Posted on 02/14/2005 8:08:19 AM PST by Publius
The legal challenge to the governor's election won't be resolved until June at the earliest, a former Supreme Court justice says.
Republican Dino Rossi's challenge to the 129-vote election victory of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire is heading toward a trial, possibly sometime next month. The state Supreme Court will make the ultimate decision - and former Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge says Rossi has a chance, however slim, of winning.
"It would be unusual to unseat a sitting governor," said Talmadge, a liberal Democrat who ran against Gregoire before dropping out due to health concerns. "On the other hand, they have the responsibility of dealing with this very serious situation of election law ... The court won't be swayed by the immediate politics of the moment."
Talmadge said he can't imagine the Supreme Court hearing arguments on the case until June, and that's assuming the speediest possible schedule.
Conventional wisdom says the longer Gregoire stays in office, the more legitimacy she gains and the less people will demand a new election. Of course, conventional wisdom also had Gregoire winning in a landslide.
Gregoire, formerly a three-term attorney general, lost the first count by 261 votes and lost a machine recount by 42 votes to Rossi, a real estate agent and former state senator. A final, hand recount of 2.9 million ballots made Gregoire the winner by 129 votes.
Rossi sued the state under the election challenge law, and is asking for a new election.
Rossi said in an interview this week he believes people are willing to wait for a resolution.
"People want a chance to vote again, is the bottom line," he said.
If Rossi wins his challenge - still a long shot - the state heads into uncharted territory. The court's options would be to nullify the election and call for a special election; to nullify the election and leave it to the Legislature to decide what's next; to nullify the election and simply let the constitutional provisions for filling a vacant office take over; or to install Rossi as governor.
Rossi has said he would resign and call for a new election if a judge appointed him governor. Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges, who's hearing the case, ruled that the courts don't have the power to order a "revote," as Rossi had sought. But the Supreme Court could reverse his ruling.
Whatever happens, a Rossi win in court would mean at least a few months of Lieutenant Gov. Brad Owen filling in as governor. Rossi said that would be fine.
"The sky is not going to fall," Rossi said. "I think he could do the job, sign the bills and make that work. I don't see a problem with that - that's the way it's set up."
The timing of a new election is a subject of legal wrangling. The state constitution says the governor must be elected "at the same time and place of voting as for the members of the legislature."
Democrats say the earliest possible date for a gubernatorial election would be November of 2006, when the state House and a half the state Senate are up for re-election.
But Republicans point out that one legislator, Rep. Dean Takko of Longview, will stand for election this November, because he was appointed to fill an opening created when Democrat Brian Hatfield resigned.
What kind of election would it be? A runoff between Rossi and Gregoire would be simplest, but state law and the constitution are mum on that option.
Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Even, representing Secretary of State Sam Reed in the election challenge, said he believes a new election for governor would have to start at the beginning - with a filing week and a primary.
Talmadge said he might consider running against Gregoire again if there's a new primary. Anyone could run.
Before the state gets close to a new election, though, Rossi will have to prove his case in court - no easy feat.
"It's clear that more election contests have been rejected than have been successful," Bridges said at the last court hearing. "The reason, of course, is that there are some well-recognized presumptions, if not policy reasons, why elections should not be overturned. For instance, do we as voters and as constituents of candidates want to engage in what one judge referred to as 'seasons of discontent' commencing the moment after the polls close on Election Day?"
But Bridges denied Democrats' attempts to close off avenues to the Republicans by limiting the evidence or the proof they could bring to court. The big debate between the two sides is what, exactly, Rossi has to prove to get the election results thrown out.
Rossi and his attorneys say it's enough to show that illegal votes put the 129-vote margin of victory in doubt. The Democrats say Rossi will have to prove whether the illegal votes went for Gregoire or Rossi, and then subtract proven illegal votes from both their totals, and then show that Rossi would have actually won without the illegal votes.
The state's election challenge law is not crystal clear. Bridges indicated there may be different standards for illegal votes cast by felons and dead people, as opposed to illegal votes that were counted because of errors by election workers.
