Nilles, Deputy Conservation Director with the Sierra Club. "We are leaving coal pollution in the past as we continue building the clean energy economy of today. We thank the Governor, TransAlta, Sen. Rockefeller, Rep. Liias, the people of Lewis County and the Environmental Priorities Coalition for their efforts in achieving this historic agreement."

One we'd been covering that we forgot to mention (and is still alive): Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-34, Maury Island) sponsored one of the environmental lobby's only priorities this session, a "clean jobs" bill that would have implemented a fee on hazardous substances entering the state. It ran into some opposition from oil companies who argued that another "dedicated" fund wasn't the way to go and that they already pay for environmental cleanup projects through a toxics fund (which legislators have a tendency to raid).

Public Safety

Safe Medicine Return Bill dies for lack of one Senator's vote


From Margaret Shield, member, LAC

This bill was strongly opposed by the pharmaceutical companies and industry associations that employ more than 20 lobbyists in Olympia. They were unwilling to negotiate on any aspect of this legislation, despite the fact that the bill required them to spend at most a couple of pennies per pill bottle on the take-back program and would have allowed them to pass those small costs on to consumers. Unfortunately, at least this year, too many members of the Legislature chose to listen to the arguments of the multi-billion dollar drug industry, rather than be part of the solution for our families and our communities.

Although the bills are dead for the 2011 session, our resolve to create a statewide medicine take-back program, with sustainable financing is alive and strong. We have made great progress in educating the public about safe storage and safe disposal of medicines - let's keep that up! The support for medicine take-back as the safest way to dispose of old medicines is clear from federal agencies, and we will soon have new regulations from the DEA on take-back of controlled substances. We have more work to do to reach our goal, but we are making progress!


Senate-SSB 5234 Vote Positions No floor vote was taken, these are positions identified by bill proponents.

The * indicates that the Senator was a sponsor of the bill.

24 Yes: Kline* (prime sponsor, D-37), Brown (D-3), Chase* (D-32), Conway* (D-29), Eide (D-30), Fraser* (D-22), Hargrove (D-24), Harper (D-38), Haugen* (D-10), Keiser* (D-33), Kilmer (D-26), Kohl-Welles* (D-36), McAuliffe (D-1), Murray* (D-43), Nelson* (D-34), Pflug* (R-5), Prentice (D-11), Pridemore* (D-49), Ranker* (D-40), Regala* (D-27), Rockefeller* (D-23), Shin* (D-21), Tom (D-48), White* (D-46).

25 no Hatfield (D-19), Hobbs (D-44), Kastama (D-25), Sheldon (D-35), Swecker* (R-20), Baumgartner (R-6), Baxter (R-4), Becker (R-2), Benton (R-17), Carrell (R- 28), Delvin (R-8), Ericksen (R-42), Fain (R-47), Hewitt (R-16), Hill (R-45), Holmquist Newbry (R-13), Honeyford (R-15), King (R-14), Litzow (R-41), Morton (R-7), Parlette (R-12), Roach (R-31), Schoesler (R-9), Stevens (R-39), Zarelli (R-18).


House-HB 1370 positions

HB 1370 died in the Environment committee, and there were no recorded votes. The following positions are based on the bill sponsor list, vote counting in the Environment committee, and public statements from Representatives.

Representatives who are not listed can be assumed to have a No position, unless they clearly state that they would have supported HB 1370 if it had moved forward.

House Sponsors in signature order: Van De Wege (prime sponsor, D-24), Hudgins (D-11) , Jinkins (D-27), Anderson (R-5), Rolfes (D-23), Cody(D-34), Dunshee (D-44), Roberts (D-21), Goodman (D-45), Ormsby (D-3), Hunt (D-22), Dickerson (D-36), Appleton (D-23), Ryu D-32), Upthegrove (D-33), Kagi (D-32), Kenney (D-46), Seaquist (D-26), Hasegawa (D-11), Orwall (D-33), Sells (D-38), Green (D-28), Jacks (D-49), Fitzgibbon (D-34), Tharinger (D-24).

Additional House members who supported the bill: Darneille (D-27), Finn (D-35), Frockt (D-46), Ladenburg (D-29), Moscoso (D-1), Stanford (D-1).

Environment Committee members who were opposed: Morris (D- 40), Takko (D- 19), Short (R-7 ), Harris (R-17), Crouse (R-4), Nealey (R-16), Pearson (R-39), Taylor (R-15).

Resources:

One-Page Policy Overview of 2011 Secure Medicine Take-back Bill

Thank you all again and I look forward to continuing to work with you on this issue!
Margaret

Criminal Justice

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Passes State Senate

From Publicola Morning Fizz, Thursday, March 3, 2011

State Sen. Jeanne Kolh-Welles' (D-36, Ballard)medical marijuana dispensaries bill -which licenses and regulates the sale medical marijuana-passed the senate late last night, 29-20.

The bill also includes an "arrest protection" provision for legal medical pot users, which prevents law enforcement from making "ask questions later" arrests.

The bill has had bipartisan support all along, and several Republicans, including all four of the new GOP senators elected last year-Sens. Mike Baumgartner (R-6, Spokane), Joe Fain ( R-47, Auburn), Andy Hill (R-45, Redmond), and Steve Litzow (R-41, Mercer Island)-voted for it.

The bill passed with a few amendments-though not the ones, such as stripping out the arrest protection provision or replacing the licensed dispensaries with collective gardens, that the ACLU had been wary of.

One Republican amendment prohibits a medical professional from making medical marijuana their "primary purpose." Another amendment, cosponsored by Democrat Kohl-Welles and Republican Baumgartner, prohibits advertising for medical marijuana.

3-Strikes Sentencing Reform Fails to clear Senate

Sen. Kohl-Welles' SB 5236 would have changed several of the lowest offenses on the 3-Strikes list to allow leniency. Prior to the 3-Strikes law, someone who was convicted of robbery in the second degree (a level IV offense) for the third time would be eligible for a sentence of 15-20 months. However, under the 3-Strikes law, that same person would be sentenced to life in prison. Of the 226 persons serving life under 3-Strikes, this would allow about two dozen to be considered for release after serving 15 years.

The bill was approved in both the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees with the support of King County Attorney Dan Satterburg and a the WA Assn of Prosecuting Attorneys, but it was stonewalled on the Senate floor by Sen. Carrell, who offered six amendments before the bill failed to be approved by 5:00 on Monday, March 7.

Renee McCoy, 43rd LD PCO and LAC lead on this issue testified in favor of the bill.

At fix3strikes.org you will find a link to the Washington Sentencing Guidelines Commission's 2001 Sentencing Reform Act Review which recommends a much broader reform of 3-Strikes. You'll also see a list of over 30 community organizations supporting reform or repeal of this law.

Life without parole for lower seriousness crimes is neither just nor cost-effective.
Election Reform-Campaign Finances


State Senate OKs campaign-finance restrictions

Tighter rules: Bill adds criminal sanctions, fines.

From Brad Shannonin the Olympian

March 4th-- State Senate OKs campaign-finance restrictions--The Senate votes to tighten rules for PACs, including criminal sanctions and direct fines of up to $10,000 for serious violations.

The state Senate voted unanimously Thursday to tighten state campaign-finance rules for political committees, including criminal sanctions and direct fines of up to $10,000 for serious violations.

The legislation arose in response to the Moxie Media scandal in last fall's elections. Moxie is a Democrat-allied political consulting firm that got caught concealing its expenditures through a confusing web of shell political action committees and by delaying reports of its spending.

The limits on transfers of cash from one PAC to another in Senate Bill 5021 are less strict than what sponsoring Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, had proposed. But he said the milder rules should "minimize the risk" of cheating.

Initiative Reform Falls Short

From Kristina Logsden, Win Win Coalition

Initiative hawkers are no doubt frustrated with attempts to reform the state's signature gathering and initiative filing rules (and No. 1 initiative hawker Tim Eyman has been on a press release frenzy about it), but Sen. Sharon Nelson's (D-34, Maury Island) legislation to require paid signature gatherers to register with the state and to raise the filing fee for initiatives made it out of the Senate Committee on Government Operations and Tribal Relations & Elections last week.

Substitute Senate Bill 5297 was heard in the Ways and Means Committee February 22nd. A huge thank you to WashPIRG and the League of Women Voters for testifying with me. With recent policy changes, the bill would likely be revenue neutral. The main features of the bill were:

- Preventing fraud by prohibiting paid signature gatherers recently convicted of fraud, forgery or ID theft from circulating petitions.

- Holding signature gatherers accountable by requiring they sign a declaration attesting they have followed the law in circulating petitions

- Decreasing frivolous filings and ballot title shopping by increasing the filing fee.

The initiative reform bill died on the Senate Floor, victim of a flurry of 21 unfriendly amendments, mainly from Senators Pam Roach and Don Benton.


Human Services Budget

From Poverty Action Network, Danielle Friedman

Victory: Final Supplemental Budget includes our priorities.

In the past week, the House and Senate have come together to pass a final supplemental budget. Their final budget includes deep cuts to many of the public systems that help families in Washington meet their basic needs, but we are pleased to report that Poverty Action's priorities were protected from complete elimination. This is because of you. Your calls, emails and Lobby Day lawmaker visits, helped ensure that programs like the Disability Lifeline, the Basic Health Plan and services for immigrants received funding in this final supplemental budget.

Our state's critical public systems were spared elimination, but the budget includes many deep cuts:

Disability Lifeline: Both the medical coverage and cash grant were funded in this budget, although the grant amount has been reduced by an additional 20% to $212. The grant amount has endured a 41% reduction in the past twelve months.

The Basic Health Plan (BHP): In order to qualify for BHP, a person must now be at 133% of the Federal Poverty Level and be a US citizen or permanent resident. These changes will cause 15,000 people to lose their BHP coverage.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): The cuts proposed by the Governor earlier in the year remain in this budget. These cuts include the implementation of the five-year limit, affecting over 5,000 families, and a 15% grant reduction, affecting all recipients.
Services for Immigrants and Refugees: The Food Assistance Program was funded at 50%, Medical Interpretation Services were fully funded and our state's Naturalization Services were reduced by $1 million to $500,000.

It's not over yet. As our lawmakers prepare their biennial budget proposals (July 2011 -- June 2013), we must continue our state's commitment to assisting our immigrant communities, people with disabilities, and people facing foreclosure and unemployment in meeting their basic needs. With the effects of the recession still lingering, we must continue to push our lawmakers to invest in the economic security of our state, not make drastic cuts to the public systems that people depend on to survive.

Email your lawmakers today or call them at 1-800-562-6000 and tell them that "families in Washington simply cannot afford another round of deep budget cuts. Please protect funding for critical basic needs programs in the biennial budget."

In the Spokesman-Review--Tax breaks need scrutiny (Rep. Andy Billig op-ed) -- As a freshman legislator, I often feel like a rookie relief pitcher, knowing the home team is counting on me to make the right decisions. One of those decisions is my sponsorship of legislation that will create a closer examination of tax exemptions, institute sunset dates so continuing tax preferences are required to be reauthorized at regular intervals and eliminate tax exemptions that can't be justified. These measures will protect funding for our kids and communities, and bring more accountability and transparency to the tax exemption system.

State's slow economy is met with downturn in bill proposals
Peter Callahan in The News Tribune, 02/22/11

It takes a certain perspective to look at the 2,800 bills introduced so far in the 2011 session of the Washington state Legislature and think, "Why so few?"

Sure, 2,800 is a lot. But the total introduced by the 147 members of House and Senate is down noticeably from the past two budget-year sessions. By this time in 2009, 3,265 bills had been introduced. In 2007, the number was 3,352.

The decline was pointed out by former state Rep. Art Wang of Tacoma who still follows introductions and noticed the decline. But anyone who gets paid to lobby the Legislature already knew.

"My workload is drastically reduced," said one business lobbyist. In the past he was monitoring dozens of bills that might change how his clients did business, how much they paid in taxes, how they were regulated. This session there are just a few.

But why?

"Reality bites," said Michael Temple, a former Senate staff member who now lobbies for the state trial lawyers. Recession and politics make it less likely that bills will pass, so why introduce them?

Leaders of both parties have spread the word that any proposal that costs money will not be considered. The session is about cutting spending, not adding to it.

"I assume it is because there's no money to spend," said House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis.

At the same time, lawmakers of both parties are reading the 2010 election results as a message from voters that new taxes are not to be considered. Add the passage of Initiative 1053, which makes it more difficult to pass higher taxes and fees - even to get rid of existing tax incentives (or loopholes, depending on your point of view) - and there is a chill on revenue bills as well.

Rep. Steve Kirby, a Tacoma Democrat who is chairman of the House Business and Financial Services Committee, said bills still get introduced; they just don't have much momentum.

"Political considerations don't go away just because we don't have money," Kirby said. "But generally speaking there's not a lot of motivation to move bills along that are just going to die somewhere else."

Is that a bad thing? Kirby says not at all. Each bill has to be drafted, applied to existing laws by code revisers and perhaps analyzed by staff and heard by committee

"Every year the leadership would get up and complain about the numbers of bills," he said. "And the only thing that happened is they continued to go up."

"At least now we know what the cause was," Kirby said. "We had money to spend."

One exception is with so-called executive request bills, those introduced by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Those are slightly up - 19 this year compared with 14 in 2009 and 18 in 2007.

Jim Justin, Gregoire's legislative liaison, said the economy is the reason because many of the bills he is pushing help cut spending either by consolidating agencies, boards and functions or by getting legislative authorization to not spend.

Justin said the economy and the reality of this session did restrain bills that come from the agencies that Gregoire controls. Those agencies proposed 105 bills, but only 67 were allowed to be introduced on the agencies' behalf.

"We can't afford what we're doing now, let alone adding to it," Justin said.

A few people raised one possible explanation that turns out to be less of a reason for the decline in bill introductions - the retirement last year of state Sen. Ken Jacobsen. The Seattle Democrat was a prolific bill filer, with bills ranging from traumatic brain injury services to allowing dogs in bars.

By this time last session Jacobsen had already been the primary sponsor of 46 bills (on his way to a two-year total of 120). While that is more than twice the average of 22, Jacobsen's replacement is proving himself worthy of the legacy.


Sen. Scott White has already sponsored 31 bills.

[eridani]

19. King County Legislative Action Committee report on progress of selected bills

King County Democrats
Legislative Action Committee
Newsletter #1.5

January 28, 2011

Introduction: This newsletter goes out to active Democrats in King County. Sarajane Siegfriedt is the legislative action newsletter editor. Sarajane Siegfriedt is the Co-Chair of the LAC. You can lobby Democratic priorities in Olympia by sending e-mail and making phone calls to your legislators in Olympia. You can track bills and contact your legislators by going to their website at www.leg.wa.gov. or leave a message for your three legislators at the toll-free Legislative Hot Line, 1-800-562-6000.

Our Legislative Agenda, passed by King County Democrats on January 24th, is posted on www.kcdems.org (look for LAC on the left tab). It directs us in our bill tracking. Please don't let this limit you from being vocal about other issues of importance.

Bill Status: In addition to this narrative newsletter, we are tracking the bills in our agenda and posting these to our website for quick reference.

Our annual Lobby Day will be held on Presidents Day, Monday February 21st from 11 to 1:30 p.m. The Governor and all our 39 King County Democratic legislators are our invited guests, followed by district meetings with your legislators (set up by LAC District Chairs.) The $20 cost includes a box lunch and materials. Please reserve your seat as seating in the Senate Rules Committee room is limited. (Find it by entering the Lt. Governor's office on the 2nd Floor of the Legislative Building. Contact Sarajane Siegfriedt at sarajane3h {at} comcast.net to reserve a spot at our Lobby Day in Olympia.


Public Safety

SB 5234 / HB 1370 Secure Medicine Take-Back (Creating a statewide program for the collection, transportation, and disposal of unwanted medicines).
Introduced by Sen. Adam Kline (37th) and Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (24th).

Creates a statewide system for secure return and environmentally sound disposal of leftover prescription and over-the-counter medicines from our homes to reduce abuse, poisonings, and environmental pollution. Primarily financed by all drug producers selling medicines in Washington, as part of doing business; requires no state funds, budget-neutral to the state. Removes financial burden of collection and disposal from sheriffs, police, and local governments. Total annual costs of the program to drug producers collectively cannot exceed $2.5 million--or about one penny for every $16 in sales of medicines annually in Washington, so the program should not noticeably increase costs of medicines.

Heard in Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee on Jan. 27, 2011.


Action Needed

Contact the House Environment committee where hearing is scheduled for Thursday February 3rd, 8 am. Ask them to pass HB 1370 that will prevent teenage overdoses and deaths at no cost to the State.

More information about the issue: www.TakeBackYourMeds.org

HB 1319 / SB 5231 Toxic-Free Kids Act (Regarding the safety of certain children's products.)
Introduced by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (36th) and Sen. Sharon Nelson (34th).

Amends the Children's Safe Products Act that was passed in 2008 to address the presence of toxic chemicals--like lead, cadmium, phthalates, formaldehyde--in children's products like toys, bedding and sleepwear. The current law only requires manufacturers to disclose if their product contains a chemical with known toxicity of high concern for children. These bills authorize the Departments of Ecology and Health to require manufacturers to conduct alternatives assessments to look for safer ingredients for certain children's products containing chemicals of high concern to children. These bills is not expected to have a fiscal impact on state as some small amount of costs will be absorbed by the Dept of Ecology and other costs will be borne by manufacturers.

Hearings were held in Senate Health & Long-Term Care committee on January 25, 2011 and in House Environment committee on January 27, 2011.

More information about the issue: http://watoxics.org/campaigns/the-childrens-safe-products-bill


Environment

Our partner on theses issues is the Environmental Priorities Coalition. See their website: www.environmentalpriorities.org

Coal-Free Future for Washington (Trans-Alta) Bill.

This bill has not yet been introduced. The Governor has been negotiating for transition to natural gas by 2025 and the Coalition wants to eliminate all coal-burning power production in Washington State by 2015. This plant represents 10% of the air pollution in the state. It also received a tax exemption of $11 million a year.

SB 5194 / HB 1271 Clean Fertilizers, Healthier Lakes and Rivers (Limiting the use of fertilizer containing phosphorus)
Introduced by Senator Scott White (46th) and Representative Andy Billig (3rd).

Manages the sale of phosphorus-containing fertilizers in our state, similar to successful laws passed in other states. Phosphorous in fertilizers are not needed for green lawns or golf courses; there are better, cheaper alternatives that give all of us the freedom to have a beautiful lawn and clean rivers. Phosphorus run-off from lawns can cause algae blooms and harm water quality, fish habitat, and recreation in our lakes and rivers.

Hearing held in Senate Environment, Water, and Energy committee on January 28, 2011. Referred to the House Environment committee.

For more information about the issue: http://environmentalpriorities.org/phosphorous

February 15: Environmental Lobby Day

When: 8:45 am - 6:00 pm A reception from 4 pm-6pm celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the Environmental Priorities Coalition partner, People For Puget Sound.
Where: United Churches, 110-11th Ave. SE, Olympia 98501

Pre-Registration required, and closes February 11th: Registration fee $20. Day of registration is $25. Includes all breakfast, lunch, materials, appointments and the receptions.

On Environmental Lobby Day you will:

Learn about the issues: Get briefed by experts on four environmental priorities, which the LAC supports:

Budget Solutions For Our Environment
Coal Free Future For Washington State
Clean Fertilizers, Healthier Lakes and Rivers
2011 Clean Water Jobs Act
Attend lobbying trainings with top environmental lobbyists.

Register for Environmental Lobby Day at: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/274118/dba9c49314/1410013503/33236be415/


Banking, Foreclosure and Predatory Lending Reform

Our partner is the Alliance to Prevent Predatory Lending www.noloansharks.org

Homeowner foreclosure protections: January 26th hearings were held on companion bills HB 1362 and SB 5275. See Issue #1 and Bill Status Chart for more. Wall Street banks and some Democrats want to eliminate mandatory mediation.

Action Needed

Contact the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Financial Institutions Committee to request their support in HB 1362 and SB 5275 and for a strong mediation section to give mortgage counselors the tools they need to help homeowners stay in their homes.

Action Needed

Eliminating the cap on the total number of small loans a borrower may have in a twelve-month period HB 1678 is scheduled for a hearing THIS THURSDAY Feb. 3. Join the Alliance Against Predatory Lending at the hearing to show our lawmakers that there is overwhelming community support for consumer protections for payday loan borrowers. (This was a 2009 King County Legislative Priority, one we don't want to see weakened or rolled back.)

House Hearing on HB 1678 THIS Thursday, February 3, 8:00 AM
John L. O'Brien Building, Hearing Room B

To RSVP or for carpooling information, contact Danielle. Can't make it to the hearing?
Email your lawmakers NOW or call them at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to "oppose HB 1678 & SB 5547. Keep consumer protections in place for payday lending."


Criminal Justice

House Bill 1550/SB 5598 The House bill introduced by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 25, 2011, eliminates criminal penalties for possession and consumption of marijuana. This act sets up specific regulations for the production, distribution, sale, and taxation of marijuana. This act also creates licensing for marijuana growers. This act allows cities to allow voters to make a determination regarding the sale of marijuana within their boundaries during a general election. This act also makes technical changes throughout state law to accommodate the legalization of marijuana. This act takes effect July 1, 2011.

Action Needed

Contact the House Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness Committee and ask them to pass HB 1550 to remove cannabis from the illegal drug market and to tax it to generate revenue.

HB 1100/SB 5073 Introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Moeller, (D-Vancouver) (D) on January 12, 2011, and in the Senate by Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles on January 20th, to amend and clarify the law on the medical use of cannabis (marijuana) so that qualifying patients and designated providers who comply with the law will not be subject to arrest or prosecution, other criminal sanctions, or civil consequences based solely on their medical use of cannabis; and that patients will have access to an adequate, safe, consistent, and secure source of medical quality marijuana. The bill defines, and clarifies the provisions related to prescribing, selling, and using medical marijuana. Referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee and the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee.

Action Needed

Contact the members of these committee and your legislators to support patients who need to use medical marijuana legally and safety, along with their medical providers and cannabis sellers.


Housing and Homelessness

Coming Up:

February 14th: Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day. Washington's budget crisis puts at risk the more than 80,000 residents who will face homelessness this year. Cuts threaten critical services for people struggling to find work, stay housed, and find health care for their families. Now affordable housing and homelessness advocates are calling for an honest discussion about what our communities need and how best to meet those needs.

Find the schedule for February 14th Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day events and register at: https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2685/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=64850


Revenue & Tax Reform

Rep. Reuven Carlyle has introduced a tax expenditure reform bill. More information to come.

Fair Elections & Initiative Reform

See Issue #1 and Bill Status Chart for more Patty <[e-mail]>



Labor
More to come!

Education

We are looking for one or two education issues issue leads.

Support the King County Democrats Now!

Renew your membership or join by downloading our donation form at:
http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/2011/2011MembershipForm.pdf
You can also donate online at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=214564

Basic membership is $40, family is $75, student/living lightly $20. Become a supporting member by donating $100, $250, $500 or $1000 or more.

We need and appreciate your help. Only with the help of concerned Democrats like yourself can we be an effective organization. Thank you.



Contact Information

Sarajane Siefgfriedt - sarajane3h {at} @comcast.net
Craig Salins - craigsalins {at} msn.com
Steve Zemke - Chair - King County Democrats stevezemke {at} msn.com

[eridani]

20. Week 2

Introduction: This newsletter goes out to active Democrats in King County. Sarajane Siegfriedt is the legislative action newsletter editor. She is also the Co-Chair of the King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee. Craiig Salins is the other Co-Chair.

You can track bills and contact your legislators by going to the Legislature's website at www.leg.wa.gov or leave a message for your three legislators (and the Governor) at the toll-free Legislative Hotline, 1-800-562-6000. Your Legislators' email addresses follow the form: [e-mail]

Our Legislative Agenda, passed by the King County Democrats on January 24th, is posted on www.kcdems.org (look for LAC on the left tab). It directs us in our bill tracking. Please don't let this limit you from being vocal about other issues of importance.

Bill Status Chart: In addition to this narrative newsletter, we are tracking the bills in our agenda and posting these to our website for quick reference. Click here for the 2-4-2011 Bill Status Chart - http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/lac/2011/billstatus20110204.pdf

Look here to find recommended actions for this week.


Our annual Lobby Day will be held on Presidents Day, Monday February 21, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Governor and all our 39 King County Democratic Legislators are our invited guests. This is followed by district meetings with your legislators in the afternoon (set up by LAC District Chairs.)

Please reserve your seat as seating in the Senate Rules Committee room is limited. (Find it by entering the Lt. Governor's office on the 2nd Floor of the Legislative Building. Contact Sarajane Siegfriedt at [e-mail] to reserve a spot at our Lobby Day in Olympia.
\
The $20 cost for Lobby Day includes a box lunch and materials. Because we need to order lunch in advance and also pay for them in advance, you must preorder to guarantee a lunch. Please click on the following link and pay now. Thanks.


This newsletter is longer than usual, because of the Supplemental Budget that will be completed this week and the introduction of several of our key bills. For brief status, go directly to the Bill Status Chart at http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/lac/2011/billstatus20110204.pdf

Contents: This newsletter contains current news on the following issues:



· Initiative Reform Bill-Hearings this Week
· Revenue & Repealing Corporate Tax Breaks
· Environment: Decommissioning TransAlta's Coal-fired Power Plant
· Protecting Human Services & Education in the Supplemental Budget
· A Balanced Approach to Unemployment Insurance-What Happened?
· Criminal Justice: Medical Marijuana
· Housing: Passing the Fair Tenant Screening Act
· Payday Lending: Don't gut the law
· Progress on Washington Investment Trust



Election & Initiative Reform

Initiative Reform Bill Introduced-Hearings this Week

HB 1668,introduced by Rep. Chris Reykdal, (D - Olympia) (D) on January 28, 2011, to clarify and update regulations concerning signature gathering for initiatives and to raise the filing fee for initiatives to $500. If the Secretary of State certifies the measure for the general election ballothe, the sponsor receives a refund of $450. The bill allows a waiver of the filing fee if a sponsor demonstrates lack of sufficient assets and submits at least 1,000 valid signatures. (Companion: SB 5297).

Both ballot measure reform bills have a hearing this week - House State Government and Tribal Affairs committee on Wednesday Feb. 9th at 8 AM and Senate Government Operations committee on Thursday, Feb. 10th at 10 AM. If you are in Olympia either or both of those days, please sign in PRO to support HB 1668 and SB 5297.

Action Needed:
Email House State Government and Senate Government Operations committee members to let them know you support the bills (Representatives Miloscia, Hunt, Appleton, Darnielle, Dunshee, Hurst, McCoy and Senators Pridemore, Prentice, Chase). If you or your organization has a Facebook page, link to "Pass Bill to Prevent Fraud" page at http://tinyurl.com/4s87vga

Our main message is to protect the integrity of our ballot measure process by preventing fraud and other abuses to the system. HB 1668 and SB 5207 increase transparency and accountability and makes the process better for all the people of Washington. See the Win/Win Network www.winwinnwtwork.org for more information.


Constitutional Amendment to Reverse Citizens United Decision

House Joint Memorial HJM 4005 has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. For more info and a list of co-sponsors, go here:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=4005&year=2011

Summary Digest of HJM 4005: Urges Congress to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution for the states' consideration which provides that corporations are not persons under the laws of the United States or any of its jurisdictional subdivisions. For a one-page flyer about this is posted on website:

(Look at section of Downloads page on Citizens United) --

http://www.washclean.org/download.htm#citunited


Revenue & Tax Reform

Let Wall Street Pay for Basic Health

HB 1847 introduced by Rep. Eileen Cody, (D-West Seattle) (D) on February 4, 2011, terminates certain tax exemptions to provide funding for maintaining Basic Health Program. Places a cap on providers of the first mortgage reduction at $100 million per year. Eliminates the exemption for the airplane excise tax on ownership transfers of aircraft and sets a new excise tax rate for aircraft. Imposes a sales and use tax on cosmetic medical services. Repeals the TransAlta sales tax exemption for coal used at coal-fired electric generation plant at Centralia. Would take effect April 1, 2011. Referred to House Ways & Means.

From our Fuse coalition partner in the Our Economic Future Coalition:
28,000 activists spoke out, and legislators are listening.

Three weeks ago we delivered more than 28,000 petitions to the Legislature demanding an end to tax giveaways to special interests. Now Rep. Eileen Cody has released a bill (HB 1847) that would close tax loopholes for Wall Street Banks, elective cosmetic surgery, and private jets. The money we save would be dedicated to Basic Health, which provides health coverage for tens of thousands of working families in Washington.

Our state's budget shortfall means we need to look even more carefully at every dollar we spend, and these tax giveaways simply don't add up. But Wall Street Banks and other special interests have their lobbyists in Olympia fighting tooth and nail to maintain their lucrative, unfair loopholes.

It's going to take a huge grassroots response to overcome their lobbyists' insider influence. Tell your representative to stand with Washington families, not special interests by supporting HB 1847. Click below to send a message:

http://bit.ly/eOLfsE

Rep. Cody's bill will level the playing field and ensure that everyone pays their fair share - especially corporate special interests. At a time when teachers are being laid off, programs shuttered, and every cent squeezed, we can't afford these tax giveaways that enrich big corporations and the ultra-wealthy at the expense of our communities.

From Publicola

Publicola's Fizz spoke with state Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34, W. Seattle) about the legislation she introduced to close several corporate tax loopholes, including the $5 million tax break for TransAlta's Centralia coal plant and an estimated $60 million break for banks.

Could she get the two-thirds vote required to pass tax increases (closing loopholes has been interpreted as a tax increase)? Cody acknowledged that she wasn't going to get the two-thirds. (She also agreed that her proposal would require a two thirds vote.) "I'm just starting a conversation that we need to have ," she said. Cody also said she wanted to highlight how difficult it is to get a two-thirds vote

Last year, social service and health care advocates presented a list of tax breaks totaling around $1 billion.

Environment

Decommissioning TransAlta's Coal-fired Power Plant

House Bill 1825 (Strengthening local economies by reducing emissions from coal-fired power generation through decommissioning) Introduced by Rep. Marko Liias, (D-Mukilteo) (D), requires a preliminary decommissioning plan from coal-fired by July 1, 2013. This act requires coal-fired plants to pay a fee to the Department of Ecology each year until such operations cease. This act only applies to plants located in the State which have combusted more than one million tons of coal during any of the five preceding years. Referred to the House Environment Committee on 2/3/11.

"At the end of the useful life, the closure of these facilities, including the removal of structures, site reclamation, and preparation of the site for future beneficial usage, requires significant planning and funding. To ensure that all toxic materials are removed from these facilities and that the surrounding communities are fully assured that all applicable and appropriate remediation standards are met, it is necessary to require that the facility owner demonstrate during the facility's operation that sufficient funding will be available for closure and post-closure activities."

For more information, see Environmental Priorities Coalition: www.environmentalpriorities.org

Protect Human Services & Education in the Supplemental Budget

First, the Senate has taken quick action-contrary to earlier concerns that undue delay in enacting needed cuts would only result in the need to make even great cuts and also jeopardize the state's credit rating (according to the State Treasurer).

Second, there is ample evidence that the Senate-like the House-seriously listened to budgetary input (including grassroots advocates in a number of instances) and at least tried to moderate and reconfigure the human services budget in order to limit harm. Legislators are at least trying, despite the miserable fiscal picture.

Some examples:

Looks like the Senate basically mirrors the House mental health budget, which is a vast improvement (i.e., much less damaging) than the Governor's provisions. For instance, the cut to state only dollars for the non-Medicaid population is $12.6m rather than $18m - among several other improvements.

Disability Lifeline unfortunately takes a hit. The House preserved both medical benefits and cash assistance. The Senate preserves medical assistance but eliminates the cash grant. On the other hand the Senate at least heard advocates' testimony about the cash assistance being critical to housing, as the budget also allocates $2m "for housing and other services aimed at stabilizing and transitioning the DL-U population." (Not that we necessarily want to accept this compromise).

While the Governor eliminated Child Advocacy Center (child abuse victim support) and Street Youth (shelter) money, both the House and Senate preserve these items. The crime victim services funded through the Department of Commerce do not seem to be hit any harder than they were in the House.

Like the House and Governor, the Senate proposes to consolidate some of the institutions (residential rehabilitation centers) for people with developmental disabilities; and the Senate actually achieves about another $1m in savings in this manner. Many developmental disabilities advocates support this consolidation for a combination of fiscal and policy reasons. Besides the cost savings, they value the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the community (with needed support services) rather than their isolation in institutions. (Democrats are on both sides of this issue.) Supported employment for people with Developmental Disabilities take the same reductions as in the House proposal.

Unlike the House, the Senate does not take a million away from Homeless Housing Assistance.

As did the House, the Senate reduces the Governor's $9m cut to Food Assistance to $4.8m. In addition, the related Senate language is better in that it does not permit eligibility reductions.

--Thanks to Seth Dawson, human services lobbyist. To receive his updates directly, email him: [e-mail]

Update on Thursday 2/3 by Niki Reading, the Capitol Record
The Senate version of early action cuts is out, and here's what I'm learning as I go along:

- The Senate class size reduction cut is smaller than that proposed by Gov. Chris Gregoire and the House
- The Senate budget eliminates the Higher Education Coordinating Board, saving $9 million
- Eliminate Council of Presidents
- The Senate reinstates the cut to Career and Wage Ladder in Early Education that Gregoire proposed and the House did not include
- The Senate version makes a smaller cut to the Basic Health Plan. The governor had proposed a $26.8 million cut, the House adopted a $19.6 million cut, and the Senate proposes a $10.3 million cut.
- It makes a big cut to the Disability Lifeline cash grant - to the tune of $18.5 million. The House version included no reduction and the governor had proposed a $20.3 million cut.
- It includes a DSHS "management reduction" of $1.7 million - neither the House nor the governor had this item
- It saves $3.4 million by cutting state employee pay and $1 million by cutting agency public relations positions.

Update 2: Here's the bill report. The bill is sponsored by the Senate Ways and Means Committee - meaning it's bipartisan.

Update on Thursday 2/3 by Josh Feit at Publicola:

Senate Ways and Means Chair Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Capitol Hill, U. District) released a statement:

"Washington cannot afford to keep spending at our current rate. Our conversation with the public is no longer about all the good ways we can spend their money. It's about what we're going to cut. It's about doing less with less. We need to be honest about this."

He also released his own highlights of how his budget differs from the House version:

· Reducing but not eliminating class-size reduction efforts in K-4 classrooms
· Eliminating the Higher Education Coordinating Board and Council of Presidents
· Transferring tuition funds for financial aid purposes
· Preserving state funded research
· Preserving the Basic Health Plan by tightening eligibility
· Tightening eligibility for the Children's Health Program
· Eliminating cash grants for the Disability Lifeline
· Not cutting adult day health care
· Taking a three percent pay reduction for non-represented state workers three months early

Disability Lifeline
The Senate's budget preserved Disability Lifeline medical but nearly eliminated cash grants (reduced from $339 per month to $258 per month effective Jan. 1, 2011). This is very unfortunate since we know that cash provides stable housing for the DL population and will help recipients to achieve positive health outcomes from medical care. In addition, most people go to DSHS to sign up for cash grants. The medical benefits are an added bonus, so we may see fewer people accessing DL medical if cash grants are eliminated.

Action Needed:
Advocates should continue to email Ways & Means Committee members and our own legislators for Disability Lifeline cash grants and other human services. Low-income housing advocates should note that residents pay 30% of their income in rent, and that this will eliminate a source of income for low-income housing operations, possibly endangering them.

Labor-A Balanced Approach to Unemployment Insurance: What Happened?

From Sen. Adam Kline's 37th District Newsletter

Senate Bill 5135 will provide immediate tax relief to 90% of employers around the state, to the tune of roughly $300 million in tax relief for businesses this year. It also makes a technical fix in state law that will make the state eligible for federally funded, extended unemployment benefits through 2011.

The legislation comes at a time when UI tax rates are set to increase by an average of 36 percent in 2011 and when nearly one in five Washingtonians is either unemployed or under-employed. In the latter part of 2008 and in 2009, with unemployment rates rising, the state paid out significantly more in benefits than it collected in taxes, causing a dramatic increase in the 2010 and 2011 tax rates.

The legislation now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. In order for the tax cuts to take effect this year, the legislation must be passed by the full Legislature and signed by the Governor by Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Labor-Unemployment Insurance-from WSLC's David Groves

Passage of the federal extended Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits is necessary by mid- to late-March to continue allowing folks in Washington to receive UI benefits beyond 26 weeks up to 99 weeks. Both parties support its passage. But Republicans--and a handful of Democrats--are trying to pass it along with a one-year temporary tax cut for business so they don't have to pass a second UI bill later in the session. In doing so, they hope to avoid both the Governor's training benefits and Labor's proposal for a children's benefit. In other words, business would get what it wants and struggling families get nothing.

