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Spokane Area Gains Clout Local Lawmakers Control 7 Panels As Power Swings East

Lynda V. Mapes Staff writer

The state’s largest city is shut out of the legislative leadership in Olympia this year. But the Spokane area is in the catbird seat.

For a change, Eastern Washington lawmakers dominate the legislative leadership. Spokane-area lawmakers control seven committees, including the key Senate budget-writing panel.

Lawmakers from east of the mountains also hold top leadership jobs in the House, including the position of speaker and majority leader.

Controlling leadership posts is important. The majority party sets the legislative agenda in closed-door caucus sessions, and dominates conference committees, where the final deal is cut on all bills.

Committee chairs also decide which bills get a hearing, a crucial first step in the legislative process.

Sen. James West, R-Spokane, will hold the purse strings in the Senate as chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

This is a budget-writing year in Olympia, and it’s the Senate’s turn to go first. That gives West a chance to help set the tone for the state’s spending for the next two years.

Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Thornton, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, which will consider important spending questions, including whether to raise the state gas tax.

Sen. Bob Morton, R-Orient, controls the Agriculture and Environment Committee; and Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane, is chairman of the Government Operations Committee.

That committee will hear all bills intended to amend the state’s Growth Management Act, a major issue in Spokane.

In the House, Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane, is chairman of the Energy and Utilities Committee, which will consider telephone deregulation proposals.

Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Colville, controls the House Commerce and Labor Committee. That committee will hear bills this session to reauthorize an important state worker training program paid for by all employers.

Rep. Larry Sheahan, R-Rosalia, will lead the Law and Justice Committee, which will handle bills on social issues this session ranging from abortion restrictions to gay marriage.

Sheahan’s committee will also take the lead on major legislation to reform the juvenile justice system.

The Spokane area’s new legislative clout doesn’t necessarily mean River City is in the money. West has already made it clear Spokane will be treated fairly, but not royally.

“It’s not going to get carte blanche.”

But being treated fairly would be a big improvement.

In 1993 and 1994, the city was largely shut out of decision-making, when Democrats controlled the Legislature. Then in 1995 and 1996, when the GOP ran the House, lawmakers decided to go lean on spending, particularly in the capital budget.

For the past several years, the city has barely gotten anything on its wish list.

It may be different this year.

Outgoing Gov. Mike Lowry has put $21 million in cash in his proposed supplemental budget for 1997 to pay for a new health sciences building at the Riverpoint campus.

His proposed capital budget also includes $1.2 million for design of an expansion of the Cheney Cowles Museum.

“That should survive without any problem,” said Rep. Duane Sommers R-Spokane. He wasn’t as sure about the $21 million proposed for Riverpoint.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: KEEP IN TOUCH With all the legislative activity in Olympia each day, it can be difficult to keep up. Here are a few ways Eastern Washington residents can stay in touch. Telephone: The legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000, allows callers to leave messages for legislators or learn when a meeting is scheduled. Hearing-impaired callers can dial 1-800-635-9993 if they have a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD). The hotline’s hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Internet: The Legislature operates a World Wide Web site at www.leg.wa.gov. It provides updates on legislation, meeting schedules, and e-mail addresses for lawmakers. The governor’s office has its own web site at www.wa.gov/governor. Television: TVW, the state’s version of C-SPAN, provides daily coverage of the House and Senate sessions and committee hearings. TVW is broadcast on cable channel 5 in Spokane from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It airs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. TVW also offers live audio coverage through its World Wide Web site at www.tvw.org.

This sidebar appeared with the story: KEEP IN TOUCH With all the legislative activity in Olympia each day, it can be difficult to keep up. Here are a few ways Eastern Washington residents can stay in touch. Telephone: The legislative hotline, 1-800-562-6000, allows callers to leave messages for legislators or learn when a meeting is scheduled. Hearing-impaired callers can dial 1-800-635-9993 if they have a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD). The hotline’s hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Internet: The Legislature operates a World Wide Web site at www.leg.wa.gov. It provides updates on legislation, meeting schedules, and e-mail addresses for lawmakers. The governor’s office has its own web site at www.wa.gov/governor. Television: TVW, the state’s version of C-SPAN, provides daily coverage of the House and Senate sessions and committee hearings. TVW is broadcast on cable channel 5 in Spokane from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It airs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. TVW also offers live audio coverage through its World Wide Web site at www.tvw.org.