Talmadge said he doesn't believe state law will require Republicans to match every illegal vote with a candidate, despite Democrats' arguments that it should be done that way.
"It's almost impossible to prove how any one of those ballots were cast," Talmadge said. "I have to believe it would be something that doesn't require proof of an elector's vote."
Talmadge said Republicans will probably be allowed to do some sort of statistical analysis to show how many of the illegal votes likely went for Gregoire or Rossi. That's the standard of proof the secretary of state's office is backing as well, Even said.
Both attorneys said Republicans will have to prove that illegal votes changed the outcome of the election, and that will be a tough sell in the absence of obvious fraud or skullduggery.
Meanwhile, Gregoire is trying her best to forge ahead as governor in Olympia while downplaying the election challenge unfolding in Wenatchee.
"I'm not looking over my shoulder," she said last week. "I don't know what to look at, to be honest."
This is just a small sampling of the crap they're trying to cram down our throats while they have complete control.
It's an outrage!!!
SECOND AMENDMENT
SB5131 Loss of gun rights--Carrell
Loss of gun rights when not convicted of a felony offence by reason of insanity. Would prefer that the bill would make it possible for someone to be found Guilty by reason of insanity when such a crime is committed.
Bill had a hearing on 1/25/05 In Sen. Judiciary; still in Committee
Call legislators to support
In my opinion, the following bills are a huge infringement upon our 2nd amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution and the even-clearer rights guaranteed WA citizens in the WA Constitution, Art.1, Sec. 24. Folks, if we dont stand up NOW and be counted, it may soon be too late because every right of the citizen hangs on the unimpaired right to keep and bear arms.
HB1822 Kagi
Phases in a ban on the possession & use of lead shot for ALL hunting over a 3-year period beginning in 2006. Probably designed to shut down firing ranges.
House Hearing HHRD 2/15/05 1:30 pm Natl Resources Ecology & Parks
**Oppose
SB5343 Kohl-Welles
Restricts the sale of firearms at gun shows to gun dealers and gives State Patrol ability to charge a fee for handling the background checks generated by gun shows.
Bill had a hearing on 1/25/05 In Judiciary
Oppose--we need to enforce the laws we have.
SB5342
Kohl-Welles
Concerns the safe storage of firearms--Could face penalty of $50 (Class C Civil infraction) if a child gets hold of your gun. Feel good bill.
Call legislators to oppose
SB5344 Fairley
Bans firearms from WA Capitol Building--I cant imagine why legislators wouldnt want law-abiding citizens to be present to protect them should an incident occur.
Oppose
SB5593 Fairley
50 caliber gun ban of 2005" Bans the 50BMG which is used mostly at ranges and fires one bullet at a time--It has never been used for a crime in WA State.
Bill had a hearing on 1/25/05 In Judiciary
Call legislators to oppose
SB5475 Kline HB1627 Kagi
Assault weapons ban of 2005"--Redefines the definition of assault weapons to include sporting and hunting rifles. Requires yearly registration of such weapons, yearly back-ground checks and yearly inspection of your storage place(s) for such weapons.
Both bills are in their respective Judiciary Committees
Call legislators to oppose; this is a super bad bill
EDUCATION
SB5478 Stevens HB1656 Ahern
Defines abstinence education as separate from comprehensive sex education and requires school districts to distinguish between them in communications to parents.
Assigned to Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee & House Health Care
Call your legislators to encourage a hearing on bill.
SB5306 Weinstein HB1282 Schual-Berke
Requires that sex education curricula be medically accurate and defines that as info according to research conducted in compliance with scientific methods published in peer review journals. This is an attempt to do away with abstinence education that exposes the dangers of abortion.
Bill had a hearing 1/24/05 in the Senate Health & Long-term Care; House bill in House Health Care
Call your legislators to oppose.
HB1484 Hunter SB5144 Eide
Providing for a simple majority of voters to authorize school district levies and bonds.
Senate hearing was 1/26/05; In Ways & Means House hearing 1/31/05 in House Education
Call your legislators to oppose
HB1633 Talcott
Heres one you can support. Allows school districts to allow digital (internet) learning programs with personal contact and accountability from a certified teacher.
House hearing HHRB; 2/14/05 1:30 pm in Education
**Let your legislators know you support this one.
HJR4205 Schual-Berke SJR8202 Eide
Amending the State Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters to authorize school district levies and bonds. We have a property tax problem, not a problem passing levies, as only 2 or 3 fail each year out of 296 districts. The failures are usually because of scandals or downturns in the local economy. The simple majority will encourage property poor districts now passing levies of 16%, etc. to go for the maximum levy of 24% allowed by the state and force even more people out of their homes.
Senate hearing was 1/26/05; In S. Ways & Means House hearing 1/31/05; In House Rules
Call your legislators to oppose
HB1708 Lovick
SPI will come up with 2 most promising dropout prevention programs and the 2 most promising programs of social & other services in co-ordinating with educational services.
House hearing HHRB; 2/14/05 1:30 pm in Education
**This is a true D bill, a real feel good, spend $ solution.
HB1825 Kilmer SSB5174 Shin
Providing a source of funding for customized work force training. This bill authorizes bonds to be sold to fund work force training. The bonds would be paid back by employers asking for the training by self-imposed increases in B&O tax and public utility taxes. The business/es would also be asked to pay fees set by the authority (17 members) and pay the costs of the program. This is an interesting proposal, but even more so in the light of the fact that community colleges are already tasked with meeting the specific training needs of the businesses in their communities. Why expand government in this way at the further expense to businesses? They already pay taxes!
House hearing HHRC; 2/17/05 8:00 am in Higher Education
The Senate bill has been changed to include general obligation bonds for funding and is now in Senate Ways & Means
**Let your legislators know you oppose this expansion of government and requirement that businesses pay for what community colleges and work force training programs are already supposed to provide.
HB1079 Kagi SB5084 McAuliffe
Establishes a foster youth post-secondary education and training coordination committee of members of the staff of CPS, OSPI, the HEC Board, foster youth and foster parents, and grant-making organizations to make sure that former foster children receive grants for higher education.
House hearing HHRC; 2/17/05 8:00 am in Higher Education
Senate bill had hearing 2/7/05 and is still in Education
**We should treat all young people the same. Oppose this on the grounds that it creates additional dependence on the state.
SCR8401 Jacobsen
Creating a joint select committee concerning Latino accessibility to higher education. The goal is laudable, but creates still another committee who will no doubt end up with recommendations that will cost a bunch.
Senate hearing SHRA; 2/14/05 3:30 pm in Early Learning, K-12 and Hi Ed
**Oppose this expansion of government.
SB5786 Weinstein
A true D bill with passing the buck and the flack for increasing tax $$ off on someone else.
Authorizing county legislative authorities to run levies on behalf of the school districts, levies which only take 50%+1 to pass, levies which would be exempt from the limitations on junior & senior taxing districts and could be as much as 75cents/$1000 assessed valuation. These levies could be for a certain number of years or PERMANENT. They would be used for cost of living supplements for school district employees as determined by collective bargaining & to provide local funds to support the purpose of I-728.
Senate hearing SHRA; 2/16/05 8:00 am in Early Learning, K-12 and Hi Ed
Oppose, oppose, oppose
**This is a huge departure from the protections in the WA state constitution for the property owner. It is also the legislators attempt to give more local $$ to schools and get the pressure off themselves.
SB5677 Benton
A GOOD BILL
Revokes the teaching certificates or permits of educational employees due to possessing pornography on the school grounds. This would include accessing pornography on a school computer. This bill is in grave danger of amendment by the liberals.
Senate hearing HHRA; 2/16/05 8:00 am in Early Learning, K-12 and Hi Ed
** Testify Encourage your Senator to support this bill without changes.
HEALTH CARE
HB1486 Conway
Requires anyone who applies for state assistance for their or their dependants health care give the name of their employer. The state is asking for this because they want to penalize (in the future)the employers who dont provide insurance for their employees.
House hearing HHRA; 2/15/05 1:30 pm in Health Care
**This is a dangerous first step toward another mandate for businesses. Oppose.
HB1702 Cody SB5637 Keiser
Well, here it is folks. Requires large (50 or more employees) employees to provide health insurance plans for employees or put 85% of average costs of basic health plan per employee into an account for employee health expenses. Employer would face penalty of 200% of that amount if they fall behind. Also allows employees of small business to obtain a subsidy on their portion of health insurance plans their employers wish to provide.
House hearing HHRA; 2/17/05 8:00 am in Health Care
Senate Hearing SHR4; 2/17/05 3:30 pm in Health & Long-Term Care
**This is a huge expansion of government health care. Oppose because the govt involvement in health care is exactly what is driving costs up.
SB5048 Oke
Prohibiting tobacco product sampling give-aways at fairs, etc. This is the only good bill I know about that is on a fast track this year. Congratulations to Senator Oke for his persistence.
Passed the Senate. House hearing HHRA; 2/17/05 8:00 am in Health Care
**Encourage your legislators to support. Send Senator Oke your congrats. 360-786-7650 & best wishes.
HB1536 Moeller
Gives the secretary of health the authority to administer grants, enter into contracts, and other legal mechanisms to further the goal of a healthy population. Knowing the sponsor, I suspect there is an agenda here to fund certain kinds of programs.
House hearing HHRA; 2/18/05 1:30 pm in Health Care
**Expansion of govt control in the hands of one person--oppose
HB1652 Ericks & other liberals
Authorizes every fire protection district in the state to establish or participate in health clinic services. This is a huge expansion of government and encroachment upon the private sector clinics.
House hearing HHRA; 2/18/05 1:30 pm in Health Care
**Please testify on these bills if you can and let your legislators know you oppose!
SB5748 Kastama
Creates the office of health information and planning responsible for data collection, distribution and exchange and other equally invasive chores.
Senate hearing SHR4; 2/14/05 3:30 pm in Health & LongTerm Care
**Oppose this expansion of government into health care
SB5703 Brandland HB1705 Linville
Creates a program to retain physicians in the state. Encourages doctors to take indigent and low income patients and allows tax deductions, etc. for those that do.
Senate hearing SHR4; 2/14/05 3:30 pm in Health & LongTerm Care
**Oppose this attempt to socialize doctors and health care
SB5861 Keiser HB1910 Morrell
Stabilizing the health insurance market and reducing the number of uninsured individuals in WA state. Creates a nonprofit entity known as the health insurance market stabilization pool. The purpose of the pool is to enroll more uninsured people in the private health insurance market by lowering & stabilizing premiums. Would provide a subsidy for high cost insured. This is a far cry from the private sector solution of doing away with the many mandates on insurance policies.
Senate hearing SHR4; 2/16/05 8:00 am in Health & LongTerm Care
**Ask legislators to oppose this attempt for even more control of the health care services.
SB5722 Keiser
Provides that the administer of basic health plan accept applications for group coverage from small employers on behalf of their employees, their spouses and children. Premiums will be equal to costs charged by the managed care system to the state plus administrative costs.
Senate hearing SHR4; 2/17/05 3:30 pm in Health & LongTerm Care
**Ask legislators to oppose this still another attempt to control more health care.
SB5472 Keiser HB1221 Cody
Heres another plan to enroll small businesses into the basic health plan of the state. Allows small businesses to enroll their employees in the health care benefit programs of the state administered by the WA State Health Care Authority.
Senate hearing SHR4; 2/17/05 3:30 pm in Health & LongTerm Care
House bill had hearing 1/28/05
I cant believe how many attempts there are this year to enroll everyone in the States plan. Oppose.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB1187 Dickerson Eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles tried as adults.
By the time juveniles are tried as adults, the system has tried every-thing and the juvenile is sadly a hardened criminal (the list includes murder and rape). I believe mandatory minimums are a good way to send a message to the juvenile and to make sure that justice is done on behalf of the victims of the crime.
