SB 6472 will help make carbon monoxide alarms more prevalent in Washington homes, while SB 6296 reforms and consolidates portions of the state’s criminal background check laws.

Hundreds of people die accidently each year from carbon monoxide poisoning. SB 6472 requires that when a house is sold, the seller disclosure form must include whether or not a home has carbon monoxide alarms installed.

A seller disclosure form is a document which lists pertinent information about a home, things such as the sewer/water system, electrical system, roof, etc. A law passed in 2010 requires that carbon monoxide alarms be included in all homes built or sold after the effective date of the law. But many sellers were unaware of the law. SB 6472 will make sure that they are of the requirement for carbon monoxide alarms.

“You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but it has the potential to kill a person literally within minutes,” Harper said. “Carbon monoxide alarms are just as important as smoke detectors. They are a valuable public safety tool and should be in every home.”

SB 6296 has several functions. Currently people who want to view their criminal history must do so in the presence of someone from the criminal justice agency. 6296 will allow people to obtain a copy of his or her criminal history and create a copying fee to cover costs.

“The state patrol’s time is valuable and can be better spent investigating and preventing crimes,” Harper said. “This will free them up to focus their time and talent toward their core mission – public safety.”

The bill also provides potential state employers with a more complete background check on potential new hires. Currently agencies will not receive pending charges that are not crimes against a person, such as a DUI. They will under SB 6296.

Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, issued the following statement:

“We came into this session needing to accomplish only one task, to pass a sustainable, fiscally responsible budget. Unfortunately, the regular session has ended and that has not happened.

“On the final day, the majority passed an updated version of the House Democrat budget, but it has changed very little. It would continue to delay payments to school districts into the next biennium. Some who support the budget call it ‘creative accounting,’ but our own Democratic State Treasurer Jim McIntire just recently called it a ‘felony gimmick.’ Not only is this bad fiscal policy at any level, but it sends the wrong message to our students, schools and educators that we put part of our education budget on a credit card when it should clearly be the top priority in our spending plan. I am also concerned that their spending plan leaves only 350 million dollars in reserves. Combine that with the unpaid liability of 330 million dollars to our schools and there is little margin for responding to fiscal emergencies or natural disasters.

“To say I am disappointed that we leaving without a viable supplemental operating budget is an understatement. We will be back for our fifth special session in two years. At the beginning of the session, we talked about the budget needing to be the focus. Instead, we saw work on a lot of other issues and now this will cost our taxpayers up to an additional 16 thousand dollars a day in special session. This could have been avoided.”

The budget passed the House by a vote of 55-43 with three Democrats voting with Republicans against the measure.

• $2 million for structural upkeep of the Snohomish River Bridge;
• over $2 million in new construction and improvement to Highway 9, including adding lanes from Lundeen Parkway to State Route 92 in Lake Stevens;
• $8 million in dedicated future funds for intersection improvements to Highway 9 and State Route 528 in Marysville; and
• $10 million of dedicated future funds for the improvement of the intersection at Highway 9 and 84th Ave. NE in Marysville.

“I am proud to see that we were able to pass a bipartisan transportation budget that focused on transportation accessibility and safety throughout our district. This new funding, which is focused around the Highway 9 corridor, will help address the transportation needs of the most congested roads and highways in our county. Moreover, this budget creates shovel-ready jobs for our struggling economy, helping to revitalize the badly damaged construction sector while putting folks back to work,” said Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens.

Education is defined in the Washington State Constitution as our paramount duty, and this budget does not reflect an approach that prioritizes basic education as such. Rather than funding education first, as I’ve supported, the majority party chose to delay more than 400 million in education and levy equalization payments, essentially putting them off to be paid at a later date in another budget cycle. Levy Equalization is critical to property poor schools. I do not support these kinds of budget gimmicks as a way to balance our budget, especially with our essential education dollars. Our children should receive the state’s first dollars, not its last.

Programs for our most vulnerable must remain a priority in the budgeting process. I supported amendments on the House floor that would have restored necessary funding for our developmentally disabled community, and would have restored cuts proposed by the majority party to mental health. These amendments were rejected, highlighting yet another difference between my philosophy and the reality of the budget passed tonight.

Local governments, also struggling during this difficult budget time, lose critical dollars in this budget. To make up for these cuts, majority budget writers give the local governments further councilmanic authority to raise taxes without a vote of the people, to make up for the cuts made at the state level. This is yet another maneuver that passes the buck on to others to avoid the difficult decisions that should be made now in the Legislature.

This budget takes a credit card spending approach by skipping payments due now and pushing them out in to the future. It lacks long-term reforms that could put us on a sustainable budget path, and leaves Washington State in the same situation we continue to find ourselves in year after year. Proposals and amendments we offered yesterday provided an alternative approach that clearly focused on responsible budgeting practices, assuring that in the budgeting process our first dollars fund our core priorities of education, public safety, and programs for our most vulnerable. This budget simply does not reflect my priorities as a legislator, and pushes too many of our fiscal responsibilities down the road and for that reason I could not support the budget before us.
We can and should do better. The public deserves a more honest and sustainable budget.”

“For those of us who saw an opportunity to reform state government in meaningful ways and finally bring sustainability to our budget, this is a disappointing day. The budget passed today will break promises to our schools, place expectations on local governments to raise taxes, and lead to yet another major shortfall next year. Every state lawmaker knows this budget kicks the can down the road, newspapers have reported on its ‘gimmicks’ and taxpayers across our state will ultimately have to pay for this irresponsible approach.

“Sometimes I feel like a broken record. Year after year, I warn about the ramifications of budget gimmicks and a failure to set priorities. And year after year, we see massive budget shortfalls. The majority party will have you believe it is all the economy, but it is really their inability to adjust to economic realities and embrace reforms. We have a group of people in power that will defend the status quo at all costs. Until that changes, we will get more of the same.”

When the BLUE Alert system is set in motion, all the resources available to AMBER Alert — like radio, TV and freeway billboards — would be employed to locate someone suspected of killing or harming a law enforcement officer. The concept first surfaced after the shooting of SPD Officer Timothy Brenton, who was killed on Halloween night 2009, and the murder of four Lakewood police officers.

The bill was drafted in January 2010 and has had the continuous support of the Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs (COMPAS) and many victim advocacy groups. The bill gained momentum after the recent shooting of State Trooper Tony Radulescu thanks to the advocacy efforts of Rene Maher, Executive Director of COMPAS, and Keriann Shumate, a homicide co-victim advocate.

“It’s not only my responsibility as a police officer but it’s also my duty as a state legislator to protect the public. This bill will provide law enforcement the necessary additional tools to apprehend our most dangerous criminals” Hope said.
State Rep. Mike Hope is a 14-year veteran of the Seattle Police Department.

At a noon press conference in the state Capitol building Feb. 17, House Republicans introduced the Legislature’s first complete supplemental budget proposal for the 2012 session. Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, and ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, spent weeks in deliberations with his caucus colleagues developing the plan which he called an all-priorities budget that protects the core services of state government.

“We’ve said from day one that before there’s any talk of a huge sales tax increase, there needs to be a discussion and a focus on state priorities – the core services of government. I don’t know if that has happened in the other caucuses but I know our caucus spent countless hours during December’s special session and earlier this session developing our priorities and specifically defining each one,” Alexander said. “This budget is a direct reflection of that effort. It is an all-priorities budget that funds the core services of government, which we believe are education, protecting the public, and protecting the most vulnerable. And we do this with no state sales tax increase; no bonding; no securitization; and, no budget gimmicks.”

Alexander’s $1.6 billion budget solution includes:

• Fund transfers: $63 million
• Reversions: $160 million
• Local government Dist: $64 million
• Savings from reduced caseloads: $335.9 million
• Spending reductions: $839.5 million
• Repealing three tax exemptions: $35.6 million
• Sale of surplus property: $25.9 million
• Leaves a reserve of: $650.7 million

Alexander said today’s budget release dovetails with the House Republicans’ earlier Fund Education First budget proposal that has gained support from superintendents, principals, parents, teachers and education groups around the state.

“Everything we did in our Fund Education First budget is included in the overall budget,” said Alexander. “It was the first piece of showing our priorities and then showing how we would fund those priorities. We’re continuing that momentum with the release of our full supplemental budget today.”

The House Republican budget invests $580 million more into education than the governor’s budget proposal. Alexander said they continued that trend of investing more into their priorities by putting $35 million more into public safety and $87 million more into protecting the most vulnerable.

Alexander said he’s worked closely with his counterparts in the majority party, especially the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina. However, as the session has progressed, Alexander said he felt like the priorities and principles of his group were – in the end – not going to be adequately reflected by what the majority party was putting together. Despite a healthy respect and good communication between the two budget writers, he said it was time for House Republicans to show a different side to the story.

“I have great respect for the chair of the House Ways and Means Committee,” Alexander said. “He has been open and honest with me and has tried to work collaboratively as much as possible. But our approaches and our desired outcomes were too far apart. Today’s budget is to provide a contrast – a different set of priorities – so the public can see a different way to handle the problem. We are proud of the work that we’ve been able to achieve and feel it represents our core values. And, it will help get Washington working again and save our citizens from further taxes as we pull out of this recession.”

Rep. Barbara Bailey, assistant ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, joined Alexander and Reps. Bruce Dammeier, Maureen Walsh and Charles Ross at the press conference. The 10th District lawmaker highlighted the importance of budget sustainability and setting priorities.

“We felt it was important to lead and show Washingtonians that a sustainable, transparent budget was possible. We have outlined how an all-priorities budget would work and why tax increases are not needed. We want the public to know that there are more solutions on the table than what the majority party plans to offer,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “Budget certainty will provide more economic certainty, and will send the right message to consumers and employers.”

 Budget Details

Resources
Our budget proposal does not rely on a sales tax increase, but it does:

• Assumes agencies will under spend their budgets by about $160 million, based on past budget cycles;
• Sells three large state-owned “surplus” properties and the liquor distribution center as a result of Initiative 1183; and
• Repeals three tax exemptions totaling about $36 million:

1. First mortgage interest deduction for large banks;
2. Renewable energy sales tax refund; and
3. Ensure businesses do not create out-of-state shell corporations to avoid business and occupation tax.

Education
Our education budget proposal, released Feb. 2:

• Fully funds levy equalization;
• Funds a full 180-day school year;
• Maintains current funding for all-day kindergarten;
• Includes important reforms and increased accountability; and
• Budgets $580 million more in education funding than the governor’s proposal.

You can read more about our Fund Education First philosophy and the detailed proposals here.

Public Safety
Our budget proposal:

• Includes funding for new radios and safety initiatives for prison employees;
• Does not include any early release or reduced community supervision for criminals;
• Includes new funding for gang violence prevention programs; and
• Budgets $40 million more in public safety funding than the governor’s proposal.

You can read more about our solutions for public safety here.

Caring for the Most Vulnerable
We defined “vulnerable,” since the term is often loosely used, as those who cannot care for themselves through no fault of their own. With that definition, we prioritized funding for:

• People with disabilities;
• The elderly (in long-term care);
• Mental health patients; and
• Children.

We budget $89 million more in these areas than the governor’s budget proposal.
Our budget proposal does:

• Maintain funding for supported employment, supported living, eligibility for personal care services, and agency provider reimbursement rates for people with disabilities.
• Fund 35 out-of-home community placements for people with disabilities.
• Maintain funding for eligibility of personal care services, Adult Day Health, Area Agencies on Aging, and nursing home reimbursement rates.
• Maintain funding for Regional Support Network (RSN) Medicaid reimbursement rates.
• Consolidate the number of RSNs for administrative efficiencies.
• Maintain 97 percent of funding for RSN Non-Medicaid state-only funding.
• Maintain current caseload ratios for Child Protective Service workers and family reconciliation services.
• Maintain 90 percent of current funding for Behavioral Rehabilitative Services and Child Placement case management fees.
• Fully fund reimbursement rates for Critical Access Hospitals and Harborview Medical Center.
• Maintain state funding for school-based Medicaid services and Adult Dental services.
• Provide subsidized health care for undocumented children in a family of four with income of $30,657 or less (133% of federal poverty level).
• Maintain funding for 48-months of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits (currently 60 months).
• Fund subsidized child care for family of four making less than $30,657 per year (133 percent of federal poverty level).
• Reduce TANF monthly cash grant by 5 percent.

Our budget proposal does not:

• Increase or “sweep” the Nursing Home Safety Net Assessment;
• Increase adult family home license fees; or
• Close the Rainier School.

Higher Education
Our budget proposal:

• Does not increase tuition;
• Maintains current eligibility for State Need Grant program for family of four making $57,000 or less (70 percent of median family income);
• Makes changes to the State Need Grant program:
• limit maximum time for grants (two years or four years);
• require filing of application by the FAFSA deadline of March 15;
• Maintains current funding for state work study program; and
• Reduces administrative costs by 0.5 percent at four-year institutions and eliminate funding for remedial education for those under 20 at community colleges.

Natural Resources
Our budget proposal:

• Maintains funding for Fish and Wildlife enforcement officers and fish hatchery operations;
• Reduces funding to the Department of Ecology by 14 percent (governor’s proposal reduces by just 4.4 percent); and
• Eliminates all funding for the Puget Sound Partnership.

State Employee Compensation
Our budget proposal:

• Maintains current monthly health benefit funding for K-12 employees;
• Institutes 24 days of furlough for all state employees except critical services (e.g. corrections, hospital, etc.) starting July 1, 2012;
• Reduces state employee monthly health benefit funding rate from $850 to $800; and
• Does not reduce LEOFF 2 pension funding rates.

General Government
Our budget proposal:

• Makes $33 million in administrative efficiencies in information technology, goods and services, personal service contracts, travel, equipment and cell phones; and
• Would reduce most general government agencies budgets by 5-10 percent.

Reps. Bruce Chandler and Barbara Bailey listen as Rick Anderson of Sakuma Brothers Farms and Processors testifies before the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee on a bill to expand the Blueprint for Safety for employers statewide, Jan. 25. Courtesy House of Representatives

Reps. Bruce Chandler and Barbara Bailey are sponsoring House Bill 2509, which would offer more tools to employers to manage their environments safely and productively. The bill received a public hearing on Jan. 25.
If signed into law, the legislation would require the state Department of Labor and Industries to offer the Blueprint for Safety program statewide. Currently, it is offered as a pilot in Northwest Washington.
“The Legislature often hears many contentious issues dealing with the Department of Labor and Industries. This is a success story for the department, and one I hope can become the trademark for how employers and the department approach workplace safety,” said Chandler, R-Granger. “The key to the success is complete buy-in from the top down within a company. The department helps employers focus on changing the atmosphere and not on code issues or citations.”
Several of the 12 companies that currently participate in the program are located in Bailey’s 10th District.
“The goal for Blueprint for Safety is to improve the safety of employees and lower the costs for employers. It is a win-win for everyone,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “This is about doing more than just enforcement, penalties and inspections – it’s about working with employers to create a culture of safety.”
Two employers currently in the pilot program expressed their support for expanding it statewide for other employers.
Gary Thor, the CEO of Commercial Cold Storage in Mount Vernon, submitted written testimony. In it, he explained the success of the program.
“Last year, we spent six straight months without an accident – prior to Blueprint for Safety we rarely went one month without an accident,” Thor said. “We still have a ways to go, but I feel we are becoming a much safer work place. Our success is not unique; every company that has joined Blueprint for Safety has seen similar success. This program works and works well.”
Rick Anderson, the Corporate Administrator for Sakuma Brothers Farms and Processors, shared why Blueprint for Safety was important to his company.
“We worked hard on our accident prevention program and yet we struggled with our experience rating,” Anderson explained. “We knew we had to create a culture of safety if we were going to make positive changes. We needed help. If [the state’s employers] have fewer claims, the costs to the system is reduced and we won’t need rate increases.”
The bill now awaits action by the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee. If it is passed by the committee, it could be considered for a vote by the entire House of Representatives. The 60-day regular session is scheduled through March 8.

A school office clerk in Sultan pays $689 per month in insurance coverage for her and her husband.

A school bus driver in Camas works just 20 hours a week yet pays $730 for insurance coverage.

These are just a small sample of the many stories from classified employees in the state who pay astronomical health insurance rates to cover themselves and their families.

Under Senate Bill 6442, sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, the approximately 300 insurance plans and 1,000 insurance pools for the 295 school districts throughout Washington will be consolidated into one. This will create savings through greatly reduced administrative costs.

The bill is part of the Senate Democrats’ reform agenda.

“One of the most valued benefits that workers have is their health insurance,” Hobbs said during Thursday’s testimony in the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee. “And during these trying times, it is incredibly important that we try to preserve health insurance. I know that it has been talked about that this bill provides savings, but I didn’t do this for savings, I did this so we could cover more hard working people that teach our kids.”

The current system for classified K-12 workers favors individual coverage over family coverage, which can run upwards of $1,300 per month. Many public school employees – such as bus drivers, janitors, para-educators and lunch room workers – spend more than half their salaries on health insurance coverage. Without reform, these rates will only get worse with 10 percent health insurance inflation expected over the next two years.

Ken Flournoy and his wife Nicole have been employed by the Bethel School District for six years. In 2010, after 14 years away, Ken re-enlisted in the National Guard in order to provide full medical coverage for Nicole and their two kids, one of whom has special needs.

“In this day and age, a family can’t go without insurance,” Ken Flournoy said. “But every year we’ve watched our premiums go up. There comes a point when you have to choose between cutting out the necessities or paying for insurance. That’s a decision no family should have to make.”

The State Auditor and Health Care Authority estimate that a consolidated system could save tens of millions of dollars per year. A similar plan implemented in Oregon three years ago has saved $150 million.

The laws governing juvenile records were written decades ago before information was disseminated to potential employers and landlords by credit bureaus and commercial database companies. Senate Bill 6292 would update laws to reflect the modern flow of information while protecting public safety.

The bill ensures that the records of juveniles who commit serious violent offenses remain open to the public. Records for lesser crimes will be made confidential unless a judge finds a compelling reason to make them public.

All juvenile records will continue to be available to the courts so that judges, prosecutors and those administering treatment and supervision are familiar with an offender’s history.

“Our goal is to make sure kids don’t become career criminals. We make a promise to the kids who enter our justice system that if they pay their dues, go through treatment, do their time and don’t reoffend that they will have the opportunity to lead normal lives,” Harper said. “This bill will make sure that credit card companies and other for-profit databases aren’t allowed to break that promise for lesser crimes that have been rectified through rehabilitation.”

“However, if someone is a persistent offender I believe they forfeit that right to confidentiality.”

SB 6292, heard Friday by the Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee, came as a result of the bi-partisan recommendations received from the Juvenile Records Sealing Task Force.  Groups and individuals who signed up in favor of the bill include the Washington State Superior Court Judges Association, the Juvenile Court Administrators, children’s advocates and record sealing experts.

To participate, residents may call the toll-free number at 1-877-229-8493 and enter the code 14881 when prompted. During the telephone town hall, Smith will listen to residents, answer questions and discuss a variety of topics related to the 2012 session. Once on the line, participants may select star 3 on their telephone keypads to ask a question or they can simply listen in and take part in instant polls. There will also be an opportunity at the end of the call to leave a message for Smith.

“The Legislature is currently working through a $1.5 billion budget shortfall. In the first couple weeks of session we have also heard proposals for education reforms, new transportation revenues, job creation measures, and many other critical issues,” said Smith. “It is important I receive input from constituents on these difficult issues, and it is a great opportunity to connect with residents spread out across our legislative district.”

Constituents who are unable to participate in the telephone town hall meeting can reach Smith at her legislative office at (360) 786-7884 or norma.smith@leg.wa.gov.

“We should always go above and beyond to respect the parental rights and obligations of service personnel,” McCoy said, “especially when these fathers and mothers are serving during a time of war.”

The Tulalip Democrat is prime-sponsoring House Bill 1050, which:
Allows a military parent to ask the court to delegate the parent’s residential time with a child if the parent’s military orders involve being more than one night away when the parent is scheduled to have time with a child.

And provides that the delegation provision applies when establishing a parenting plan or court order, not just when modifying an existing plan or order.
Terms of the legislation direct that a military parent could ask a court to delegate the parent’s residential time or visitation rights “to a child’s family member, including a stepparent, or another person other than a parent, with a close and substantial relationship to the minor child for the duration of the military parent’s absence, [as long as] delegating residential time or visitation rights is in the child’s best interest.”

State law has resulted in court decisions that are “for the most part indifferent to the rights of military parents,” McCoy said. “But certainly if a dad or mom is away because they’re serving our country in the military, their parental rights should not be compromised.”

The issue hits home particularly hard here in Washington, which of all the states has one of the largest populations of active-duty military personnel.

McCoy’s measure passed the House of Representatives unanimously last year, but time ran out on the 2011 session before the measure could clear the Senate. The bill is now awaiting the scheduling of 2012 floor action in the House, and McCoy said he’s optimistic that it will make it all the way through the process this year.

Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, released the statement below following the governor’s address:

“The governor delivered a good speech, but her themes were more aspirational and legacy-centric than based on addressing the problems facing families and employers today. With so many people out of work or fearful that they could lose their jobs, the governor is promoting new revenue packages and controversial social issues in a 60-day legislative session. She should share the same goals as the Legislature: to establish a sustainable budget that does not rely on new tax increases, and to reform state government in meaningful ways that help, and do not harm, the economy.

“If the Legislature focuses on big-ticket issues in this short legislative session, it will be to the detriment of its most important priorities – a responsible state spending plan, prioritizing state government and strengthening the economy. Our state needs to prove that it can get its fiscal house in order before it even considers some of the lofty ideas being proposed by the governor.

“If you look at her past state of the state addresses, you will see that the governor has said a lot of the same things over the years. Yet, our state still faces many of the same problems as the day she entered office. It just shows how Olympia is truly adverse to meaningful reforms and beholden to the status quo.”

“No one is above the law,” Hope said, “but many of these policies are not law, which leaves ambiguity. Clearly we need to make sure citizens are safe. Just as importantly, we need to ensure the lives of our police are protected too. Lazy policy execution or unclear polices can be destructive.”

One bill in the reform package mandates: if there is “probable cause” any officer, or employee, is under the influence of drugs they must relinquish their weapon and be placed on administrative leave pending investigation.

The second bill of the package makes randomized drug testing mandatory for public safety personnel.

“In order to protect police and citizens, and adequately train law enforcement officers, state government needs to be involved in deciding which policies can be responsibly implemented,” Hope said.

As a result, the third bill in Hope’s reform package creates a bipartisan task force to review the methodology and statistics sited in the Department of Justice (DOJ) report on Seattle Police Department (SPD) use of force.

Seattle Mayor, Mike McGinn, instructed changes outlined by the DOJ report be implemented by the SPD after a meeting with Police Chief, John Diaz. State lawmakers were not invited to participate in the meeting or any subsequent discussions. According to Hope these implementations could have a statewide impact.

“Putting the DOJ recommendations into practice will effect law enforcement across Washington. SPD is a lead agency that dictates curriculum at the state Criminal Justice Training Commission. We are elected to represent the people, so if changes made in Seattle are going to affect police departments in Lake Stevens, Yakima, or Spokane then lawmakers need to see the data and decide what steps should be taken.”

Hope’s reform package is supported by The Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS). At their request he will be speaking at the winter WACOPS membership meeting regarding the reform package and recent activity that sparked the need for the reform legislation.

“Entering my fifth legislative session, it is an honor to once again be in Olympia serving the constituents of the Tenth Legislative District. As we begin this session, it is imperative to remember that Washington state has adequate dollars available to fund our core priorities. Basic education, public safety, and protecting our most vulnerable must receive our first tax dollars before all other programs, and must not be held hostage while lower priorities continue to spread our resources too thin to meet critical obligations to our children, families, and communities across the state.

