Legislative Update
2-21-10
The Legislature has come one step closer to passing our bill (HB 2986) adding a labor member to transit boards. The House passed the bill last weekend and how it must pass the Senate by March 5. HB 2986 will be heard Tuesday February 23rd at 1:30 in the Senate Government Operations Committee. Please let members of the Senate Government Committee know that you support the bill in its current form and that they should pass it out of committee.
The week began Monday with competing rallies of pro and anti tax demonstrators in Olympia with 3000 anti-tax “tea party” protesters and 6000 pro-revenue demonstrators, representing education, labor, healthcare and social service interests.
Wednesday saw Governor Gregoire release a plan for taxes to fund the buy-backs she announced in January to December’s all-cuts budget proposal. The plan does not include a sales-tax increase but a similar menu to what has been discussed over the course of the session: addressing the Dot Foods court case which reduced taxes for out-of-state business; increasing “sin” taxes on cigarettes, candy, gum, pop and bottled water; and raising taxes on toxics including petroleum and pesticides. Governor Gregoire says that her tax package, plus $1billion in cuts, plus Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage money the state assumes that they will receive, will not only plug the $2.8billion budget gap projected in the most recent economic forecast released last week, it will leave a $512million balance in the general fund. Publicola has an overview of the Governor’s proposals HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/02/17/gov-gregoire-proposes-new-taxes/" here.
Also on Wednesday, the Governor and federal Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar held a joint press conference touting the benefits of federal stimulus dollars one year after the passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. According to HYPERLINK "http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/02/17_FirstAnivARRA.htm" reporting on the event by state DOT, “Washington state has received nearly $500 million in Recovery Act funds for state and local highway construction projects. In addition, Washington has received $179 million for transit projects, and last month was awarded $590 million for high-speed intercity rail projects.” In the Senate on Wednesday HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6392&year=2009" SB6392, dealing with the 520 bridge project, passed without Seattle legislators’ preferred plan devoting two of the six lanes to public transit rather than HOVs. Publicola covers the vote HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/02/16/choppmcginn-520-plan-takes-a-hit-in-senate-vote/" here.
Tax proposals came one step closer to being viable in Olympia yesterday when, after days of floor debate, the House voted to suspend all provisions of I-960 except those requiring email updates to interested citizens about tax bills’ movement through the legislature. The version approved by the House must now go back to the Senate for concurrence which voted to suspend the entirety of I-960 last week, and then to Governor Gregoire for her signature.
House and Senate budget proposals are anticipated next week, with a hearing on the budget already scheduled in the House on Tuesday at 6 p.m.. The transportation budget will also be heard next week. (See below for hearing details.) Next Tuesday (2/23) also marks the deadline for Senate bills to be passed out of House policy committees, and Friday (2/26) is the deadline for House bills to pass out of Senate policy committees. The following Monday (3/1) is the deadline for bills to clear fiscal and transportation committees, and that Friday (3/5) is the last day for bills to be voted out of the opposite house, except for those dealing with the interim and the budget. The already frenetic pace is picking up as the anticipated end-of-session deadline on Thursday, 3/11, is less than three weeks away.
Bills of Interest
HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2986&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB2986, requiring non-voting labor members on transit governing boards, passed the House ahead of this past Tuesday’s deadline, and is scheduled to be heard in Senate Committee next week (see below).
HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2855&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB2855, allowing temporary increases in vehicle license fees to fund public transportation, did not come up for a vote before Tuesday’s deadline, and is now considered to be “dead” for this session.
The Week Ahead
House Local Government & Housing - 02/22/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6279" SB 6279 - Clarifying regional transit authority facilities as essential public facilities.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6205" SSB 6205 - Concerning portions of state highways better served by merged districts under certain circumstances.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6271" SSB 6271 - Concerning annexations by cities and code cities located within the boundaries of a regional transit authority.
House Transportation - 02/22/10 3:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6209" SB 6209 - Allowing moneys paid to county road funds to be used for park and ride lots.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6570" SSB 6570 - Allowing certain private transportation providers to use certain public transportation facilities.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6558" SSB 6558 - Concerning petitions for administrative review of railroad crossing closures.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6392" ESSB 6392 - Clarifying the use of revenue generated from tolling the state route number 520 corridor.
