Friday morning and we’re on the House Floor for what hopes to be the last day in 2013. After caucusing for 90 minutes, we began voting on bills.
Second Substitute Senate Bill 5367 passed 80 to 2 with 15 excused.
Senate Bill 5644 passed 77 to 5 with 15 excused.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5036 passed 79 to 4 with 14 excused.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5035 (Capital Budget) passed 79 to 4 with 14 excused.
After running the Capital Budget, the Legislature reached Sine Die … let’s hope it’s for real this time. I’m looking forward to being home and thank everyone for their prayers and support over the last 6 months.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
June 28th - 2013 Second Special Session
As the House begins its debate on the negotiated budget, I think it’s important to inform the citizens of Washington about a few of the provisions in it. First and foremost, the most important thing to remember in all the news articles and reports is that the revenue forecast projects an additional $2.0 billion in revenue. Now, understanding the state has $2.0 billion more to spend than the last biennium, let’s compare the Washington State Republican Party’s Platform to the negotiated, compromise Operating Budget the House. The Preamble to the State Party Platform specifically calls for"low taxes” yet the proposed Operating Budget includes two tax increases totaling approximately $246.8 million. Section 7 of the State Party Platform recognizes the"unalienable right of human life, from conception to natural death, yet the compromise budget includes between $16 and $25 million to Planned Parenthood for services, including publicly funded abortions and Plan B. Section 9 of the State Party Platform calls for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); unfortunately, the compromise budget fully implements Obamacare in Washington State. While these are more than enough reason to vote no on the negotiated budget, there’s more.
The budget also relies on the sweeping of funds and temporary transfers to balance the budget to the tune of approximately $500 million. In addition, the budget relies on an additional $2.3 billion in federal dollars … that’s right, the state has decided to rely on the federal government to fund programs. I guess they forgot the federal government currently faces approximately $150 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
I’ll be voting no on this budget as it fails to reduce government, lower taxes or expand freedom for the citizens of Washington State.
The budget also relies on the sweeping of funds and temporary transfers to balance the budget to the tune of approximately $500 million. In addition, the budget relies on an additional $2.3 billion in federal dollars … that’s right, the state has decided to rely on the federal government to fund programs. I guess they forgot the federal government currently faces approximately $150 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
I’ll be voting no on this budget as it fails to reduce government, lower taxes or expand freedom for the citizens of Washington State.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
June 27th - 2013 Second Special Legislative Session
After a prolonged break after the passage of the Gas Tax, we’re back on the House Floor to consider passage of several bills. Not surprisingly, the first bill we ran (1971) is another tax increase … (sigh).
Second Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1971 passed 77 to 15 with 5 excused.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5891 passed 90 to 2 with 5 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5912 passed 92 to 0 with 5 excused.
After breaking for caucus, we voted on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1955 (Transportation Projects funded through the gas tax) which passed 52 to 40 with 5 excused.
After breaking for dinner, we were given a list of 11 bills to caucus on and consider on the House Floor. These bills were …
House Bill 1450 passed 81 to 8 with 8 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5157 passed 89 to 0 with 8 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5679 passed 87 to 2 with 8 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5718 passed 90 to 0 with 7 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5804 passed 86 to 4 with 7 excused.
Senate Bill 5409 passed 80 to 10 with 7 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5892 passed 55 to 36 with 6 excused.
House Bill 2043 passed 54 to 36 with 7 excused.
After a 13 hours day, we’re headed home for the night.
Second Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1971 passed 77 to 15 with 5 excused.
Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5891 passed 90 to 2 with 5 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5912 passed 92 to 0 with 5 excused.
After breaking for caucus, we voted on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1955 (Transportation Projects funded through the gas tax) which passed 52 to 40 with 5 excused.
After breaking for dinner, we were given a list of 11 bills to caucus on and consider on the House Floor. These bills were …
House Bill 1450 passed 81 to 8 with 8 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5157 passed 89 to 0 with 8 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5679 passed 87 to 2 with 8 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5718 passed 90 to 0 with 7 excused.
Substitute Senate Bill 5804 passed 86 to 4 with 7 excused.