Had House hearing in Juvenile Justice & Family Law Committee; now in Rules awaiting floor action.
Contact your legislators to oppose.
HB1178 McDonald
Allows parents to monitor the communications & conversations of their minor children. This is a good bill.
Had hearing in House Judiciary; still in Judiciary
Contact your legislators to support
SB5284 Kline
Removes robbery in the 2nd degree from the serious crime list and requires another day in court for those sentenced if the sentencing was based upon 2nd degree robbery being serious crime.
Had Senate hearing in Judiciary; still in Judiciary
Let your legislator know you dont believe lighter sentences are needed.
HB1201 Pearson THIS IS A GOOD BILL AS WRITTEN
Requires that convicted sex offenders register their attendance in any school with the county sheriff where the school is located. The sheriff is to keep a list, by school, of where these sex offenders are enrolled and make it available to anyone who asks for it, but will not publish it otherwise. This is a commonsense approach to a huge problem. Parents can find out if their children are attending school alongside a sex offender, something they SHOULD know.
Had hearing in House Juvenile Justice & Family Law 1/28/05 and is scheduled for executive session 2/15/05 in HHRE. This is the time when there will no doubt be an attempt made to water down.
**Call your legislators and ask that they do not water down this bill because you believe every parent has the right to know if their child/ren are potentially threatened.
TAX & FEE INCREASES; GROWTH OF GOVERNMENT
HB1314 Dickerson Creating a domestic violence prevention account
Adds $10 to fees charged for marriage licenses, dissolutions of marriage and legal separations for the purpose of establishing a domestic violence prevention account. Makes an exception if you are indigent.
Had house hearing in Juvenile Justice & Family Law Committee; still in Committee
Contact your legislators to oppose.
HB1240 Kessler SB5281 Spanel
Increases real estate excise taxes by $10 for the purpose of setting up a real estate excise tax electronic technology account; half for the county and half for the state.
Had House hearing in Local Govt Committee; still there
Let your legislators know how you feel about their creative ways to tax you.
HB1386 Takko SB5458 Shin
Creates a centennial document preservation and modernization account in each county to be funded by a $5 surcharge for each document recorded by the county. Half will go into this account and half to the county auditors operation & maintenance fund.
Had House hearing in Local Govt Committee; Senate hearing in Govt Ops & Elections
Ditto
SB5767 McAuliffe
Requires each county to create a task force of at least 20 members to develop a 10-year plan addressing short and long term housing for homeless persons.
Senate hearing SHR2; 2/16/05 3:30 pm in FI, Housing & Consumer Protection
**This is just another unfunded mandate on counties & huge growth of govt
HB1515 Murray Expanding the jurisdiction of the human rights commission
Adds sexual orientation to the list of human rights. The bill defines sexual orientation as bisexuality, gender expression or identity, homosexuality or heterosexuality. Sexual orientation is an umbrella term for 20 or more sexual disorders. To add a behavior to unchangeables such as race, color, and gender damages those human rights.
Passed on floor of the House on 2/11/05. Has gone to the Senate
**Strongly oppose. Please contact your Senator and any others you might influence to stop this bill which will drastically affect business and all churches & organizations in the state.
HB1436 McDermott
SB5367 Franklin
Allowing public funding of political campaigns for local office.
Had House hearing in St Govt Ops & Acct and Senate hearing in Govt Ops & Elections--Still there
Let your legislators know what you think about this idea.
HB1526 Miloscia
Establishing the public financing of state campaigns.
Had House hearing in St Govt Ops & Acct; still there
Let your legislators know what you think of this idea!
SSB5056 Haugen
Creates a new Dept of Archaeology and Historic Preservation with a Director appointed by the Governor and authorization to sub-divide into divisions.
Had Senate hearing in Govt Ops & Elections; still there
Let your legislators know you oppose this huge growth of government!
SB5254 Jacobsen
Creates a legislative youth advisory council with 22 members age 18 and under to advise the legislature on issues important to youth.
Had Senate hearing in Govt Ops & Elections; still there
Ditto
SB5451 Keiser
Places a surtax of 6.5% on cosmetic medical services to go into a health services account to be used for childrens health care services. Another creative way to tax you to promote the liberal agenda.
Had Senate hearing in Health & Long Term Care; still there
Let your legislators know you oppose their creative ways to redistribute wealth!
1841 Wood
Requires electrical apprentices to be supervised by licenced electricians 100% of the time for the first 4000 hours and 75% of the time after that. This bill will certainly have a chilling effect on apprenticeship programs & increase the costs to employers who hire the apprentices.
Hearing in HHRC 2/16/05; 8 am in House Commerce and Labor
**Ask your legislators to oppose. This is NOT a business-friendly bill.
HB1682 B.Sullivan
Sets up a pilot program for live-scan devices for each ESD in the state and gives SPI $270,000 for the purpose of live background checks. Duplicates work of State Patrol.
Hearing in HHRE 2/15/05; 1:30 pm in Criminal Justice & Corrections
**Let your legislators know how you feel about this.
HB1470 Morrell SB5363 Kastama
Authorizes additional sales tax authority for public facilities districts created within 2 years starting 7/1/06.
Hearing in HHRA 2/15/05; 10 am in Ec. Development, Ag & Trade; Senate bill is out of committee & is in Ways & Means
**Talk about creative ways to redistribute wealth! Oppose.
HB1815 Wallace
Modifies the small business incubator program giving CTED $1,200,000 to use to help small businesses. I believe every small business should have tax & regulatory relief with equal opportunity to succeed. Typically, these opportunities have been used in the past by liberal govt workers to help their friends.
Hearing in HHRA 2/16/05; 1:30 pm in Ec Developm. Ag & Trade
**Let your legislators know you object! This is not FREE enterprise!
SB5722 Sheldon
Allows additional funding for small business incubator programs. See comments for the bill above.
Senate hearing SHR3; 2/15/05 3:30 pm in Internatl Trade & Econ. Develop
**Oppose. This is not free enterprise!
HB1903 Ericks
Creates a job development fund to be funded in the capitol budget by an appropriation of $50 m./biennium and supplemented by bond indebtedness of any local government or money from any legitimate source. A board will decide the priorities for jurisdictions to receive the appropriations of not more than $10m/project. Why cant the legislators see that real econ. development comes from letting private enterprise be free to grow jobs?
Hearing in HHRA 2/16/05; 1:30 pm in Ec Developm, Ag & Trade
**Let you legislators know that you dont approve of more bonded indebtedness & want the them to relieve business of restrictions for REAL E.D.
HB1594 Linville
Directing the state investment board to invest in minority and women-owned start-up and expanding business with WA state. The fund will have no less than $500 m. in it. Again, businesses should be able to compete equally.
Hearing in HHRA 2/16/05; 1:30 pm in ED, Ag & Trade
**Let your legislators know you oppose this use of taxpayer funds.
HB1440 Hasegawa
Allows a city with a weights & measures program to charge more than the statutory amount as long as they dont charge more than the amount needed to run the program.
Hearing in HHRA 2/18/05; 8:00 am in Ec Develop Ag & Trade
**Expands govt and fees; oppose
HB1615 Pettigrew
Establishes regulations for dairies in the state relating to nutrition, pollution and giving the states Dept. of Agriculture authority to penalize those who violate the new regs.
Hearing in HHRA 2/18/05; 8:00 am in Ec Develop Ag & Trade
**Expands govt and gives Dept ability to impose penalties w.o. trial.
HB1810 Miloscia
Ending homelessness in WA State--This bill may be well intentioned, but goes about its goal in the wrong way. There is now a great deal of help available to individuals and families who lose their homes if they want to take advantage of it. There are, however, a great number of homeless who prefer to live this lifestyle and collect the benefits given them by the benevolent public funds. To spend the $$ this bill directs for studies, census, housing fund, etc., is a waste of money.
