OLYMPIA — The state Senate will vote soon on whether to suspend the supermajority provisions of I-960 for tax increases.

Republican members have been ready for a while, walking about the floor making “drink the Kool-Aid” references. Democrats are just coming out of their caucus where they discussed the upcoming votes.

In the gallery are more than 100 white-coated pharmacy students, so if anyone really does take poison, they could come in handy…

Before voting on Senate Bill 6843, they’ll be voting on propsals to freeze pay and hold back on bonuses for state workers.

OLYMPIA — This year’s regular legislative session is half over, and while there’s not much to show for it so far, the Senate may be pushing ahead this morning with a vote over suspending the supermajority provisions in Initiative 960.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee sent the bill out Monday on a party-line vote. It allows taxes to be raised with a simple majority through June 2011, and permanently repeals the two-thirds majority for some types of tax changes, such as removing exemptions.

If that makes the legislators nervous, depressed or queasy, that’s probably OK because it is Pharmacy Day, and the state Pharmacy Association is in the Rotunda and the Reception Room, and the Connected Care Mobile Healthcare Unit is out in the park.

It is also the Sexual Assault Coalition Lobby Day and Catholic Advocacy Day. Gov. Chris Gregoire had an early morning at the Peace Arch in Blaine, as the Olympic Torch made a dip down into the United States on its way to the Vancouver Games.

Hearing schedule, as usual, is inside the blog.,

Continue reading WA Lege Day 30: At halfway mark, vote to suspend I-960 likely »

State Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane, will have a challenger in the November election.

Republican Michael J. Baumgartner, 34, filed paperwork last week with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicating that he will run against Marr for the senate seat representing the Sixth Legislative District, one of the most competitive districts in the state.

The competitive nature of the district attracts a lot of money, and Marr has a head start in fundraising. As of this week, Marr reports having raised about $180,000 for this year’s campaign.

Reached Monday evening, Baumgartner confirmed his run and portions of his resume. This is his first run for office. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an employee of the U.S. State Department. He’s a graduate of Pullman High School and Washington State University and holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University.

Baumgartner said that in Iraq he worked closely with Ryan Crocker, the Spokane Valley resident who served as U.S. ambassador to Iraq.

Photos of Baumgartner in Afghanistan can be found at redcounty.com, a GOP blog.

OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats pushed changes to voter-approved tax-raising restrictions out of committee today, moving one of the more contentious issues of the legislative session toward a floor debate.

Democrats on the Senate Ways and Means Committee rejected several amendments proposed by Republicans that would have reduced the amount of time the supermajority required in Initiative 960 was suspended and made some other changes to SB 6843.

As written, the proposal suspends the two-thirds majority needed for any tax increase through June 30, 2011, which means taxes could be raised for the supplemental budget for this biennium and the main budget for the next biennium with a simple majority vote.

Sen. Joseph Zarelli, ranking Republican on the committee, said an amendment to limit the suspension to this session only was “a middle ground.” If the economy is still bad next year, the Legislature could take up extending the change at that time.

But Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, said there would be more economic forecasts after the Legislature adjourns this year but before it returns next January. “We need the flexibility this would provide.

The amendment failed 8-13, on a party line vote.

To read more on this topic, click here to go inside the blog:

Continue reading I-960 changes out of committee »

OLYMPIA — Some obituaries were written over the weekend for bills that “died” in the Senate last week. That is, they didn’t get out of their committee after having a hearing .

It’s a list with enough diversity to make everyone shed a tear and heave a sigh. Among the casualties:

SB 6396: A state ban on what are often called military style semi-automatic assault weapons.

SB 6472: Requiring proof of citizenship or U.S. birth certificate, plus party preference when registering to vote.

SJM 8005: Urging federal officials to keep “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

SJM:8018: Asserting state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment

SJM 8020: Calling for a repeal of the 17th Amendment, which requires U.S. Senators to be elected, rather than appointed by the Legislature.

SB: 6486: Free flu shots for hospital and health care workers.

SB 6452: Requiring limited service pregnancy centers, often operated by church groups opposed to abortion, from give truthful and  medically valid information to patients seeking services.

SB 6567: Requiring DNA to be collected from illegal immigrants

SB 6744: Privatizing the Worker’s Comp system.

SB: 6284:Declaring Oct. 9 Leif Erickson (you know, the first white guy who discovered America) day.

For a more complete list of bills that died in the Senate, Click here to go inside the blog

Continue reading WA Lege: RIP assault weapon ban, sovereignty bill, Erickson Day »

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire says there are too many questions about last week’s court ruling on the state’s definition of “basic education” to say whether she supports an appeal.

