Sterk, Crouse Plan Welfare Reform, Crime Bills

They’re still rookies, really, but the Spokane Valley’s two state representatives are exuding confidence as they head to Olympia for the 1996 legislative session.

Between them, Larry Crouse and Mark Sterk haven’t served a full term in the statehouse.

Crouse, 51, is in the middle of a two-year term, and Sterk, 43, served temporarily at the end of this year after Mike Padden left his seat to become a judge.

But the two 4th District representatives have big plans for 1996, the kind normally associated with political veterans.

Some of those plans are specific to Eastern Washington and the Valley, like advocating more transportation money for the dry side of the Cascades.

Others are on a much grander scale, like leading the campaign for reform of the state’s welfare system and crafting anti-crime legislation that would affect citizens statewide.

The two Republicans have drafted about a dozen bills to introduce when the session opens Jan. 8.

In an interview this week, the pair laid out their agenda for the session.

Fighting crime and reforming welfare are at the top of the list.

Both men said their constituents are demanding that the Legislature crack down on criminals.

People in the Spokane area are growing more and more uneasy as crime creeps into their neighborhood, said Crouse, pointing to the fact that Spokane has had a record number of murders this year.

“People are tired of being victimized,” he said.

Sterk, a sergeant with the Spokane Police Department, has specific ideas about fighting crime.

He plans to introduce several bills that would make life tougher for both adults and children convicted of violent and sex-related crimes.

One of them would prohibit registered sex offenders from living within a mile of a school.

Sterk said a recent case in which a convicted sex offender was found living with sight of Pratt Elementary School in the Valley prompted him to write the bill.

He said he will also propose legislation that would require convicted sex offenders to remain in jail while they await sentencing or appeals.

That bill was prompted by the murder of Rachel Carver, a Spokane third-grader who was killed by her uncle, Jason Wickenhagen.

Wickenhagen was out on bail awaiting sentencing for a rape conviction when he killed the girl.

Sterk said he is considering legislation that would make some juvenile criminals as young as 15 eligible for the death penalty.

Crouse and Sterk conceded the anti-crime legislation would create more work for law enforcement, corrections officials and prosecutors and likely cost more money.

Crouse said he thinks taxpayers are willing to pay more for the opportunity to walk around downtown after dark.

”(Criminals) have pushed them beyond that point,” he said.

Sterk agreed.

“I can’t see us solving the problem without having these kinds of tools,” he said.

The two propose paying for the added demand on the criminal justice system by eliminating waste in other areas of government and taking creative approaches within the system itself, like double-bunking prisoners.

Crouse said welfare reform is his pet project for 1996 and that he plans to be heavily involved in the campaign.

House Republicans plan to introduce a proposal that would “motivate welfare recipients to work,” said Crouse, who added that he’s received many calls from constituents asking for just that.

The plan includes provisions that would place a two-year limit on benefits and eliminate cash payments for children born to welfare recipients.

The bill would not cut off food stamps or medical care for the children, just the cash payment, Crouse said.

The plan also would raise the amount of money welfare recipients are allowed to put into savings accounts, Crouse said, with the intention of making their transition off welfare easier.

“It’s not just kicking them off,” he said.

On a more local level, the pair of Valley representatives has a couple of ideas.

Crouse said he will introduce a bill at the request of Spokane County Commissioner Steve Hasson that would give county residents the right of referendum and recall.

Residents living in Washington cities have those rights now, but county residents do not.

“It’s always important to let people have a say in government,” Crouse said.

Both men said they would look through the state’s capital construction budget to see if there is money available for the proposed Valley community center.

Several civic leaders propose building the facility, which would include a swimming pool and senior center, at the site that is currently home to Walk in the Wild zoo.

“We don’t know how successful we’ll be, but we’re going to try,” Crouse said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos