Under the dome - Feb. 21

• Published February 21, 2009

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Today is the 41st day of the 105-day legislative session.

Coming Up

Committee activity will be heightened early next week as lawmakers rush to meet their first committee deadline at 5 p.m. Wednesday. That is when bills must pass in their first policy committees, the first step toward passage in the House or Senate chamber.

A second deadline for transportation and fiscal measures is March 1. The deadline for measures to win passage in their chamber of origin is March 12.

Events

Gerry Alexander, the Supreme Court chief justice, will give a talk at noon about the Governor's Mansion, part of the "Exploring Olympia History" series.

The brown-bag lunch event is at the State Capital Museum and Outreach Center, 211 21st Ave. S.W., in Olympia. Call 360-753-2580 for details; a museum donation of $2 is suggested.

Several lobbying groups also are at the Capitol on Monday:

• Planned Parenthood Votes! plans its yearly "Reproductive Health and Rights" event. Nearly 500 people are expected for a noon rally at the Capitol steps at the Rotunda. Among the group's issues this year are retaining $10 million in state funding for family planning for low-income families, and securing $1 million for a family-planning nurse program that provides birth control in 58 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families offices.

• American Diabetes Association lobbying day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Columbia Room.

• A reproductive-rights reception is planned for 5 p.m. in the Columbia Room.

Getting the lead out

The state House voted 66-28 Friday to approve a bill that will require the replacement of lead wheel weights with more environmentally benign weights on vehicles after January 2011.

State Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, is the sponsor of House Bill 1033. The measure split lawmakers in South Sound — with Democratic Reps. Fred Finn of Thurston County, Sam Hunt of Olympia and Brendan Williams of Olympia voting for it, along with Republican Rep. Jim Mc Cune of Graham. Voting against were Republican Reps. Gary Alexander of Thurston County and Richard DeBolt of Chehalis. Democratic Rep. Kathy Haigh of Shelton was excused.

Under the bill, weights would be replaced as dealers replace old tires and wheels. The dealers would need to recycle the lead, which is linked to environmental problems.

DSHS bill moves

A bill that would split the massive Department of Social and Health Services into four smaller agencies was approved by the House State Government Committee on Friday.

House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee Chairman Sam Hunt said he wants to see what the fiscal effect of such a move would be.

Rep. Mike Armstrong sponsored HB 2197. Gov. Chris Gregoire has consistently opposed dividing the state's largest agency, saying she prefers to focus on improving the services it offers.

Noteworthy

Democratic Rep. Brendan Williams of Olympia and Republican Rep. Dan Roach of Bonney Lake both received an "Anchor Award" this year from the Washington Credit Union League.

Both backed legislation a year ago that would have given credit unions more tools for getting reimbursed for costs of notifying members of data breaches. This year, HB 1149, which Williams and Roach sponsored, cleared its first committee hurdle in the House. A companion, SB 5564, is co-sponsored by Democratic Sen. Tim Sheldon of Potlatch.

The Olympian