Senate Bill 5409 passed 80 to 10 with 7 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5892 passed 55 to 36 with 6 excused.
House Bill 2043 passed 54 to 36 with 7 excused.
After a 13 hours day, we’re headed home for the night.
Here's what the press is saying about the budget deal ...
Budget announcement in tweets | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/budget-announce...weets
"As you can see from the below tweets of reporters, the just concluded press conference with Governor Inslee and budget writers announcing the details of the 2013-15 budget agreement leaves lots to the imagination of what exactly lawmakers are being asked to vote on and have on the Governor's desk by 5 p.m."
https://chumly.com/n/1d79771
Budget announcement in tweets | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/budget-announce...weets
"As you can see from the below tweets of reporters, the just concluded press conference with Governor Inslee and budget writers announcing the details of the 2013-15 budget agreement leaves lots to the imagination of what exactly lawmakers are being asked to vote on and have on the Governor's desk by 5 p.m."
https://chumly.com/n/1d79771
June 27th - 2013 Second Special Session
Thursday morning and we were back on the House Floor for possible action on legislation. It sounds official … there’s a budget deal that could be voted on Friday night or Saturday morning. We have yet to be briefed on what’s in the negotiated budget and we have not been provided a copy as of yet. I hope we’ll be provided an opportunity to actually review the agreement before we vote on it. We were provided a list of five bills that could run and after caucusing until 11:30 AM, we broke for lunch. One of the bills on the list was reconsideration of the 10-1/2 cent gas tax increase that failed to pass yesterday.
After returning from lunch, the first action item was a motion to reconsider the Gas Tax (ESHB 1954), which passed 51 to 41 with 5 excused. The gas tax was passed 51 to 41 with 5 excused … I guess there was enough arm twisting to get the bill passed. It will be interesting to see what those members get for changing their vote to"yes”.
Here’s the vote count on the Gas Tax…
ESHB 1954
Transportation revenue
House vote on Final Passage on Reconsideration
6/27/2013
Yeas: 51 Nays: 41 Absent: 0 Excused: 5
Voting Yea: Representatives Appleton, Bergquist, Blake, Carlyle, Clibborn, Cody, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Freeman, Goodman, Green, Habib, Hansen, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Jinkins, Kagi, Kirby, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Moscoso, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Pollet, Reykdal, Riccelli, Roberts, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Seaquist, Sells, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Tarleton, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wylie, Zeiger, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay: Representatives Alexander, Angel, Buys, Chandler, Condotta, Dahlquist, DeBolt, Dunshee, Fagan, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hawkins, Hayes, Holy, Hurst, Klippert, Kochmar, Kretz, Kristiansen, MacEwen, Magendanz, Manweller, Nealey, Orcutt, Overstreet, Parker, Pike, Ross, Schmick, Scott, Shea, Short, Smith, Stonier, Taylor, Vick, Walsh, Warnick, and Wilcox
Absent:
Excused: Representatives Crouse, Hope, Johnson, Rodne, and Takko
More to come as the day progresses.
After returning from lunch, the first action item was a motion to reconsider the Gas Tax (ESHB 1954), which passed 51 to 41 with 5 excused. The gas tax was passed 51 to 41 with 5 excused … I guess there was enough arm twisting to get the bill passed. It will be interesting to see what those members get for changing their vote to"yes”.
