QUOTED
“I’m a pro-choice Republican and I am proud of that. Because I don’t want anyone telling me what I can do with my body. It is my body. It is my decision.”
Rep. Maureen Walsh,R-Walla Walla, speaking in opposition to House Bill 2148 — the Reproductive Parity Act — which would require insurers that offer maternity coverage to also cover abortions. Walsh doesn’t want those morally opposed to abortion to be forced to subsidize abortions under the insurance mandate. The bill passed on a largely party-line vote, 54-44.
NOTEWORTHY
Legislation to require a two-thirds majority in the Legislature to raise taxes failed to pass the Senate Wednesday. Sponsored by Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, Senate Joint Resolution 8213 needed a two-thirds majority vote to pass the Senate, which it did not receive.
THURSDAY IN THE LEGISLATURE
A proposal by Sen. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, would petition Congress to, in conjunction with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency, come up with a plan for a federal nuclear waste repository. Senate Joint Memorial 8014 will have a hearing in the Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee at 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building.
Legislation by Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, would eliminate an exemption that allows Christian Scientists to treat their children with faith-based healing instead of traditional medicine. Senate Bill 6295 is scheduled for a hearing at 10 a.m. in the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee in Hearing Room 1 of the John A. Cherberg Building.
Senate Bill 6516 would create a joint legislative task force to study financing options on flood control, water supply and stormwater projects. Introduced by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, the legislation is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 3:30 p.m. in Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building.
FRIDAY IN THE LEGISLATURE
Legislation introduced by Rep. Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle, would limit the amount of medical marijuana patients could possess. It would also eliminate collective gardens. House Bill 2149 has a hearing at 1:30 p.m. in the House Appropriations Committee in Hearing Room A of the John L. O’Brien Building.
A bill to expand suicide prevention training to include physician assistants and registered nurses is scheduled for a hearing and possible committee vote. House Bill 2315, introduced by Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, will be discussed at 8:30 a.m. in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services in Hearing Room C of the John L. O’Brien Building.
ELSEWHERE ON CAMPUS
Students from the University of Washington will be in Olympia on Thursday to meet with lawmakers during their annual Huskies on the Hill Day.
Members of the Northwest Credit Unions Association also plan to meet with lawmakers Thursday. The association will demonstrate the importance of financial education by conducting a live budgeting exercise with 100 River Ridge High School students.
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