WA Gov. Race: Long Road Ahead For Election Challenge [good summary]

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 don’t 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 Nat’l 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 can’t imagine why legislators wouldn’t 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

Here’s 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 don’t 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 gov’t 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 gov’t 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

Here’s 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 can’t believe how many attempts there are this year to enroll everyone in the State’s 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 don’t 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 Gov’t 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 auditor’s operation & maintenance fund.

Had House hearing in Local Gov’t Committee; Senate hearing in Gov’t 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 gov’t

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 Gov’t Ops & Acct and Senate hearing in Gov’t 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 Gov’t 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 Gov’t 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 Gov’t 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 children’s 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 gov’t 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 Internat’l 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 can’t 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 gov’t and fees; oppose

HB1615 Pettigrew

Establishes regulations for dairies in the state relating to nutrition, pollution and giving the state’s 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 gov’t 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 Nat’l 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 gov’t!

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 gov’t 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 gov’t 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 state’s 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 gov’t

SB5333 Regala

Allows all property tax levies to have duration of six years.

Had Senate hearing in Gov’t Ops & Elections; still there

Ask your legislators to oppose this idea!

HB1195 Simpson

Allows local gov’t 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 Gov’t; 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 won’t gov’t see that what’s 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. It’s 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 person’s 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 don’t 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 Gov’t 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 doesn’t 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 Gov’t 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.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.