“While our economy is struggling to rebound, positive steps taken by the Legislature this session can help accelerate a sustainable recovery. While much uncertainty still remains, the good news is the state of Washington is projected to see a seven percent increase in tax collections this biennium over last, equating to about two billion dollars, and revenues since the November forecast are 20 million dollars above expectations.

“The focus of this session must remain on passing a balanced and sustainable budget, and doing so in the 60-day regular session. While many of us in Olympia, and those we represent have different ideas as to how we should proceed in the coming weeks, I continue to believe the best solutions are often a result of many differing viewpoints, and a variety of individuals working together toward a common purpose.”

The 60-day 2012 legislative session begins today and runs through March 8.

10th District lawmaker is assistant ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee

“Our state’s 2011-13 operating budget, signed just yesterday (June 15), is already fragile as a result of today’s revenue forecast. The ink of the governor’s signature is not yet dry and the sustainability of the budget is already in question. A $700 million budget reserve would be a safe amount in normal economic conditions, but we remain in uncertain times. This should have been given more consideration in final budget negotiations.

“The revenue forecast reveals our state economy is still struggling and our recovery is uncertain. While events in Japan and high gas prices are out of our state’s immediate control, they are reminders that we are part of an interconnected, global economy. Lawmakers must focus on improving the state’s business climate, so we are in position to take full advantage of the recovery when it strengthens. While we took important steps this year with workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reforms, there were missed opportunities when it comes to improving permitting processes and providing regulatory relief.

“Lawmakers need to be prepared to come to Olympia in January with ideas on how to reform state government, reduce state spending and create jobs. This will be my focus over the next six months.”

For more information on the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, please visit http://www.erfc.wa.gov/.

For more information on Bailey, please visit http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/members/barbara-bailey/.

OLYMPIA – After 135 days of regular and special session, the Legislature adjourned Sine Die Wednesday evening – marking the end of a session largely shaped by a nearly $5 billion revenue shortfall.

Despite the fiscal challenges facing the state, Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, was pleased with what he was able to accomplish on behalf of the 44th Legislative District during the 2011 legislative session.

“I was very proud to be a part of the Senate last night,” Sen. Hobbs said. “We faced an unprecedented challenge, but we were able to put our differences aside and work together toward the best interests of our constituents and for the state as a whole.

“It was also a most satisfying experience to work on and pass what I think was some really great pieces of legislation for the people of the 44th District.”

Sen. Hobbs pointed to his work and the work of fellow moderate Democrats on issues such as unemployment insurance reform, a change which extended benefits to jobless Washingtonians as well as gave much needed tax relief to the state’s businesses.

Acquiring funding for a long-awaited and much needed waste water treatment plant in Snohomish County was also counted among Sen. Hobbs’ wins. Without the plant, which was included as part of the Capital budget, water rates in the area would have continued to skyrocket.

Sen. Hobbs also cited victories on preserving valuable social programs such as children’s health and HB 1362, the Foreclosure Fairness Act, which he worked on closely as Chair of the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance.

The following bills sponsored by Sen. Hobbs are also set to become law:

• Senate Bill 5540 — Gives the state’s school districts the option to install safety cameras on school bus stop signs in an effort to catch motorists who fail to stop for them.
• Senate Bill 5791 — Clears the way for local transit agencies to begin contracting with private vendors to provide services such as coffee stands, small restaurants, grocery stores and other conveniences at many of the state’s more than 270 park and ride locations. Funds collected from the program will go to the state’s multimodal transportation account.
• Senate Bill 5171 – Will give military and overseas voters more time to participate in elections by pushing the primary election back two weeks and directing candidates running for office to file three weeks earlier. Overseas and military ballots will be mailed two weeks earlier for the general election and four weeks earlier for the primary.

“Our highest priority with this budget should be to invest in our infrastructure and prioritize projects that put a focus on jobs in the hard-hit construction field,” said Pearson, who serves on the House Capital Budget Committee. “Before I came to Olympia this year, I spent a lot of time talking with city and county leaders. Their greatest concern was that we would not have a capital budget this year. Arlington was particularly concerned with funding for the Legion Park Visitor’s Center and Trailhead. I am pleased to report $110,000 was allocated to this important local project.”

The capital budget pays for brick-and-mortar projects in communities statewide, which includes upgrades to water and sewer systems; flood protection infrastructure; and building restoration to encourage economic growth.

“These job-creating infrastructure upgrades help attract economic development and jobs. It’s the one budget the Legislature can pass that helps with job creation,” Pearson explained.

OLYMPIA – After 135 days of regular and special session, the Legislature adjourned Sine Die Wednesday evening – marking the end of a session largely shaped by a nearly $5 billion revenue shortfall.

Despite the fiscal challenges facing the state, Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, was pleased with what he was able to accomplish on behalf of the 38th Legislative District during his freshman year as a lawmaker.

“This was a difficult year and there were aspects of the budget that were quite simply devastating,” Sen. Harper said. “But when considering what we had to work with, and the historic nature of our fiscal reality, we were able to keep the safety net – as strained as it is – largely intact.

“It was also a pleasure and a most satisfying experience to work on and pass what I think was some really great pieces of legislation for the people of the 38th District.”

The following bills sponsored by Sen. Harper are set to become law:

• SB 5636 – The University Center of North Puget Sound, currently located at the site of Everett Community College, would be under the management and leadership of Washington State University. WSU, EvCC and the other partner universities at the site are required to collaborate on establishing a comprehensive plan for the University Center.
• SB 5584 – Brings the state’s apprenticeship program in line with federal standards.
• SB 5625 – Simplifies the license renewal process for the state’s early learning providers.
• SB 5115 – Stops the practice of real estate transfer fees meant to boost the bottom line of developers and homebuilders.
• SB 5574 – Maintains the rules regarding the amount of times a debt collector can contact a debtor, whether in person, by mail or by phone.

The Washington State House of Representatives  passed a package of capital budget bills May 25 that fund projects through cash accounts, bonds and sets a statutory debt limit over time. Capital Budget Committee member Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, issued the following statement:

“I am very supportive of the capital ‘construction’ budget package we were able to pass. First, it takes a holistic look at our debt issue and takes an important step toward lowering our debt limit permanently. Many of us have serious concerns regarding the consequences of burgeoning government debt at all levels – local, state and federal governments. The debt reduction legislation lowers our debt limit in statute and will give us a measure of accountability until the state debt study is completed.

“The construction portion of the budget is reasonable, thoughtful and conservative. We stayed significantly under our debt ceiling and focused on priorities. It provides infrastructure for K-12 education, higher education, correction facilities and provides maintenance and repair where it is needed most. This capital budget package protects our investments in the state’s infrastructure.”

House Bill 1497 includes projects funded by cash accounts in the capital budget. It passed the House 94-0.

House Bill 2020 includes bond authorization and projects funded by those bonds, paid out over 25 years. It passed the House 84-10.

Senate Bill 5181 sets a statutory debt limit reduction from 8.75 percent to 7.75 percent by 2020. It passed the House 79-14.

The Washington State House of Representatives today passed a package of capital budget bills that fund projects through cash accounts, bonds and sets a statutory debt limit over time. Capital Budget Committee member Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, issued the following statement:“I am very supportive of the capital ‘construction’ budget package we were able to pass. First, it takes a holistic look at our debt issue and takes an important step toward lowering our debt limit permanently. Many of us have serious concerns regarding the consequences of burgeoning government debt at all levels – local, state and federal governments. The debt reduction legislation lowers our debt limit in statute and will give us a measure of accountability until the state debt study is completed.“The construction portion of the budget is reasonable, thoughtful and conservative. We stayed significantly under our debt ceiling and focused on priorities. It provides infrastructure for K-12 education, higher education, correction facilities and provides maintenance and repair where it is needed most. This capital budget package protects our investments in the state’s infrastructure.”House Bill 1497 includes projects funded by cash accounts in the capital budget. It passed the House 94-0.House Bill 2020 includes bond authorization and projects funded by those bonds, paid out over 25 years. It passed the House 84-10.Senate Bill 5181 sets a statutory debt limit reduction from 8.75 percent to 7.75 percent by 2020. It passed the House 79-14.

The Washington State House of Representatives passed the 2011-13 state operating budget on May 24. The bill passed on a 54–42 vote. Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, voted “no” on the measure and issued the following statement:

“I appreciate the hard work that has been put into the operating budget and Chairman Ross Hunter’s efforts throughout the process. As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I understand why these decisions were difficult and required thoughtful deliberation.

“While the operating budget contains many elements of the House Republican proposal I helped author, key differences prevented me from voting for it. For example, the final version makes too deep of cuts to public safety. There is no question our communities will be less safe as a result of this budget. It also fails to reset, reform and reshape state government in meaningful ways – such as preserving the state printer. My hope is that as the economy and tax collections improve, state government reform is a priority.

“It’s important to note our state will still have nearly four billion dollars more to spend in this upcoming two-year budget cycle compared to the last cycle. With this in mind, the operating budget passed today does not do enough to control state spending and does not apply the priorities of government model. This is not a sustainable approach.

“I’m also disappointed it took the Legislature a special session to finalize a state spending plan. The decisions made in the last 29 days could have been made in the regular legislative session. This indecisiveness was at the expense and uncertainty of taxpayers.”

House Republicans unveiled their alternative operating budget proposal April 6. Bailey, assistant ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, helped author the plan and it can be found here.

For a more information on the House Republican proposal, including guiding principles and priorities, please visit: http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/current-issues/house-republican-budget/.

“I cannot support this budget because of the deep cuts to education and public safety despite the $4 billion increase in state revenue. Our budget document should cast a vision for Washington state that will foster our economic recovery and reflect our priorities. Instead, this budget is not sustainable and does not reflect the strategic reform of state government the people of our state have demanded. It relies on dedicated fund transfers, substantial reductions to education, significant fee increases in multiple areas of government and budget maneuvers.

“The lack of systemic reform does not give us an opportunity for long-term budget stability, which is critical for job creation in our state. We must create certainty by insisting on reform, making improvements to disadvantages that hinder job growth, and strengthening existing core competencies to move our state forward.”

House Bill 1087 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

As of July 22, 2011, Washingtonians that need to set up a payment plan for their traffic fines will be notified right on their traffic ticket under a bill sponsored by Rep. Kirk Pearson. House Bill 1483 is the product of a 39th District constituent request. It will alert those struggling to square up with the state over traffic fines that they may be able to pay their tickets in small increments, rather than one lump sum.

“In this difficult economy, folks need all the help they can get to make ends meet. My hope is this gives people the information they need to address outstanding traffic fines,” said Pearson, R-Monroe. “It’s one more way to let people know we understand the economic situation they are facing right now.”

Once House Bill 1483 takes effect, traffic tickets will be printed to include a statement explaining to the recipient of the infraction that they may be able to enter into a payment plan with the court.

“I appreciate my constituent coming to me with this idea. Asking government to be more transparent with these types of options is not too much to ask,” Pearson said. “It is a simple concept that will make a difference for those trying to do the right thing and pay their traffic fines.”

The Legislature is now in a special session scheduled to adjourn May 25. Should a state budget not be passed before then, the governor has the option of calling legislators back for a second 30-day special session, which can cost taxpayers as much as $16,000 per day.

Senate Bill 5540, sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, will give the state’s school districts the option to install safety cameras on school bus stop signs in an effort to catch motorists who fail to stop for them.

The cameras will record only when the stop signs are deployed while children are entering or exiting the bus. Under current law, bus drivers need to identify the make, model and year of the car, as well as identifying characteristics of the driver such as gender, age, hair color. This information was necessary for a successful prosecution of a violation against the driver of the vehicle.

“Our state has been lucky in that no children have been killed by motorists ignoring these stop signs,” Sen. Hobbs said. “The same cannot be said around the nation. This is a preventive measure. We shouldn’t wait until one of our kids is hurt before doing something about it.”

Fines collected from those running stop signs will first go to paying for the installation of the cameras. Additional funds will go toward improving the state’s school safety zones.

Senate Bill 5791, sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, will clear the way for local transit agencies to begin contracting with private vendors to provide services such as coffee stands, small restaurants, grocery stores and other conveniences at many of the state’s more than 270 park and ride locations.

“Not only will this idea better serve commuters, it provides an outside-the-box-method to generate new revenue without raising taxes,” Sen. Hobbs said. “I hope this is one of what will be many public-private partnerships the state undertakes in the near future.”

Under the bill, all funds collected from the program, once maintenance and operation costs are accounted for, will be deposited into the state’s multimodal transportation account. The multimodal account is a dedicated fund that goes toward transportation programs throughout the state.

Under this bill, the University Center of North Puget Sound, currently located at the site of Everett Community College, would be under the management and leadership of Washington State University. WSU, EvCC and the other partner universities at the site are required to collaborate on establishing a comprehensive plan for the University Center.

“This is the end of a long process and the start of another one,” said Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett, the bill’s co-sponsor. “There are many entities involved in this process and we must make sure we satisfy their needs. The bottom line is that everyone is working toward the same end and that is delivering high level education options to the students in our region.

“An enormous debt is owed to Sen. (Mary Margaret) Haugen for the hard work and years of dedication that brought us to a point where we could celebrate a victory like this.”

WSU’s academic plan must include projections of student enrollment, the coordinated delivery of lower and upper division courses, and expanded availability of baccalaureate degree, graduate degree, high demand, and certificate programs in a variety of engineering disciplines such as civil, mechanical, aeronautical, and aerospace manufacturing. The House amendment also added language which places an emphasis on teaching science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs.

The plan must include other specified strategies, and establish a process for program development due by Dec. 1, 2012.

WSU’s leadership role begins by July 1, 2014 only after the Higher Education Coordinating Board determines whether a needs assessment and analysis is required. The HEC Board recommendations are due to the Office of Financial Management, the Legislature, and the Office of the Code Reviser by July 1, 2012.

As a prime sponsor of House companion legislation, Rep. Barbara Bailey joined Gov. Chris Gregoire for the signing of Senate Bill 5005 May 10. The 10th District lawmaker believes the child immunization measure will lead to better health and safety for children, families and communities.

“If parents want to refuse immunization for their children, then this bill simply requires them to have a conversation with a health-care provider. The intent is to ensure parents are making informed decisions when it comes to immunization,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “The ultimate goal is to have a higher rate of immunization and avoid outbreaks of diseases in our communities.”

Under Senate Bill 5005, parents who seek exemption from state law will need to submit proof that a health-care provider has informed them of the risks and benefits of immunization. Parents may sign a form and claim medical, religious or philosophical (personal) reasons in refusing immunization of their children under current law. The box for philosophical (personal) is checked most often by parents. Washington is one of 20 states that allow philosophical (personal) exemptions for parents who are opposed to vaccinating their children.

The percent of students with immunization exemptions in Washington has more than doubled over the last 10 years, and is now three times the national average. Nearly one-third of Washington’s counties surpassed 10 percent exemption rates.

“Nothing in this bill prevents parents from exercising their parental rights. It is clear that parents will continue to make the final decisions about their children when it comes to immunization,” said Bailey, who serves on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. “I understand and respect those who have objections to immunization. However, there is growing belief that many exemptions are based on convenience. We want to make sure parents are informed.”

Data shows that more exemptions result in more disease outbreaks. Diseases once thought eradicated have shown up in Washington state. In 2008, there were 19 reported cases of measles in Washington – the most recorded in a decade. Seventeen of the 19 cases involved children who had not been immunized.

There were 389 reported cases of whooping cough in Washington state in 2010, up from 265 cases in 2009. Island County had a whooping cough outbreak in the summer of 2008.

The issue has impacted Bailey on a personal level.

“I lost a classmate to polio when I was in school,” said Bailey. “I don’t want to see any family or community lose an infant or child from a disease that can be easily avoided if the proper steps are taken.”

Bailey is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1015, which passed off the House floor on a vote of 75-18 on Feb. 14. The bill was amended onto Senate Bill 5005.

“This was truly a bipartisanship effort,” said Bailey. “It’s a great example of how you don’t always get your bill, but you get the bill.”

For more information on the Washington State Department of Health Immunization Program, click here and here.

