Senate Bill 6130, ESSB 6130 (suspending provisions of I-960)
ESSB 6130, which passed the House by a 51-47 vote, would temporarily repeal provisions of the voter-approved Initiative 960 until after July 1, 2011. The House amended ESSB 6130, restoring public-notification requirements and cost projections when a tax increase is proposed in the Legislature. Other provisions that are being repealed include the requirement of a two-thirds majority vote for the Legislature to raise taxes, and the requirement to have a tax advisory vote for any tax increase not referred to voters or otherwise blocked from public vote. The Senate concurred with the House amendments in a 26-21 vote, and the bill was signed into law by the governor.
Sen. Randi Becker (R-Eatonville): N
Sen. Dan Swecker (R-Rochester): N
Sen. Karen Fraser (D-Thurston County): Y
Sen. Michael Carrell (R-Lakewood): N
Sen. Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch): N
Senate Bill 6449, ESSB 6449 (registration of signature gathers)
ESSB 6449 passed the Senate by a 29-19 vote, requiring that any businesses using paid signature gathers in Washington to register with the Public Disclosure Commission. The act also would require everyone paid to gather signatures to register with the PDC. The bill does not require volunteer signature gatherers to register. ESSB 6449 is before the House State Government Tribal Affairs Committee.
Becker N, Swecker N, Fraser Y,
Carrell N, Sheldon N
House Bill 2397, SHB 2397 (imposing distance requirement for signature gathers)
SHB 2397 would prohibit signature gatherers for an initiative or referendum petition from being within 15 feet of the entrance or exit of stand-alone stores or retail stores in commercial retail complexes. The bill allows a property owner to give permission to signature gatherers, allowing them to be closer than 15 feet. SHB 2397 passed the House by an 82-12 vote. It is before the Senate Government Operations Elections Committee for further consideration.
Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy): N
Rep. Jim McCune (R-Graham): N
Rep. Gary Alexander (R-Thurston County): Y
Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis): N
Rep. Sam Hunt (D-Olympia): Y
Rep. Brendan Williams (D-Olympia): Y
Rep. Tami Green (D-Lakewood): Y
Rep. Troy Kelley (D-Tacoma): Y
Rep. Fred Finn (D-Thurston County): Y
Rep. Kathy Haigh (D-Shelton): Y
House Bill 2941, SHB 2941 (authorizing use of express toll lanes in the I-405 corridor)
SHB 2941, which passed the House by a 56-40 vote, would allow the state to impose tolls for the construction and operation of express toll lanes on I-405 between I-5 and Bellevue. The act also would allow the Washington State Transportation Commission to set toll rates for vehicles with fewer than three passengers that use the express toll lanes. SHB 2941 now will be referred to the Senate for further consideration.
Campbell N, McCune N, Alexander N, DeBolt E, Hunt Y,
Williams Y, Green Y, Kelley N, Finn Y, Haigh Y
Source: washingtonvotes.org
