How they voted

Sun., Feb. 27, 2005

The Spokesman-Review

The following votes are provided by WashingtonVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan Web site.

Constitutional Amendment for School Levies: By a vote of 73-25 on Monday, the House approved House Joint Resolution 4205, which proposes to amend the state constitution to allow a simple majority of voters to approve school levies. Current law calls for a 60 percent majority to authorize levies. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Yes: Reps. Alex Wood, D-Spokane; Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane.

No: Reps. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley; Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane Valley; John Serben, R-Spokane; John Ahern, R-Spokane; Bob Sump, R-Republic; Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda; Don Cox, R-Colfax; David Buri, R-Colfax.

Prescription Importation: By a vote of 54-41 on Friday, the House approved House Bill 1168, requiring the state Department of Health to license any Canadian pharmacy that ships, mails or delivers prescription drugs to Washington residents. If the department is unable to develop a licensing agreement with Health Canada or a Canadian province, it will license participating Canadian pharmacies through on-site inspection and certification.

Yes: Wood; Ormsby.

No: Crouse; Schindler; Serben; Ahern; Sump; Kretz; Cox; Buri.

Ethics Complaints against Elected Officials: By a vote of 46-0 on Wednesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5046, which gives state ethics boards the authority to make rules for dismissing unfounded, frivolous or minor ethics violation charges against elected officials. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Yes: Sens. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane; Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley; Brad Benson, R-Spokane; Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls; Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

Regulating Title Insurance Companies: By a vote of 46-0 on Wednesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5045, allowing a title insurance company in Washington to issue a guarantee of up to $200,000 against fraudulent or dishonest acts committed by any employees, officers or owners. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Yes: Brown; McCaslin; Benson; Morton; Schoesler.

Employer-Owned Life Insurance: By a vote of 46-0 on Wednesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5196, establishing that insurance transactions in Washington may not insure against the death or disability of another person unless the person purchasing the insurance has an insurable interest in the person being insured. No corporate-owned life or disability insurance policies purchased by employers or employees will take effect until the person being insured consents in writing. The bill is now under consideration in the House.

Yes: Brown; McCaslin; Benson; Morton; Schoesler.

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