A measure that would close the retire-rehire loophole in the state’s pension system passed from the House today on a strong bipartisan vote of 91-4. House Bill 1981, prime sponsored by Rep. Barbara Bailey, appeared in the special session and is considered necessary to implement the 2011-13 state operating budget.

The Washington State Retirement System contains rules that outline the circumstances in which a retired employee within a system-covered position can continue to receive retirement benefits. Between 2001 and 2007, Public Employees’ Retirement System Plan 1 (PERS 1) and Teachers’ Retirement System Plan 1 (TRS 1) were changed to allow members to work up to 1,500 hours per year for three years without suspension of retirement benefits.

House Bill 1981 would eliminate PERS 1 and TRS 1 provisions that allow retirees to receive benefits while employed in system-covered positions for up to 1,500 hours per year. PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees, in addition to retirees from the School Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public Safety Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) who have been separated from service for a month, would be allowed to work up to 867 hours per year without a reduction in pension benefits.

“This policy would end the ‘wink and a nod’ arrangements that have allowed someone to retire, receive retirement payments, and then return to a full-time job in the same retirement system and earn a salary. These types of abuses have taken place for too long and they must stop,” said Bailey, who is the House Republican leader on pension issues and a member of the Select Committee on Pension Policy. “House Bill 1981 would take us back to the original law. It’s important to know that it would not prevent those who are retired and receiving retirement benefits from returning to the workforce.”

Other important provisions of House Bill 1981 would:

• add positions covered by the Higher Education Retirement Plan (HERP) to those included in the postretirement employment pension restrictions for PERS, TRS, SERS, and PSERS;
• limit the employees to which state institutions of higher education may offer HERP, instead of PERS 2 or 3, to faculty and senior academic administrator employees;
• eliminate HERP supplemental benefit for employees that enter the plan July 1, 2011, and provide the new employees the option of joining TRS 3 or PERS 3;
• require higher education institutions responsible for payment of HERP supplemental benefits to contract with and provide data to state actuary for periodic actuarial valuations and experience studies of HERP plans; and
• limit state funding for HERP plans to 6 percent of salary.

House Ways and Means Chairman Ross Hunter acknowledged Bailey’s pension leadership on a TVW program recently. He also praised her efforts on the House floor during passage of House Bill 1981 today. Bailey’s legislation is expected to save the state approximately $60 million in 2011-13 budget cycle and more in future cycles.

Newspaper stories that highlight the abuses of the retire-rehire loophole can be found here, here and here.

Rep. Mike Hope sponsored the new law and says he is disgusted with the case and is glad the suspect will remain behind bars.

“This was why we designed the Lakewood Police Officers’ Memorial Act – for individuals like this who pose a real and serious risk to public safety,” said Hope, R-Lake Stevens. “I was sickened to learn the details of this case and am glad the victim was able to escape. We must continue to protect the public from inherently dangerous individuals like this and that’s why I sponsored this new law.”

Earlier this month, the victim was taken from Seattle to the suspect’s home in Tacoma. After being restrained and tortured, the victim revealed she had help on the way if the suspect did not release her. The suspect verified a text message sent from the victim to her boyfriend. She was then released. The primary detective on the scene after the victim was released described a pre-made torture chamber with thick walls so the victim’s screams could not be heard.

The suspect was arrested and booked on three counts: first degree kidnapping, first degree rape, and second degree assault. With those charges comes a possible sentence of life in prison. The King County Prosecutor’s Office requested a $1 million bail. However, after the judge understood the gruesome details of the case, he denied bail based on the standards required under the new Lakewood law.

The Lakewood Police Officers’ Memorial Act was passed by the Legislature in March 2010. Because it amended the state constitution, it went to the voters in November, who approved it with an 85 percent margin.

King County Councilman and former federal prosecutor Reagan Dunn helped promote the measure and believes this is the correct use of the new law.

“This is the type of crime we envisioned for the application of the new Lakewood law, and shows exactly why we needed to give our judges more discretion to deny bail,” Dunn said.

Hope said he remains dedicated to protecting the public and keeping communities safe and will continue to work on common-sense reforms in the criminal justice system.

This week, the House passed Senate Bill 5907 to enact the recommendations made by the National Institute of Corrections in the wake of the tragic murder of Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl at the Monroe Correctional Complex. Rep. Kirk Pearson sponsored the House version of the legislation, House Bill 2036, to implement the NIC report recommendations to better protect corrections staff statewide and voted in favor of the Senate version as it passed the House.

“It was a good move to bring in the National Institute of Corrections because our correctional officers and staff deserve to have a high level of safety and know that the Legislature cares about their well-being,” said Pearson, Republican lead on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “I am pleased this bill was brought forward. It will put in place some good, common-sense safety precautions for correctional staff that we know are needed when working around dangerous inmates.”

As passed and sent to the governor, Senate Bill 5907 will:

• Establish one statewide security advisory committee and local committees at each facility made up of institutional staff, including custody staff, to review policies and make recommendations to Secretary Eldon Vail at the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the governor;
• Require the DOC to establish multi-discipline offender classification teams at each facility to evaluate offender placement, job assignments and custody promotions;
• Require the DOC to develop training curriculum regarding staff safety at correctional facilities;
• Authorize a DOC pilot program for the use of personal body alarms and proximity cards, and mandate the hiring of a consultant to make recommendations about implementing a statewide system with the findings and recommendations presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011;
• Require the DOC to hire a consultant to study the use of video monitoring cameras and make recommendations for statewide standards for the positioning and use of the equipment with the findings presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011; and
• Authorize a DOC pilot program on the expanded use of pepper spray (OC spray) for certain staff within state facilities, the goal of which is to develop a comprehensive plan for the statewide deployment of the spray, which must be presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011.

“As we begin to implement the recommendations and pilot programs, I will continue to work with my fellow legislators, corrections staff and the governor to follow through on these reforms and make sure the reports due later this year are acted upon in a timely and thoughtful way,” said Pearson, R-Monroe.

Senate Bill 5907 will now be forwarded to the governor for her signature.

“While today’s procedural motion failed with little attention, it is important our employers and workers know that we missed out on a tremendous opportunity to pass meaningful workers’ compensation reform legislation. The bipartisan Senate Bill 5566 would have been a big step in addressing a nationally recognized, key competitive disadvantage our employers and business climate face in Washington. It clearly would assist in improving our state’s economic recovery and providing our employers some needed stability and certainty.

“The Senate Bill would have lowered costs for employers and does not reduce benefits for workers, contrary to what opponents have claimed. It would also get injured workers back to work more quickly. Washington isn’t returning workers to the job. The average number of days an injured worker is at home collecting a workers’ compensation benefit check is more than twice the national average. We can do better, both in providing hard-working Washingtonians true choices, and managing the escalating cost for employers more reasonably.

“I have continually stressed that to improve our state’s economic recovery we need to create certainty, protect our competitive advantages, and work to improve on competitive disadvantages. We have one of the highest workers’ compensation pension rates in the country and our system will be insolvent in the near future if we do not take action.

“Both parties supporting this reform in the Senate demonstrates it can be done in the House.”

The procedural motion failed by a vote of 54-43.

The Washington State House of Representatives recognized the contributions and importance of Navy personnel and their families through House Resolution 4648 April 13. The measure, prime sponsored by Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, observed Navy Day. The 10th District lawmaker gave a speech on the House floor that can be viewed here.

