WAWG
By Diana Carlen
WAWG Lobbyist
On Friday, we reached the first deadline of the legislative session. Any policy bills that did not move out of their original committee by Friday at 5 p.m. are dead for this session (unless otherwise revived). This drastically reduces the list of bills that are likely to move this session. The only legislation not covered by this deadline are budgets and fiscal bills necessary to implement the budget. In addition, initiative measures before the Legislature (i.e., the carbon tax initiative) are not subject to the deadlines and can be brought up at any time.
The next deadline is Feb. 9 when all bills must make it out of their fiscal committees. Monday and Tuesday will mostly be devoted to hearings in the fiscal committees to move bills out of committee by Tuesday evening. Beginning this Wednesday, there will be little committee action and the Senate and House will focus on voting legislation off the floor. All bills must pass out of their house of origin by Feb 17.
Senate Votes to Not Confirm Transportation Secretary
In a surprise move on Friday afternoon, the Senate voted to not confirm the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) secretary, Lynn Peterson. The vote was strictly on a party line vote of 25-21. Senate Republicans argued that the vote was about accountability due to mismanagement over I-405 tolling, the Highway 99 bridge and ferries. Senate Democrats supported confirming the WSDOT Secretary and argued that the vote was a political ploy to make the Governor look bad in an election year.
A gubernatorial appointee can serve indefinitely without formal confirmation, but can no longer serve if rejected. The last time a gubernatorial appointment was rejected was an appointment to the Fish and Wildlife Commission back in 1998.
Hearing Scheduled Next Week on Proposed Carbon Tax Initiative
The Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee is holding a public hearing on I-732, the carbon tax measure next Tuesday at 8 a.m.
In the past week, the Washington State Democrat Party and the Washington State Labor Council formally opposed I-732.
It is unlikely that the Legislature will act on the measure this session. If the Legislature does not act on the measure, it automatically goes before the voters on the fall ballot.