Billions of dollars of state school funding could be at risk in the decision by a King County Superior Court Judge Johne Ehrlick that the state isn’t living up to its consitutional responsibility to provide for basic education, Gregoire said at a press conference Monday.

But a final order has not yet been entered, and any decision on an appeal will wait until she talks with Attorney General Rob McKenna and Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn.

“The attorney general has the ultimate decision-making authority here,” said Gregoire, herself a former attorney general.

One question they have to discuss is whether a King County trial judge’s decision should be taken to the state Supreme Court to be any order has statewide impact.

Some legislators  have signed a letter urging that the state not appeal the decision, but instead comply with Erlick’s order. Gregoire declined to say how that would sway her decision, other than to say: “Ask them if they’ve read the decision.”

For other comments from the press conference, go inside the blog:

Continue reading Gregoire: Many questions about schools ruling »

OLYMPIA — The Senate Ways and Means Committee is expected to vote this afternoon on a bill that would suspend supermajorities for tax increases.

If it comes out of committee as expected, it could go to a floor debate on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, the House Ways and Means Committee discusses a proposal to break up the state’s “mega-agency”, the Department of Social and Health Services.

Gov. Chris Gregoire talks about the need to free up credit. The state Nurses Association is lobbying legislators.

Full schedule of hearings can be found inside the blog.

Continue reading WA Lege Day 29: I-960 Bill committee vote possible »

OLYMPIA – One of the surest things about this legislative session is that police officers will be honored.
The only real question is how many proposals, from better pension benefits for slain officers’ families to constitutional amendments to keep more bad guys in jail, will be buttressed by references to six officers killed in two months on the West Side.
Opposition to one bill was denounced last week as an invitation for Washington to be the “cop killer capital of the country.” Should a resolution be introduced to beatify all six, the only likely argument would be whether they should skip the interim step and go straight to sainthood.
With this increased attention to law enforcement, it’s possible the most surprised group to make a pilgrimage to the Capitol last week were bikers. Not the kind of bikers who pedal, but the kind who don leather and “get their motors running.”
A couple dozen bikers, some in the colors of their individual motorcycle clubs, showed up at a hearing of the House Public Safety Committee, asking for a law protecting them from the cops.
They told of being targeted by police, stopped for no apparent reason, searched, questioned and generally harassed simply because they ride around on two wheels instead of four. They call it profiling, and liken it to what minorities, particularly young black males driving nice cars in predominantly white neighborhoods, complain about.
It’s illegal to profile minorities, it should be illegal to profile motorcycle riders, the bikers said.

Continue reading Bikers win a round »

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Dave Stevens said early this afternoon that he has officially informed his boss, Prosecutor Steve Tucker, that he is running against him in the August primary.

The meeting, which started about 10:30 a.m., lasted a minute and a half or less, Stevens said.

Stevens said he told Tucker that he was running for prosecutor and Tucker responded: “We’re reading the union contract and considering our options.”

Stevens, who brought two union representatives to the meeting, said he wouldn’t speculate on what Tucker will do.

“I’m going to keep working as hard as I’ve always been working,” he said.

OLYMPIA — The state Senate has passed a resolution affirming that they really, really like the Boeiing Co.

Even though it moved its headquarters to Chicago and plans to open an assembly line for its new jetliner in South Carolina, the state appreciates all the aerospace giant has done for Washington, the Senate says in Senate Resolution 8676, with a wide array of bipartisan cosponsors that was passed passed this morning. The resolution may smooth over some talk earlier in the session that if Boeing is going to keep  moving stuff out of the state, the Legislature should start looking at all those tax breaks it has been given over the years.

The Senate also expanded the classifications of people who can authorize medical marijuana. Along with physicians, SB 5798 would allow nurse practitioners and naturopaths to authorize marijuana if it would help their patients. It passed 37-11.

Today is the day that Senate bills dealing with policy must get out of their committee or die.

A complete list of committee hearings is inside the blog.

Continue reading WA Lege Day 26: Boeing, medical marijuana and a deadline for Senate bills »

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Dave Stevens should find out more about his employment status this morning when he meets with his boss, Prosecutor Steve Tucker.

Stevens announced this week that he will challenge Tucker in the August primary. Both are Republicans. On Thursday, Tucker said “all options are on the table” when asked if Stevens would be let go. Tucker also promised to follow the deputy prosecutors’ union contract if he takes action against Stevens.

