tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61426816924669253732024-03-12T23:09:39.064-07:00The AdvanceDaily legislative news from Washington's House DemocratsHouse Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comBlogger1545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-33123943756430616042013-04-26T14:41:00.001-07:002013-04-26T14:41:30.436-07:00The Advance is moving......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4usqD3Pr1xVFKUTP_3_HUSASwasv4g_Tp8BpJVmnljpmiCcehPVkMGfk44hH2JxUaFXHEIg03kxm03OOA4kqn6mnulQff6qmSsfC_Hufzh6EJfay4AYq878Kz27Z1THemc2CmexE64OQ/s1600/blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4usqD3Pr1xVFKUTP_3_HUSASwasv4g_Tp8BpJVmnljpmiCcehPVkMGfk44hH2JxUaFXHEIg03kxm03OOA4kqn6mnulQff6qmSsfC_Hufzh6EJfay4AYq878Kz27Z1THemc2CmexE64OQ/s1600/blog.jpg" /></a>
Beginning today, <i>The Advance </i>will no longer be updated on this site. But we aren't going away -- we are just moving over to the House Democratic Caucus web page. <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/the-advance/">Check out our new look</a>!<br />
<br />
With the move, we'll also be making this more of a blog by enabling reader comments. Starting on Monday, <i>The Advance</i>, along with other posts on our website, will allow readers to comment through their Facebook profiles.<br />
<br />
As always, some topics will be off-limits to keep us out of trouble with state ethics laws and House rules.
Comments that discuss political campaigns or promote commercial interests will be removed. Profane, obscene, personally abusive, and threatening comments will also be deleted. Off topic comments may also be removed at our staff’s discretion.<br />
<br />
In short, we ask that you please keep the conversations civil, be respectful of differing opinions, and stay on topic.
You can read our entire <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/social-media/">comment policy here</a>.<br />
<br />
Thanks for sticking with us for all these years. We'll see you over at <a href="http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/the-advance">www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/the-advance</a>.<br />
<br />
You can also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WAHouseDems" target="_blank">like us on Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/WAHouseDems" target="_blank">follow us on Twitter</a>. House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-75203507423981868352013-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:002013-04-25T08:00:04.414-07:00Washington Department of Revenue wins national award<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AYGsbb6qw7_lv9wr0EYLyQM6qMJ3-R_2P-n0UPXmwsRvS207ZFDvK3Smx5BWBIAWvMNnShOCo_j-jh395J9ctyobIGi-wHXwTRvZ45DtxA8s2uE01Kvi9imcoKGiCcCU23iYnIwwqGQ/s1600/DOR+mobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4AYGsbb6qw7_lv9wr0EYLyQM6qMJ3-R_2P-n0UPXmwsRvS207ZFDvK3Smx5BWBIAWvMNnShOCo_j-jh395J9ctyobIGi-wHXwTRvZ45DtxA8s2uE01Kvi9imcoKGiCcCU23iYnIwwqGQ/s320/DOR+mobile.jpg" width="172" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span>Latest
available data from the <a href="http://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/wa12.pdf">U.S. Small Business
Administration says</a> there were 546,885 small businesses in our state in
2010. That's 98.1 percent of all businesses in Washington! Hence, the reason you
often hear people referring to small business as the backbone of our economy.
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">So when the
Department of Revenue came up with a <a href="http://dor.wa.gov/content/findtaxesandrates/salesandusetaxrates/lookupataxrate/mobiletaxratelookup.aspx">mobile
app for both iPhone and Android</a> to help all these businesses easily file and
pay taxes accurately, the Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) took notice and
gave our state its <a href="http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/awards/2013_compliance_award.pdf">2013 Award
for Outstanding Compliance Program</a>. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">The award
recognizes the department's mobile device application that helps taxpayers,
especially small businesses, determine the right sales tax rates to charge
customers. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">FTA judges said our
state was the first to identify a compelling taxpayer need and meet it with a
mobile app. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<span style="font-family: verdana;">Read the <a href="http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/newsroom/2013/041513.aspx">Department of
Revenue's news release</a>. <span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span></span></div>
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-25433920474690015452013-04-24T12:50:00.000-07:002013-04-24T12:50:05.764-07:00“Day in court” for appeals of SR 520 toll penalties<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Nearly one in five
drivers crossing the State Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington lacks the
pre-purchased windshield transponder that is "read" by electronic sensors so
that the toll amount can be deducted from a prepaid or online account. For those
20 percent, cameras photograph the vehicle license
plate and then mail a bill for the toll to the owner. Late payment of the toll
triggers penalties: $5 for a 15-day delay, another $40 for an 80-day delay – for
each crossing. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcw8q6N1q6WO9s_UT54LImKt6YojQDz-SfWTM_7NfyOMba1fdf7bNkV51Ezpwif_V5V87GSjeXQp9seqQFaQCEdSy80VN3BlnTRGTkveQcPPiWeUuY12ADsDiI2CXlE_auE4_kvmIoXs/s1600/tolling.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcw8q6N1q6WO9s_UT54LImKt6YojQDz-SfWTM_7NfyOMba1fdf7bNkV51Ezpwif_V5V87GSjeXQp9seqQFaQCEdSy80VN3BlnTRGTkveQcPPiWeUuY12ADsDiI2CXlE_auE4_kvmIoXs/s1600/tolling.png" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Some drivers have
complained that they got slapped with the penalties, but never got the bill in
the mail in the first place – maybe because they moved, were in the hospital,
got divorced or for other understandable reasons. But no matter how legitimate
the excuse, they've been out of luck: The judges in the state's "toll court"
lack the authority to reduce or waive the penalties if the underlying toll was
correctly assessed. </span><br />
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<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
But that would change under a bill by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-cyrus-habib/">Rep. Cyrus Habib</a>
that gives penalized drivers who think they've been wronged a chance
to make their case – and gives judges the power to cut the drivers some slack if
the argument is convincing. <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1941&year=2013">House
Bill 1941</a> received final legislative approval April 23 and is on its way to
the governor. Click <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/fairness-for-520-bridge-drivers-gets-green-light-from-legislature/">here</a>
to read more about it. </div>
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-5160006594077250902013-04-23T13:30:00.001-07:002013-04-23T16:03:28.094-07:00Which House Democrats are on Twitter?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ0bI9JvonBib2bgDbGGIfGdnEaS-bCpPtQNWWA4fUI112dwDA9DVfVZ6lPjJSu9gswHtf8P1cgodqyx10pbQCMdia2Sf0XoP-ZGx-6_V1Dum9xICDKmFCO6shZlgjy8XIjTe8WWbsIY/s1600/Twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJ0bI9JvonBib2bgDbGGIfGdnEaS-bCpPtQNWWA4fUI112dwDA9DVfVZ6lPjJSu9gswHtf8P1cgodqyx10pbQCMdia2Sf0XoP-ZGx-6_V1Dum9xICDKmFCO6shZlgjy8XIjTe8WWbsIY/s320/Twitter.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Twitter may be the fastest way to hear about breaking news.<br />
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If you're interested in what's happening at the state capitol, Twitter is also a great way to keep up with your local lawmakers and the reporters who cover the capitol.<br />
<br />
Below is a list of House Democrats on Twitter.
Even if you don't have an account on Twitter, you can follow legislative news by searching for the hash-tag <b>#waleg</b> to see tweets about the legislature.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23waleg" target="_blank">Click here</a> for a shortcut to the #waleg feed.<br />
<br />
<b>House Democrats on Twitter </b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/WAHouseDems" target="_blank">House Democratic Caucus</a>, <b>@WAHouseDems</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/Jimmoeller" target="_blank">Jim Moeller</a> (America's Vancouver), Speaker Pro Tem<br />
<b>@Jimmoeller </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/kevinvandewege" target="_blank">Kevin Van De Wege</a> (Sequim), Majority Whip<br />
<b>@kevinvandewege </b><br />
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Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/rosshunter" target="_blank">Ross Hunter</a> (Medina), chair of Appropriations<br />
<b>@rosshunter</b><br />
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Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuvencarlyle" target="_blank">Reuven Carlyle</a> (Seattle), chair of Finance<br />
<b>@Reuvencarlyle </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkoLiias" target="_blank">Marko Liias</a> (Edmonds), vice chair of Transportation<br />
<b>@MarkoLiias </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/lauriejinkins2" target="_blank">Laurie Jinkins</a> (Tacoma), vice chair of Health Care and Wellness<br />
<b>@lauriejinkins2 </b><br />
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Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/larryseaquist" target="_blank">Larry Seaquist</a> (Gig Harbor), chair of Higher Education<br />
<b>@larryseaquist </b><br />
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Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/derekstanford" target="_blank">Derek Stanford</a> (Bothell), vice chair of Capital Budget<br />
<b>@derekstanford </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/marcusriccelli" target="_blank">Marcus Riccelli</a> (Spokane), Assistant Deputy Majority Whip<br />
<b>@marcusriccelli</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRostrum" target="_blank">Jeff Morris</a> (Mt. Vernon), chair of Technology and Economic Development<br />
<b>@therostrum </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/joefitzgibbon" target="_blank">Joe Fitzgibbon</a> (West Seattle), Deputy Majority Whip<br />
<b>@joefitzgibbon</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/chrisreykdal" target="_blank">Chris Reykdal</a> (Olympia), vice chair of Labor and Workforce Development<br />
<b>@chrisreykdal</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveUpthegrove" target="_blank">Dave Upthegrove</a> (Des Moines), chair of Environment<br />
<b>@DaveUpthegrove</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSpringer" target="_blank">Larry Springer</a> (Kirkland), Deputy Majority Leader for Jobs and Economic Development<br />
<b>@RepSpringer</b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/tinaorwall" target="_blank">Tina Orwall</a> (Des Moines), Deputy Speaker Pro Te<b>m</b><br />
<b>@tinaorwall </b><br />
<br />
Rep. <a href="https://twitter.com/runsinthehalls" target="_blank">Monica Stonier</a> (Vancouver), vice chair of Education<br />
<b>@runsinthehalls </b><br />
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-23400007012851889142013-04-23T10:43:00.000-07:002013-04-23T10:43:42.847-07:00Applications available for Legislative Youth Council<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiVIiFv6t7CTOZSYBKwUR1JO8PPdGyRRsJuqCmblU2E2g6GEV3peCXzAgNet_hm55GdzVqFDfXhfEw6fhyphenhyphenBs5-X0qa24Luh18ZCAfCyz3EZVDgmVkODFVJ5i9SSGjiRKt9P_W72ATBPg/s1600/20090209-Youth+Advisory+Council-1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiVIiFv6t7CTOZSYBKwUR1JO8PPdGyRRsJuqCmblU2E2g6GEV3peCXzAgNet_hm55GdzVqFDfXhfEw6fhyphenhyphenBs5-X0qa24Luh18ZCAfCyz3EZVDgmVkODFVJ5i9SSGjiRKt9P_W72ATBPg/s400/20090209-Youth+Advisory+Council-1043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2009 Legislative Youth Advisory Council</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you're a teen, chances are you can't afford a lobbyist to represent your interests in Olympia, but laws passed under the Capitol dome have an impact on your life just the same.<br />
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Wanting to hear from Washington's young residents, legislators passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5254.PL.pdf" target="_blank">SB 5254</a> in 2005, which created the <a href="http://www.k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/LYAC/default.aspx" target="_blank">Legislative Youth Advisory Council</a> (LYAC) to:
<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>Examine issues of importance to youth, including but not limited to education, employment, strategies to increase youth participation in state and municipal government, safe environments for youth, substance abuse, emotional and physical health, foster care, poverty, homelessness, and youth access to services on a statewide and municipal basis.</i></blockquote>
In 2007, impressed with LYAC's great success, lawmakers passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/1052-S.PL.pdf" target="_blank">HB 1052</a> to extend the program another two years. Finally, in 2009 they passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5229-S.PL.pdf" target="_blank">SB 5229</a>, eliminating the program's expiration date.<br />
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LYAC is a 22-member council of 14- to 18 year-old students from across the state who serve two-year terms. Applications are reviewed by the Council and the Lieutenant Governor's office is in charge of making the final selection.<br />
<br />
There are three to six annual meetings usually held in Olympia or Seattle and students are expected to attend all meetings and activities. Outside of the scheduled meetings, LYAC's members contact legislators to advise on pending legislation, draft letters and legislative reports, reach out to other youth and community organizations, and participate in Council conference calls.<br />
<br />
<b>This year's applications are due on June 25.</b> <a href="http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/youthandcommunities/LYAC/2013%20LYAC%20Application.pdf" target="_blank">Click here to download the Legislative Youth Advisory Council application</a>.
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House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-84933082028141031622013-04-22T18:14:00.001-07:002013-04-22T18:14:19.888-07:00Need to know: Annual report on Washington courts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFE-7N3FAK3AtLkWh5lFBLWlsqCnLjTqv-9LDuhfCphw6KP7f6RMLb9ZUVlNoLhOtKABpys3jV-bjIfAjmUKmNAR7lKc7eWW8PpyGxgoCh_0LgRE-UTh21cvUGJBgAvPqZXhApBWeSV0/s1600/Gavel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFE-7N3FAK3AtLkWh5lFBLWlsqCnLjTqv-9LDuhfCphw6KP7f6RMLb9ZUVlNoLhOtKABpys3jV-bjIfAjmUKmNAR7lKc7eWW8PpyGxgoCh_0LgRE-UTh21cvUGJBgAvPqZXhApBWeSV0/s200/Gavel.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
The recently released <a href="http://www.courts.wa.gov/caseload/" target="_blank">Caseloads of the Courts of Washington report</a> contains "data from the state's Judicial Information System," as well as "a detailed overview of the level of activity in the courts of Washington." <br />
<br />
Information is included in the report for every Washington Superior Court and most every Washington District and Municipal Court.<br /><br />Information in this "Caseloads of the Courts of Washington" report is reviewed all the time by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-Ross-Hunter/" target="_blank">state Rep. Ross Hunter</a> and other budget-writers. Hunter's <a href="http://wsldocs/2013-14/Pdf/Amendments/House/5034-S.E%20AMH%20ENGR%20H2378.E.pdf" target="_blank">striking amendment </a>to Senate Bill 5034 that was passed out of the House the other day, 54-43, and sent back over to the Senate is crafted upon this very type of real-world information.<br />
<br />
Budgeteers use these and related past and present details -- as well as, the estimates of future needs contained in the caseload-forecast reports.House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-55547261765642751752013-04-18T10:00:00.000-07:002013-04-18T10:00:06.630-07:00New protections enacted for stalking victims<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrOqdXbNCwlq7b005otyf6P5YJ_0GeRe9vgjvLVMJu6CAyiqZk0AVG8TaZn1mj5LwY2UU3wcUVA14GQzxVUwJuGjYS4y8ywwHQh5bIUsd3O0ZgGBx1iSNM8xp8pFNHq0RUvVw4S0ZxO0/s1600/stalker%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrOqdXbNCwlq7b005otyf6P5YJ_0GeRe9vgjvLVMJu6CAyiqZk0AVG8TaZn1mj5LwY2UU3wcUVA14GQzxVUwJuGjYS4y8ywwHQh5bIUsd3O0ZgGBx1iSNM8xp8pFNHq0RUvVw4S0ZxO0/s200/stalker%5B1%5D.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.esia.net/what_is_stalking.htm" target="_blank">Stalking is a crime that affects approximately 3.4 million Americans</a> each year. These perpetrators know no economic, racial, or societal bounds. Some stalkers are former spouses or boyfriends who are angry about child custody battles or embittered by breakups. But they can also be total strangers to the victim. <br />
<br />
Stalking can destroy lives. They sit outside homes for hours. They follow victims to work, to the gym, and out with friends. They call dozens of times a day and make constant threats. <br />
<br />
Stalking may go on for years and can end in murder or suicide. Victims of stranger stalking in Washington state have virtually no tools to stop these actions. Under current law, the only protection these victims can receive is an anti-harassment order. Anti-harassment orders are what neighbors file against each other over barking dogs or fence disputes. Law enforcement places very low priority on anti-harassment orders. <br />
<br />
Fortunately, <a href="http://wsldocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1383-S.E%20HBR%20SA%2013.pdf" target="_blank">HB 1383</a> sponsored by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-roger-goodman/" target="_blank">Rep. Roger Goodman</a> (D-Kirkland) will help save lives. It will create a new a stalking protection order, similar to sexual assault and domestic violence protection orders. This will give law enforcement better tools to stop stalkers, more protections for victims, and harsher penalties for perpetrators. <br />
<br />
HB 1383 passed the House and Senate <a href="http://aor/billsummary/default.aspx?bill=1383&year=2013" target="_blank">unanimously</a>. It was renamed the "Jennifer Paulson Stalking Protection Order" in memory of a Tacoma special education teacher who was murdered by her stalker three years ago. The bill now heads to the Governor's office for his signature. <br />
<br />
More information:<br />
• <a href="http://www.esia.net/index.html" target="_blank">End Stalking In America, Inc.</a><br />
• <a href="http://www.esia.net/State_Stalking_Laws.htm" target="_blank">What other states are doing about stalking</a><br />
• <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2c2933%2c587594%2c00.html" target="_blank">Jennifer Paulson’s story</a><br />
<br />
<i>Photo credit: Salvatore Vuono/freedigitalphotos.net</i>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-76655383228240626622013-04-18T07:00:00.001-07:002013-04-18T09:21:37.497-07:00Encouraging high-schoolers to study computer science<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccs1wtEcbTliDS4eI1cbqCS9Op-ELi7dd3HJPb1w4Imh2SGCLs89J55YC-0twhjBs95eF2t-1Af15QLSvAAZTrdS_MnPBQch2-k5uK7dyLND7wpiyqwO8jV-l2IwRQ-WKzUpYbP1BCKE/s1600/compclass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccs1wtEcbTliDS4eI1cbqCS9Op-ELi7dd3HJPb1w4Imh2SGCLs89J55YC-0twhjBs95eF2t-1Af15QLSvAAZTrdS_MnPBQch2-k5uK7dyLND7wpiyqwO8jV-l2IwRQ-WKzUpYbP1BCKE/s320/compclass.jpg" width="320" /></a>The demand for computer programmers exceeds the supply available to businesses
in Washington that want to hire them. That's an opportunity that high-school
students should take advantage of as they think about their future
careers. But at the same time, they need to make sure they complete all the
courses required for a high-school diploma.
<br />
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
Thanks to a bill by <span style="font-family: "calibri", "sans-serif";"><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-drew-hansen/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">Rep. Drew
Hansen</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial", "sans-serif";">
</span>that's nearing final legislative approval, it
could soon be easier for high-schoolers to satisfy both those goals.
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2"><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2013&bill=1472"><span style="color: blue;">House Bill 1472</span></a></span><u class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2"><span style="color: blue;"></span></u><span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2"> calls for school boards to
approve an advanced placement (AP) computer-science course as equivalent to a
math or science course that counts toward meeting graduation requirements. Other
states that do that, instead of treating the computer course as simply an
elective, have seen more students enroll in computer science.
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteFontSize-2">
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2"><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/boost-for-computer-science-education-gets-green-light-in-senate/">Read
more about HB 1472</a> on Rep. Hansen's web page.</span><br />
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2"></span><br />
<span class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2">Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/incitar-los-preparatorianos-que.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a></span></div>
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-83058575833074957782013-04-17T17:12:00.000-07:002013-04-18T09:33:20.213-07:00Passage of “Facebook” bill is a victory for civil liberties<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">We've all read about
people seeking jobs and getting asked for their Facebook login information, or
even told to log into their accounts right there so the interviewer can
"shoulder surf". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Can employers do this as
a condition for employment? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">We've also heard about
employers requiring their existing employees to disclose this information.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">Are these requirements
legal? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">There's nothing in
current law that prohibits employers from doing any of this. But that'll change
as soon as Gov. Inslee signs <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5211&year=2013">Senate
Bill 5211</a>, which passed the House today on a unanimous vote. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">A striking
amendment -- introduced by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-chris-reykdal/">Rep. Chris
Reykdal</a> and strongly supported by everyone on both sides of the aisle, the
business community and the ACLU -- provides a clear solution to the problem of
employers who demand that job applicants or current employees do one or all of
these things: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">provide the passwords to
their private social media accounts such as Facebook </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">log into their accounts
in the presence of the employer </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">add an individual
affiliated with the employer to their "friends" lists associated with social
media sites </span></li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqvxTUNgqJOQpn6xmBnpizIb4-6bgk2BnUXeooYiewvBOWGht_FhHbztti4Y4s0i0MvFZUJhX-yB5uEcDTB9fHZnlIUFfeklHNWJL-iC7F_gW6BlSf79EcyDEthWc5oGWTXloW7UpKgk/s1600/FB+post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqvxTUNgqJOQpn6xmBnpizIb4-6bgk2BnUXeooYiewvBOWGht_FhHbztti4Y4s0i0MvFZUJhX-yB5uEcDTB9fHZnlIUFfeklHNWJL-iC7F_gW6BlSf79EcyDEthWc5oGWTXloW7UpKgk/s1600/FB+post.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><em>Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.com</em></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The legislation
explicitly bars:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;"> employers from requesting or requiring disclosure of an employee
or applicant's personal social networking login or password <em>under any
circumstance</em></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">coercive "friending" and forced logins in the
employer's presence</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">employers from
retaliation against employees for refusing to comply with their requests</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">The bill does allow
investigations by employers in regards to leaks of proprietary information or to
comply with law, but even then, the employer cannot request or require the
personal login information or engage in coercive friending or forced logins.
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">If the employer is
carrying out an investigation, he may request the leaked content, but there is
no requirement that the employee turn it over. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">In fact, <strong>this
bill does not give the employer more power to force disclosure</strong> of that
information than exists under current law. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10pt;">With the passage of this
bill, Washington joins <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/telecom/employer-access-to-social-media-passwords-2013.aspx">8
other states</a> that have enacted some form of legislation addressing the