Update from Labor lead Brad Larssen and from WSLC David Groves:

As we went to press Friday, the substitute Unemployment Insurance bill SSB 5135 was passed by the Senate by a majority of Democrats, who supported it because of the UI benefits extension for 99 weeks. However, the substitute version was amended by six renegade Democrats and a majority of Republicans. The six Democrats ignored their caucus leadership who hoped to pass some concessions to help workers in exchange for reducing UI rates at a time when unemployment is at its highest.

These Senators are: Hatfield (19th), Hobbs (44th), Kastama (25th), Pridemore (49th), Sheldon (35th), and Rodney Tom (48th).

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown scheduled a vote to advance the one-year tax cut bill (SB 5135) and House Speaker Frank Chopp planned quick action to get it to the governor's desk, and avoid the tax increase.

But then business lobbying groups hatched a plan to get what they wanted now, and avoid any bill #2 benefit improvements to balance the effort. They urged state Senators to defy the Majority Leader and amend the bill on the floor to add a federal unemployment benefit extension to SB 5135. That is the only remaining element of the governor's original bill that absolutely requires action this session. If it is added to SB 5135, there is no longer any motivation for a bill #2 this session. Business groups would simply come back next year, point to another inevitable spike in tax rates when their temporary tax cut is about to expire, and get it extended again.

Criminal Justice: Medical Marijuana

Medical Marijuana SB 5073 would establish a state-regulated system of licensed producers, processors and dispensers. The system would be overseen by the state departments of Agriculture and Health. Local governments would be free to adopt zoning regulations regarding siting of these facilities and advertising would be restricted.

Such a system would be a major improvement over the current patchwork of unregulated entities that serve as the only practical source of medical marijuana for many qualifying patients.

The bill proposes to protect qualifying patients who comply with the law from being arrested and prosecuted. They would be treated no differently than patients who rely on prescription medications to help maintain their quality of life.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Rep. Jim Moeller introduce changes to medical marijuana rules


Housing & Human Services: Portable Background Checks

Spotlight on a Low-Income Housing Alliance priority:
Passing the Fair Tenant Screening Act HB 1526 (Rep. Orwall)

The Fair Tenant Screening Act addresses three interconnected issues all related to tenant screening: The high cost of repeated tenant screening reports, the lack of transparency in those reports and the need to prevent inaccurate and misleading information from being included in the reports. By addressing these issues, the bill is designed to eliminate barriers to housing that tenants across the state struggle with.

The high cost of repeated reports: The tenant screening industry is a growing and largely unregulated sector that plays a central role in a landlord's decision to rent to a tenant or not. The companies are both out-of-state and home-grown and charge fees between $35 and $50 per report. The tenant pays the cost of each report, frequently purchasing separate reports for each person over the age of 18. Tenants are forced to pay these costs each time they apply for housing. Only one company on the market provides a portable report and landlords are not required to accept it, which means tenants purchasing a portable report have no guarantee that their prospective landlord will accept it -and unfortunately few do. The costs of these screening reports are added on top of the high costs of moving, including reserving money for a new deposit, first and last month's rent, utility set-ups and more.

The bill requires landlords to accept portable reports and that tenant screening companies make their reports portable or that the cost of the report be borne by the landlord.

Lack of transparency in the content of the reports: Tenants purchase tenant-screening reports each time they apply for a new home. Even though tenants pay the full cost, tenant screening companies refuse to share copies with any tenants. This presents maddening obstacles for tenants who are told that their applications for housing are denied because of the content of a tenant screening report that they can't see or correct.

The bill requires that tenant screening companies give tenants a copy of the report.

Preventing inaccurate or misleading information in the reports: Tenant screening reports can currently contain information that can tell a misleading story about a tenant. For example, the report always highlights if a tenant has been party to an eviction lawsuit, but it never says if the tenant won or lost the lawsuit, or even if the lawsuit was dismissed. It is common sense that simply being named a party to a lawsuit does not mean you're guilty. Unfortunately, tenant screening companies do not care and simply report on the gross fact, never expending the minimal time necessary to report on the actual facts.

Additionally, tenant-screening companies insist on being able to retain the right to report information that is illegal for a landlord to use in their consideration of an application. For example, it is illegal for landlords to discriminate against victims of domestic violence. Allowing discrimination would continue the cycle of violence. Maddeningly, tenant screening companies fight for their "right" to continue to report that a tenant has filed protection orders, even though this hands information to a landlord that they are not supposed to use in their decision to rent to that tenant or not.

The bill changes the law so that tenant screening reports cannot include inappropriate information, such as information about a protective order, or the fact of an eviction lawsuit that was dismissed in court or won by a tenant.

Action Needed:
Ask your representatives and the House Judiciary Committee to support the Fair Tenant Screening Act, HB 1526 or attend the hearing (TBA).

Banking, Foreclosure & Predatory Lending Reform

Don't Gut Payday Loan Law-Instead Stop the Moneytree Abuses

from Sen. Adam Kline's 37th District newsletter

Based on an anonymous tip from a constituent in the 37th district, the Department of Financial Institutions has succeeded in halting a shady payday loan practice.

Last April a constituent called me to blow the whistle on Moneytree, a payday lender. She claimed Moneytree was giving more than eight payday loans to individual customers during a one-year period, thus breaking a law passed by the Legislature in 2009. Over the course of several conversations, the constituent provided me with ample information about MoneyTree' S practices, and I worked with the good folks at our State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to figure out the shady bookkeeping strategies Moneytree was using to get around the law.

By painstakingly reviewing MoneyTree' S lending records, DFI was able to establish that the company appeared to be allowing borrowers to obtain the maximum allowable number of small loans and then repackaging those loans into a single, larger loan so they can take out even more loans. Moneytree was giving some of these folks upwards of 30 loans. Based on their research, DFI issued a temporary cease and desist order to Moneytree to force them to stop the allegedly illegal practices while the courts looked into the practice.

I'm happy to report that in mid-January, the court agreed with DFI, and ruled that the practice is indeed illegal. Moneytree and other payday lenders won't be able to use this strategy anymore.

Unfortunately payday lenders have found other ways to skirt the law. Very recently DFI started going after other payday lenders who appear to be circumventing the 8-loan limit using a different strategy. This time the payday lenders are selling gift cards to borrowers. The transaction works almost the same as a normal payday loan transaction. A borrower gives the lender a post-dated check, but instead of giving the borrower cash, the lender issues a gift card to a retail establishment like Wal-Mart, for example. The borrower pays the same amount of interest and fees they would receive in a cash loan. The lenders say since they're selling a product (i.e., a gift card) rather than handing out cash, they don't have to comply with the 8-loan limit. But DFI and the Northwest Justice Project (NJP is working separately from DFI on a lawsuit against a lender engaging in this practice) maintain that since the transaction works exactly the same except for the fact that the borrower gets a gift card instead of cash, it's still a "payday loan." NJP filed a lawsuit against one lender, Cash 1. DFI has issued a cease and desist order against a different lender, Checkmania (also known as Checkmate), for making illegal loans.

Along with these various strategies to skirt the 8-loan maximum, payday lenders are trying to entirely do away with the limit through legislation. SB 5547 and HB 1678 would both eliminate the 8-loan maximum, and would allow lenders to go back to making an unlimited amount of loans to individuals. I'd like to outlaw payday loans entirely. That year, I proposed a bill to do away with this usurious industry. Instead, we passed a narrower law that placed some limits on the industry, including the 8-loan maximum. I'll do my best to make sure we don't increase the ability of payday lenders to rip off their customers.

Progress on Washington Investment Trust (state bank) bill

From Rep. Bob Hasegawa, sponsor and prime mover of the Washington Investment Trust (state bank) bill

The State Treasurer's argument that HB 1320 is unconstitutional is wrong because it (HB1320) doesn't create an operational bank. It creates a Blue Ribbon Task Force, weighted toward bankers and financial institution experts, that will recommend trailer legislation for the 2012 session in order to become operational. So, the constitutional question will be addressed at that time, if necessary. You'll recall the 2007 session when we passed a constitutional amendment HJR 4215, supported by McIntire, that was necessary to implement an underlying bill that allowed investment of the state's Permanent Higher Education Trust Fund into the stock market. The constitutional amendment was necessary because there was a prohibition against investing that money into something that could lose money. It was passed by the people in the next general election.

As for the banks, I'm working on language to address their concern against competition and hope they'll at least go neutral if not in support. Remember, the commercial banks in North Dakota have a great working relationship with the Bank of North Dakota as a bankers' bank and as a lending partner. In fact, they feel more comfortable partnering with BND than other commercial banks because they don't have to worry about their "partner" stealing their customer in the future, because BND doesn't compete with them.

I believe this is about doing what's best for small businesses-creating access to capital-and as a small business advocate yourself, you know this is their #1 problem, and our #1 way to help them and create jobs.

-- Bob Hasegawa


Education

The Education news this week is in the Supplemental Budget for 2011. The Senate treats K-12 education with fewer cuts than the House, which uses the money to preserve Basic Health and Disability Lifeline grants. The Senate imposes severe cuts to Higher Education. Olympia watchers expect that the 2-year budget will generally follow the outlines of the Supplemental Budget.

Action needed:

Contact the respective Ways & Means Committees on these funding issues.
We are looking for one or two education issues issue leads.


Support the King County Democrats Now!
Renew your membership or join by downloading our donation form at:
http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/2011/2011MembershipForm.pdf

You can also donate online at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=214564

Basic membership is $40, family is $75, student/living lightly $20. Become a supporting member by donating $100, $250, $500 or $1000 or more.

We need and appreciate your help. Only with the help of concerned Democrats like yourself can we be an effective organization. Thank you.

Contact Information
Sarajane Siegfriedt - sarajane3h {at} comcast.net
Craig Salins - craigsalins{at} msn.com
teve Zemke, Chair - King County Democrats - stevezemke {at} msn.com

[eridani]

24. Week 3

King County Democrats
Legislative Action Newsletter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Issue #3
February 10, 2011


Introduction: Sarajane Siegfriedt is the legislative action newsletter editor. Sarajane Siegfriedt is the Co-Chair of the Legislative Action Committee.You can track bills and contact your legislators by going to their website at www.leg.wa.gov. or leave a message for your three legislators (and the Governor) at the toll-free Legislative Hotline, 1-800-562-6000. Your legislators' email addresses follow the form: [e-mail]

Bill Status Chart: In addition to this narrative newsletter, we are tracking the bills in our agenda and posting these to our website for quick reference http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/lac/2011/billstatus20110211.pdf Look here to find recommended actions for this week.

Our Legislative Agenda, passed by King County Democrats on January 24th, is posted on www.kcdems.org (look for LAC on the left tab). It directs us in our bill tracking. Please don't let this limit you from being vocal about other issues of importance.

Our annual Lobby Day is on Presidents Day, Monday February 21st from 11 to 1:30 p.m. followed by group appointments with your legislators (you make them). If you've never been to Olympia, this will change your idea of our Legislature. It's amazingly accessible. All our 39 King County Democratic legislators are our invited guests. Some of us will be staying in Olympia for the Washington State Democrats Crab Feed in Lacey, starting at 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.)

Please RSVP to Sarajane, and you need to buy your ticket online! The $20 cost includes a box lunch and materials. Last chance to reserve your lunch as seating in the Senate Rules Committee room is limited. (Find Senate Rules by entering the Lt. Governor's office on the 2nd Floor of the Legislative Building.)

Contact Sarajane Siegfriedt at [e-mail] to reserve a spot at our Lobby Day in Olympia. Please prepay from the LAC page at King County Democrats (look for LAC on the left tab).

Bills Will Die February 21st--Keep Yours Alive

We are quickly coming up to our first bill cutoff day. February 21st is the last day for bills to be voted out of their policy committee in their house of origin. Then they have until Feb. 25th to clear Ways & Means. March 7th is the cutoff for floor action in the house of origin. Then the scramble starts over, with fewer surviving bills. Ever wonder why we have so many twin "companion" bills? Doubles your chances of surviving this mash -up.


Revenue & Tax Reform

At Publicola--While the November election was supposed to be all about cuts, cuts, cuts, and no revenue for the state , it turns out that more than half of the freshmen in the Democratic caucus are co-sponsoring Rep. Eileen Cody's revenue bill to close a batch of corporate loopholes.

From Anne Martins, Fuse, Our Economic Future Coalition:

HB1847, Rep. Eileen Cody's bill to close specific loopholes and use the money to fund Basic Health. As we talk about and organize around this bill, we have an opportunity to make it clear that legislators have a choice, and we can draw the contrast between tax exemptions and budget cuts: It doesn't make sense to cut healthcare for our families when we're giving away billions in unjustified tax breaks to big corporations. Our families should come first.

--We should cut tax breaks for Wall Street banks before we cut healthcare
--We should cut tax breaks for private jets before we cut healthcare
--We need to level the playing field. Wall Street banks and private jet owners should pay their fair share.

Please integrate these messages into your emails and letters to the editor, your blog and Facebook posts, your outreach and field activities, your direct actions, and whatever else you've got going on.

From AARP

To solve the state budget deficit, AARP is asking the legislature to prioritize services for the most vulnerable -and to look carefully at every dollar we spend. This includes money spent through the tax code - otherwise known as tax preferences or loopholes.

Last week, members of the House of Representatives introduced a bill (House Bill 1847) that would close special tax preferences for Wall Street Banks, elective cosmetic surgery, and private jets. The money saved would be used to save the Basic Health Plan. This makes a lot of sense--but will be intensely opposed by the special interest groups who benefit from these loopholes.

Nearly a third of the people who purchase state subsidized insurance through the Basic Health Plan are age 50+ but not yet eligible for Medicare. That's more than 18,000 older Washingtonians at risk of being uninsured if the Basic Health Plan is eliminated.

Tell your representatives to support HB. 1847 to save Basic Health by closing unjust tax loopholes.

Criminal Justice

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Bill Clears Senate Committee
Written by: Senate Republican Caucus
OLYMPIA, Feb. 9--The state Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee approved a bill aimed at clarifying Washington's law on the medical use of cannabis. The bipartisan measure was introduced by Sen. Jeanne Koh.-Welles, D-Seattle, and co-sponsored by Sen. Jerome Devlin, R-Richland.

"I came to this issue after members of the law enforcement community told me how frustrated they are by what is going on under the current system," said Delvin, who served as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer in the Richland Police Department. "The voters have said they want medical marijuana to be available to those suffering from painful medical conditions, but law enforcement has not been given clear direction about how to enforce the law while respecting the rights of medical-marijuana users."

"What we have is an underground system, unclear rules, and general frustration on the part of all involved; we need to bring it out in the light."

Senate Bill 5073 would allow patients to purchase medical-marijuana products from licensed dispensaries by taking part in a regulated patient collective, or by continuing to receive it from a designated provider. The Department of Agriculture would create a licensing system for the growing of medical marijuana and the Department of Health would do the same for dispensaries.

The legislation would also protect legally compliant patients and growers from arrest, search, and prosecution for the use of medical cannabis. Law-enforcement officers would have a voluntary registry of patients to consult before conducting warrantless searches or arrests.

"Law enforcement needs clarity," said Delvin. "This patient registry created by this bill would provide assurance to the law-enforcement community that a person is authorized to use medical marijuana and not just a recreational drug abuser."

The Senate health committee adopted a series of key amendments to the bill before giving it a "do pass" recommendation. Compared to the original bill, the amended version would, among other things:

provide arrest protection only for those in the registry;
require doctors to follow a medical standard of care before authorizing marijuana for a patient, which would eliminate medical marijuana mills;
remove state preemption of local authority for regulating medical marijuana;
remove the onerous and unnecessary civil penalty against law enforcement;
reduce the amount of qualifying patients who may participate in a collective garden from 25 to three;
remove the sales-tax exemption for qualifying patients, making purchases of medical cannabis subject to sales tax;
require dispensaries to confirm the patient qualifies for medical cannabis with the health care professional who authorized the medical use of cannabis for that patient;
require license suspension if a licensee is found in non-compliance with a child support order or federal student loan; and
clarify that the limits are 15 plants and 24 ounces of product, whether in plant form or processed.

The bill now moves to the Senate Ways & Means Committee.

From the Seattle Weekly blog:

Here are some official statements from Kohl-Welles about the various amendments to her bill.

On whether she thinks the bill will receive broader support with the included amendments: "Yes, I do; however, I believe that there will be some real concerns with some of the amendments within some of the groups supporting the bill. I will be working to clarify some of the amendments that are a bit confusing and that may have unintentional consequences."

On the amendments that removed certain protections for patients: "I am disappointed the section had to be removed, but I understand the concerns some employers had with it. The original language mirrored what's in statute providing protections to employees who use prescription drugs off-worksite."

On housing protections for patients: "I understand the rationale for this amendment, but I think it is still problematic. Medical cannabis is a medicine that is used by those authorized by their medical-health professional and who have allowable medical conditions. Using drugs or alcohol are not the same thing."

From the News Tribune , by Jordan Schrader, 2/10/11

Another interesting change: It's still voluntary for patients to join a state registry, but those who don't join wouldn't get special protections from arrest. Some marijuana users don't like the idea of putting their name on a list that police can access.

Housing & Homelessness

From Housing & Homelessness lobbyist Seth Dawson:

The hearing on the proposal to extend the recording fee to secondary mortgage sales (HB 1768), went very well. There was opposition for the association of mortgage lenders and banks, as expected, but there was also a great deal of support. Pro sign ins included (among others) the Washington State Coalition for the Homeless, National Association of Social Workers, Mockingbird Society, YouthCare, the Washington State Community Action Partnership, the Children's Alliance, Children's Home Society, United Way of Snohomish County, Catholic Charities, the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Wellspring Family Services and the Housing Consortium of Snohomish County. Nick Federici presented the pro testimony on behalf of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

The revised fiscal note for HB 1768 estimates that the measure will generate $33m per biennium--much more than originally estimated and an ample amount for solving the Home Security Fund deficit and address the need for additional O&M for the Housing Trust Fund!

We have reports that the committee members received a good deal of calls/emails in support of this bill, so thanks to all who spoke up-you had an impact!

Labor: Unemployment Insurance Uproar

By Erik Smith
Staff writer/ Washington State Wire

OLYMPIA, Feb. 9--House Speaker Frank Chopp was staring defeat in the face Wednesday when 10 Democrats announced they would vote with Republicans on the year's big unemployment bill.

He threatened to adjourn instead, Republicans said. And for two hours lawmakers played a delicate game of brinksmanship, with a critical tax break for business and benefits for thousands of workers hanging in the balance. Just when it looked like everything was going to fall apart, the astounding happened. Lawmakers struck a deal and found a way out, and they managed to settle an argument that has dominated the Washington Legislature during the first four weeks of the 2011 session.

The deal boosts unemployment benefits for unemployed Washington workers by $25 a week for nine months starting in March. A critical tax break for business is saved, and so are unemployment benefits for thousands of workers that otherwise would have ended this spring. The Senate is expected to approve the measure on Friday.

Had there been no deal Wednesday morning, it is likely that no unemployment bill would have passed the Legislature this year. Business would have faced a crippling average 36 percent increase in unemployment taxes, and some 70,000 of the state 's longest-term jobless would have been cut off from extended unemployment benefits. Wednesday's battle capped weeks of legislative wrangling, but in the end everything came through.

It certainly is a messy process, isn't it?" said Washington State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson.

At The Olympian.com--House votes 98-0 on UI deal for business, labor--If ratified by the Senate on Friday and signed by the governor, it extends benefits for thousands of unemployed workers by $25 per week--until money runs out, possibly in November; and it cuts $300 million from rates businesses pay into the UI system. HB 1091 reduces tax rates paid by an estimated 90% of businesses and is permanent. Businesses had been looking at rates rising by an average 36% this year. Said Gov. Chris Gregoire: "Today's action... provides a package that helps support jobs and our economy at all levels. In addition to a short-term temporary increase in unemployment benefits, this bi-partisan solution expands re-training benefits for people whose jobs are gone for good. Worker re-training is a critical investment in our future. I encourage the Senate to pass HB 1091 quickly."

The Senate passed HB 1091 on Friday afternoon

Elections and Initiative Reform

From LAC Co-chair Craig Salins and our issue lead, Washington Public Campaigns
Public financing for state supreme court races: HB 1898 / SB 5010.

The House bill has 30 Democratic co-sponsors, so thank them and ask them to ask Rep. Sam Hobbs, the House State Government Committee Chair, for a hearing and quick action. The Senate Government Committee Chair is Sen. Craig Pridemore.

Urge committee approval for either of these bills--so we keep alive the policy proposal. Message: Our state's top court must not be for sale, not even appear to be--and public campaign financing (as an option for candidates) is how to assure that.

This proposal (Senate and House bills) would fund a modest program, through a $3 surcharge on court filing fees--any underlying fee that is already $20 or greater. AND--the proposal is to submit this to voters on the November ballot, as a referendum, yes or no. So our message point is: Let the voters decide.

Disclosure of campaign contributions and spending SB 5021 (and substitute PSHB 5021) / HB 1732

These bills toughen the requirements for disclosure of who is paying for electioneering communications (including but not only candidate campaigns); closing some loopholes when donors hide behind PACS such that voters can't know who is really sending out campaign propaganda. WPC supports these bills - although we'd like a further requirement that stops PACs from donating to each other (the so-called "Russian doll-within-a-doll syndrome")--which hides the real donor.

Reform the state 's initiative process: HB 1668 / SB 5297.

These bills require registration of paid signature-gatherers and firms that do this, or sponsor initiatives, to discourage fraud. Also, raises fees to file an initiative (to discourage frivolous filings).

BUT--With all the attention to paid signature gatherers, anti-fraud, etc.--all of which is important, and we support the reforms--we're missing a key point: Citizen initiatives have gone for sale. They've become auctions--and it is deep-pocketed financial backers who have hijacked our "citizen" initiative process. It's mostly corporate cash, concerned more for their stock price and bottom line than for the welfare of citizens of our state. Some financial backers and corporate donors (American Beverage Assoc) don't even live here!

Washington Public Campaigns is urging a last-minute amendment to these bills - requiring upper limits on donations to PACs that support/sponsor initiatives.

From Kristina Logsdon
Ballot Initiative Network Project Director, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

Some of you have asked about the HB 1668 initiatives reform hearing so I wanted to give you a quick update.

We received a few press hits, but yesterday's Publicola says it all: Eyman Loses. His main message points and our response:

Already incredibly hard to qualify for the ballot. This will make it harder.
Our message: Near record number of measures last year doesn't indicate the process is getting harder. Oregon has tougher laws & had six measures from the people on the ballot last year)

There isn't a problem as we've only had one abuse in the past. This is a solution looking for a problem.
Our message: WA had massive fraud cases in 1994 and 1995 AND two people charged with forging signatures on Eyman's 985 most recently. In addition, we argued that more and more paid signatures are coming from out of state where fraud and forgery is on the rise. We need to prevent their unscrupulous acts from coming here. BISC message was that fraud and forgery doesn't stop at the border, but our laws are so porous we probably aren't catching it. LWV cited Doe V Reed where SOS said they only check 3-5% of signatures on petitions.)

People don't want the initiative process tampered with. We're trying to dismantle the initiative process.
Our message: I pointed to a poll by Lake Research Partners showing tremendous support from voters for registration and affidavits on the back of petitions signed. SEIU started their testimony with history of using the ballot measure process. Many of us also included that we value the initiative process as a tool for citizens to create laws.

Problem is with volunteers not paid signature gatherers. Pointed heavily to 1098 signature forgery and "overzealous" union organizers.
Our message: SEIU member was caught because she signed the back of the petition. It's a tool that works and should be law.

Our folks (Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Fieldworks, SEIU, AARP, LWV, WashPIRG and myself) were well prepared to refute Eyman and his cronies at both hearings. We are currently working on a substitute bill with Senator Nelson with the goal of having it completed by Monday and up for a vote in the Government Operations committee Tuesday (Feb. 15).



Banking, Foreclosure & Predatory Lending

Foreclosure Mediation Bill HB 1362 and SB 5275

In the Seattle Times -- Foreclosure filings fall -- but not here -- The volume of foreclosure filings fell 17% in January compared with the same month a year earlier. In contrast to the national numbers, foreclosure filings still are climbing in Washington, where the housing bubble burst later. In King County, January filings were up 12% from December and 55% from January 2010. The year-over-year increase was 41% in Snohomish County and 37% in Pierce County.

(The Washington State Labor Council is supporting SB 5275 and HB 1362 to promote alternatives to foreclosure.)

A vote on HB 1362 is scheduled 2/17/11 at 10 AM. Please contact House Judiciary committee members before then, thank them if they co-sponsored, and tell them how important this bill is to helping or economy recover. We will only have consumer demand and therefore jobs when the housing market recovers. Right now, the shadow inventory of bank-owed homes is keeping prices down. Mediation is successful in preventing foreclosure 60% of the time in the 23 jurisdictions where it is mandated. A vote on SB 5275 in Senate Financial Institutions has not yet been scheduled.

Predatory Lending Payday Loan Rollback SB 5547
From 37th LD PCO Dick Burkhart, President of Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice:

We had good testimony on the payday lending bill, which would remove the cap (8) on the number of payday loans per year. This cap has been the key to getting people into conventional installment payment arrangements, as the lenders can then no longer entice them into taking out another payday loan with its 391% interest rate. This has been very successful, reducing the number of pay loans from around 3 million per year to around 1 million per year, with the number of payday lenders and number of outlets being reduced by 1/3.

The sponsors of the bill, Senators Benton and Prentice, argued that this was simply forcing people to turn to unregulated online payday lenders, often from overseas, but while this could be true in a some cases, statistical analysis has shown no more than the normal number of people visiting these websites and the DFI is taking what action it can against them. The Express Credit Union, which does micro-lending, testified that the new law has really helped the people they work with, many of whom had been entrapped by payday lending cycles.

I testified that what we really needed was a statewide network of non-profit micro-lending institutions, which would charge reasonable interest (36% is standard) and put people immediately on installment payback plans and offer financial counseling. Such a network would require state support to set up and capitalize, but would drive the loan sharks out of business while meeting an ancient need (traditionally it was pawn shops).

I had an interesting interchange with Sen. Benton. He questioned me, insisting that the number of payday loans had increased after I said that they were down by 2/3. I said that I didn't have the exact figures but stood my ground, based on the data sheet from Danielle Friedman .

After the hearing, Gary Burris of the Economic Opportunity Institute showed me the exact numbers, verifying what I had said. Earlier in the hearing Sen. Benton had insisted very dramatically that before the new law there had been absolutely no payday lending complaints to the Department of Financial Institutions, where upon the chair (Sen. Steve Hobbs) called the DFI expert to the podium who gave the actual numbers, showing that Benton hadn't a clue. Benton didn't even apologize, but continued in the same vein with his attack on my statement. I was surprised by such gross lack of integrity. The payday lobbyists didn't even dare testify, and after Sen. Benton's performance, I don't think it is going anywhere.

This was the first time I had actually testified at a hearing in Olympia, and I'm ready for more.

Thanks for your reporting and your advocacy, Dick!


Please contact members of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee and your own Senator and ask them not to rollback payday lending protections. Do not pass SB 5547.

Environment

In the Olympian--Participants in TransAlta dispute need to clear the air(editorial) -- All the players involved in this dispute share a concern about the degradation of the environment. Each proposes a different solution to get to the same goal--cleaner air quality. They must use that common ground as the base of a reasonable compromise that will settle this contentious issue.

SB 5231 Protecting children's products from toxics: here are the effects of changes made by the Senate Environment, Water & Energy Committee:

(Recommended Substitute): Limits the scope of children's products to those currently in statute. Adds to the list of exempt products, science kits, paper and forest products and certain products such as food, medical devices, drugs, and dietary supplements, regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Clarifies that Ecology must review alternatives assessments and other relevant information and determine if there are additional actions that the Legislature should take to protect children's health.

SB 5234 Safe Medicine Disposal--creating a statewide program for the collection, transportation and disposal of unwanted medicines: here is the effect of changes made by the Senate Health & Long-term Care Committee

(Recommended Substitute): Vitamins, supplements, and topical applications of pet pesticide products are excluded from the definition of covered drug. The name of the Medicine Return Association is changed to the Medicine Return Corporation, and the Corporation is required to be organized a nonprofit corporation under chapter 24.06 RCW. The Corporation must include four legislative members to be chosen from each of the four caucuses and who will serve as ex officio, non-voting members. Board meetings are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act and the Public Records Act, except that the Board may hold executive sessions and producer information is exempt from disclosure.

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All these bills need your help. Please make it a point to send messages to committee members this week to pass the ones your are most passionate about. We have two weeks to help get all these bills out of their policy committee and through the Ways & Means Committee, if they have a budget impact.

Thank you for your activism,
Sarajane Siegfriedt and Craig Salins, Co-chairs
King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee

[eridani]

26. Week 4

This is the longest newsletter we expect to publish. For most people, it would be too long to print.

February 17th was the cutoff in the House for all policy bills to be voted out of committee, and many of our bills died for lack of votes in committee. Some good bills advanced, and we want to give you the flavor of the good ideas, the juicy committee testimony and the necessary changes that were made in the bills, some better and some worse. Bills needed to be out of fiscal Ways & Means committees by Friday, Feb 25th, and then out of house of origin by March 7th.

For our bills to survive these deadlines, we'll need your support-calls and emails to legislators. This is an "audience participation game." If you are reading this, you care. So take up your pen and note the bills you will contact legislators about. For bill status and next steps, print out our Bill Status Chart 2-18-11. http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/lac/2011/billstatus20110218.pdf

Budget

House Bill 1086 (Supplemental operating budget) The big news last week was the bipartisan agreement on the supplemental budget--deep cuts to fill the gap in the current year's budget. This has taken a tremendous amount of attention away from policy bills, and the gap still isn't filled. The supplemental budget also becomes the template for the next two-year budget.

While the House has maintained its partisan split, the Senate majority and minority budget leaders, Ed Murray and Joe Zarelli, have worked closely together to forge solutions. This is necessary because of the six conservative Democrats in the Roadkill Caucus, led by Sen. Steve Hobbs (44th) of Lake Stevens (Brian Hatfield (19th), Jim Kastama (25th), Craig Pridemore (49th), Tim Sheldon (35th) and Rodney Tom (48th) who give Republicans the leverage they need.

On February 18, 2011, the Senate withdrew previous amendments, and agreed to the recommendations from the Conference Committee negotiations. This reduces the total state deficit by $367.4 million.

The Supplemental operating budget was then signed with partial veto by Gov. Christine Gregoire on February 18. Sections of the bill that were vetoed by the Governor include: prohibiting expenditures to equip the State Data Center; 3% pay reduction to non-represented employees; eliminating communication staff at various state agencies; management efficiencies at DSHS; and eliminating dual language pay reductions. This action adds $6.4 million back to the state deficit.

Here are some of the supplemental budget losers. (There are no winners.)

The Capitol Record: Update on the supplemental budget details http://www.tvw.org/capitolrecord/index.php/2011/02/update-on-the-supplemental-budget-details/

Senate Democrats offer online budget calculator: You try balancing the state budget!

There are many ways to go about writing a state budget, with a menu of options for funding and cutting services and programs. With their new on-line budget calculator, you can now try your hand at budget writing by clicking on this online budget calculator. You not only can choose which public services you'd cut, and by how much, but you can also see just much or how little savings those reductions provide-and how close they get you to balancing the budget. Click here to try it! http://senatedemocrats.wa.gov/issues/budget/calculator.html


Revenue and Tax Reform

State still favors tax breaks T

he News Tribune, BRAD SHANNON; Staff writer
Published: 02/13/11 2:24 am | Updated: 02/13/11 1:37 pm

Lawmakers have let only four tax breaks expire since the state's Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee and a citizen commission on tax breaks began reviewing the state's more than 500 exemptions in 2006.

Ninety-five favorable tax rates have been reviewed-starting with the oldest ones, enacted in 1891-and those eliminated were worth just $5.7 million a year. Meanwhile, lawmakers are looking this year at extending some old tax breaks or creating new ones as they face a shortfall of up to $4.6 billion.

But Democratic Sen. Phil Rockefeller of Bainbridge Island thinks some tax loopholes-known as "tax preferences" at the Capitol-deserve a closer look. Like other lawmakers this year, he was vague in saying there was any one that needs closure.

But he said he wants more action on tax reviews to benefit taxpayers. And he is going back to look at a few of the exemptions that the Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee and a citizen commission on tax breaks have recommended over the years for sunset or clarification.

"It doesn't look right to me....The average taxpayer would say, 'You've invested a lot of effort'" in the audit review committee to not make use of it.

The four tax breaks allowed to lapse: a temporary tax break bestowed on beef processors after a "mad cow" disease scare; a tax break for rural county software and desk-help firms; and breaks on purchases of field burning equipment and patient-lifting equipment used by nursing homes and hospitals

T-Word Not Popular

Republicans and most Democrats have been chilly to eliminating tax exemptions this year or raising taxes. Republican Rep. Gary Alexander of Thurston County says majority Democrats should work to balance the budget with existing revenue-despite a looming shortfall of up to $4.6 billion.

Democratic House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle has been reluctant to talk about closing exemptions. And House Ways and Means Chairman Ross Hunter-who managed to close a few tax breaks last year to raise several hundred million dollars-offered a blunt view last Friday.

The Medina Democrat said he can't see getting a two-thirds legislative vote for a tax measure--after voters approved Tim Eyman's Initiative 1053 last fall.

Health Advocates Disagree

That's not the way nurses, mental health counselors and other health care workers from Service Employees International Union 1199NW saw it when they marched on the Capitol on a week ago.

The more than 100 SEIU activists held a noisy protest outside a Bank of America branch in downtown Olympia before going to talk to lawmakers. They urged elimination of Washington's generous tax exemption on interest that banks earn on first mortgages, and they want it to pay for health programs that are on the budget chopping block.

SEIU 1199 spokeswoman Linnae Riesen says I-1053 is no excuse for not looking at exemptions.

"We're not buying that," Riesen said after the protest at the bank. "Voters never said, 'Let's cut health care.'"

Reisen said "there is broad support" for House Bill 1847, introduced last week by Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle. It would close tax breaks to collect $150 million to $200 million for the state's Basic Health Plan, which subsidizes health insurance for 52,000 low-income people whose earnings are high enough to disqualify them from Medicaid.

Target on Banks

Of the tax breaks in Cody's package, SEIU and other advocates have put most of their attention on the bank tax break, which Hunter proposed to eliminate last year but was unable to get passed through the Senate. It would set a $100 million cap on the exemption for banks' first-mortgage interest earnings-in effect hitting mostly giant out-of-state banks such as Bank of America, which bought up troubled mortgage lender Countrywide Financial.

The banking industry objects to Cody's tax proposal and was able to defeat it last year when Hunter pushed for it and the Democrat- controlled Senate rejected it.

So far, lawmakers are looking more in the direction of Bank of America than in SEIU's.

Tax Closure Lite is Less Filling

But if Rockefeller gets his way, lawmakers in both chambers might get a few more small tax breaks to look at.

The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences' most recent report was issued in draft form in January. It recommends letting a few more tax preferences expire July 1, including:

· A temporary, $5 million break in the business and occupations tax for fruit and vegetable manufacturers, because too few jobs are being created or retained as a result.

· Similar breaks worth $3.3 million for seafood products manufacturing, $1.5 million for dairy products manufacturing and $1.1 million for fresh food processing.

Other recommendations are to continue tax breaks-for things such as the taxation of interstate transportation equipment, labor and services "used in the construction and repair of roads"-and to clarify the intent and scope of many others.

In Midst of Budget Crisis, WA State's Addiction to Tax Breaks Goes On

Dozens of New Tax Breaks to Benefit Wealthy Interests Proposed, Costing Taxpayers Millions: 34 new tax exemptions would cost at least $97 million on top of the current $5 billion shortfall

From Ann Martens, Communications Hub, Fuse Washington, Win Win Network

At a time when the state is facing a $5 billion budget shortfall, legislators from both parties have proposed handing out nearly three dozen new tax breaks that would cost taxpayers well over $97 million in Fiscal Year 2013.

The slew of newly proposed tax exemptions highlights the fact that Washington's tax exemption system is out of control and in serious need of systemic reform. The exact cost of the proposed exemptions is impossible to determine because many do not even have fiscal notes analyzing their impact. Of those that have been assessed, the combined cost is $97,035,591 in 2013.

"As the exemptions pile up, the cost is mounting, and our tax code looks more and more like a slice of Swiss cheese," said Anne Martens, a spokesperson for the Economic Future Coalition, an alliance of more than 140 organizations across the state concerned about deep proposed budget cuts. "The real question is whether each exemption is the best use of taxpayer money."

"It makes no sense to spend $5 million on an exemption that creates 100 jobs when it also means eliminating $5 million in funding for a core service that leads to the loss of 1000 jobs."

The problem is that legislators and the public often don't know whether exemptions are delivering the promised benefits, because there is little accountability and transparency in the system. And the problem is getting worse. There are 567 tax breaks already on the books, and 116 of those were created in the last decade alone -- far more than in previous decades. The expenditures created since 1995 alone will cost taxpayers $1.6 billion in just the next two years.

Only 17 percent of existing tax exemptions have ever been reviewed, though many have been in place for decades. Of the 95 that have been reviewed by the bipartisan JLARC committee, 29 that were recommended for termination or clarification have not been acted upon by the legislature, adding up to as much as $325 million in lost annual revenue.

The Our Economic Future Coalition is calling on legislators to stop passing new exemptions until the following improvements are made:

a. Enhance oversight by applying expiration dates to all tax expenditures so they have to be reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.

b. Improve fiscal management by allowing tax expenditures to be modified or eliminated by a simple majority vote.

c. Foster accountability by establishing and clarifying minimum reporting requirements for businesses that receive tax subsidies.

d. Prioritize all forms of spending by requiring the Governor to create a biennial executive tax expenditure budget so the money we spend on tax expenditures is reviewed side by side with money spent on our kids and communities.

More on tax giveaway reform-HB 1980 funds education

From the Kitsap Sun

Bill seeks to close $1B in exemptions (Rep. Seaquist)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/16/bill-seeks-to-close-1b-in-exemptions/

HB 1899 reforms budget process for tax giveaways
http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/increase-transparency-by-creating-a-tax-expenditure-budget

From Schmudget, the Washington State Budget & Policy Center blog:

Increase transparency by creating a tax expenditure budget

HB 1899, which was filed last week in the Legislature, would require tax expenditures to be incorporated into the state budget process.
http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/increase-transparency-by-creating-a-tax-expenditure-budget

For more information on tax expenditures and long-term reforms to our state budget process read our latest policy brief, Every Dollar Counts: Why it's Time for Tax Expenditure Reform.
http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/every-dollar-counts-why-its-time-for-tax-expenditure-reform


Environment

Transitioning our state away from coal burning power

From Sen. Scott White's newsletter:

It is time to take the steps necessary to end risks to public health and the environment associated with coal energy production in our state, and I'm very pleased to report that we introduced legislation in the Senate last week that establishes a shut-down date of 2020 for the TransAlta coal facility in Centralia, which is Washington's largest greenhouse gas emitter.

Senate Bill 5769 lays out a comprehensive approach that, in addition to helping the state meets its overall greenhouse gas reduction targets, provides funds to help the surrounding community adjust to the loss of TransAlta as a regional employer.

The bill eliminates TransAlta's ongoing tax break effective July 2015 and dedicates that amount of revenue to a new community assistance account for the region.

In Publicola's Afternoon Jolt: Rhetorical Jabs at TransAlta Bill,

February 15th, an entertaining account of the House hearing, featuring riposte from our 34th District Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon--“The coal comes from Wyoming. The power goes to California. The profits go to Canada . And the pollution stays here.”

http://publicola.com/2011/02/15/afternoon-jolt-rhetorical-jabs/

Public Safety

Safe Medicine Return challenges
From Margaret Shield, February 17, 2011

I have disappointing news from Olympia, the House Environment Committee failed to pass HB 1370 out of committee. This was the last possible day for a House bill to pass out of its policy committee, so HB 1370 is dead for this session. My understanding is that Representatives Takko and Morris, as well as Republican members of the committee did not support the bill. All of our good contacts to the Committee were received, but they did not shift the vote enough at this time.

Our Senate bill Substitute SB 5234 is still active in the Senate and that's where our focus needs to be. The deadline to pass the bill out of the Senate is March 7th. SSB 5234 is in Rules. Bill supporters in Olympia are working to get enough support among Senators to ask members of the Rules committee to move it out for a floor vote. The drug companies who oppose this bill are working very hard to ensure we don't get enough votes.

Contacts to all Senators from supporting organizations and agencies are needed. Even if you have already contacted them, please contact again as these Senators are hearing from dozens of drug company lobbyists. Please explain how important this issue is to your organization and how drug take-back programs are needed to protect our communities. Senators are hearing that these programs won't make any difference for our families or for our environment.

Our position on this issue is supported by all the experts-public health leaders trying to reduce poisonings, law enforcement working to reduce the supply of drugs in communities, substance abuse professionals, nurses, doctors, wastewater professionals, solid waste professionals, and more.

But in Olympia, it is a political problem-the pharmaceutical industry is large and powerful. They are working very hard to say that they should not be held responsible for the take-back of leftover medicines, and raising concerns about whether a statewide take-back system is workable and about details of the bill. Our efforts are needed to keep the focus on solving this problem for our communities.

Labor

Unemployment Insurance: ESHB 1091

Thank you for your calls and emails in support of ESHB 1091, to assure and pass a fair unemployment insurance bill, which balanced temporary benefits for unemployed workers, eligibility for federal extension of unemployment benefits for long- term unemployed workers, and cuts to prevent steep unemployment insurance rate hikes for most Washington employers. This bill passed both houses last week.

Misclassification of Workers as Independent Contractors: HB 1701/ SB 5599

Moving forward this week: HB 1701/ SB 5599 would enhance state revenue by legislating to eliminate and penalize tax and wage theft by contractors who misclassify their workers as independent contractors, thereby cheating the state out of millions of dollars of payroll taxes, and cheating their workers out of state unemployment and workers compensation benefits required by law. In addition, dishonest contractors who cheat on their taxes and benefits are often getting away with underbidding honest contractors on projects. Please call and email in support of this bill. It has had hearings in both houses. On Feb. 16 it was voted out of the House Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and Feb. 17 passed to the Rules Committee.

Workers' Compensation

Also heard last week were several workers' comp bills that you will be reading much more about. Once again, like last fall's Initiative 1082-which failed by more than 18 points-most of these bills attempt to cut costs of providing workers' comp coverage without regard to the impact on the injured workers that the system is there for.

One of the legitimate challenges facing our system is the rising incidence of injured workers on long-term disability. Pension rates have gone up and, as Gov. Gregoire points out, those 8% of the claims are responsible for 85% of the system's costs. Organized labor and other advocates for injured workers support several ideas to address this problem, including expansion of the Centers for Occupational Health Excellence, which are proven to help workers return to work sooner and save employers money; the creation of a statewide medical provider network; and return-to-work wage subsidies.

But organized labor cannot support simply cutting injured workers off of their pensions at a certain age or allowing what business lobbyists call "voluntary settlement agreements." This is where employers can make a lump-sum payment to injured workers and be absolved of all current and future claims. We call it "starve-and-settle" because an employer can appeal a claim and drag out the process so financial pressures mount for the injured worker's family who have lost their income. After this lengthy process, a lump-sum deal becomes difficult to resist for desperate families, even if it won't cover their future medical costs, which are difficult to anticipate.

In the meantime, we leave you with this comment shared by WSLC President Jeff Johnson this week during his committee testimony: "The lens through which the labor community views changes to the workers' comp system is, 'how will it reduce long-term disability,' and not 'how will it lower costs to the system regardless of the outcomes to injured workers'."

State Bank Bill Fails to Advance

Thanks to Richard Hodgin, 65th Street Gang who forwarded this message

from Rep. Jamie Pedersen

Thanks for your message and for your passion around the state bank. Rep. Kirby, the chair of the House Business & Financial Services Committee, has told Rep. Hasegawa that he would bring HB 1320 up for executive action only if he could convince the state treasurer not to oppose the legislation. With two days left before the policy committee cutoff, that seems quite unlikely. At the public hearing, the state treasurer, Jim McIntire, testified strongly against the bill on several grounds:

1) Establishment of a state bank that would lend money to small businesses (which is the stated purpose of the bill) would violate the state constitutional provision that bars the state from lending its credit.

2) Capitalizing the bank with state money (no other source of funds has been suggested) would likely lead to significant lost revenue for the state general fund (which is where the interest we earn on our cash currently goes).

3) Staffing the trust - and ultimately the bank - would create a significant additional state agency.

I encourage you to review the fiscal note. Adoption of the bill is estimated to cost over $80 million in the current biennium with no revenue source to cover those expenses. That grows to $155 million in future biennia. I share these concerns and therefore cannot support the bill in its current form. I haven't been able to think of a way to fix the bill, either, to address these concerns. We have a huge budget problem this year that this bill would only exacerbate. In my opinion, that needs to be the focus of our work this session. I'd be happy to talk with you further about this after the session is over.

Best wishes, Jamie

Good news: The foreclosure mediation bills pass out of committee
Foreclosure bill creates mediation process
Tacoma News Tribune,Katie Schmidt; staff writer

Last updated: February 18th, 2011

The Washington Legislature this week moved forward on two bills meant to reduce foreclosure rates in the state and offer more guidance to indebted homeowners.

After some changes, House and Senate proposals to set up a foreclosure mediation process passed out of committee, picking up support from bankers and anti-poverty advocates alike.

"We're joining a handful of states that have done mediation and had a lot of success," said Rep. Tina Orwall, a Normandy Park Democrat and the primary sponsor of House Bill 1362. "I think it will help a lot of homeowners who are frustrated with the process."

Both Orwall and Sen. Adam Kline, sponsor of Senate Bill 5275, introduced substitute bills to the ones originally heard in committee. Orwall said the substitutes were the product of negotiations with banks, anti-poverty advocates and others over the bill's third-party mediation provisions, one of its most controversial elements.

Under the substitute bills an attorney or housing counselor could refer a homeowner to mediation, which would mean that the lender and borrower would meet with a third party to try to work out an alternative to foreclosure. The original bills would have allowed a homeowner to request mediation without a referral.

The substitute bills would also require banks to pay a $250 fee per property they foreclose on, which would fund additional housing counselors in the state.

Washington Bankers Association lobbyist Denny Eliason, who opposed the mediation provisions in the original bills, said he was satisfied with the substitutes and the negotiation process that the measures had gone through.

"I think everyone pushed away from the table with the understanding that we're substantially there," Eliason said of the talks. "The bill is probably 98 percent acceptable to all parties."

Danielle Friedman of the Poverty Action Network said her organization also supported the substitute bills. She said she was pleased that everyone in the negotiations recognized the need to do something about foreclosure rates in Washington and she thought the mediation provisions in the substitute bills were still strong enough to make a difference for Washington homeowners.

According to RealtyTrac, a website that tracks foreclosure rates by state, there were 4,981 new foreclosures in January in Washington, mostly in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.

The foreclosure mediation bills, HB 1362 and SB 5275, were passed out of their respective committees unanimously. These bills have been a hot item this session. It is clear that everyone is seeing the need to address the foreclosure crisis by giving homeowners tools to help them through this process.

Given the long, intense negotiations that have been occurring over the content of the bill, there were very few changes. The main difference is now a homeowner needs to contact a housing counselor or attorney in order to trigger the mediation. Additional changes includes a vast increase in the number of housing counselors around the state, additional consumer protection act coverage, and some money for DFI to educate the public about the program. The $250 fee on notices of default will be paid by the lender and are covering all costs. We support this bill as it has come out of committee and would like to see it stay strong for Washington homeowners.

Both bills are in Ways & Means. If this bill is passed, we will be one of the few non-judicial states to have implemented mediation for homeowners! Email your legislators now or call them at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to "pass HB 1362 and SB 5275. Families facing foreclosure deserve to meet with their lenders before losing their home and most valuable asset."

Bad news: The payday lending bills pass out of committee

The payday lending bills, HB 1678 & SB 5547, both were passed out of committee as well. These bills would repeal crucial provisions for payday loan borrowers, including the yearly 8-loan limit. The 8-loan limit helps stop the debt trap by giving borrowers a way out of the payday lending cycle and helping them get into the repayment plan. HB 1678 and SB 5547 would roll back vital consumer protections for Washingtonians.

Check out the editorial on the issue that the TNT published last Monday:
Leave Sensible Eight-Loan Limit on Payday Borrowing http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/14/1543994/leave-sensible-eight-loan-limit.html.

Elections & Initiative Reform

Measure wants the State to keep a closer eye on paid signature-gatherers

The Capitol Record, February 9th, 2011 by Lillian Tucker

The House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee a public hearing for a bill that would require paid signature gatherers and their employers to register with the Secretary of State.

"For me, the issue really came to me from a lot of constituents in the district...in the last 10 years, for example, we have seen an explosion of identity theft and voter fraud...the heart and soul of this is the state finally being able to hook the signature gather to its sheets. For me, this is a consumer protection issue, said Rep. Chris Reykdal. "The purpose is not to chill or slow down the initiative process. This is about a better system, not slowing the system down."

Joel Foster with Ballot Initiative Strategy Center says Washington has a lot of signature gathering fraud, but it's difficult to find because the laws are "porous."

Lou Granofsky, who runs a national signature gathering firm, said the bill being proposed is not new. "We comply with them in other states and it really does not have an impact on our ability to gather signatures whatsoever." He said he did some work here last year and found two of the largest fraudulent signature gatherers were here in the final weeks before the filing deadline.

Tim Eyman, however, says the bill is unnecessary. He says the problem last election cycle was one union volunteer. "There's so many aspects of this bill that it's absurd," he said. He said in Oregon, a similar law tripled the cost to qualify for the ballot. He said if that happened in Washington, the initiative process would be out of reach to all but the richest groups.

"Let's be clear about one thing: The initiative process is not a tool of democracy, it's a business," said Steve Breaux, with the Washington Public Interest Research Group. He said opponents claim they're worried about democracy, but are only interested in their business model.

Rebecca Faust, a citizen, said she's concerned with the cost associated with this bill.

Rep. Sherry Appleton says there are no paid signature gatherers in the Constitution. "I don't think the founding fathers of our state thought about it as a business," she said, "don't you agree?"

Faust said there's nothing wrong with making a living doing something you're passionate about.

Lawmakers weigh stricter signature-gathering rules
By Molly Rosbach, Tri-City Herald

Critics on Wednesday weighed in on a measure aimed at tightening regulations on signature-gathering, saying it would make it harder for grassroots initiatives to make the ballot and would target signature gatherers for harassment from opponents.

The bill, proposed by Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, requires all signature-gathering businesses and paid signature gatherers to register with the Secretary of State. It also increases the fee for filing initiatives or referenda from $5 to $500, $450 of which would be refunded if the measure qualifies for the ballot.

The bill's sponsors say the measure would help guarantee the validity of signatures collected by signature-gathering businesses, and ensure greater transparency in the ballot measure process.

"The integrity of our ballot system will be made better if the voters have confidence that those issues that make the ballot have tremendous rigor and have an accountability to them," Reykdal said at the bill's hearing Wednesday. The greatest risk comes from paid signature gatherers, he explained, and the bill would give authorities some means to track them down, should any questionable activity take place.

"For me, this is a consumer protection issue," he said.

Supporters of the bill mentioned two recent cases of signature fraud at the hearing: one involving a Service Employee International Union volunteer accused of forging signatures in support of I-1098 last year, which is still being prosecuted; and one in which two women were prosecuted for forging signatures for I-985 in the 2008 election.

But opponents like initiative promoter Tim Eyman fear the bill would stifle people's ability to get their issues on the ballot, especially grassroots groups that lack money to raise support for their proposals.

Eyman argued the problem lawmakers purport to be solving-that of fraudulent signatures being submitted with initiative petitions-doesn't exist, and the bill would just serve to burden the process.

The bill requires that all paid signature gatherers submit their full name, street address and a photograph of themselves when registering with the Secretary of State.

"It would essentially put a target on every single person that is collecting signatures, making them hugely susceptible to harassment from people who oppose the initiative," Eyman said.

He said the measure also increases the likelihood of valid signatures being thrown out, since petitions lacking the gatherer's contact information would be disqualified by the Secretary of State.

Eyman has successfully promoted several initiatives over the past decade, most aimed at fighting higher taxes. His Initiative 1053, approved last year, requires either a supermajority in the Legislature or a majority vote from the public to raise taxes. It has made it virtually impossible for new taxes to pass.

Reykdal's HB 1668 failed to advance.
Sen. Sharon Nelson's companion bill is SB 5297.

A substitute version of the ballot measure reform bill passed out of the Senate Government Operations Committee February 17th. Here's what is needed now:

1) Lobbying Support. The following are Ways & Means committee members that need lobbied: Senators Rodney Tom , Phil Rockefeller, Debbie Regala, Regala, Derek Kilmer, Jim Kastama , Brian Hatfield, and Karen Fraser

2) Feedback on change in bill: The Grocers were able to include a 15-foot distance requirement for signature gatherers in the bill. Signature gatherers (paid and volunteer) must be 15 feet from entrances or exits to stand-alone or retail stores in commercial retail complexes. Property owners may give signature gatherers permission to be closer. We'd like to hear from our coalition partners on this change in the bill.

3) Other changes in bill: There are three main pieces to the legislation--preventing fraud merchants from collecting signatures by requiring registration, holding signature gatherers accountable by requiring they sign the declaration on back of petitions, and preventing frivolous filings by increasing the ballot measure filing fee.

Advocates had to remove requiring individual paid signature-gatherer registration as there were constitutional concerns regarding the impact of first amendment rights if contact information of gatherers was available to the public during circulation. To change when information is available to the public would require changes to the Public Records Act, which is not a battle to take on right now. Signature gathering firms are still required to register and must perform background checks on those they hire.

The penalty for signature-gatherers not signing the back of petitions was removed. We believe this was an oversight by the code reviser. Advocates will be working with them to include the penalty along with a few other clean-up items.

Protecting Ballot Freedom, Preventing Ballot Fraud

Publicola featured an guest op-ed by Sen. Sharon Nelson on why initiative reform is needed, including fraud in other states.

Protecting Ballot Freedom, Preventing Ballot Fraud

For an amusing account of Sen. Pam Roach and Sen Don Benton's amendment filibuster of the bill, which resulted in one amendment, look here: Amendment Filibuster Hits Signature-Gathering Bill, by Andrew Calkins, Publicola Thursday, February 17, 2011

Housing & Human Services

Disability Lifeline helps people survive.

From Poverty Action Network:

In our state, over 20,000 people with disabilities rely on the Disability Lifeline to pay rent, cover critical medications, and pay for basic needs. As we reported last week, the Senate has drastically cut this much-needed program in their supplemental budget proposal. Their proposal funds the medical coverage component, but completely eliminates the modest cash grant, leaving recipients with no way to feed their families or pay their rent. By contrast, the House has included funding for both the medical coverage and the monthly grant.

Right now in Olympia, the House and Senate are working to hammer out the differences in their supplemental budgets. Your lawmakers need to hear that you support this critical public system that prevents hunger and homelessness. Urge your lawmakers to prioritize funding for the Disability Lifeline cash grant and medical coverage in the final supplemental budget.

There are no bill numbers on the budget, and the deadlines are later.

Support for Low-Income Housing Operations & Maintenance

On February 17th, the House Community Development & Housing amended and passed HB 1768. The vote tally was 5-4, along party lines, but at least the measure passed. Also, the committee amended the measure to replace the secondary mortgage provisions (which only applied to banks) with an across-the- board $5 fee increase from which the banks are still exempt. This new fee increase also sunsets in 2019.

But, again, at least the bill passed (and thus can still be worked on some more); and advocates had agreed to this approach if the overall fee increase was deemed the version most likely to pass the legislature-and the money raised would at least be enough to keep the Home Security Fund and attendant homelessness services (such as HOPE beds, Street Youth, etc.) whole.

Without the revenue provided by this amended bill Commerce estimates that an additional 5,600 people-many of them youth-would go homeless in the coming biennium. So avoiding that setback any way we can is good.

Here are some tips from Poverty Action Network on messages you might convey to your elected representatives:

Fund Disability Lifeline Medical and cash benefits so that people too disabled to work can live. $266 a month is barely enough to keep body and soul together, but it's better thannothing--and nothing is what the Senate is considering.

Invest $200 million in the State Housing Trust Fund and the Home Security Fund: We need decent affordable housing for low-income people, and good construction jobs across the state. Creating more affordable housing for low-income people is essential if we are to continue to make progress on ending homelessness.

Banks, Foreclosures & Predatory Lending

Leave sensible eight-loan limit on payday borrowing: No on HB 1678

The Tacoma News Tribune
Last updated: February 14th, 2011

When it comes to protecting the public from itself, state Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma, has undergone a change of heart.

In years past, he fought tough restrictions on payday loans that consumer advocates sought as a way of protecting people from getting into deep financial trouble. After years of dickering on the issue, the 2009 Legislature enacted some reasonable protections for consumers-including a rule that limits borrowers to eight payday loans in a 12-month period.

That restriction was designed to prevent people from becoming overly dependent on these costly, short-term loans, and Kirby agreed to it as part of compromise legislation to avoid even tougher restrictions sought by consumer advocates.

But now, one year after the new restriction went into effect, Kirby argues that the eight-loan limit is driving cash-strapped borrowers to "the Wild West" of the Internet, where they can be victimized by unlicensed lenders who observe no caps on the number and size of loans.

That's why he is sponsoring legislation (House Bill 1678) to lift the eight-loan cap? To protect people from unscrupulous online lenders? That makes about as much sense as saying that rules restricting the amount of oxycodone that can be prescribed should be relaxed so that people won't resort to buying street drugs.

Criminal Justice

Capital Record: "OK, We've Had It. We Don't Believe There Should be Prohibition"

by Josh Feit, Thursday, February 10, 2011

TVW's Capitol Record blog has a lot of quotable quotables from this week's hearing on a bill (HB 1550) that would legalize and tax marijuana where pro-pot legislators including the bill's sponsor, Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36, Ballard) and Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45, Kirkland) were candid about getting over the taboos of marijuana.

Dickerson said the federal government has not always been opposed to marijuana. "What I can say is that we look to history and we look to prohibition of alcohol in the '20s. And how did that prohibition actually end? It ended - it started to end when Montana ... took the initiative and said, OK, we've had it, we don't believe there should be prohibition of alcohol," she said. A few years later, other states followed, then the Constitution was amended. "Some states have to take the lead. Yes, this will go to court ... but I say to you that Washington state can take the lead, and because we take the lead we will reap the benefits."

Goodman said if the state lost a Supreme Court case, the people of the state and country would rise up and do something about it.

Goodman says the goal is to make marijuana more boring. He said if a teen's grandma is using marijuana for cancer and you can buy it legally, it's not as "cool."

The bill has 14 sponsors, including Seattle Reps. Dickerson, Eileen Cody, Joe Fitzgibbon, Phyllis Kenney, and Jamie Pedersen. Seattle suburban Rep. Deb Eddy is also on board. But it's not likely to pass.

Pot advocates have more hope in the medical marijuana bill which would create a system of licensed dispensaries and explicitly protect medical users from arrest. The bill has bipartisan support-including Republican cosponsors Sens. Cheryl Pflug (R-5, Maple Valley) and Jerome Delvin (R-8, Richland).

The senate health care committee passed the bill 7-2 yesterday (the two votes simply being abstentions rather than bona fide no votes.)

"The significance of this is that no one stood up and said no to this bill," the ACLU's Shankar Narayan said. The bill is now in ways & means.

The seven yea votes include Sens. Mike Carrell (R-28, Lakewood) and Pflug.

Elections

Public Campaign Financing for State Supreme Court Will be Back

Rep. Marko Liias filed HB 1989 in the House-public financing for state Supreme Court races. The bill has 29 co-sponsors in the House. However, it failed to get a hearing in the House State Government Committee.

This bill is an updated companion to SB 5010 in the Senate, which was filed by Sen. Scott White using last year's proposal as a "place-holding" bill, while we negotiated some updates. The Senate bill did get a hearing in Senate Government Operations, but it failed to garner enough support to be voted out of committee.

Washington Public Campaigns wants supporters to know that HB 1898 is the latest and best proposal. It has a referendum provision--so in essence, it asks lawmakers to let the voters decide by ballot if they want a modest public financing program for Supreme Court races, funded by a small surcharge ($3) on court filing fees.

Said Washington Public Campaigns Executive Director Craig Salins, "We know it's a challenging year, given budget deficits. But national trend unleashed by the Citizens United ruling, spending by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other special-interest groups suggests that top courts are at risk of undue influence by Big Money, in the many states that elect judges." WPC is already organizing for next year.

Education

Several readers have asked what bills to support if we want to see more funding in education-which we do. A partial answer is, that's the nature of the General Fund-it's all the budget decisions. However, here's a last-minute bill for your consideration:

House Bill 1980 (Establishing a process to make strategic investments in education)
Introduced by Rep. Larry Seaquist, (D-Gig Harbor) (D) on February 16, 2011, establishes a deliberative process for identifying incremental, strategic investments to enhance and improve public education, as well as providing the funding necessary to support the investments through the modification and elimination of current tax preferences. This act requires the Legislature to identify and establish a set of strategic investments to enhance and improve public education in each odd-numbered year and provides guidelines for identifying such strategic investments. This act requires the Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences to identify and recommend the repeal or modification of a set of tax preferences that are expected to create sufficient revenue for the state general fund to make the strategic investments.

And Finally...

If you are still reading, this is for fun, about our south Snohomish North King County representatives.
From the Enterprise Newspapers: Some light-hearted moments in the Legislature: http://heraldnet.com/article/20110216/ETP03/702169903/-1/NEWS01
South SnoCo County Politics: Freshman hazing in the Legislature (Moscoso, Ryu, Stanford)

Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
phone:Sarajane Siegfriedt, Legislative Action Committee Co-chair
Sarajane3h {at} comcast.net

[eridani]

21. Kreidler's office wants to limit insurance company damage

HB 1220 & SB 5120: gives consumers the right to see what justifies a rate increase by making all health insurance rate filings public. How much of their rate is going to medical costs? How much is for administrative expenses? How much is profit?

HB 1303 & SB 5398: renews the insurance commissioner's authority to review rates in the individual market to make sure the rates consumers are being charged are justified. Without this bill, the commissioner's current authority to reject unreasonable rate increases will expire.

HB 1301 & SB 5247: limits the rates that non-profit health insurers can charge if they’ve amassed millions of dollars in excess surplus. Last week, the Seattle Times editorialized, "the state's three dominant insurers — Premera, Regence and Group Health — together have piled up $2.4 billion in surplus, triple their surplus of a decade ago. A question arises of how much is enough."

[eridani]

22. Bill descriptions relating to running elections.

Below are the minutes of the Whatcom County citizens Advisory Committee that our county Auditor leads. I do'nt know if all other counties has these, but if not, I share this because we have found it to be very helpful in getting concerns about balloting and elections addressed and resolved. Of course it helps to have a County Auditor who takes it seriously and supports the citizen advisory role.

It includes a lengthy list of Bill descriptions and comments by the Auditor, that gives a bit of insight in which bills are routine housekeeping and which are not.

Natalie McClendon
chair whatcom dems


CITIZENS ELECTIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
January 27, 2011
Minutes

Date: January 27, 2011

Meeting Began: 9:40 a.m.

In Attendance: Shirley Forslof, Whatcom County Auditor
Pete Griffin, Election Supervisor
Nancy Moore, Auditor Staff
Todd Donovan, City of Bellingham
Robbi Ferron, League of Women Voters
Margit Kingston, Disability Community
Gerrit Kuiken, Republican Party
Steve Schuck, Representing Democratic Party


Shirley Forslof called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m. and introductions were made around the room.

Shirley and Debbie Adelstein went to Olympia last week to attend the annual Washington State Association of County Auditors (WSACA) legislative conference. They also had the opportunity to meet with legislators from the 39th, 40th, and 42nd legislative district. Shirley gave an overview of the following house and senate bills:

HB 1000 would allow for a military or overseas voters’ ballot that is returned by fax or e-mail be counted immediately after the voter’s signature is verified. Presently, we cannot count a ballot from a military or overseas voter until the original, signed affidavit (oath) is received in the mail. We currently receive faxed or e-mailed ballots from military and overseas voters but we have to wait to count the ballot until the voter’s original, signed affidavit has been received. HB1000 eliminates the waiting period to count the ballot.

HB 1143/SB 5081 proposes that all Washington County Auditors be a non-partisan position. Elections must be conducted in a non-partisan manner and without bias toward any political party. A party affiliation of the county auditor can create the appearance of a partisan bias. Charter county auditors presently are non-partisan so the bill would only affect non-charter counties.

HB 1142/SB 5153 proposes that fewer than three candidates in a partisan primary be eliminated. Presently in a partisan office there is a primary election even if there is only one candidate for an office. The candidate subsequently also appears on the general election ballot. Duplication of elections creates voter confusion as they don’t understand why they vote twice in an identical race. If the bill passes, it will also be a cost saving measure. In a non-partisan office if there are three or more candidates, there is a primary election. If there are two or less candidates in a non-partisan office, no primary election is held and the candidates only appear on the general election ballot.

SB 5015 would allow that ballots could begin to be counted at 8:00 a.m. on the day before Election Day. Current law dictates that ballots cannot begin to be counted until 7:00 a.m. on Election Day. Many auditors are in favor of the bill.

HB 1079/SB 5124, sponsored by the Secretary of State, would mandate all Washington State counties be vote-by-mail. Pierce County is the only remaining county in Washington State that is not vote-by-mail. Some senators and representatives are opposed as they do not want to dictate to a county what type of election must be held. It was suggested to put the proposition on the Pierce County ballot to let voters decide.

HB 1079/SB 5124 also proposes verbiage relating to the publication of the legal notice of election in the RCWs be revised. Current law, which is based on poll sites, provides that the legal notice of election be published 3 to 10 days prior to an election. Now that we are vote-by-mail all ballots are legally mandated to be mailed 18 days prior to an election. Thusly, the verbiage to publish a notice of election 3 to 10 days prior to an election is outdated. RCW verbiage would also be updated relating to precinct size, voting centers, etc.

HB 1080/SB 5171 would change the date of the primary election to the beginning of August. The federal government requires that ballots for military and overseas voters be mailed 45 days prior to an election. In past years Washington State has been granted a waiver from the federal requirement because certification of an election is 15 days after a primary election or 21 days after a general election. This allowed extra time for military and overseas ballots to be returned and counted. It is unlikely that Washington State will receive future waivers. If the bill passes, the primary election will be moved back two weeks to the beginning of August instead of mid-August and filing week would also be moved back from the first week in June to mid-May.

HB 1324/SB 5119 concerns the suspension of the presidential primary in 2012 as a cost saving measure. The elimination of the 2012 presidential primary will save the State General Fund $10 million. The Governor’s office is in concurrence with the bill.

Steve Schuck asked about HB 1090. Shirley said the bill would create districts within the legislative districts. Pete said the bill might create more split precincts because a precinct boundary line cannot cross a legislative district boundary line.

HB 1185/SB 5125 proposes that all ballots be returned by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Current law provides that ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day. A majority of auditors are opposed to this bill. Shirley feels the bill would disenfranchise voters and would not necessarily speed up the election results. Military and overseas voters would be exempt from the 8:00 p.m. Election Day deadline. Determination of an on-time military or overseas ballot would still go by the date the voter signed and dated the affidavit.

Shirley explained Washington State law provides that ballots must be available 20 days prior to an election and mailed out no later than 18 days prior to an election. Whatcom County adheres to mailing ballots out 20 days prior.

Steve Schuck asked to what extent Whatcom County follows state requirements for elections. Pete responded that Whatcom County’s election related activities exceed state requirements.

Whatcom Fair Voting asked why overseas voters didn’t return their ballots in the same percentage as other voters. Shirley surmised that because the 2010 General Election was not high-profile, interest in the election was lower.

Discussion turned to registered voters who are homeless. Previously, homeless voters used the courthouse address to obtain a ballot. Currently, a homeless voter receives a ballot from the precinct where the voter says they live (i.e., if they are staying under a bridge they will receive a ballot from the precinct the bridge is in).

A representative from the Secretary of State’s office conducted a review of Whatcom County’s post-election procedures for the 2010 General Election. Shirley was very pleased with the favorable review. The suggestion was made by the Secretary of State’s Office to update a few of our policies and procedures. The report is available on our website at www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor and click on Election Division, All Election Information, Election History, and 2010 Recount Review.

Pete explained that WinEDS is the software application we use that creates the coding to populate the ballot counting machines. He said it is the most important aspect of all of the software applications for ballot counting. We have been using Version 3.1 since 2005. Our vendor produced Version 4.0 approximately two years ago. The Secretary of State conducted a certification of Version 4.0 and we will be using Version 4 for the first time in the April Special Election. Version 4.0 will provide easier programming and reports will be produced much quicker. Pete further explained that presently BPS (part of the programming application that physically creates a ballot image to send to the printer) and WinEDS are on the same server. With Version 4.0 BPS and WinEDS will be on separate servers. The new server will be a tremendous improvement. The hardware, training, sequel server licenses, standard server licenses, and operating system will cost Whatcom County approximately $17,500.

Lynden School District Special Election is Tuesday, February 8th. Approximately 11,384 ballots were mailed out to Lynden School District voters. Pete stated that if a Lynden School District voter or a voter in any future election needs to obtain a replacement ballot, it is now available by clicking on MyVote at our website at www.whatcomcounty.us/auditor or by clicking on MyVote at www.sos.wa.gov. The voter must enter their name exactly as they are registered.

Pete explained the Lynden School District Special Election is the first election we will be using the ballot status return which is now located under MyVote. MyVote is a statewide system in which any voter can check to see if their ballot has been returned. The ballot status return is updated every 24 hours.

With no further business the meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

[eridani]

23. Senior Lobby day 2/24

TAKE ACTION WITH PSARA on Senior Lobby Day - Thurs., Feb. 24th

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE --RSVP to legaffairs {at} psara.org or call PSARA at [phone]

PSARA will participate with seniors from all over Washington on Senior Lobby Day, Thurs. Feb. 24th in Olympia. We will organize carpools and we request that you bring a brown bag lunch.

Visit your legislators with other PSARA members from your legislative district.(We are arranging appointments) Advocate for our four legislative priorities:

- Closure of tax loopholes rather than passing an all cuts budget. (Send a referendum to the people if necessary.)
- Creation of a State Bank - move our taxpayer $$s out of Bank of America
- Protect homeowners facing foreclosure (see additional message below)
- Protect renters against excessive screening costs.

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THESE PRIORITIES GO TO WWW.PSARA.ORG

Join with us on Senior Lobby Day. RSVP today!! WE NEED YOU TO HELP US MAKE A STRONG IMPRESSION.

Carpools will leave from various locations in Puget Sound at about 7:30 am and return about 5:00 pm.
___________________________________________________________________________

AKE ACTION TO HELP STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS FACED WITH FORECLOSURE

Email your lawmakers NOW or call them at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to "PASS HB 1362 and SB 5275 OUT OF COMMITTEE AS IS". Families facing foreclosure deserve to meet with their lenders before losing their home and most valuable asset."

The banks are pushing to remove mandatory mediation from the Foreclosure Mediation bill. Your lawmakers need to hear from you TODAY to ensure that the bill passes out of committee as is. MANDATORY MEDIATION is the only component of this bill that will require banks and lenders to be more accountable to struggling homeowners. We must ensure that foreclosure mediation stays in the bill.

[eridani]

25. SB 5073 hearing this Wednesday 2/23 in Ways and Means (Medical Cannabis)

The medical cannabis bill -- in its current ghastly form -- is set for a hearing this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. It is critical that interested and affected parties contact members of the Washington State Senate Ways and Means Committee to ask for amendments to the bill.