Here’s the vote count on the Gas Tax…
ESHB 1954
Transportation revenue
House vote on Final Passage on Reconsideration
6/27/2013
Yeas: 51 Nays: 41 Absent: 0 Excused: 5
Voting Yea: Representatives Appleton, Bergquist, Blake, Carlyle, Clibborn, Cody, Farrell, Fey, Fitzgibbon, Freeman, Goodman, Green, Habib, Hansen, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Jinkins, Kagi, Kirby, Liias, Lytton, Maxwell, McCoy, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Moscoso, Ormsby, Orwall, Pedersen, Pettigrew, Pollet, Reykdal, Riccelli, Roberts, Ryu, Santos, Sawyer, Seaquist, Sells, Springer, Stanford, Sullivan, Tarleton, Tharinger, Upthegrove, Van De Wege, Wylie, Zeiger, and Mr. Speaker
Voting Nay: Representatives Alexander, Angel, Buys, Chandler, Condotta, Dahlquist, DeBolt, Dunshee, Fagan, Haigh, Haler, Hargrove, Harris, Hawkins, Hayes, Holy, Hurst, Klippert, Kochmar, Kretz, Kristiansen, MacEwen, Magendanz, Manweller, Nealey, Orcutt, Overstreet, Parker, Pike, Ross, Schmick, Scott, Shea, Short, Smith, Stonier, Taylor, Vick, Walsh, Warnick, and Wilcox
Absent:
Excused: Representatives Crouse, Hope, Johnson, Rodne, and Takko
More to come as the day progresses.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
June 26th - 2013 Second Special Session
We began the day at 10:00 AM on the House Floor for possible action on bills. After Caucusing for 90 minutes, we ran three bills and broke for lunch. These bills were …
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1306 passed 73 to 14 with 10 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1866 passed 84 to 3 with 10 excused.
House Bill 2068 passed 80 to 7 with 10 excused.
At 2:30 PM, we started debate on final passage of the Transportation Tax (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1954). The 10-1/2 cent per gallon gas tax increase FAILED 48 to 42 with 7 excused for lack of a Constitutional Majority. Seven Democrats voted no and after breaking for caucus one of them made a motion to reconsider the bill tomorrow. As I like to say,"Nothing is dead in Olympia until the session ends.
After the motion of reconsideration was sustained, we broke for the day.
https://chumly.com/n/1d75553
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1306 passed 73 to 14 with 10 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1866 passed 84 to 3 with 10 excused.
House Bill 2068 passed 80 to 7 with 10 excused.
At 2:30 PM, we started debate on final passage of the Transportation Tax (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1954). The 10-1/2 cent per gallon gas tax increase FAILED 48 to 42 with 7 excused for lack of a Constitutional Majority. Seven Democrats voted no and after breaking for caucus one of them made a motion to reconsider the bill tomorrow. As I like to say,"Nothing is dead in Olympia until the session ends.
After the motion of reconsideration was sustained, we broke for the day.
https://chumly.com/n/1d75553
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
June 25th - 2013 Second Special Session
It’s Tuesday morning and the House convened at 10:00 AM for possible action on bills. After a remarkably short caucus, we started voting on bills at 10:45 AM. We passed 4 bills and then broke for caucus and lunch. The four bills we passed were …
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1978 passed 82 to 2 with 13 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1986 passed 82 to 3 with 12 excused.
House Bill 1988 passed 87 to 0 with 12 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1957 passed 83 to 5 with 9 excused.
After breaking for lunch, we started considering amendments to the proposed Transportation Funding Package. The funding package relies on a 10-1/2 cent fuel tax increase, increases fees and bonding of projects. All told the fuel tax increase amounts to a $3.76 billion dollar tax increase, the various fees amount to $2.74 billion and bonding of projects adds another $3.5 billion. Among the amendments proposed by the House Republicans were two amendments to remove the Emergency Clause from these bills. One amendment removed the Emergency Clause and the other removed it and replaced it with a Referendum Clause. As many people know, an emergency clause eliminates the ability of the public to place a referendum on the November ballot. In other words, the Democrat Majority doesn’t believe the voters of Washington should be allowed the opportunity to approve or reject the tax increase.
Although rarely done, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1954 and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1955 were amended on Second Reading and placed on the Third Reading Calendar for action as early as tomorrow. House Rule 12 requires budget bills to sit on the bar for 24 hours before being considered for final passage on Third Reading, unless waived by the Speaker without objection or a 2/3 majority vote of the House.
We broke for caucus again and then ran two more bills before adjourning for the day.
House Bill 2079, which never received a public hearing and was never referred to a committee, passed 56 to 34 with 7 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1872 passed 58 to 32 with 7 excused.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1978 passed 82 to 2 with 13 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1986 passed 82 to 3 with 12 excused.
House Bill 1988 passed 87 to 0 with 12 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1957 passed 83 to 5 with 9 excused.