Today’s meeting between the two is the first between the candidates since Stevens announced.

PHOTO CREDIT: Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Tucker in his office May 26.2006. DAN PELLE, The Spokesman-Review.

OLYMPIA — A resolution honoring basketball legend John Stockton for his careers at Gonzaga Prep, Gonzaga University and the Utah Jazz has been introduced in the state House of Representatives.

It honors Stockton, the recent Hall of Fame inductee, for his basketball accomplishments, contributions to the city and state,  and “for being a positive role model on and off the court.”

Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, the sponsor and a fellow alum of St. Al’s Elementary School, said the resolution is expected to come up in a pro forma floor session — what sports announcers might call a break in the action — later this month.

Passage of such a resolution is routine, but the recipients at that point are a bit unusual. It asks the resolution be transmitted immediately to Stockton, the NBA Hall of Fame, the Spokane Youth Sports Association, Spokane City officials — and Jack and Dan’s Bar & Grill. 

Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Dave Stevens announced Thursday that he’ll challenge his boss, Prosecutor Steve Tucker, in the August primary.

Both Tucker and Stevens are Republicans, and the battle is off to a tough start.

“Until I came here, I’d never seen a total lack of leadership,” Stevens said in an interview Thursday. “There needs to be a determined leader, not an absent administrator.”

Tucker has filed paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission indicating that he plans to seek reelection. He did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday afternoon.

This week, Stevens, 47, won an endorsement from the Spokane County Republican Party. Michael Cathcart, an executive board member of the party and Stevens’ campaign manager said Tucker has not yet asked for the endorsement from the party. Cathcart said party rules allow for the endorsement of multiple candidates.

Continue reading Stevens will challenge Tucker for Spokane County prosecutor »

Sometimes, real truth is found in the funny pages. Or in this era, on Web sites devoted to comics.

Artist Jorge Cham at www.phdcomics.com hit the nail on the head about polling better than several sociology and journalism text books we’ve perused, and we’ll try to remember it as polls start coming fast and furious later this year.

OLYMPIA — Testimony for and against a proposal to suspend some provisions of Initiative 960 and permanently change others is over.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to have an “executive session” at some future date. Rest of the day’s hearing is scheduled to be filled with olther bills, such as a proposal end some tax exemptions for utilities that buy machinery and equipment to bulid renewable energy geneation sources.

Initial schedule called for the exec session on the I-960 bill to be today, but it appears they’ll fill out the time with other bills.

OLYMPIA —Last panel of speakers for and against a bill to make changes to I-960.

Mike Brown of the state Fire Chiefs said fire departments need help with 9-1-1 upgrades, hazardous materials equipment.He urges it to pass.

Scott Dahlman with the Washington Farm Bureau says his organization is strongly opposed to changes because they because it “usurps the will of the people.”

“Why not go to the citizens with a proposal?” he said. “In a down economy, this is not the time to be raising taxes.”

This debate today is not about the need to raise revenue,” Dahlman. You can raise revenue, it’s just more difficult. Send (voters) a package. They did it in Oregon.”

Amber Carter with the Association of Washington Business, said it didn’t take a stand on I-960 but strongly supported the two-thirds majority. The group doesn’t oppose the removal of some notification provisions, but is adamantly opposed to removing the supermajority.

Passing changes to I-960 is “the first step” to raising taxes, she said. The state should go back to the priorities of government process, look at pensions, health care, eliminate state control of liquor stores and state printing.

Would AWB support extending the two-thirds majority to tax exemptions, which cut taxes for some companies, as well as tax increases, Sen. Joe McDermott asked.

The group would have to look at it, but “I don’t think that would help our state with economic recovery,” Carter said.

OLYMPIA — The chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee called Initiative 960 “clearly unconstitutional,” but a Republican member of the panel strongly disagreed.

“It’s clearly unconstitutional,” Sen. Margarita Prentice said after another witness argued against any changes in a law passed by voters. “The Supreme Court was given an opportunity (to say so) and it punted.”

That prompted a retort from Sen. Cheryl Pflug: “If our Supreme Court didn’t declare it unconstitutional, it’s not. It’s inappropriate for a member of this body to say we know better.”

OLYMPIA— Jerry Reilly of the Eldercare Alliance urged the Ways and Means Committee to approve changes to Initiative 960.

“Please return majority rule to the state of Washington,” Rielly said. Then use majority rule to pass a budget that meets the state’s needs..

OLYMPIA — Seth Dawson, a representative of human service organizations, urged the Legislature to temporarily suspend Initiative 960’s requirements for super-majority support for tax increases.

“There’s nothing pretty about amending this initiative…, There’s nothing pretty about enacting these cuts,” Dawson said.

“I don’t envy your position. The best choice at this point is to proceed with this measure,” Dawson, whose clients include the Coalition for the Homeless, said.

Suppose more revenue comes in Sen. Linda Parlette said. AT some point aren’t we still going to have to reduce spending?

“Probably,” said Dawson.

The state cut spending last year, Sen. Karen Fraser said. It can’t just keep cutting.

“It’s time to look at a system of new revenues,” Dawson said. Mental health was cut last year, now it’s asked to take more.

OLYMPIA — A critic of a proposal to suspend some aspects of Initiative 960 complained at the speed at which the bill got a hearing.

Jim Copeland of Spanaway, who said he lost his business, noted the bill was announced at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and in a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

“Pretty short notice, huh?” Copeland said.

OLYMPIA — Bob Williams of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, urged legislators not to “gut” Initative 960.

The Legislature couldn’t balance its budget when it was taking in record amounts of revenue, he said. “Your total spending is up $13 billion.”

Every budget that Gov. Gregoire has submitted spent more than the revenue forecast. Then the Legislature used “accounting gimmicks” to spend more, Willams, the head of the conservative fiscal think tank said.

Moody’s Rating agency is already warning about the state’s tendency to use one-time spending sources, he said.

“If you raise taxes in the recession….you will find that you get less revenue and more unemployment,” Willams said. “Use the (priorities of government) process to cut spending.”

OLYMPIA — Tim Eyman, the prime sponsor of Initiative 960, warned “citizens are watching arrogant Democrats who think the law doesn’t apply to them.”

This bill means you are above the Constitution. Voters have made clear that if state government is going to raise taxes, it must be a two-thirds vote or a vote of the people. You’re violating the law, you’re sidestepping the constitution … and believe the voters don’t have a right to know what you’re doing.”

The system is working, he said: “If you can’t get two-thirds of your colleagues to sign on to the bill, put it before the voters. You haven’t even done that.”

“Drop this stuff about the transparency provisions. The two-thirds is bad enough.”

Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, told Eyman the Legislature has to balance many things, including the need for revenue as well as the need.for spending.

“You’ve talked about one side, as you usually do. I’d like you to speak about the other side.”

Voters passed an initiative requiring performance audits, Eyman said.

“You’re not answering my question,” Kline said.

OLYMPIA — Nick Federici of  the low income housing alliance, says the state doesn’t have a spending problem, it has a revenue problem. It cut its budget last year.

Without this bill, the Legislature has no options other than to cut, he said

It would be irresponsible for you to try to cut your way out of this budget deficit,” he said. It would result in more mentally ill people on the streeti.

“In tough times you can make tough decisions about what the right balance is,” Federici said.

Other initiatives have been overturned completely by the Legislature, he said. This one only suspends the supermajority temporarily.

Kim Able of the state League of Women Voters, defended the changes to the transparency requirements. They still provide the public with information.

OLYMPIA — Sen. Pam Roach warns that repealing I-960 will result in a higher percentage of voters supporting a new initiative to reinstate the two-thirds majority needed to raise taxes.

I-960 failed in the city of Seattle, Roach said, but it passed with big margins in other parts of the state.

OLYMPIA — “What does the phrase will of the people mean to you,” Sen. Don Benton asked the Ways and Means Committee.

Of course Initiative 960 makes raising taxes more difficult, Benton said. But that’s what the people wanted. It also makes government more transparent.

“Too many of our citizens find the legislative process a mystery,” Benton said. “Too often legislators hear more from lobbyists than their constituents.”

THe voters did support the initiative, he said. “Why does public knowledge frighten so many here?”

Don’t throw out the rules for giving more information on the cost of legislation to the public.

OLYMPIA — The Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing on proposed changes to Initiative 960, the law that requires a two-thirds majority to pass a tax increase, is just starting.

Spin Control will attempt to blog the highlights. Thus far, it has mainly been milling about, with committee staffer Diane Criswell giving the standard report of bill highlights on SB 6843.

In the audience is initiative maestro Tim Eyman, Evergreen Freedom Foundation head Bob Williams.

Sen. Don Benton and Sen Pam Roach have been called for testimony.

OLYMPIA — The first step in Senate Democrats’ efforts to put together a budget that could include tax increases may take place this afternoon, when a bill to suspend Initiative 960 through June 2011 is scheduled for a committee hearing.

The bill, SB 6834, is described as “Preserving essential public services by temporarily suspending the two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases and permanently modifying provisions of Initiative Measure No. 960 for improved efficiency and consistency with state budgeting.” For more information on the bill, read this morning’s story by clicking here.

The official hearings schedule still includes the caveat that it will be among bills up for a hearing if it is referred to committee, but that schedule hasn’t been updated since Wednesday afternoon, before Democrats announced they had introduced the bill.

Elsewhere around the Capitol, it is Energy Independence Lobby Day, Asian Pacific American Legislative Day. Miss Tri-Cities is making the rounds, and there’s a sing-along concert in the Rotunda at 3:30 p.m. (Where’s Mitch Miller when you need him?)

For a full list of the days committee hearings, click here and go inside the blog.

Continue reading WA Lege Day 25: A way around I-960? »

OLYMPIA— When it comes to consumer complaints, collection agencies are at the top of the list for people who called the state attorney general’s office last year.

That’s up from No. 3 in 2008, the AG’s office reports. Collection agencies beat out telecommunications problems, last year’s numero uno, and retail sales complaints, which dropped from 2 to 3.

Making the biggest jump in the top 10 were Cable Networks and Program Distribution, up to 4 from 8.

For the complete list, plus historical data,  click here.

OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats formally proposed this afternoon a plan to suspend the super majority required to raise taxes through the middle of 2011 and make other permanent changes to the tax-limiting initiative voters approved two years ago

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, called Initiative 960 a “straightjacket on our state in a time of economic crisis” and a requirement that gives a minority the ability to obstruct the Legislature.

Senate Bill 6843 would suspend through June 2011 the requirement that all tax increases must pass with a two-thirds majority, and make a simple majority the permanent rule for any tax increase needed to carry out a policy approved by voters in an initiative that didn’t come with its own source of taxes.

The most obvious examples of the latter would be money needed for smaller classroom sizes and for pay raises for teachers, which were both passed in voter initiatives in 2000 but have been suspended in tight state budgets.

It also would allow the Legislature to “clarify legislative intent” on tax policy if the state Supreme Court were to interpret the law as not allowing a particular tax or tax exemption. That’s significant in light of a court decision last fall that ruled against a tax for Dot Foods, an out of state supplier. That ruling is estimated to drop state tax revenues by  $137 million per year.

Sen. Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said the proposal was a prelude to raising taxes to bail out poor state budget decisions of the past. “It creates a climate of fear and apprehension that will only quash job creation and put more people out of work.”

Democrats have talked of their intentions to suspend the super majority since before the session began and Republicans have talked just as long that such a move would flaunt the will of the people.

Republicans have introduced a bill to “reaffirm” the two-thirds majority and initiative sponsor Tim Eyman has already begun gathering signatures on a ballot measure asking voters to reinstate the super majority in November. He and other co-sponsors filed the initiative on the first day of the legislative session.

The bill is one of two proposals being discussed by Democrats looking for a way around the two-thirds majority requirement imposed in I-960. The other would be to repeal it entirely, Brown said.

The bill has a title that some might regard as “high-faluting.” It is official called “Preserving essential public services by temporarily suspending the two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases and permanently modifying provisions of Initiative Measure No. 960 for improved efficiency and consistency with state budgeting.”

The bill will get a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee Thursday afternoon, and likely  come to the Senate floor sometime next week, Brown said.

OLYMPIA — Both houses of the Legislature passed resolutions honoring law enforcement officers killed in West Side incidents late last year. The House of Representatives then gave overwhelming support to bills that were spawned by those slayings.

By a vote of 96-0, the House approved changes in the state’s bail laws that require bail be set after an individual reports on a suspect rather than a simple schedule used by a judge that sets bail.

By the same margin the House approved tougher penalties for relatives who help a fugitive, making the lighter sentences currently available to relatives only apply to those under 18.

They also approved a bill directed at the Phillip Paul escape during an Eastern State Hospital field trip to the county fair last fall. In the future, when a mental health facility patient escapes who is either criminally insane or being treated after found incompetent to stand trial for a crime, state and local law enforcement officials must be notified, as well as other government agencies, relatives, the victim of the crime or the victim’s next of kin, and any witnesses who testified against the patient in court. That bill also passed 96-0.

The House put off a vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow judges to hold some suspects without bail even if they weren’t facing a capital crime. The bill was requested by the governor and supported by a bipartisan coalition. House Republicans contend the bill was delayed to let Democrats who plan to vote no to do so when relatives of the slain officers were not in the gallery.