Lowry Aides Say Gop Regulatory Cuts Go Too Far

The House Republicans’ regulatory reform plan would be “a nightmare for business” and seems to have the goal of dismantling the state’s power to regulate, aides to Gov. Mike Lowry said Tuesday.

The GOP measure, HB1010, could endanger public health and safety and the environment by tying the hands of regulators, they told a news conference.

“We need to focus not on what sounds good, but what will do good,” said Lorraine Hine, the governor’s legislative director. Rep. Bill Reams, R-Bellevue, chief architect of the much tougher Republican version, replied: “I guess we’re coming from different places. We are looking after the interests of the citizen. The other side is looking after the interests of the bureaucrats and trying to protect the status quo. The status quo does not appeal to me.”

Lowry and most Senate Democrats are backing an alternative proposed by a statewide task force made up of representatives from business, labor and environmentalists. They seek stiffer requirements for writing new regulations, a more cooperative attitude by regulators, and streamlined land-use and environmental rules.

In the House, four Democrats joined a solid bloc of Republicans in voting 64-32 last week for a sweeping bill that is a key piece of the GOP “Contract With Washington State.”

The bill would clamp down on regulators and give the Legislature a much stronger oversight role. It also would impose a seven-year limit on state rules without reauthorization. It would abolish penalties in most cases and reimburse private citizens up to $10,000 for the legal bills if they successfully challenge a rule.