After breaking for lunch, we started considering amendments to the proposed Transportation Funding Package. The funding package relies on a 10-1/2 cent fuel tax increase, increases fees and bonding of projects. All told the fuel tax increase amounts to a $3.76 billion dollar tax increase, the various fees amount to $2.74 billion and bonding of projects adds another $3.5 billion. Among the amendments proposed by the House Republicans were two amendments to remove the Emergency Clause from these bills. One amendment removed the Emergency Clause and the other removed it and replaced it with a Referendum Clause. As many people know, an emergency clause eliminates the ability of the public to place a referendum on the November ballot. In other words, the Democrat Majority doesn’t believe the voters of Washington should be allowed the opportunity to approve or reject the tax increase.
Although rarely done, Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1954 and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1955 were amended on Second Reading and placed on the Third Reading Calendar for action as early as tomorrow. House Rule 12 requires budget bills to sit on the bar for 24 hours before being considered for final passage on Third Reading, unless waived by the Speaker without objection or a 2/3 majority vote of the House.
We broke for caucus again and then ran two more bills before adjourning for the day.
House Bill 2079, which never received a public hearing and was never referred to a committee, passed 56 to 34 with 7 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1872 passed 58 to 32 with 7 excused.
June 25th - 2013 Second Special Legislative Session
Rule 12 of the 2013-14 Legislative Manual for the House of Representatives requires 24 hours to pass before a budget bill can be placed on the Third Reading Calendar for final passage. This requirement can be waived by a 2/3rd vote of the House or a suspension of the rules.
You know what's in the pending 2013-15 budget, right? | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/you-know-whats-...right
"With a 2013-15 budget deal "imminent" one of the remaining questions left to be answered is whether lawmakers and the public will be provided adequate time to review the details before a vote on final passage occurs. We believe at a minimum the time provided for budget transparency should be at least 24 hrs."
You know what's in the pending 2013-15 budget, right? | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/you-know-whats-...right
"With a 2013-15 budget deal "imminent" one of the remaining questions left to be answered is whether lawmakers and the public will be provided adequate time to review the details before a vote on final passage occurs. We believe at a minimum the time provided for budget transparency should be at least 24 hrs."
June 25th - 2013 Second Special Legislative Session
Rule 12 of the 2013-14 Legislative Manual for the House of Representatives requires 24 hours to pass before a budget bill can be placed on the Third Reading Calendar for final passage. This requirement can be waived by a 2/3rd vote of the House or a suspension of the rules.
You know what's in the pending 2013-15 budget, right? | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/you-know-whats-...right
"With a 2013-15 budget deal "imminent" one of the remaining questions left to be answered is whether lawmakers and the public will be provided adequate time to review the details before a vote on final passage occurs. We believe at a minimum the time provided for budget transparency should be at least 24 hrs."
You know what's in the pending 2013-15 budget, right? | Washington Policy Center:: www.washingtonpolicy.org/blog/post/you-know-whats-...right
"With a 2013-15 budget deal "imminent" one of the remaining questions left to be answered is whether lawmakers and the public will be provided adequate time to review the details before a vote on final passage occurs. We believe at a minimum the time provided for budget transparency should be at least 24 hrs."
Monday, June 24, 2013
June 24th - 2013 Second Special Legislative Session Day 13
It’s Monday and we’re on the House Floor at 1:00 PM for possible action on bills. At 4:08 PM we began consideration of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5897. It passed 78 to 7 with 12 excused. After the bill passed, the House immediately adjourned for the day. After a little over three hours of waiting to consider bills, we ran 1 bill for the day. Your government at work …
Friday, June 14, 2013
June 13th and 14th - 2013 Second Special Legislative Session Days 2 and 3
Welcome to the Second Special Legislative Session of 2013, where some things never change. We started the day and spent the next 2 hours waiting for the Democrat Majority to decide what they want to do. The first bill we ran was House Bill 2075, which was yet another Estate Tax (Death Tax) bill that passed 53 to 33 with 11 excused. This is the third time we voted on a version of the Death Tax bill this year.