TUESDAY
Senate Government Operations & Elections* - 02/23/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2986" ESHB 2986 - Requiring the appointment of nonvoting labor members to public transportation governing bodies.
Senate Transportation - 02/23/10 3:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=1591" 2SHB 1591 - Concerning the use of certain transportation benefit district funds.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2721" SHB 2721 - Concerning commute trip reduction programs.
House Transportation - 02/23/10 6:00 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2838" HB 2838 - Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations.
House Ways & Means - 02/23/10 6:00 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2824" HB 2824 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations. (hearing is on the proposed substitute bill by Representative Linville.)
WEDNESAY
House Transportation - 02/24/10 3:30 pm
Executive Session: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2838" HB 2838 - Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations.
Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.
House Ways & Means - 02/24/10 3:30 pm
Possible Executive Session: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2824" HB 2824 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations.
THURSDAY
Senate Transportation* - 02/25/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2739" SHB 2739 - Concerning the enforcement of certain school or playground crosswalk violations.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2918" HB 2918 - Removing state route number 908 from the state highway system.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2939" SHB 2939 - Concerning notations on driver abstracts that a person was not at fault in a motor vehicle accident. (Hearing is on the Striking Amendment.)
FRIDAY
House Transportation - 02/26/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6577" SSB 6577 - Modifying the transportation system policy goals.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6649" SSB 6649 - Streamlining the content and release requirements of driving record abstracts.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6555" SB 6555 - Removing state route number 908 from the state highway system.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6580" SSB 6580 - Creating the local bridge restoration and replacement account.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6363" SSB 6363 - Concerning the enforcement of certain school or playground crosswalk violations.
Staying Involved
These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators. You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at HYPERLINK "http://www.leg.wa.gov" www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well. TVW, HYPERLINK "http://www.twv.org" www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”
The Legislature has come one step closer to passing our bill (HB 2986) adding a labor member to transit boards. The House passed the bill last weekend and how it must pass the Senate by March 5. HB 2986 will be heard Tuesday February 23rd at 1:30 in the Senate Government Operations Committee. Please let members of the Senate Government Committee know that you support the bill in its current form and that they should pass it out of committee.
The week began Monday with competing rallies of pro and anti tax demonstrators in Olympia with 3000 anti-tax “tea party” protesters and 6000 pro-revenue demonstrators, representing education, labor, healthcare and social service interests.
Wednesday saw Governor Gregoire release a plan for taxes to fund the buy-backs she announced in January to December’s all-cuts budget proposal. The plan does not include a sales-tax increase but a similar menu to what has been discussed over the course of the session: addressing the Dot Foods court case which reduced taxes for out-of-state business; increasing “sin” taxes on cigarettes, candy, gum, pop and bottled water; and raising taxes on toxics including petroleum and pesticides. Governor Gregoire says that her tax package, plus $1billion in cuts, plus Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage money the state assumes that they will receive, will not only plug the $2.8billion budget gap projected in the most recent economic forecast released last week, it will leave a $512million balance in the general fund. Publicola has an overview of the Governor’s proposals HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/02/17/gov-gregoire-proposes-new-taxes/" here.
Also on Wednesday, the Governor and federal Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar held a joint press conference touting the benefits of federal stimulus dollars one year after the passage of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. According to HYPERLINK "http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/2010/02/17_FirstAnivARRA.htm" reporting on the event by state DOT, “Washington state has received nearly $500 million in Recovery Act funds for state and local highway construction projects. In addition, Washington has received $179 million for transit projects, and last month was awarded $590 million for high-speed intercity rail projects.” In the Senate on Wednesday HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6392&year=2009" SB6392, dealing with the 520 bridge project, passed without Seattle legislators’ preferred plan devoting two of the six lanes to public transit rather than HOVs. Publicola covers the vote HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/02/16/choppmcginn-520-plan-takes-a-hit-in-senate-vote/" here.
