Session good to Spokane lawmakers

OLYMPIA – The 2007 legislative session was a good year for the three lawmakers from District 3, even if many of their local bills didn’t pass.

The region’s political power player, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, managed to keep her large Democratic majority on track this session, approving legislation – domestic partnerships, paid family medical leave, easier-to-pass school levies – that Brown had long championed.

Her fellow Spokane Democrat Rep. Timm Ormsby, meanwhile, is now vice chairman of the committee that writes the House construction budget, which this year contains hundreds of millions of dollars for projects throughout the Inland Northwest. He and most other local lawmakers pushed to get area projects included, among them a veterans cemetery, the Fox Theater, community centers, and YMCA and YWCA projects.

“Most of the local stuff’s in the budget,” said Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane, who sponsored bills to tweak the rules for gambling, car buyers and older drivers.

Here’s how each did:

Brown

Legislative leaders tend to sponsor few bills because they’re too busy running things and because their bills become easy targets for other lawmakers looking for bargaining chips. Among Brown’s bills this year: a couple of high-profile, controversial bills and a couple of strictly local measures.

“Senate Bill 5311: After a showdown with a reluctant House, Brown and Gov. Chris Gregoire won their bid to set up a hard-to-tap “rainy-day fund” for the state. More than $100 million is projected to go into the account annually, provided that voters pass the necessary constitutional amendment in November. Passed the Legislature.

“Senate Bill 6147: A bill strongly opposed by business groups, this would have charged large employers a fee unless they spent at least 9 percent of payroll on worker health care. Failed.

“Senate Bill 5742: A Spokane County-backed bill to expand sheriff’s civil service commissions from 3 members to 5. Failed.

“Senate Bill 5745: Would have allowed Spokane County air pollution officials to set more stringent rules against wood smoke on bad-air days. A similar House version of the bill passed the Legislature.

Ormsby

“House Bill 1873: Would have allowed families of adult children to sue for pain and suffering in wrongful death cases. The law now generally bans such damages once a child turns 18. Failed.

“House Bill 1910: Using a property tax break to encourage affordable housing. Passed the Legislature.

Wood

“House Bill 2135: Expanding Lemon Law coverage to out-of-state car buyers. Passed the Legislature.

“House Bill 1953: Allowing senior citizens who want to take an accident prevention course to get a break on their auto insurance premiums to study with videos or a computer, instead of just at an in-person class. Passed the Legislature.

“House Bill 1345: Would have allowed a $125 fine and other penalties for gambling under the age of 18. Failed.