Owners of small businesses received some additional breathing room in dealing with thousands of duplicate and confusing state agency rules and regulations as House Bill 1150, sponsored by Rep. Norma Smith, was signed into law.
The new law allows companies who unknowingly are out of compliance with a state agency rule or regulation seven calendar days to come into compliance without a financial or civil penalty. Protections in the bill ensure the violations in question do not endanger employees or the public. The bill is an extension of the two-day grace period bill Smith was able to get passed last session.
The state’s leading small business association, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), praised Smith’s efforts on behalf of the state’s employers.
“House Bill 1150 allows small businesses a reasonable timeframe to correct unintentional rule violations before a fine or citation is issued, without jeopardizing workplace safety or health. We appreciate Representative Smith’s leadership and continuing efforts to improve our state’s regulatory climate to free up our small businesses to do what they do best — put people to work and grow our economy,” said Patrick Connor, NFIB’s Washington State Director.
Connor added he was pleased to work on Smith’s bill and said she continues to be one of the leader’s in the Legislature on small business issues.
“I would like to thank the National Federation of Independent Business and the Washington Policy Center for their research and assistance in moving this bill through the legislative process,” Smith R-Clinton. “Both these organizations are truly working for our employers and trying to make Washington a better place to do business and improve our economic climate.”
Smith added anything the Legislature can do to minimize the cost of doing business in Washington will help our employers keep their doors open while our economy remains stagnant.
“Small businesses provide jobs and support for our communities, families and individuals. They are the cornerstone of Washington state’s economy. It’s responsible and common-sense legislation that will provide much-needed relief and assistance,” said Smith. “I know there are a lot of hard-working business owners in my district and around the state. Anytime we can assist them with regulatory reform, and provide a more customer-service focus to enhance our economic climate, we need to take advantage of that opportunity.”
“This is just one small step, and it is imperative we continue work on policies to improve our business environment. State lawmakers must work together toward policies that keep our job-creators competitive, allow them to keep their doors open and get Washington working again,” Smith concluded.
The governor signed House Bill 1150 on April 11.

The House of Representatives April 9 passed House Bill 1087, the majority party’s $32.4 billion 2011-13 state operating budget. Citing his concerns with cuts to public safety despite record levels of spending, Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, voted against the bill and issued the following statement:

“I know it’s difficult to write the state budget, particularly when it is larger than it has ever been. However, when I look at the budget passed today, I am disappointed that while we spend $2 billion more than the current budget, public safety is being compromised.

“The budget bill passed today includes more than $31 million in additional cuts to corrections. It includes a $26 million spending reduction by allowing at least 1,300 offenders convicted of all levels of crimes to be released from prison 120 days early. The plan also cuts $5.2 million by laying off 47 corrections staff, which is on top of the nearly 400 corrections staff cuts in the 2009-11 budget. Putting the safety of our communities at risk to save $31 million is basically balancing the budget on the backs of innocent citizens.

“The people of Washington expect public safety to be one of the Legislature’s top priorities. Unfortunately, this budget doesn’t treat it as such, so I could not support it.”

“As a budget leader, I have worked with my colleagues to develop budget solutions. Many of these concepts can be found in the House Democrats’ proposal. But we eventually arrived at a point in which our principles and priorities for the state were different. This ultimately led to a House Republican alternative budget solution.
“We began the process with a set of principles to guide our decisions, which included transparency, no new taxes, using a priorities of government model, not relying on one-time monies for ongoing programs, and budget sustainability. We also started with the premise that the budget is not just about the next two years – it’s about providing certainty to our economy and setting a course for our state’s  prosperity for years to come.
“The most common question is how is our plan is different. Our proposal provides more state government reform, prioritizes education and services for the disabled, does not rely on one-time monies for ongoing programs, and is sustainable for the future. Our solution would reset, reform and reshape state government.
“We invite people to contrast the two alternatives, ask us questions and arrive at their own conclusions. We want to emphasize there are options here in the Legislature and that citizens have a say in the final outcomes.”
House Democrats passed their state operating budget bill from the Ways and Means Committee late last night and plan to bring it to the House floor Friday. You can view the debate from last night here, and watch future debates at http://www.tvw.org/. After the Senate passes its budget bill, Democratic budget leaders in the House and Senate will work out a final compromise in a conference committee. This final compromise will be voted on and sent to the governor to be signed.
House Republicans unveiled their alternative operating budget proposal yesterday.
For a more information on the House Republican budget, along with guiding principles and priorities, please visit: http://houserepublicans.wa.gov/current-issues/house-republican-budget/.
Please visit this link for more details on the two operating budget proposals: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2011/HOCompare0406.pdf.

• Conducting independent investigations into fraud and abuse, make referrals to law enforcement and recover overpayments whenever possible;
• Recommend policies, procedures and best practices designed to prevent and detect fraud;
• Report to the Governor, Legislature and DSHS Secretary about vulnerabilities and deficiencies in the detection and prevention of fraud.

OPI will be administered by a director chosen by the DSHS Secretary who will have the power to issue subpoenas.

Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, is inviting constituents of the 10th District to participate in a telephone town hall meeting Thursday, March 31. The community conversation begins at 7 p.m. and will last an hour.
To participate, residents may call the toll-free number at 1-877-229-8493 and enter the code 14881 when prompted. During the telephone town hall Smith will listen to residents, answer questions and discuss a variety of topics related to the 2011 session. Once on the line, participants may select star 3 on their telephone keypads to ask a question or they can simply listen in and take part in instant polls. There will also be an opportunity at the end of the call to leave a message for Smith.
“I want to hear from my constituents at this critical time of the legislative session. It is important I hear their concerns and answer any questions they may have,” Smith said. “I would add, this is a great opportunity to connect with constituents spread out across our legislative district.”
Constituents who are unable to participate in the telephone town hall meeting can reach Smith at her legislative office at 360-786-7884 or norma.smith@leg.wa.gov.

On Jan. 29, Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl was brutally murdered by an inmate with a violent past while working alone in the chapel at the Monroe Correctional Complex. What came afterward were a police investigation and a mandate from the governor for an immediate, independent review by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). The NIC review resulted in a report outlining 15 recommendations.

Reps. Kirk Pearson and Chris Hurst today introduced House Bill 2036 to implement the NIC report recommendations to better protect corrections staff statewide.

“This proposal is not just a response to the terrible tragedy at the Monroe Correctional Complex, but one that will benefit all corrections officers as we move forward with common-sense safety measures,” said Pearson, R-Monroe and lead Republican on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “My neighbors are suffering and I know her fellow corrections staff is still reeling from the nature of the crime committed. My hope is this legislation takes a terrible event and uses it as an opportunity to better ensure the safest work environment possible in state corrections.”

“Keeping our families safe is a dangerous job,” said Hurst, D-Enumclaw, a retired undercover detective and chairman of the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “It’s our duty to do whatever we can to safeguard corrections officers, and that’s what this legislation is about. We can’t promise that there will never be a tragedy, but we can promise to do all we can, in the memory of Jayme Biendl, to protect corrections officers in every corner of Washington state.”

House Bill 2036 would:

Establish one statewide security advisory committee and local committees at each facility made up of institutional staff, including custody staff, to review policies and make recommendations to Secretary Eldon Vail at the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the governor;

Require the DOC to establish multi-discipline offender classification teams at each facility to evaluate offender placement, job assignments and custody promotions;

Require the DOC to develop training curriculum regarding staff safety at correctional facilities;

• Authorize a DOC pilot program for the use of personal body alarms and proximity cards, and mandate the hiring of a consultant to make recommendations about implementing a statewide system with the findings and recommendations presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011;
• Require the DOC to hire a consultant to study the use of video monitoring cameras and make recommendations for statewide standards for the positioning and use of the equipment with the findings presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011; and
• Authorize a DOC pilot program on the expanded use of pepper spray (OC spray) with certain staff within state facilities with the goal of developing a comprehensive plan for the statewide deployment of the spray, which must be presented to the governor and Legislature by Nov. 1, 2011.

Both lawmakers were pleased with the patience of corrections staff and DOC leaders as the investigation and independent review took place. And, they said, it serves everyone best to have all the facts before rushing to attempt fixes that may or may not address the problems that led to the events of Jan. 29.

House Bill 2036 is scheduled to have a public hearing on Wednesday, March 30, at noon in the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Pearson and Hurst encourage citizens to weigh-in on the proposal at the public hearing or via the toll-free legislative hotline at 1-800-562-6000.

Hope encouraged everyone in the state to submit their ideas and to help organize Idearaisers in their community or with groups with which they are affiliated. Idearaisers can be scheduled through the 100 Ideas website.  Hope concluded by saying:
“The 100 Ideas program represents a fundamental commitment by state leaders to listen to the state’s citizens, to be guided by their ideas and to work to create a state government that boosts opportunity for Washington’s families. The people of our state are ready for politicians who talk less and listen more. This is exactly the type of leadership the 100 Ideas program represents.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 100 Ideas Initiative?

This new citizens’ initiative is a plan to change Washington’s mindset. Just like the pioneers of the Washington run rushed into this new territory to stake out their claim on land, 100 Ideas will encourage modern pioneers to stake out new and innovative ideas for the state’s future. The 100 Ideas initiative will change the way business is done at the State Capitol. Instead of legislation originating only from lobbyists, special interests and government employees, this initiative seeks ideas from the private sector and from citizens across the great state of Washington. Once the initiative is complete, the top 100 ideas will be published in a book and presented to the Washington’s elected officials.

How can I get involved?

Becoming a part of the 100 Ideas initiative is easy. Those wishing to get involved can attend an IdeaRaiser, inquire about scheduling an IdeaRaiser by emailing mike@100ideaswa.org or visit the 100 Ideas website to interact and submit ideas.

What is an IdeaRaiser?

Most people are familiar with fundraisers for politicians or charities. We’ve taken that concept and applied it to the world of ideas. IdeaRaisers will be held to discuss and create bold ideas. Through a series of town hall meetings and interaction with the state’s citizens, the initiative will develop a comprehensive vision as Washington moves into the next century of statehood. After the IdeaRaising is complete, the best 100 ideas from across the state will be published in a book and will establish a blueprint for the future of this great state.

Can I schedule an IdeaRaiser?

Anyone can schedule an IdeaRaiser. Schedulers should secure a date, time and location. Then information about the IdeaRaiser should be submitted to the 100 Ideas website. It may prove helpful to outline a topic or specific area of interest that will be discussed at the IdeaRaiser. Event organizers should collect contact information for participants in order to get in touch with them if needed.

What kinds of ideas are you looking for?

When writing bold ideas for Washington’s future, some fundamental principles should be kept in mind.

• First, the ideas should be relevant to day-to-day life.
• Second, every idea should be about the future. They should not just make Washington a better place to live and work today, but also a better place to live and work well into the future.
• Third, no idea should unnecessarily expand the role of government. While government services provide vital needs in many cases, government alone is not the answer for the challenges and opportunities Washington faces. There are too many instances of government letting people down, failing, or trapping them in a cycle of dependency. Washington’s people and hardworking families can achieve solutions for our state.

The Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council issued disappointing news today for the state’s expected intake of tax collections. According to Dr. Arun Raha, executive director of the council, the 2009-11 General Fund-State change is a decrease of nearly $80 million from November. And the 2011-13 General Fund-State change is a decrease of nearly $700 million. The reduction in tax collections means the state budget shortfall for the 2011-13 cycle is now more than $4 billion.
Rep. Barbara Bailey, assistant ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, says the parameters of the budget problem are clear and it’s time to finally align state spending with state revenue.
“Today’s revenue forecast is disappointing, but not unexpected. State lawmakers have known for some time there was a sizeable spending gap that will require significant action to address. Now that we know the size of the problem, it’s time to take action,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “We need to reset, reform and reshape state government. This means defining priorities and consolidating state agencies while eliminating others, like the state printer. We must look at solutions like contracting out services, asking state employees to pay more for their health care, reducing costly and redundant programs such as the General Assistance Unemployable, and determining whether there is a way to create more revenue without raising taxes. Every part of state government must sacrifice. Many of these decisions are harder today because the same types of decisions were avoided the last three years. If we don’t break from the business-as-usual budgeting practices of the past, we can expect the same poor outcomes in the future.”
The 10th District lawmaker says it’s not just about reducing the size of state government, but increasing the size of the state economy.
“The best way to create more revenue is to strengthen our economy. If we can get more people back to work, it will also ease the pressure on our state’s safety nets,” said Bailey, lead Republican on the House Business and Financial Services Committee. “If we don’t use this crisis as an opportunity to address the long-standing concerns of our employers, then we will have missed an opportunity. The Legislature took a first step with bipartisan unemployment insurance measures that have already been signed into law. Now it’s time to pass the workers’ compensation reforms in Senate Bill 5566, and find ways to eliminate permitting bureaucracy and other red tape that act as barriers to job growth. Let’s get Washington working again.”
Bailey also feels safeguards need to be put into place to guide budget writers and that if there had been protections in place the last seven years, the state’s budget outlook wouldn’t be so dire today.
“Putting more money aside in good economic times, conducting performance audits on new state programs, ensuring fiscal notes are established before voting on legislation, and requiring the Legislature to adopt balanced budgets – these are all solutions that are on the table and have so far been rejected this legislative session,” said Bailey, sponsor of the four bills. “These are common-sense, nonpartisan solutions that are meant to guide any party that is in control of the Legislature. Just imagine if we had put more money aside when we had a 1.6 billion dollar budget surplus in 2006. And just imagine if state lawmakers actually knew the cost of the bills they were voting on and the effectiveness of the new programs. These reforms would lead to more transparent and sustainable budget outcomes.”
The legislative session is scheduled to run through April 24.

Reps. Barbara Bailey and Norma Smith will hold three town hall meetings in the 10th District on Saturday, March 19. The outreach events will be in Stanwood, Oak Harbor and Freeland.
“With so many big issues to be decided from now until the end of the legislative session, it’s very important that we get input from the people we represent. From bills to strengthen the economy, and legislation to reform our ferry system, to what the final budgets will look like, I look forward to the exchange of ideas,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “I encourage everyone to attend and we hope the locations are convenient for people. If someone is unable to attend, they are welcome to contact us any time.”
“At this crucial time in the 2011 legislative session, it is critical that we hear from those we represent to discuss the issues before us in the Legislature right now,” said Smith, R-Clinton. “The stories I hear from constituents inform my decisions in Olympia, and I look forward to the opportunity to answer questions, and hear your concerns.”

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Stanwood/Camano School District Boardroom
26920 Pioneer Highway, Stanwood

1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Skagit Valley College – Oak Hall Room #306
1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor

3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Freeland Hall
1515 Shoreview Drive, Freeland

If constituents have questions or ideas to pass along, they can contact their state representatives directly. Bailey can be contacted at 360-786-7914 or barbara.bailey@leg.wa.gov. Smith can be reached at 360-786-7884 or norma.smith@leg.wa.gov.
View Bailey, Smith March 19 Town Halls in a larger map

Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, is inviting residents of the 10th District to participate in a telephone town hall meeting Thursday, March 31. The community conversation begins at 7 p.m. and will last an hour.
To participate, residents may call the toll-free number at 1-877-229-8493 and enter the code 14881 when prompted. Once on the line, participants may select star 3 on their telephone keypads to ask a question. Or, they can simply listen in from the comfort of their own homes. There will also be an opportunity at the end of the call to leave a message for Smith.
“We are at a critical juncture in the Legislature and it is essential for me to hear from my constituents. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to communicate personally, and it helps me to make informed decisions in Olympia. I want to make sure we have the opportunity for a two-way dialogue and an avenue to provide input on important issues,” Smith said. “I would add, this is a great, innovative way to reach folks who may not have time to attend one of my in-person meetings, or are simply too busy with family and work.”
Constituents who are unable to participate in the telephone town hall meeting can reach Smith at her legislative office at 360-786-7884 or norma.smith@leg.wa.gov.

“Everything in the state budget is connected,” Harper said. “When we squeeze from one program, it often means ballooning costs in another. This bill would make those costs clear so people can see the real consequences of budget cuts.”

Under this bipartisan bill, the Office of Financial Management will establish a procedure for producing fiscal notes that reflect the expected impact of budget cuts in both the short- and long-term with the aim of letting legislators know the full impact these cuts will have.

For example, The Basic Health Plan allows people to receive preventive care, but when people are cut from the plan, they are likely to wait longer, get sicker and use more expensive emergency rooms.

Seniors who lose access to a reasonable number of hours of in-home care will lose their independence and have to move to more expensive nursing homes.

Cuts to K-12 and higher education have far-reaching effects, all of which point to a college system that is unaffordable and a workforce that is not prepared to compete.

“When balancing costs and benefits, we need to look at the long-term costs,” Harper said. “Too often these short-term cuts cost us all more in the long run.”