After running the bill the Death Tax bill went to ease and we were told to be back at 2:00 PM. At 4:30 PM we remained at ease and were told to be on the floor at 6:00 PM, only to sit around until 11:20 PM without doing anything.
We finally ran a bill, Senate Bill 5296, to reform the Model Toxics Control Account (MTCA) which has the potential to be a huge economic development tool for local jurisdictions. It only took 137 days in session, but we passed a great"jobs” bill. The bill passed 67 to 18 with 12 excused. All the no votes were Democrats.
We adjourned at midnight. Let’s recap today’s busy day on the House Floor … 15 hours, 2 bills.
After running the bill the Death Tax bill went to ease and we were told to be back at 2:00 PM. At 4:30 PM we remained at ease and were told to be on the floor at 6:00 PM, only to sit around until 11:20 PM without doing anything.
We finally ran a bill, Senate Bill 5296, to reform the Model Toxics Control Account (MTCA) which has the potential to be a huge economic development tool for local jurisdictions. It only took 137 days in session, but we passed a great"jobs” bill. The bill passed 67 to 18 with 12 excused. All the no votes were Democrats.
We adjourned at midnight. Let’s recap today’s busy day on the House Floor … 15 hours, 2 bills.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
June 11th - 2013 First Special Legislative Session Day 30
At 3:30 today the First Special Session of the 2013 Legislature came to a close. I say "first" because we start the Second Special Sessional tomorrow at 10:00 AM with a Pro Forma Session and expect the first actual votes to happen on Thursday, Day 2 of the Second Special Session. Here's a summary of what a 30-day Special Session looks like ... 4 days with the House in Session, a total of 12 bills voted on, 10 of which occured on one day.
Monday, June 10, 2013
June 10th - 2013 First Special Session Day 29
We were called back to Olympia for another day on the House Floor waiting for the Democrat Majority to decide what they want to do. We were able to adopt a Resolution honoring Trooper Sean M. O'Connell Jr who was killed in the line of duty in May, but have done little else. There are only four bills on the Floor Calendar, so it could be a short day and we have no idea how long we’ll be here.
We ran the Capital Budget as amended to only address those projects passed over the last three biennia through re-appropriated funds. In other words, the projects contained in the amended Capital Budget have already been bonded and are on-going. Unfortunately, we have no idea where these projects are in the process or whether all of them have been started. The Capital Budget also includes millions of dollars for land purchases, yet we have no idea which of the purchases are pending, in process or simply on the state’s wish list. House Bill 1089 passed 83 to 10 with 4 excused.
And now we’re done for the day … amazing.
We ran the Capital Budget as amended to only address those projects passed over the last three biennia through re-appropriated funds. In other words, the projects contained in the amended Capital Budget have already been bonded and are on-going. Unfortunately, we have no idea where these projects are in the process or whether all of them have been started. The Capital Budget also includes millions of dollars for land purchases, yet we have no idea which of the purchases are pending, in process or simply on the state’s wish list. House Bill 1089 passed 83 to 10 with 4 excused.
And now we’re done for the day … amazing.
Time to pay attention and prepare for battle.
Venture capitalist files new Wash. gun control bill | www.king5.com Seattle:: www.king5.com/news/politics/Venture-capitalist-fil....html
"Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer will file a proposed gun control bill with the Washington legislature on Monday. The bill proposes to close a loophole in Washington's current background check law."
https://chumly.com/n/1d0598d
Venture capitalist files new Wash. gun control bill | www.king5.com Seattle:: www.king5.com/news/politics/Venture-capitalist-fil....html
"Seattle venture capitalist Nick Hanauer will file a proposed gun control bill with the Washington legislature on Monday. The bill proposes to close a loophole in Washington's current background check law."
https://chumly.com/n/1d0598d
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
June 6th - 2013 First Special Session Day 25
Here we are on Day 25 of the First Special Legislative Session and we’re finally running bills. With the exception of the one bill we ran last Thursday (May 30th) these are the first bills we’ve run all Special Session.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1947 passed 68 to 25 with 4 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1961 passed 87 to 6 with 4 excused.