Tax proposals came one step closer to being viable in Olympia yesterday when, after days of floor debate, the House voted to suspend all provisions of I-960 except those requiring email updates to interested citizens about tax bills’ movement through the legislature. The version approved by the House must now go back to the Senate for concurrence which voted to suspend the entirety of I-960 last week, and then to Governor Gregoire for her signature.
House and Senate budget proposals are anticipated next week, with a hearing on the budget already scheduled in the House on Tuesday at 6 p.m.. The transportation budget will also be heard next week. (See below for hearing details.) Next Tuesday (2/23) also marks the deadline for Senate bills to be passed out of House policy committees, and Friday (2/26) is the deadline for House bills to pass out of Senate policy committees. The following Monday (3/1) is the deadline for bills to clear fiscal and transportation committees, and that Friday (3/5) is the last day for bills to be voted out of the opposite house, except for those dealing with the interim and the budget. The already frenetic pace is picking up as the anticipated end-of-session deadline on Thursday, 3/11, is less than three weeks away.
Bills of Interest
HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2986&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB2986, requiring non-voting labor members on transit governing boards, passed the House ahead of this past Tuesday’s deadline, and is scheduled to be heard in Senate Committee next week (see below).
HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2855&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB2855, allowing temporary increases in vehicle license fees to fund public transportation, did not come up for a vote before Tuesday’s deadline, and is now considered to be “dead” for this session.
The Week Ahead
House Local Government & Housing - 02/22/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6279" SB 6279 - Clarifying regional transit authority facilities as essential public facilities.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6205" SSB 6205 - Concerning portions of state highways better served by merged districts under certain circumstances.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6271" SSB 6271 - Concerning annexations by cities and code cities located within the boundaries of a regional transit authority.
House Transportation - 02/22/10 3:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6209" SB 6209 - Allowing moneys paid to county road funds to be used for park and ride lots.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6570" SSB 6570 - Allowing certain private transportation providers to use certain public transportation facilities.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6558" SSB 6558 - Concerning petitions for administrative review of railroad crossing closures.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6392" ESSB 6392 - Clarifying the use of revenue generated from tolling the state route number 520 corridor.
TUESDAY
Senate Government Operations & Elections* - 02/23/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2986" ESHB 2986 - Requiring the appointment of nonvoting labor members to public transportation governing bodies.
Senate Transportation - 02/23/10 3:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=1591" 2SHB 1591 - Concerning the use of certain transportation benefit district funds.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2721" SHB 2721 - Concerning commute trip reduction programs.
House Transportation - 02/23/10 6:00 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2838" HB 2838 - Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations.
House Ways & Means - 02/23/10 6:00 pm
Public Hearing: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2824" HB 2824 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations. (hearing is on the proposed substitute bill by Representative Linville.)
WEDNESAY
House Transportation - 02/24/10 3:30 pm
Executive Session: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2838" HB 2838 - Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations.
Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.
House Ways & Means - 02/24/10 3:30 pm
Possible Executive Session: HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2824" HB 2824 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations.
THURSDAY
Senate Transportation* - 02/25/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2739" SHB 2739 - Concerning the enforcement of certain school or playground crosswalk violations.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2918" HB 2918 - Removing state route number 908 from the state highway system.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2939" SHB 2939 - Concerning notations on driver abstracts that a person was not at fault in a motor vehicle accident. (Hearing is on the Striking Amendment.)
FRIDAY
House Transportation - 02/26/10 1:30 pm
Public Hearing:
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6577" SSB 6577 - Modifying the transportation system policy goals.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6649" SSB 6649 - Streamlining the content and release requirements of driving record abstracts.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6555" SB 6555 - Removing state route number 908 from the state highway system.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6580" SSB 6580 - Creating the local bridge restoration and replacement account.
HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6363" SSB 6363 - Concerning the enforcement of certain school or playground crosswalk violations.
Staying Involved
These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators. You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at HYPERLINK "http://www.leg.wa.gov" www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well. TVW, HYPERLINK "http://www.twv.org" www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”