How they voted
Washingtonvotes.org supplied the following voting summaries on bills last week:
Divorce: The House of Representatives approved House Bill 1171, 89-0, which prevents courts from denying or delaying divorce decrees based on the fact that one party is pregnant. The bill is under consideration in the Senate.
Yes: Reps. Alex Wood, D-Spokane; Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane; Rep. John Serben, R-Spokane; Bob Sump, R-Republic; Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda; Don Cox, R-Colfax; David Buri, R-Colfax.
Excused: Reps. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley; Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane Valley; John Ahern, R-Spokane.
Registered Nurses: By a vote of 74-23 on Thursday, the House of Representatives approved House Bill 1479, which allows advanced registered nurse practitioners to prescribe Schedule II through IV controlled substances without entering into an arrangement with a physician. Schedule II through IV controlled substances include codeine, morphine, valium, barbiturates, oxycodone, and other drugs that pose risks for addiction and abuse.
Yes: Wood, Ormsby, Serben, Sump, Kretz, Cox, Buri.
No: Crouse, Schindler, Ahern.
Mental Health Insurance: By a vote of 40-9 on Thursday, the Senate approved House Bill 1154, which requires mental health insurance coverage to be offered under the same terms and conditions as physical coverage in health insurance policies. Groups with 50 or fewer employees would be exempt from mandatory coverage, though insurers must offer optional mental health coverage to those groups. The bill has now passed both chambers of the legislature and is awaiting signature or veto by the governor.
Yes: Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.
No: Sens. Bob McCaslin, R-Veradale; Brad Benson, R-Spokane; Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls; Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.
Election Ballots: By a vote of 32-16 on Friday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5744, which allows the county auditor, with authorization from the county legislative authority, to conduct all primary, special, and general elections entirely by mail ballot. The bill is now under consideration in the House of Representatives.
Yes: Brown, McCaslin, Morton.
No: Benson, Schoesler.
Credit Reports: By a vote of 38-11 on Thursday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5275, which limits how insurance companies may use personal credit histories in renewal decisions. Insurance companies may use a credit history report only as a basis for maintaining or lowering a consumer’s rate. The bill is now under consideration in the House of Representatives.
Yes: Brown.
No: McCaslin, Benson, Morton, Schoesler.