Less Government, Lower Taxes and More Freedom - 2014 Legislative Session Day 23

The Freedom Agenda Team had three bills heard in the Environment Committee today. House Bill 2090 is a true regulatory reform bill, which creates a categorical exemption under SEPA for projects deemed consistent with a locally adopted comprehensive plan, development regulations and shoreline master programs.

House Bill 2095 and 2269 are designed to create a"mitigation bank” from lands previously purchased by state agencies to mitigate transportation and other infrastructure construction projects. These bills would greatly reduce construction costs to the taxpayers.

2012 Regular Legislative Session Day 39

My day started with an Environment Committee meeting. Senate Bill 6082 is among the bills being heard this morning. The bill mandates the addition of several questions to the SEPA Checklist related to potential impacts to agricultural lands. Although many in the agricultural community like the idea, I do not. All the bill will do is create new appeal opportunities for individuals or organizations opposed to any development ... ever heard of Futurewise or Sierra Club? With all due respect to my Republican friends in the Senate supporting the bill, you do not know what you’re dealing with. This is a bad idea so we’ll have to try and amend or kill the bill.

I have a 10:00 AM State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee meeting. Rep. Sam Hunt is the chairman of the Committee and he keeps changing the dang agenda. He’s been doing this all year ... guess it’s time to jerk his chain a little bit. Hmm, this could be fun.

The rest of my day should be fairly uneventful. I have a few meetings, but nothing real serious on my calendar. It’s going to be a great day to rest and recuperate.

#State #Government #Tribal #Affairs #Environment #Committee #agenda #SB #6082 #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
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2012 Regular Legislative Session Day 11 Continued

I can honestly say I witnessed something today that I have never seen before. HB 2225, establishing July 25th as Patient Safety Day, was defeated through a 5-4 vote with two Democrats voting with us against the bill. Absolutely amazing to watch the rest of the Democrats attempt to sway their members to pass the bill. Victory!

Sitting in General Government Appropriations and Oversight now, listening to a presentation from the Columbia Gorge Commission. I am of the opinion the Gorge Commission is an unconstitutional decision making body that should be abolished. It’s time to return all land use decision making authority to the locally elected officials.

I have a 2:30 meeting today with the Republican Caucus of the Environment Committee. Rep. Matt Shea was recently added to the Environment Committee, which adds another pro-property rights member to the Committee. Let the fun begin!

#Matt #Shea #Environment #Committee #HB #2225 #Patient #Safety #Day #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
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2012 Regular Legislative Session Day 5

We had a Labor and Workforce Development Committee meeting this morning, but there's not a lot to report on. We Caucused on several bills for Monday's Floor Session, but there's not a lot of controversial bills on the list. I have an Environment Committee meeting this afternoon which should be interesting. There's a SEPA Bill up for hearing that's a complete waste of time ... mostly allowing things already allowed ... so I should have some fun with that.

It sure feels like the Legislature is doing a whole lot of nothing right now. Stay tuned ...

#Labor #Environment #House #Republican #Caucus #SEPA #Rep #15th #District #David #Taylor
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