* What: SB 5073 Hearing in Senate Ways and Means Committee
* When: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.
* Where: Cherberg Building, Room 4, 304 15th Ave SW in Olympia
* Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=304+15th+Ave+SW+98501

Ways and Means Committee Members

Ed Murray (D) Chair, 360-786-7628, [e-mail]
Derek Kilmer (D) Vice Chair, 360-786-7650, [e-mail]
Joseph Zarelli (R), 360-786-7634, [e-mail]
Linda Evans Parlette (R), 360-786-7622, [e-mail]
Michael Baumgartner (R), 360-786-7610, [e-mail]
Jeff Baxter (R), 360-786-7606, [e-mail]
Lisa Brown (D), 360-786-7604, [e-mail]
Steve Conway (D), 360-786-7656, [e-mail]
Karen Fraser (D), 360-786-7642, [e-mail]
Brian Hatfield (D), 360-786-7636, [e-mail]
Mike Hewitt (R), 360-786-7630, [e-mail]
Janéa Holmquist Newbry (R), 360-786-7624, [e-mail]
Jim Honeyford (R), 360-786-7684, [e-mail]
Jim Kastama (D), 360-786-7648, [e-mail]
Karen Keiser (D), 360-786-7664, [e-mail]
Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D), 360-786-7670, [e-mail]
Cheryl Pflug (R), 360-786-7608, [e-mail]
Craig Pridemore (D), 360-786-7696, [e-mail]
Debbie Regala (D), 360-786-7652, [e-mail]
Phil Rockefeller, 360-786-7644, [e-mail]
Mark Schoesler (R), 360-786-7620, [e-mail]
Rodney Tom (D), 360-786-7694, [e-mail]

Talking points and amendment requests

1. Arrest protection must be provided to all patients, not just those who register in a future government database.

2. Stop attacking doctors! Remove language that places additional burdens on health care professionals who recommend medical cannabis.

3. Patients have a right to grow together under current law. Don't limit collectives to three patients.

4. Cannabis should be taxed like other medicines. Don't force patients to pay retail sales tax on medical cannabis.

[eridani]

33. SB 5073 passes Senate 29-20; W00T!!

SB 5073 passes Senate 29-20


SB 5073 passed the Washington State Senate on a 29-20 vote. Several amendments were adopted. Most concerning was an amendment by the pot-doctor-fearing Senator Carrell to forbid health care professionals from having practices that appear to be primarily for the authorization of medical cannabis.

Other amendments include:


Requiring DOH to define the amount of medical cannabis and number of plants a dispenser can have on hand (Honeyford)
Requiring dispensers to obtain local licenses before operation (Sheldon)
Requiring dispensers be nonprofit (Sheldon)
Moving the grower database from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Health (Parlette and Kohl-Welles)
Applying the ban on medical cannabis advertising to print media (Kohl-Welles)

Bill info: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5073


We will be discussing SB 5073 at our monthly public meeting this Monday, March 7 from 7-9 p.m. at the Seattle Cannabis Resource Center, 1714 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134. The meeting is free and open to the public.

[eridani]

27. Support HB 1832 to protect port workers

Over the next few years, up to 1,500 service workers at SeaTac airport risk losing their jobs as the Port of Seattle re-bids concessions contracts. These are the hard-working women and men that make travelers away from home feel welcome and secure. They work in SeaTac’s restaurants, stores, security, and many other areas.

Over 10 years ago, community and worker pressure on the Port of Seattle resulted in a worker retention agreement to protect workers from the constant turnover of airport concession operators. Now the Port has declared that it will no longer honor that agreement. This action leaves airport workers vulnerable for the first time in a decade.

In response, legislators have introduced state legislation, HB 1832, which extends existing job security for those workers and ensures a stable, well-trained workforce at the airport. Please stand up for these workers today by urging your legislators to vote for HB 1832. Take action now.

When the Port replaces one airport contractor or concessionaire with another offering the same service, HB 1832 requires the new employer to retain the existing workforce for a 90-day period. Sea-Tac workers who have worked many years, some over two decades, to secure family supporting wages and benefits would be protected from the arbitrary loss of their jobs. Such losses could be disastrous during the “jobless” recovery, leading to home foreclosure and loss of family health insurance. The policy would increase security for the surrounding low income and immigrant communities that depend on quality airport jobs. HB 1832 would also bring Sea-Tac Airport in line with other major U.S. airports like LAX, JFK and Atlanta.

As we recover from the recession, we must work together to ensure that industries supported and sustained by the Port of Seattle provide quality jobs for our communities. Therefore, it is essential to enact policies that promote a sustainable economy where working people can afford a mortgage or rent, health insurance, food and clothing, while saving some money to prepare for their children’s education and for their own retirement. HB1832 would be an important step in that direction

[eridani]

34. Action needed as of 3/4/11

HB 1832 - Airport Worker Retention Bill
http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/5872/c/951/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1539

Over the next few years, up to 1,500 airport service workers risk losing their jobs as contracts and concessions at Sea-Tac Airport are re-bid. These are the hard working women and men that make travelers away from home feel welcome and secure. HB 1832 extends existing job security for those workers and shields the Port of Seattle from the impacts of workforce instability. The majority of these workers are people of color who need you to stand with them.

The bill moved out of the House on Wednesday evening and is scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 8 in Olympia. Please contact legislators prior to the hearing to show your support. Take action now. For more information on the bill click here.
http://sage.live.radicaldesigns.org/downloads/Sage%20HB%201832%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

[eridani]

28. Please help keep I-937 from being gutter

We urgently need you to call your Senator to prevent I-937 from being weakened.

I-937 was passed to develop new renewable resources, not just count existing ones. We cannot let Senate Bill 5575 deprive our state from the new clean energy jobs that would come from developing these new resources.

Please call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and leave this message for your Senator: Vote NO on SB 5575, support NEW clean energy jobs in our state.

[eridani]

30. Support anti-bullying bill HB 1163

http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35037/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=434

Take Action----Forward to Your Friends

The Washington State House of Representatives will vote soon--as early as today--on HB 1163, the anti-bullying bill. Representative Marko Liias is sponsoring anti-bullying legislation which follows up on his successful legislation last year to update Washington States' anti-bullying law first passed in 2002. This year's legislation would require that suicide prevention be taught in health classes and that a task force be set up to report to the legislature on a number of important issues that are not addressed in current law.

The legislation is meant to protect ALL students and its passage is a priority for ERW. This is because so many LGBT students are bullied and because nothing is more tragic than when a young person takes their own life. Not only does it get better, but each of us--LGBT and straight--has an obligation to make it better!

The bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Marko Liias, is an openly gay legislator who has championed the right of ALL students to a safe learning environment for as long as I have known him, and I am sure much longer.

Take action immediately to let your legislators know you support HB 1163 and please forward this e-mail to your friends and family! Together we can make it better!

Thank you for taking action today,

Joshua Friedes
Executive Director
Equal Rights Washington

[eridani]

31. Sign up for Equality Day 3/22 in Olympia

http://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35037/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=65

March 22, 2011
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Register Now!

Sign up to sponsor 2011 Equality Day!

Equality Day 2011 is your opportunity to engage with your legislators in person. On March 22 you can educate your legislators about your lives. Tell them how the decisions they make help you contribute fully as a member of the community, promote your freedom to love who you love, and live healthy productive lives. We have many opportunities this year to support our families by creating protections for children and parents in the Uniform Parentage Act, creating a safe and supportive educational environment for our students, promoting awareness of HIV/AIDS and good public health, and making progress toward marriage equality.

Your legislators have their hands on the levers of power, but they need your help to know which way to pull them.

Help Spread the Word! Print and Post an Equality Day 2011 flyer on bulletin boards inside LGBT friendly establishments in your community.


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


Schedule of Events:
9:00 am-9:45 am Registration: tents on the lawn in front of Capital Stairs
10:00 am-11:15 am Advocacy Workshops: location will be assigned by district at registration.
11:15 am-11:45 pm Lunch Break: lunch will NOT be provided, we suggest you pack a lunch or visit food locations on or near campus.
12:00 pm-12:45 pm Rally: Capital Stairs
1:00 pm-3:30 pm Legislator Meetings: times and locations will be assigned at registration.

[eridani]

36. King county Legislative Action Committee meeting in Renton 3.20

We just passed the halfway mark of this legislative session. Many good bills never made it out of committee and even more died on March 7th, the cutoff for policy bills to be passed by the house of origin. You will find those bills that died, as well as our priorities what survived, on this week's Bill Status Sheet, current as of March 11th.

We recommend you print this. It's only six pages, and it can direct your advocacy efforts for the next week or two. Check for your issues and circle them. Check out the bills that survived to cross over to the other house, and that have hearings scheduled this coming week. Visit the web pages of our coalition partners for more information. Also, consider advocating for our issues in the budget, which is being negotiated right now. Everything else you need, including lists of committee members, and updated bill status, is at the Legislature's website: leg.wa.gov.

On March 17th the state will issue an update to the revenue forecast. It will be worse, possibly $200 million to $800 million worse. That same day, thousands of us will be in Olympia rallying at noon on the Capitol steps with the Economic Future Coalition. Our purpose is to put revenue increases, primarily repealing corporate tax breaks, on the table vs. an all-cuts budget.

Finally, the Legislative Action Committee meets March 20th, 2 to 4 p.m. at Renton Carpenter's Hall 231 Burnett Ave. N, Renton. Our guest will be Rep. Bob Hasegawa (11th), Vice Chair of House Ways & Means and the perfect person to help us form a strategy for the second (budget) half of the 2011 session. Please join us!


Contact Information
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sarajane Siegfriedt, Sarajane3h {at} comcast.net

[eridani]

37. Bicycle Alliance update 3/31

http://bicyclealliance.blogspot.com/2011/03/legislative-update-where-are-we-now.html

Here's a quick rundown on the bills that the Bicycle Alliance of Washington is working on:

Our Traffic School bill passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee yesterday! It now moves to the Rules Committee.

The 20 mph bill had a hearing yesterday. Policy Director Dave Janis testified before the Senate Transportation Committee in favor of it. Washington State DOT raised concerns over an attached amendment that would allow cities and towns of fewer than 3000 to decrease the maximum speed limit on state highways within their jurisdiction.

The House and the Senate have passed slightly different versions of the Vulnerable User bill. Today the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to consider the house version of the bill.

The Complete Streets bill received a hearing before the Senate Transportation Committee last week. Bike Alliance board member Bob Duffy testified in favor.

Also of note: SSB 5191, which would have repealed the requirement to include bicycle and pedestrian safety in driver's education (among other things) died on the Senate floor.

We used Bike Expo has an opportunity to make the cycling public aware of our legislative priorities and we collected nearly 400 signatures in support of the Traffic School and 20 mph bills. Thanks to all who dropped by our booth and signed the petitions.

[eridani]

41. Bicycle legislation summary

http://www.bicyclepaper.com/articles/294-2011-Washington-Legislative-Summary-


The 2011 legislative session is expected to produce a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly for Washington bicyclists, with several significant victories and disappointing losses already apparent as Bicycle Paper went to press.

Vulnerable User Bill Passes Legislature

On the good side, lawmakers have finally passed legislation designed to protect vulnerable road users. The law, Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5326, cleared the Senate on April 18 and was on its way to the governor for her signature.

If enacted, the law would strengthen penalties under the state’s negligent driving law for motorists who kill or severely injure bicyclists, pedestrians, and other vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists and equestrians.

Under the current law, the penalty for second-degree negligent driving, a non-criminal traffic infraction, is a flat $250 fine regardless of the harm caused to others. Under SSB 5326, a motorist who drove negligently and caused the death or serious injury of a vulnerable user would be subject to a maximum $5,000 fine and would lose his/her driver’s license for 90 days.

In lieu of that penalty, a driver could ask for a court hearing; in that case he or she would be required to pay a $250 fine, attend traffic school, and perform community service that included activities related to driver improvement and traffic-safety education. Motorists who chose to go to court but failed to follow through with their obligations would be subject to the $5,000 fine and a 90-day license suspension.

Passage of the Vulnerable User bill caps a multi-year effort by the Cascade Bicycle Club and others, who have promoted such legislation since 2009.

Traffic Schools to Teach Safe Driving Around Bicycles, Pedestrians

In other good news, the governor has signed legislation, promoted by the Bicycle Alliance of Washington (BAW), which broadens the requirement that driving courses include instruction about driving safely around bicyclists and pedestrians.

The law had already required that this instruction be included in driver-training courses aimed at those, such as teenagers, who are working toward their first license. Under the new law, House Bill (HB) 1129, instruction given to motorists ordered to attend traffic school because they have committed a traffic offense, must include the same curriculum.

“Complete Streets” Bill on its Way to the Governor

The state took another step toward accommodating cyclists, pedestrians and transit users as a legitimate part of the transportation mix when the legislature passed HB 1071, the so-called “Complete Streets” bill.

The bill establishes (but doesn’t fund) a Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) grant program to encourage local jurisdictions to adopt “Complete Street” ordinances that call for the re-design of arterial streets to accommodate all users, including cyclists, pedestrians and transit users. According to the bill, these ordinances would have the goals of promoting healthy communities, improving safety, preserving community character and encouraging alternatives to driving alone.

20 mph Legislation Dies in Committee

The bad side of the legislative equation includes the death of the so-called “20 mph” bill, which perished in the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill, promoted by the Bicycle Alliance, would have allowed cities

to more easily establish 20 mile-an-hour zones on non-arterial streets in business and residential districts. Current state law generally mandates a posted speed limit of no less than 25 miles an hour in these areas.

The bill, HB 1217, was based on research that has shown that 20 mph speed limits, when enforced, can sharply reduce deaths and serious injuries among pedestrians and bicyclists. In Britain, for example, the city of London found that the introduction of these zones cut road injuries by more than 40 percent and reduced by half the traffic deaths and serious injuries among children.

The 20 mph legislation passed the House on a 92-0 vote, and cycling advocates were initially optimistic about swift Senate passage as well. After House passage the bill went to the Senate Transportation Committee, which failed to schedule a vote on it following a public hearing. The Bicycle Alliance is considering re-introducing the legislation in 2012.

Transportation Project Design Bill Also Dies

HB 1700, which would have given greater flexibility to transportation planners in choosing design standards for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, died on the Senate floor after passing the House with a 67-31 vote. The bill was meant to allow the use of more modern standards and create higher-quality facilities.

License Fee Boost Could Benefit Safe Routes to Schools Program

The fate of a bill that could benefit the state’s “Safe Routes to School” program was uncertain as Bicycle Paper went to press. The legislation, HB 1700, would increase some Department of Licensing (DOL) fees and impose new fees for some other DOL services. Part of the money generated by the fees would be earmarked for “Safe Routes to Schools,” a program designed to encourage more students to walk and cycle to school and increase the safety of those who choose to do so.

For updated information on this bill and other legislation, visit the Bicycle Alliance of Washington’s legislative issues webpage or the Cascade Bicycle Club blog.

[eridani]

38. King county Legislative Action Committee budget issue

King County Democrats
Legislative Action Newsletter #10
House Budget Issue
April 5, 2011


Good morning. Today is Tuesday, April 5, the 86th day of the 105-day session.


April 1, 2011 was the last day for bills to pass opposite house fiscal committees (House Appropriations and Ways & Means committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees).

April 12, 2011 Last day to consider opposite house bills (5 p.m.) (except initiatives and alternatives to initiatives, budgets and matters necessary to implement budgets, differences between the houses, and matters incident to the interim and closing of the session).

April 24, 2011 Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.

Budget


The top legislative priority of the King County Democrats is balancing the budget with a combination of raising revenue and implementing savings. Because Tim Eyman's initiative hasn't received a constitutional challenge, and because tax exemptions are interpreted to require a 2/3 vote, we acknowledge that these rollbacks would require a vote of the people in November. We support repealing non-performing tax breaks and reforming the system of tax exemptions so that they are part of the budget process and accountable to the people for results promised. Read down for some examples of corporations that promised jobs and then cut them instead.


This year, the House budget goes first. The Senate budget will be quite different, because the Senate majority and minority leaders have been working together to find proposals acceptable to both sides of the aisle. The six "Roadkill Democrats," self-named for their middle-of-the-road philosophy, give the GOP the power to negotiate as partners with Democrats, competing for their votes.


Here are three articles on highlights of the House operating and capital budgets:


House Dems outline plan to close $5 billion state budget shortfall

Andrew Garber with Seattle Times



House Democrats on Monday proposed digging the state out of its $5 billion hole with a broad swath of budget cuts, double-digit college-tuition increases and the privatization of the state's wholesale liquor operation.


House Democrats didn't go for any of the big budget gimmicks floated earlier in the session, such as borrowing money, or using the so-called "25th month" in which lawmakers use 25 months of tax collections to pay for 24 months of spending.


There are some key differences between the House budget and the one proposed by Gregoire in December.


Gregoire's budget would eliminate the state Basic Health Plan, which provides subsidized health insurance for the working poor, and Disability Lifeline, which gives cash grants to unemployable disabled people.


The House budget saves the Basic Health Plan at a reduced level for the next two years. At the end of that period, the federal government is expected to pick up all the costs as part of the national health-care overhaul. The budget also would retain Disability Lifeline but would turn the cash grants into a housing program.

In addition, the budget would cut higher education more deeply than the governor and then partially offset the reductions with bigger tuition increases than Gregoire proposed

House budget proposal has clear winners and losers

Kathie Durbin with Columbian

The long-awaited House Operating Budget for 2011-13 released Monday was a mixed bag, with clear winners and losers.

Rep Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, said he was relieved that the House preserved Basic Health, the program that provides state-subsidized health coverage for the poor, and Disability Lifeline vouchers, which would cover housing and health care for disabled, jobless adults. "They are part of our safety net," he said.

"This budget funds kids," he added. "It funds our educational mandate, our paramount duty, and also tries to fund higher education. It adds $130 million to state needs grants to try to offset some of those tuition hikes."

House unveils $3.13B capital-budget proposal.

AP's Molly Rosbach with Seattle Times

The Washington House released its $3.13 billion construction budget for the next two years Monday, including $718.5 million in construction grants for K-12 schools and $626.7 million for projects at colleges and universities.

The plan would create more than 51,000 new construction jobs at a time when Washington needs them most, Dunshee said. He added that this number doesn't take into account the jobs that spin off from things like farm preservation and habitat-maintenance projects.

The proposal also directs $60 million to low-income-housing assistance and weatherization

The following brief articles are a framework for valuating the House budget proposal that was released yesterday.

The outlook for this week in Olympia

From Jerry Cornfield, Everett Herald Writer, Sunday, April 3, 2011


Everett Herald: Speaker Frank Chopp: Time for a master to work his magic

Rep. Ross Hunter had this to say about the process Thursday at an Association of Washington Business luncheon: "I asked for this job, and at this point it is not really clear to me why I did that."

Top budget writers offer glimpse inside Legislature

Posted by the Association of Washington Business, March 31,2011

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, didn't shed much light on the big questions these days in Olympia-when lawmakers will introduce a proposed 2011-13 state budget and what it might look like when they do-but they did offer business leaders some insight Thursday (March 31st) into what's happening behind the scenes.

Among the highlights from their AWB Lobby Lunch address Thursday:

The House plans to unveil its budget proposal first, and the Senate will follow about a week later.

Don't expect the House to release its budget on a Friday - more like a Monday or Tuesday. (But probably not this coming Monday or Tuesday.)

Look for somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 to 30 fee-related bills.

The likelihood of lawmakers sending a referendum to voters seeking to repeal tax "loopholes" is slim, and in any case it won't make a difference for budget writers.
Title-only bills are here to stay.

There isn't much that can be done short of a Constitutional amendment to guarantee that lawmakers won't "sweep" fees from dedicated accounts to shore up the general fund.


The Budget is Coming! The Budget is Coming!

Posted by Goldy on Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Astute Olympia observers will tell you that the first iteration of the state budget proposal is usually released shortly after the March revenue forecast... but that dreary forecast came out a week and a half ago, and still nothing but crickets from the House Ways and Means Committee, whose turn it is this time around to go first in our Legislature's deadly game of budget roulette.

Both Carlyle and Hudgins explain that a lot of the cuts will be guided by the matching funds various programs get, with an emphasis on preserving funding for those programs that leverage state dollars to bring in federal money. These matching dollars may end up saving Basic Health from total elimination, for example. Or maybe not. As for lower profile expenditures, state agencies can expect to be pummeled once again, with Hudgins suggesting the elimination of another 600 FTEs across the various state departments and agencies, many of which have already laid off over 10 percent of their workforce.

And don't expect any new taxes in the offing, although some fee hikes (which only require a 50 percent-plus-one majority) could still be on the table, but most likely far short of the $100 million or so in natural resources related fees proposed by some in the environmental community.

Gregoire pops most trial balloons for raising money

Andrew Garber in The Seattle Times

Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday that the only proposal she's considering to raise money for the state is privatizing the wholesaling portion of the state liquor system.

This comprehensive article is running in this week's addition of the Stranger. It does a great job of laying out the problem (lack of revenue), and the solution (close tax loopholes).


The Stranger: The Problem Isn't Runaway Spending
Targeting one tax break at a time

From the Tacoma News Tribune

Yesterday, Rep. Chris Reykdal (D-22, Tumwater) introduced HB 2022 to end the tax exemption on cosmetic surgery and shift the money to pay for medication for seniors. (The bill doesn't come with a dollar amount, but it does mandate the state to estimate the savings and earmark it for the "senior pharmacy assistance account hereby created in the state treasury.")

Watch for two more bills to get rolled out soon: One, likely coming tomorrow, would end the sales tax exemption on memberships (like buying a membership at a country club), worth an estimated $3 million, to pay for school lunch programs; a second one would end the B&O tax exemption on corporate investment income over $500,000 and earmark the money (an estimated $100 million) for K-4 class size reductions.

All the bills will need a two-thirds majority. Given that the Republicans have made a huge deal about the K-4 cuts, forcing them-and companies that support education spending, like Microsoft-to favor business investment income of more than a half million dollars over classroom funding, is a clever ploy.

The proposal is one of several in the legislature that would fund human services by ending sales tax exemptions, though doing so would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature under Initiative 1053, which voters approved in November.

At SeattlePI.com--State losing hundreds of millions in online taxes--Online sales are booming in Washington state, but officials estimate they collect only half the taxes coming from this growing sector. This failure to capture online revenue means the state will lose about $740 million over the next two-year budget period, state Economist Arun Raha tells lawmakers.

More on tax breaks

From Sen. Scott White (46th)

A good starting point is taking a closer look at the tax "breaks" we give businesses and other special interest groups. There are currently hundreds of tax loopholes and exemptions in state law that cost taxpayers billions each year. Some of these tax "breaks" serve an important public purpose, such as the sales tax exemption on food, while others, such as tax exemptions for private plane owners and elective cosmetic surgery, only benefit a small minority of Washingtonians and come at a very high price.

I am co-sponsoring SB 5857 which would require all tax exemptions and preferences be reviewed every two-years as part of the overall budget-writing process, as well as SB 5754, which would ensure transparency by requiring the publication of tax data.


Budget Talking Points

From Anne Martens, Communications Hub, Our Economic Futures Coalition

We urge you to take a more balanced approach. The responsible thing to do is to cut tax breaks first before cutting into vital public services.

These cuts are unsustainable. We can't cut our way out of this problem, and these cuts will create more expensive problems in the future. (Provide a specific example in your program area or from the examples on the back of this factsheet.)

Tax breaks are spending, and it is immoral to cut spending for our kids and communities while not making any cuts to the tax break budget. If everything is on the table to be cut then why does this budget protect billions in tax breaks for wealthy special interests?

The proposed cuts will hurt our economic recovery by eliminating jobs and taking money out of the economy that would be spent in our local communities. Instead, lawmakers should cut any tax breaks that aren't creating jobs, and any subsidies that just go out of state.

The legislature does have a choice between cutting tax breaks for Wall Street banks and private jets or cutting .

Using the 2/3 voting requirement as an excuse to keep special interest tax breaks is unjustifiable. All the most recent polling shows that people overwhelmingly support ending tax breaks to prevent cuts to public services. If 2/3 of legislators can't agree then let the people decide through a referendum.

These massive challenges are an opportunity to make real systemic change. The area most in need of reform is the money spent on tax breaks to special interests. Currently tax breaks are not regularly reviewed, businesses that get tax breaks don't have to show they actually create jobs, and while every other part of the budget has been slashed tax breaks have been protected.

Tax Breaks for Wealthy, Job-Cutting Businesses Don't Make Sense

From Alex Fryer, Families for a Fair Economy

When companies receive a tax break, it's expected that they'll use the money to produce jobs. But that doesn't always happen. And in some cases, that public money ended up padding the company's already fat bank account. Does this make good policy? In a time of financial crisis, we need to examine all corporate tax breaks to test if they make sense. That's why "Families for a Fair Economy" supports SB 5857, which would scrutinize tax preferences to make sure they provide some benefit for their cost. Under the bill, introduced by Sen. Kohl-Welles, all exemptions must be regularly analyzed, and either be reauthorized by the Legislature if they are providing a public benefit or, if not, allowed to expire.

When the middle class is getting the squeeze on everything from health care to education, we need to make sure every dollar counts.

Microsoft

Tax breaks from Washington State in 2009: $36.3 million
Layoffs in 2009: 2,101
Cash in the bank (according to SEC): $6 billion

Zymogenetics

Tax breaks from Washington State in 2009: $2.9 million
Layoffs in 2009: 170
Cash in the bank: $141 million

Conagra Foods (frozen potato products)
Tax breaks from Washington State in 2009: $4.1 million
Layoffs in 2010: 218
Cash in the bank: $243 million


Weyerhaeuser
Tax breaks from Washington State in 2009: $1.5 million
Layoffs in 2009: 325
Cash in the bank: $1.8 billion

More shortly on our non-budget priority issues. If you missed it, here is our current Bill Status Chart dated 4/3/11. The next bill cutoff, for bills to clear the opposite house, is April 12. Now is the time to remind legislators to support your bill or budget issue.

Meanwhile, don't be an information sponge, but an information sharer. Share this email with your friends, relatives and networks. Most of all, one call to the legislature's 1-800-562-6000 gets a message of support or concern to all three of your legislators and, if you ask, to the Governor. Call today!


Contact Information
Sarajane Siegfriedt, Chair, Legislative Action Committee
Sarajane3h {at} comcast.net

Steve Zemke, Chair, King County Democrats
stevezemke {at} msn.com

[eridani]

39. Freshman Democrats propose ending tax breaks to fund education

http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/david-frockt/freshman-democrats-propose-ending-tax-breaks-to-fund-education/

OLYMPIA – With support from 48 Democratic sponsors, the 11 newest members of the House Democratic Caucus today introduced a bill that would end more than $170 million worth of tax exemptions. The money would be redirected for smaller class sizes in K-3 to provide young children with more individualized attention.

House Bill 2078 would close a pair of tax exemptions – a B&O exemption for corporate banks and the sales tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers. Ending those two exemptions would generate $170.3 million for K-3 classrooms in 2011-13, an investment linked to basic education reforms that have stalled due to a $5.1 billion shortfall in the state’s budget.

“Smaller class size is one of the best investments we can make in the future of our state,” said Rep. Andy Billig (D-Spokane), a member of the House of Education Committee. “We need to prioritize our children and their academic achievement over the continuation of special tax breaks.”

The B&O exemption for banks, worth $86.6 million over the next two years, will be limited in scope to protect community banks while ensuring that Wall Street banks pay their fair share. The state Department of Revenue has no knowledge of any other state offering a similar exemption.

“When we’re faced with a choice to cut education funding or cut tax breaks for tourists and big Wall Street banks that can afford million-dollar bonuses for their CEO’s, it’s an easy choice,” says Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma). “If JPMorgan Chase can afford to give Jamie Dimon a $19 million raise, they can afford to give up this tax break. This is about making banks pay their fair share, just like they have to do in every other state.”

“As a former school board member, I’ve seen the impact of dwindling resources on our students and classrooms,” said Rep. Kristine Lytton (D-Anacortes). “Now, as a state representative, I hear from concerned parents and teachers in our community every day, urging us to find any possible way to fund our state’s paramount duty. This bill does just that. I came to Olympia to do what’s best for all of us in Washington, not just those who benefit from an outdated tax code.”

The freshman Democrats, who have dubbed themselves the “11 in 2011,” said they were inspired by the thousands of people who have been rallying and protesting in Olympia to end certain tax breaks to help protect funding for education and human services. They said the two-thirds vote requirement to close loopholes that was enacted by voters last fall isn’t a deterrent.

“Tax exemptions deserve the same level of scrutiny as any other kind of state spending,” said Rep. David Frockt (D-Seattle). “Our paramount duty is to fund education, not preferences that disproportionately benefit the bailed out financial institutions whose business practices got us into this mess. We hope two-thirds of our colleagues will agree and will support this bill.”

The other freshman sponsors include Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien), Connie Ladenburg (D-Tacoma), Luis Moscoso (D-Mount Lake Terrace), Chris Reykdal (D-Tumwater), Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), Derek Stanford (D-Bothell) and Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim).

[eridani]

40. League of Education Voters summary

ttp://www.educationvoters.org/2011/04/13/first-look-senate-and-house-budget-comparisons/


With only 11 days left in the legislative session, lawmakers now turn to their biggest decision—approving a state budget for the next two years.

Both chambers of the Legislature have put forward their own budget proposals. The House passed their budget last weekend and the Senate released its plan last night. Each plan would close a $5 billion shortfall in the state budget.

How would the budget proposals impact children and public education? Here are some major similarities and differences in the plans:

• Senate’s plan would impact very low-income preschool children: The Senate would decrease per child funding and require families to pay a $5 co-pay each month to send a child to the state’s high-quality preschool program (ECEAP). Although this would create 480 more seats in ECEAP, we are concerned about the impacts on program quality and on parents already struggling to make ends meet.

• Both Senate and House fund new definition of basic education and education reforms: Both chambers fully fund all-day kindergarten, roll-out the WaKIDS kindergarten transition process, fund the continuation of the teacher/principal evaluation pilots, and make initial investments in parts of the new definition of basic education.

• Both budgets cut teacher salaries: The House proposal freezes annual salary increases for teachers while the Senate proposes a 3% across-the-board cut to the salaries of all K-12 employees.

• Senate proposal would cut $95 million from schools’ day-to-day operating budget: Currently, we use an October headcount to determine how much state funding is sent to schools by enrollment. The Senate proposes to change that to Average Daily Attendance, meaning that enrollment figures have to be adjusted down for unexcused absences. In our view, this change is a cut to basic education—teachers still have to teach and schools keep the lights on no matter how many students show up on any given day.

• Double-digit tuition increases for higher education: Both budgets make deep cuts to our state’s 2- and 4-year colleges, allowing for double-digit increases in tuition, while mitigating some of the impact on students with increases in financial aid.

View our full comparison of the House and Senate budget.

Let us know if you have any questions about the proposed budgets. And, as always, please voice your concerns to your state lawmakers.

George Scarola
Legislative Director

[eridani]

42. Please contact Gregoire re: ferry captain union-busting

Attached is a letter from Cpt. Timothy Brown, President of the International Union of Masters, Mates & Pilots, and Cpt. Michael Murray, Vice President of the United Inland Group, requesting that you write Gov. Chris Gregoire ASAP to urge her to veto Section 8 of ESSB 5742. This section of a bill providing funding for ferry construction effectively decertifies the Masters, Mates & Pilots as the exclusive bargaining representative of the Captains working for the ferry system. The legislation further provides that if the Captains want to be represented, they have to go through an election process again.

It's important that all of us write Gov. Gregoire immediately to urge her to veto this section. Below is the letter sent by Washington State Labor Council President Jeff Johnson to the Governor on the issue. Given the time-sensitivity of this request, please fax your letters on your union letterhead to the Governor at 360-753-4110. Also please CC the WSLC via fax at 206-285-5805 so we can track the letters she receives.

Thank you, in advance, for your solidarity on this issue.

June 1, 2011

Dear Governor Gregoire:

On behalf of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and our affiliated local unions, I am requesting that you veto Section 8 of ESSB 5742. Section 8 would decertify captains on our ferry system from their union, the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union, ILA. This language would require captains, who have been long-standing members of their union, to revote their preference to be union members. Section 8 is unnecessary, administratively costly, inefficient and, quite frankly, a Wisconsin-type version of union busting.

Over the course of this legislative session, our maritime unions have shown their willingness to do their part in easing the budget/revenue crisis, concluding a successful contract negotiation with your office. Yet, labor has had to deal with a series of antiunion attacks on ferry workers throughout this session. Section 8 of ESSB 5742 is the last offending piece that we were unable to take care of during the legislative period. I respectfully ask you to veto Section 8 of ESSB 5742.

Sincerely,



Jeffrey G. Johnson
President

[eridani]

43. FUSE analysis of legislative session

After nearly five months of regular and special session, the state Legislature finally passed a budget late last week and adjourned for the year. We’re not going to sugarcoat things - it was a very tough session. As progressives, we definitely took our lumps, especially on the budget.

But we also generated real hope for the future with a powerful, sustained wave of grassroots energy and an impressive level of collaboration among progressive groups. And we helped pass a few other sweet bills that make the budget a little easier to swallow. Here’s a quick rundown on some key legislation from this year:

Forward progress
Closing the dirty TransAlta coal plant - SB 57691: The early shutdown of the dirty TransAlta coal plant - our state’s single largest source of global warming pollution - is a major victory for the health of Washington families. We worked with our partners in the environmental community on this landmark deal to accelerate the transition away from coal at TransAlta and dramatically reduce toxic pollution in our communities.

Keeping families in their homes - HB 13622: This legislation sets up a mediation process to prevent unnecessary foreclosures by ensuring banks negotiate with homeowners in good faith. It’s also a testimonial to the value of our successful accountability campaign to replace Senator Jean Berkey last fall. This reform never could have passed if she were still in charge of the Senate committee that oversees banking and finance.

Holding the line
Protecting consumers from predatory lending - SB 55473: This bill would have rolled back consumer protections that prevent sleazy payday lenders from creating a debt trap for desperate borrowers. We joined a number of economic justice groups to defeat conservatives’ attempts to repeal these protections against loan sharks and predatory lending.

Stopping Attorney General Rob McKenna’s racial profiling bill - HB 11264: McKenna’s bill would have allowed vulnerable youth to be targeted for arrest based on their appearance, rather than providing communities the resources they need for economic development and essential services. A wide range of organizations, including the ACLU, OneAmerica, and Fuse, helped stop Rob McKenna’s misguided and discriminatory racial profiling legislation.

Budget blues
Fuse continues to organize the progressive coalition to promote a humane and sustainable state budget for all Washington families. We knew this year would be our toughest yet, as our state faced a $5.1 billion deficit and the legislative handcuffs of Tim Eyman’s I-1053 - which requires a 2/3 supermajority of the legislature or a public referendum to approve any new revenue, including closing tax loopholes. Moreover, Governor Gregoire’s original proposal would have entirely eliminated Basic Health coverage, Disability Lifeline support, and the Children’s Health Program.

To counter this overwhelming threat, Fuse members stepped up like never before - submitting tens of thousands of petitions and thousands of emails and phone calls to members of the legislature. And at critical moments, hundreds of Fuse members traveled to Olympia for multiple rallies and made their voice heard at town hall meetings across the state.

Our call to close tax loopholes quickly became a central part of the budget debate in Olympia. At the end of special session, a strong majority of the state House voted to end tax breaks for Wall Street Banks to fund K-3 education.5 Unfortunately, due to the supermajority requirement to close tax loopholes, even this 54 to 42 majority wasn’t enough to pass the bill. But we’re not done yet. We will continue to hold special interests accountable and ensure our government is working for every community in Washington.

The final budget includes $4.5 billion in painful cuts to nearly every essential service. However, we also know that our work helped prevent the worst of the budget cuts proposed at the beginning of session, including maintaining at least partial funding for Basic Health, Disability Lifeline, and the Children’s Health Program.6

Other bad news
Protecting injured workers - SB 55667: Working at the behest of corporate lobbyists, a cabal of Republicans and conservative Democrats held the state budget hostage for weeks by demanding reduced protections for injured workers. In the end, legislative leaders reached a “compromise” to end the budget stalemate, leaving thousands of workers at risk.

Bringing accountability to women’s health clinics - HB 1366/SB 52748: More than 40 fake clinics across Washington - disguised as legitimate pregnancy centers - are set up to push conservative ideology instead of sound medical advice. We organized in support of two bills that would have finally brought oversight and accountability to these fake clinics, but they ran into a buzz saw of opposition from religious conservatives and failed to pass.

Looking forward
Although we did not win this year, our collective efforts built the foundation for success in the future. We believe that there is real hope in collaboration across a broad coalition of progressive groups, outstanding and unwavering grassroots pressure from activists across Washington, an effective campaign to tell our story through the news media, and a strong effort to organize legislators.

More than anything, the challenges of this legislative session are a reminder that we will have to fight harder and organize better to move our state forward - this fall, next legislative session, and through the critical 2012 elections. We are already expanding our intensive organizing in key districts and scaling up for the presidential election next year. With the continued support and determined advocacy of Fuse members across the state, we believe we can enact the long-term progressive change we seek for Washington.

Thanks for all that you do,

Aaron and the entire team at Fuse

1http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5769&year=2011
2http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1362&year=2011
3http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5547&year=2011
4http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1126&year=2011
5http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2078
6http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget11/highlights/health_human_services_public_safety.pdf
7http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5566&year=2011
8http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1366&year=2011