Lawmakers still tinkering with budget plans

As lawmakers debate how much money to spend on schools and state government, the budget proposal by House Democrats represents the high-water mark — one that even they cannot meet.

Under the Dome: Today is Saturday, April 27, the 104th day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted:"There's a glaring lack of protection for religion in state law."~Sen. Sharon Brown~R-Kennewick, on a bill that would allow businesses the right to deny services or goods if they felt doing so was contrary to their “sincerely held religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, or matters of conscience.” Brown’s bill is a response to lawsuits filed against a Richland florist who denied service to a gay couple for their upcoming wedding.

Under the Dome: Today is Friday, April 26, the 103rd day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted:"It's been very liberating for me. I've gone from riding the pine to playing 48 minutes every game. So, it's a lot different."~Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, during Thursday’s Majority Coalition Caucus press conference. Sheldon, a conservative Democrat, was comparing his current leadership position in the Senate’s majority caucus to his days caucusing with his own party.

Under the Dome: Today is Thursday, April 25, the 102nd day of the 105-day legislative session

Quoted:"You know, Mr. Speaker, I've never given your nose much attention, but since the lady from the 30th (district) brought it up, it quite nice."~Rep. Brandon Vick~R-Vancouver, during Wednesday's floor debate on a $900 million tax package. Vick was referencing an earlier comment by Federal Way Republican Rep. Linda Kochmar, who compared the proposed tax hikes to cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Under the Dome: Today is Wednesday, April 24, the 101st day of the 105-day legislative session

Quoted: "This particular program was never funded and, in my estimation, it will never be funded. And so, I think it's time that we just step forward and eliminate this particular measure and if at some time in the future there is support for, and resources for, it could be brought back, I guess."~Rep. Gary Alexander~R-Olympia, speaking in support of a proposal to indefinitely delay the implementation of the family leave insurance program until funding and payment of benefits are authorized in law. House Bill 2044 passed the Appropriations Committee on a 17-14 vote.

Wrongly convicted get option

The Legislature has approved a measure that allows people who were wrongfully convicted to receive a minimum of $50,000 a year for each year they were behind bars.

Under the Dome: Today is Tuesday, April 23, the 100th day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted:"So here we are in the Senate changing the rules again. And the irony is that this is called increasing education funding, when we're actually asking our school districts to lower levies that we asked them to raise a couple years ago."~Sen. Christine Rolfes~D-Bainbridge Island, speaking in opposition to a proposal that would require a reduction in school levy lids. Senate Bill 5898 ultimately passed after a 28-20 vote.

Under the Dome: Week of April 22-26

Quoted: "I just see this as one more step in the privatization of so many pieces of government. ...We're seeing it everywhere, and we have to put a stop to it. We have to see what (are) our priorities as a cicilized society, and raise the revenue to fund those priorities. And parks are one of those priorities."~Bob Hasegawa~D-Seattle, urging the Senate to vote against a parks-funding proposal, Senate Bill 5897, which he says doesn’t adequately fund the state’s parks system.

Under the Dome: Today is Friday, April 19, the 96th day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted: The victims don't get a second chance at life, and we seem to be giving the drunk drivers a second chance to kill, so we need new laws to get tougher on DUI. But to get tougher, we also have to get smarter."~Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, during a hearing on a proposal to toughen drunken driving laws.

Under the Dome: Today is Thursday, April 18, the 95th day of the 105-day legislative session.

Quoted: "There's a lot of magic that always happens in this place."~Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom~D-Medina, during Wednesday’s Majority Coalition Caucus press conference. Tom was answering a question about whether a special session is inevitable.