Had hearing 2/10/04 and scheduled for executive session 2/17/05
**Encourage legislators to find more practical means of accomplishing the noble ends.
HB1813 Williams
Increases the term of nonvoter general obligation bonds for rural library districts from six years to twenty years.
House Hearing HHRE; 2/14/05 1:30 pm in Local Government
**Disturbing trend especially when it is non-voter bonds.
HB1704 Upthegrove SB5345 Jacobsen
Creates a 5-member timberland revitalization board with 4 members appointed by the Governor and the Commissioner of Lands serving as the 5th member. In my opinion, this is an attempt to consolidate government and take away some of the power from the elected Republican Lands Commissioner. Also appropriates $7.5 million for the board.
House Hearing HHRD; 2/18/05 1:30 pm in Natl Resources, Ecology & Parks
**Oppose this power grab away from the elected Lands Commissioner. Testify if you can.
HB1895 Morris
Creates a Joint committee on Energy Supply. This committee would serve with the purpose of converting all state buildings to green power (in the name of conservation) and would empower them to make these changes through the sale of bonds.
House Hearing HHRB; 2/17/05 8:00 am in Technology, Energy & Communications
**This bill would serve to benefit certain suppliers at the expense of others. The market should decide. Oppose.
HB1397 Murray
Adopts the California motor vehicle standards for emissions retroactively to 1/1/05 and orders DOE to adopt rules to implement those standards for passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles. Vehicles sold in WA in 2009 and after would have to meet CA standards.
House hearing HHRB; 2/16/05 3:30 pm in Transportation
**Oppose--goes beyond the new federal requirements
HB1798 Simpson
Authorizes DOT to recover costs of motorist information signs in charges to advertisers. The only problem with this is that when DOT does something, it always costs more.
House hearing HHRB; 2/16/05 3:30 pm in Transportation
**Testify if you can. Business should oppose this.
SB5785 Fairley HB1809 Kirby
The D answer to meaningful medical liability reform --more govt!
Creates a supplemental malpractice insurance program to provide an excess layer of liability coverage for malpractice claims. This program will have a Board of Governors to oversee the program and who will hire an administrator for the program. Any facility or provider who decides to buy the excess medical malpractice liability coverage will pay an annual fee and have very intrusive reporting requirements. The only result of this bill will be to get govt more involved in the health care field. It will not solve the problems resulting from the failure of the D House to pass meaningful medical liability reform.
Senate hearing SHR2; 2/17/05 10:00 am in FI, Housing and Consumer Protect
House hearing HHRC; 2/17/05 10:00 am in FI & I
**This is the D attempt to make up for failure to pass any meaningful medical liability reform. Oppose this attempt which will just assure more govt involvement in health care.
PROPERTY OWNERS
SB5092 Jacobsen
Creates a loan program for beginning farmers with a commission deciding the criteria for those who will get the loans--those who have the best chance of success. Also increases the states bonded indebtedness. How much better to do away with the multitudes of regulations and permitting so that another generation of farmers can exist.
Had Senate hearing in Ag & Rural Ec Develop; still there
Ask your legislators to oppose this idea! View this as an attempt to get farmers indebted to state govt
SB5333 Regala
Allows all property tax levies to have duration of six years.
Had Senate hearing in Govt Ops & Elections; still there
Ask your legislators to oppose this idea!
HB1195 Simpson
Allows local govt to make changes to short subdivision law if they find that the health and welfare of the public is at risk.
Had House hearing in Local Govt; still there
**I think this opens the door for arbitrary decisions in land use.
HB1745 Santos
Authorizes local governments to increase bonded indebtedness to finance public improvements. These would be repaid by the taxes generated by the improvements. Why wont govt see that whats needed for econ growth is fewer regulations and taxes?
