Drunken-driving bill still has legs despite cost fears

Legislative leaders are unhappy with the predicted cost of a locally backed bill to allow felony charges after the fourth drunken- or drugged-driving conviction in seven years. But that doesn’t mean the bill’s dead, House Speaker Frank Chopp says.

“I consider it alive,” he said.

A cost prediction – called a “fiscal note” – compiled by state agencies suggested that the change would incarcerate enough chronic DUI drivers (about 1,200) to fill up a new prison. Since Washington’s already shipping prisoners out of state and adding to the prison complex in Connell, the prospect of building yet another $180 million prison isn’t one lawmakers like.

But Chopp said he’s skeptical that the bill will really cost that much. He wants the prediction revised.

“I think it’s not that high, so I’m working on the fiscal note on the thing,” he said. “I really want to do that (bill). But there’s still a lot of work to be done on it to make sure we can do it this session.”

In the Senate, Majority Leader Lisa Brown said the cost seems to be the only real concern with the bill.

“We are going to have to look at all the crime bills and their fiscal impacts on the capital budget,” said Brown, D-Spokane. “Building another prison definitely squeezes out buildings and higher education facilities and schools and everything else. But I’m not aware of any philosophical problem with the bill.”

Raw milk or raw deal?

Two months after 18 people got sick from drinking unpasteurized milk from a Cowlitz County farm, the state Senate has passed a bill to require “cow-share” farms – where clients get a share of a cow’s milk – be licensed as dairies and follow proper food safety precautions. Senate Bill 6377 does not ban cow-share agreements or the sale of raw milk.

“This is a life-or-death situation,” said state Sen. Mark Doumit, D-Cathlamet. “This isn’t just about selling a few gallons of milk.”

Of the 18 sick people, he said, three were children who ended up hospitalized in an intensive care unit for weeks.

The bill passed overwhelmingly. But two Republican senators balked at the bill’s tough penalty: A second violation would be a class C felony. Sen. Brad Benson, R-Spokane, said that fines, civil penalties and impoundment of property is appropriate in such cases, but perhaps not a prison sentence.

“A class C felony for a second offense?” he asked. “I’m picturing people in prison saying ‘What are you in for?’ and saying ‘Selling

milk.’ “

Rewarding good ideas

Each year, Secretary of State Sam Reed hands out awards to state workers who come up with ways to make government more efficient or cheaper.

Among this year’s crop:

Kennewick state Trooper David Wilbur: Change the oil in pursuit vehicles every 5,000 miles instead of every 3,000. Savings: $96,000 a year.

John Traylor, a Spokane social worker: Photograph all children placed in foster homes, so they can be identified quickly in case of emergency.

Aric Norton, an Olympia-based computer worker for the state Liquor Control Board: Setting up a toll-free phone number for state workers using laptop computers. Savings: $11,726 a year.

Failing to make the cut

Here, thanks to a particularly diligent Senate staffer, are some of the more exotic Senate bills that died in committee this year:

SB 6659: Making the office of state legislator a year-round position. Sponsored by state Sen. Dan Swecker, a Republican from Rochester, whose regular job is farming fish.

SB 6667: Moving the outdoor no-smoking zone from 25 feet away from doors and windows to 10 feet. Sponsored by state Sen. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane Valley.

SB 6383: Requiring labeling of any food containing parts of cloned animals. Sponsored by state Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle.