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Spin Control

WA Lege Day 45: More tax talk

OLYMPIA -- House Democrats are expected to explain what or who they would tax to raise an extra $857 million through the middle of 2011.

Their budget that was released Tuesday had a list of cuts they would make, and explained how much money they expected to get from the feds and other sources. But while they were clear about the amount, they did not release any details about the source of these new taxes.

The budget proposals from Senate Democrats and Gov. Chris Gregoire had taxes along with all the cuts and transfers, so it's a bit difficult to compare all three across the board until the House D's  Revenue Committee chairman Ross Hunter announce that little detail.

Gregoire has scheduled a 4 p.m. ceremony to sign a bill that suspends the two-thirds majority needed to raise taxes and several other provisions of Initative 960 through July 1, 2011. Republicans and initiatve sponsor Tim Eyman are asking her to line-item veto the suspension of advisory votes on tax  hikes and state Voter Guide listings of each legislator's tax votes.

In a letter to Gregoire/press release to his supporters, Eyman suggested the governor "throw some crumbs to the peasants". Gee, when he asks so nicelly, how could she refuse?

Budget hearings include the Senate Ways and Means Committee's double session on the Democrats in that chamber's tax package. A full schedule is inside the blog.


Legislative Meeting Schedule

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
TimeCommitteeLocation
8:00 AMEarly Learning & K-12 Education (S)Senate Hearing Rm 1

Economic Development, Trade & Innovation (S)Senate Hearing Rm 3

Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation (S)Senate Hearing Rm 2

Finance (H)House Hearing Rm C
8:30 AMHealth & Long-Term Care (S)Senate Hearing Rm 4
10:00 AMSENATE SESSION/CAUCUS

HOUSE SESSION/CAUCUS
1:30 PMEnvironment, Water & Energy (S)Senate Hearing Rm 4

Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance (S)Senate Hearing Rm 2

Higher Education & Workforce Development (S)Senate Hearing Rm 3

Judiciary (S)Senate Hearing Rm 1
3:30 PMTransportation (S)Senate Hearing Rm 1

Ways & Means (S)Senate Hearing Rm 4

Capital Budget (H)House Hearing Rm C

Transportation (H)House Hearing Rm B

Ways & Means (H)House Hearing Rm A
5:30 PMWays & Means (S)Senate Hearing Rm 4

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House Committees

 


Capital Budget
2/24/10 3:30 pm

 

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Education Appropriations*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

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Finance*
2/24/10 8:00 am

 

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm C
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/18/2010 10:17 AM

Public Hearing:
  1. SB 6206 - Authorizing extensions of the due dates for filing tax incentive accountability reports and surveys with the department of revenue.
  2. ESSB 6424 - Concerning local excise tax authorities for counties and cities.
  3. ESSB 6737 - Providing an exemption from property tax for aircraft used to provide air ambulance services.
  4. Bills referred to committee.

Possible Executive Session: Bills previously heard in committee.

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General Government Appropriations*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

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Health & Human Services Appropriations*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

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Transportation*
2/24/10 3:30 pm

 

House Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 12:10 PM

Possible Executive Session:
  1. HB 2838 - Making 2009-11 supplemental transportation appropriations.
  2. ESSB 6392 - Clarifying the use of revenue generated from tolling the state route number 520 corridor.
  3. ESSB 6499 - Concerning the administration, collection, use, and enforcement of tolls.
  4. SSB 6207 - Allowing local governments to create golf cart zones.
  5. SSB 6208 - Concerning temporary agricultural directional signs.
  6. SB 6209 - Allowing moneys paid to county road funds to be used for park and ride lots.
  7. SSB 6231 - Implementing rules and penalties for drivers when approaching certain emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles in emergency zones.
  8. SSB 6345 - Addressing the use of wireless communications devices while driving.
  9. SSB 6346 - Expanding the use of certain electric vehicles.
  10. SSB 6356 - Limiting access to law enforcement and emergency equipment and vehicles.
  11. SB 6379 - Streamlining and making technical corrections to vehicle and vessel registration and title provisions.
  12. SSB 6558 - Concerning petitions for administrative review of railroad crossing closures.
  13. SSB 6570 - Allowing certain private transportation providers to use certain public transportation facilities.
  14. ESSB 6774 - Concerning transportation benefit districts.
  15. SB 6826 - Increasing certain fees of licensing subagents.
  16. Bills previously heard in committee.

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Ways & Means
2/24/10 3:30 pm

 

Watch on TVWHouse Full Committee
House Hearing Rm A
John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA

Possible Executive Session: HB 2824 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations.

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Senate Committees

 


Early Learning & K-12 Education*
2/24/10 8:00 am

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/19/2010 2:07 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2621 - Designating resource programs for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction in K-12 schools.
  2. SHB 2852 - Concerning college-level online learning by high school students.
  3. ESHB 2913 - Authorizing innovative interdistrict cooperative high school programs.
  4. HB 1697 - Regarding career and technical student organizations.

Executive Session: SHB 2776 - Regarding funding distribution formulas for K-12 education.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Economic Development, Trade & Innovation*
2/24/10 8:00 am

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 3
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 2:06 PM

Public Hearing:
ESHB 3175 - Transferring the office of minority and women's business enterprises into the department of commerce.

Executive Session:
  1. E2SHB 1096 - Enhancing small business participation in state purchasing.
  2. HB 1830 - Establishing business definitions for public contracting.
  3. SHB 2525 - Concerning public facilities districts created by at least two city or county legislative authorities.
  4. SHB 2651 - Authorizing port districts to participate in activities related to job training and placement.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Environment, Water & Energy*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 4:51 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. EHB 3023 - Consolidating the pollution liability insurance agency within the department of ecology.
  2. E2SHB 2539 - Optimizing the collection of source separated materials.
  3. ESHB 2538 - Regarding high-density urban development.
  4. SHB 2527 - Regarding the energy facility site evaluation council.
  5. SHB 2416 - Establishing energy efficiency standards for consumer products.

Executive Session: To be announced.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 1:08 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2428 - Concerning fees for locating surplus funds from county governments, real estate property taxes, assessments, and other government lien foreclosures or charges. (If measure is referred to committee.)
  2. ESHB 3067 - Establishing a process for the payment of impact fees through provisions stipulated in recorded covenants.
  3. SHB 2566 - Creating an exemption from impact fees for low-income housing.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Health & Long-Term Care*
2/24/10 8:30 am

 

Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 1:32 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. E2SHB 2961 - Establishing a statewide electronic sales tracking system for the nonprescription sales of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine.
  2. HJM 4024 - Concerning a memorial petitioning for the elimination of the term "mentally retarded" in federal law.
  3. ESHB 2875 - Concerning health savings accounts.

Executive Session: To be announced.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Higher Education & Workforce Development*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

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Judiciary*
2/24/10 1:30 pm

 

Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/22/2010 3:53 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. SHB 2226 - Issuing firearms certificates to retired law enforcement officers.
  2. HB 2681 - Allowing compensation for part-time judges' judicial services.
  3. ESHB 2518 - Modifying oath requirements for interpreters.
  4. ESHB 2424 - Protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse.
  5. SHB 2487 - Increasing costs for administering a deferred prosecution.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Natural Resources, Ocean & Recreation*
2/24/10 8:00 am

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/19/2010 2:10 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. HB 2659 - Modifying reporting requirements for timber purchases.
  2. E2SHB 2480 - Adopting policy recommendations developed by the sustainable recreation work group.

Work Session: Department of Fish and Wildlife Citizen Science Case Study.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Transportation*
2/24/10 3:30 pm

 

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 1
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/23/2010 2:44 PM

Public Hearing:
  1. 2SHB 2436 - Concerning vehicle license fraud. (Hearing will be on the Striking Amendment.)
  2. ESHB 2716 - Providing a right of first repurchase for surplus transportation property.
  3. HB 2734 - Allowing federally qualified community health centers to buy surplus real property from the department of transportation. (Hearing will be on the Striking Amendment.)
  4. ESHB 1775 - Regulating certain limousine carriers.

Copies of the Striking Amendment are available from committee staff. Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

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Ways & Means*
2/24/10 3:30 pm

 

Watch on TVWSenate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 2/22/2010 2:09 PM

Public Hearing: Public hearing on proposed Senate revenue package.

Executive Session: SB 6444 - Making 2010 operating supplemental appropriations.

*Testimony sign-in sheets will be provided starting at 2:30 pm outside hearing room 4.

Ways & Means
2/24/10 5:30 pm

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House committee meeting documents for this session may be viewed once the meeting has started and for any previous meetings from this session at the following Web site: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/cmd/

If you plan to visit the Capitol Campus in Olympia, please keep in mind parking is very limited. For directions, maps and information regarding parking and free shuttle service please see: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx

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