House hearing HHRA; 2/16/05 1:30 pm in Ec Dev Ag & Trade
**Let your legislators know what you think of these attempts to get your $$
HB1640 Morrell SB5660 Kastama
Authorizes CTED to register mobile home parks & manufactured home communities, conduct investigations, issue citations, issue cease & desist orders, & impose fines for violations of the manufactured home landlord-tenant act. Its wrong to turn over the job of the courts to an unelected bureaucrat. It deprives someone of their day in court.
House Hearing HHRD; 2/15/05 8:00 am in Housing
Senate bill had hearing 2/9/05 still in committee
**Let your legislators know you oppose this whole idea!
HB1637 Upthegrove SB5620 Kline
Requires that county legislative authorities give priority status to those who have voluntarily put land into buffers in open space planning, public benefit rating systems, and assessed valuation schedules.
House Hearing HHRE; 2/15/05 6:00 pm in Local Government
**Oppose this additional regulation on land use.
HB1639 Upthegrove SB5619 Kline
Requires cities & counties to consider a whole plethora of water quality considerations when preparing comprehensive plans & development regulations. Greatly expands the regulations that must be followed.
House Hearing HHRE; 2/15/05 6:00 pm in Local Government
**Oppose these new opportunities to restrict your use of your land. Testify.
HB1385 Dunn
Gives counties the authority to declare what is a nuisance, with the power to remove, prevent and abate the nuisance at the expense of the land owner who created it along with the power to put a lien on the property. Also by-passes a persons right to a day in court.
House Hearing HHRE; 2/16/05 8:00 am in Local Government
**Testify if you can in opposition to these expansions on the authority of counties.
HB1793 Simpson SB5210 Doumit
Allows fire protection facilities to use impact fees for capitol improvements, etc.
House Hearing HHRE; 2/14/05 1:30 pm in Local Government
**Call legislators to oppose.
SB5370 Brown
Creates the Economic Development Strategic Reserve Account which will be funded by unclaimed state lottery prizes, excise tax on the sale of all real property at the rate of 1.28% of the selling price, and 5% of B&O taxes collected from light & power businesses and gas distribution businesses. The Director of CTED will decide who gets the grants from the account.
Senate hearing SHR3; 2/15/05 3:30 pm
**Oppose. This is another case of redistribution of wealth.
ELECTIONS
SB5744 Haugan HB1754 Hunt
Authorizes counties to have all mail-in ballot elections. I dont like this (Although some may disagree with me.) because I believe there are more chances for fraud with absentees than with ballots cast at polling places.
Senate Hearing SHR2; 2/14/05 10:00 am in Govt Ops & Elections
**Let your legislators know how you feel about this one.
There are hearings this next week on several election bills. So far I see nothing in these bills except as above to bemoan or rejoice over. The closest to an improvement is HB1749 (SB5742) by Rep. Green & Sen. Roach to require the Secretary of State to follow up on concerns they see in the counties election procedures. This is an improvement, but doesnt go far enough. I suggest that the following be added to Sec. 1, sub-section 3) of the bill: ...and make a written report of their findings to be released to the offending county election officer and to the press. (Call hotline and suggest this amendment, please.)
Senate Hearing in Government Operations & Elections: SHR2; 2/14/05; 10:00 am
House Hearing in State Govt Operations & Accountability: HHRD; 2/18/04; 8:00 am
Please contact your legislators ( http://dfind.leg.wa.gov) for your district and then http://www.leg.wa.gov/wsladm/default.htm for your district delegation and share your concerns on these and other issues. It is very important for you to let your voices be heard. You can make a difference.
An important new service is now available through the joint efforts of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation and The Washington Policy Center. A summary of each bill introduced this year is available at www.washingtonvotes.org. They also have bills categorized in helpful ways, including by prime sponsor and by topic (for instance, tax increases). Please use this resource and let others know of its existence.
If Talmadge were entitled to run in a special election, he would now likely beat out Gregoire and be a more formidable opponent for Rossi. On the other hand, Talmadge would have a lot of explaining to do on a number of issues.
Which is one of the reasons why you need to be out of that office.
Thanks for the link. Helps me to visualize the day coming our way.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1343210/posts
Reed Recall rejected
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