House Bill 2042 passed 84 to 9 with 4 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2016 passed 71 to 22 with 4 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1971 passed 74 to 18 with 5 excused.
Engrossed House Bill 2036 passed 52 to 35 with 10 excused.
House Bill 2068 passed 79 to 9 with 9 excused.
Substitute House Bill 2069 passed 83 to 5 with 9 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1057 passed 53 to 35 with 9 excused.
Engrossed House Bill 2034 passed 52 to 40 with 5 excused.
After a long 13 plus hour day on the House Floor, we managed to pass a total of ten bills and I voted"no” on all of them. In summary, the House passed tax increases, extended assessments, further implemented Obamacare, increased court fees, shifted state tax dollars to federal dollars, and passed another operating budget … not a great day for the taxpayers of Washington.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1947 passed 68 to 25 with 4 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1961 passed 87 to 6 with 4 excused.
House Bill 2042 passed 84 to 9 with 4 excused.
Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2016 passed 71 to 22 with 4 excused.
Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1971 passed 74 to 18 with 5 excused.
Engrossed House Bill 2036 passed 52 to 35 with 10 excused.
House Bill 2068 passed 79 to 9 with 9 excused.
Substitute House Bill 2069 passed 83 to 5 with 9 excused.
Substitute House Bill 1057 passed 53 to 35 with 9 excused.
Engrossed House Bill 2034 passed 52 to 40 with 5 excused.
After a long 13 plus hour day on the House Floor, we managed to pass a total of ten bills and I voted"no” on all of them. In summary, the House passed tax increases, extended assessments, further implemented Obamacare, increased court fees, shifted state tax dollars to federal dollars, and passed another operating budget … not a great day for the taxpayers of Washington.
June 6th - 2013 Special Legislative Session Day 25
We’re on the Floor this morning for what could be a long day of waiting. The Democrat Majority has placed eleven bills on the Calendar for possible action over the next couple of days, but we really don’t know what their plan is. By all accounts, thus far, they don’t have a strategy to reach agreements before the end of the First Special Session, meaning a Second Special Session is looking like a real possibility.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
June 5th - 2013 First Special Legislative Session
In today’s House Appropriations Committee meeting we’re hearing House Bill 2034 and House Bill 2069. House Bill 2034 eliminates the preferential B&O tax rate of 0.275 percent for travel agents and tour operators; eliminates the preferential B&O tax rate of 0.138 percent for resellers of prescription drugs; repeals the sales and use tax exemption for bottled water; changes the nonresident sales and use tax exemption for tangible personal property into a remittance program; narrows the high technology tax credit for research and development; expires the high technology sales and use tax deferral program on July 1, 2013; narrows the use tax exemption for extracted fuel produced by an extractor or manufacturer during the extracting or manufacturing activity; provides new funding formula allocations to support increased instructional hours for secondary students, for the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program, and increased staffing for counselors and family engagement coordinators; specifies an implementation schedule for increased instructional hours under Basic Education; directs the State Board of Education to adopt a 24-credit graduation requirement framework to take effect with the graduating class of 2018; and appropriates $168.6 million for K-12 and $78.7 million for higher education.
House Bill 2069 modifies the eligibility criteria for the Medical Care Services and the Aged, Blind or Disabled Programs and requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to determine eligibility for the Essential Needs and Housing Services Program.
We’re also scheduled to consider House Bill 1057 for Executive Action, which is the Democrats original proposed Operating Budget.
House Bill 2069 modifies the eligibility criteria for the Medical Care Services and the Aged, Blind or Disabled Programs and requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to determine eligibility for the Essential Needs and Housing Services Program.
We’re also scheduled to consider House Bill 1057 for Executive Action, which is the Democrats original proposed Operating Budget.
June 5th - 2013 First Special Legislative Session
Well I'm back in Olympia today for an Appropriations Committee Meeting to hear a couple of bills and to possibly take Executive Action on at least one. We're also scheduled to be on the House Floor tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. It doesn’t sound like any real progress has been made on the budget, but there are several bills NTIB (necessary to implement the budget) on the calendar.
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