The Olympian

Under the dome - Feb. 14

• Published February 14, 2008

Today is the 32nd day of the 60-day legislative session.

QUOTED

"We'll find out how much money we have to work with on Friday. We're trying to be as conservative as possible."

— Rep. Kathy Haigh, D-Shelton, talking about the revenue forecast due at the end of the week and House Appropriations' plans to release a budget next Wednesday or Thursday. Haigh hopes to put more money into high school skills centers such as New Market in Tumwater.

TODAY

The Coalition for the Homeless plans a march with 300 people from The United Churches to the Capitol today. The event starts at 10:30 a.m.

Also today:

•Washington Community Action Network has a rally and mock marriage between small businesses and health care reform at the Capitol Rotunda. The 11:45 a.m. event highlights House Bill 2537, which makes changes to 2007 legislation that set up a future "connector" for selling subsidized insurance to small businesses and employees.

•Common Ground Coalition breakfast at 7:30 a.m., Columbia Room.

NOTEWORTHY

Two flood-relief bills have passed in the House Finance Committee and await a vote in the full House, according to Republican Rep. Richard DeBolt, the chief sponsor of both measures.

They are:

• House Bill 3137, which offers a three-year exemption from the state share of property taxes for property damaged by the December flooding. A home would qualify if its assessed value drops by at least 10 percent.

• House Bill 3138, which provides a sales- and use-tax exemption for rebuilding residential structures damaged in 10 counties by the December flooding. Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties are among the qualifying areas.

The latter bill carries a price tag of more than $28 million in state property taxes and would reduce local government receipts by $9.4 million, according to a bill analysis.

Also co-sponsoring the bills were Democratic Reps. Sam Hunt and Brendan Williams, both of Olympia, and Republican Rep. Jim McCune of Graham.