How they voted
The following summary of votes by Eastern Washington lawmakers is provided by Washingtonvotes.org.
School Levies: By a vote of 25-23 on Wednesday, the Senate failed to achieve the two-thirds vote necessary to approve Senate Joint Resolution 8202. The resolution would have proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow for a simple majority of voters to approve school levies.
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.
Family Leave: By a vote of 26-21 on Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5069, which creates a family leave insurance program. Businesses must pay two cents per hour worked per employee to the state. The state will pay benefits of up to $250 per week for up to five weeks to employees caring for a new child or ill relative, or recovering from their own illness. The bill is now under consideration in the House.
Yes: Brown.
No: Benson, Morton, Schoesler.
Excused: McCaslin.
State Spending Limit: By a vote of 25-21 on Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill 6078. While current law limits the growth in state general fund spending to the average rate of state population increase and inflation during the prior three years, this bill changes that standard to 90 percent of the growth rate in Washington personal income. The bill also eliminates the requirement for a two-thirds majority to raise taxes and changes it to a simple majority. The bill is now under consideration in the House.
Yes: Brown.
No: Benson, Morton, Schoesler.
Excused: McCaslin.
Election Reform: By a vote of 26 to 21 on March 11, the Senate approved Senate Bill 5499, which makes numerous changes to elections laws. The bill requires county elections officials to randomly investigate registered voter lists, requires that provisional ballots be distinguishable from regular ballots, and requires driver’s licensing agents to confirm the citizenship of those registering to vote. The bill is now under consideration in the House.
Yes: Brown, Benson.
No: McCaslin, Morton, Schoesler.
Property Taxes: By a vote of 50-46 on Tuesday, the House approved House Bill 1484, which authorizes voter-approved regular property tax levies of $0.75 per $1,000 of value for school purposes. This bill would allow general property tax funds to be used for education purposes. 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.