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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Senator Accused Of Violating Ethics Code Gay Member Questions Debates Scheduled By Republican Pam Roach

Hunter T. George Associated Press

Noting that lawmakers have no influence over citizen ballot initiatives, the Legislature’s only openly gay member is questioning whether a Republican Senate leader is interfering with the campaigns for gay rights and gun control measures on the November ballot.

State Rep. Ed Murray on Thursday accused Sen. Pam Roach of violating the legislative ethics code, or at least the spirit of the code, by hosting debates on the initiatives in the Senate Law and Justice Committee, which she leads.

The debates are scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Capitol. If the spat between Murray and Roach - political opposites with a background in the areas covered by the initiatives - is any indication, it could be a lively affair.

“I think she’s interfering with an initiative to the people,” Murray, D-Seattle, said in an interview. “The initiatives are there for the people to tell the Legislature what to do. If people vote for it, we’ve got to figure out how to implement it.”

He said Roach never scheduled a hearing on a gay-rights bill in her committee this year and shouldn’t bother now.

Roach, R-Auburn, denied any wrongdoing and offered an advisory memo from Tony Cook, staff counsel to the Legislative Ethics Board, as evidence.

Cook said the hearing is proper, provided it’s a neutral forum and committee members don’t use it as an opportunity to argue for or against passage of the measures. He noted that the attorney general’s office has advised that legislators are free to research the impact of ballot measures.

“We’re making no pronouncement one way or another,” Roach said. “There will be no vote taken. There will be no recommendation made. This is an opportunity for legislators and citizens to get past the sound bites.”

She said the forums, which will feature debates between supporters and foes, could provide a public service by disclosing flaws in the measures - flaws important to voters who are deciding them and lawmakers who would have to implement them.

Both Roach and Murray have a stake in the issues. Murray is the standard-bearer for gay-rights advocates, while Roach is a favorite of gun-rights organizations.

The Legislative Ethics Board, which is not scheduled to meet again until October, on Thursday refused Murray’s request to call an emergency meeting and rule on whether Roach’s hearing violates State Ethics Act provisions regarding the “normal and regular conduct of the office” of a legislator.

In response, Murray said he’ll continue to press for a hearing and, if unsuccessful, he’ll sign up to participate in the debates.

Initiative 676 would require trigger locks on handguns sold or transferred in the state. It also would require handgun owners to obtain a safety license after passing an exam or taking an eight-hour safety course.

Initiative 677 would bar employment discrimination against gays and lesbians.