issue. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/la-aprobacion-de-proyecto-de-ley-de.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a></span>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-66699248277749809292013-04-16T18:28:00.001-07:002013-04-17T09:29:44.503-07:00Getting tough on drunk drivers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F9oH-lpyZ0aUJrg24ZGJ0A1BzWDhD7dXMBwQhkVmIc5-m8MdggEhT0-iq-e6_iKEjmUD7RxtjHsaMDNas4JeyH0603QC_IRylC2azYBw-E3zbFk26ma5hV7vr5QkCmP8zwXuOpN_6zQ/s1600/20130416_LegWA_0352ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F9oH-lpyZ0aUJrg24ZGJ0A1BzWDhD7dXMBwQhkVmIc5-m8MdggEhT0-iq-e6_iKEjmUD7RxtjHsaMDNas4JeyH0603QC_IRylC2azYBw-E3zbFk26ma5hV7vr5QkCmP8zwXuOpN_6zQ/s320/20130416_LegWA_0352ab.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Washingtonians are three times more likely to be injured or killed on the roads than at the hands of criminals. Drunk drivers are a major cause of the tragedies in our neighborhoods and on our highways. <br />
<br />
This afternoon, Governor Jay Inslee introduced <a href="http://governor.wa.gov/news/releases/article.aspx?id=79" target="_blank">his plan to combat chronic drunk driving</a> at a press conference with Democratic and Republican lawmakers. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2030&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 2030</a>, introduced by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-dawn-morrell/" target="_blank">Rep. Dawn Morrell</a> (D-Puyallup), streamlines complicated DUI laws in our state. After someone is arrested for DUI, law enforcement impounds the vehicle. An ignition interlock device would be installed before returning the car back to the driver. This is a common sense change that will help prevent tragedies.<br />
<br />
It also creates a new driver’s license for the most persistent offenders that will prevent them from purchasing alcohol for ten years. <br />
<br />
The legislation also dedicates funds to support highly-effective DUI emphasis patrols. Counties often lack the resources they need to prosecute repeat offenders. These changes will give them the funds they need to get the job done. <br />
<br />
“As a critical care nurse, I’ve had to ask the family of a 12-year-old if they wanted their child to be an organ donor,” said Rep. Morrell. “Once you’ve done that, you are resolved to prevent more carnage on our roads and more funerals for little boys and girls who’ll never go to prom, never get their diploma, and never bring their own sons and daughters home for Christmas to their grandparents. This bill will save lives.”<br />
<br />
The leaders were joined by Frank and Carol Blair of Puyallup. Three years ago, their daughter Sheena was killed by a drunk driver. Carol and Frank have dedicated their lives to preventing another family from experiencing the same heartbreak.<br />
<br />
“Victims of drunk drivers don’t get a second chance at life, so it’s time we stop giving the drunk drivers a second chance,” said <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-roger-goodman/" target="_blank">Rep. Roger Goodman</a> (D-Kirkland), chair of the House Public Safety Committee. “Governor Inslee has proposed strong new measures and although we only have a short time before the session ends I know we have the political will to pass these important reforms into law.”<br />
<br />
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing the House Public Safety Committee on Thursday afternoon.<br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/mano-dura-contra-los-conductores-ebrios.html" target="_blank">Spanish</a>.House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-19319537487529314952013-04-16T08:15:00.001-07:002013-04-16T09:04:03.588-07:00Capitol Ideas podcast: Speaker Pro Tem Jim Moeller<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxLBy0LNGKmz58Osn4LZjpVXYvEcDpv8qj0Rmzfeqs-JREoz3Ek1U6Z5zQ1v9G48hgXCA6yUIQ7bgRd31g1z4z2GpgPiuvgBFzdAnUmhEfZEAmYXyyWeaYJdS1TGEi40_zxl7oxznGYg/s1600/20130325_LegWA_9041ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxLBy0LNGKmz58Osn4LZjpVXYvEcDpv8qj0Rmzfeqs-JREoz3Ek1U6Z5zQ1v9G48hgXCA6yUIQ7bgRd31g1z4z2GpgPiuvgBFzdAnUmhEfZEAmYXyyWeaYJdS1TGEi40_zxl7oxznGYg/s200/20130325_LegWA_9041ab.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-jim-moeller/" target="_blank">Rep. Jim Moeller</a> (D-Vancouver) is Speaker Pro Tem of the Washington State House of Representatives.<br />
<br />
In a <a href="http://radiocuts.leg.wa.gov/2013/Podcasts/Capitol-Ideas-1304.mp3" target="_blank">new Capitol Ideas interview</a>, he takes listeners onto the podium in the House chamber for a behind the scenes look at the role debate plays in a modern representative democracy.<br />
<br />
He also tells how he balances his leadership role with his duties as a state representative from Washington's 49th district.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43t2TIUDGpkU1Qj7vzZm_PHdxN107yP_3bxa6KtlUw8tUHBr_8-kPPitSm44EO01GfzaNrudCONf0xtAs_BvFQKyD4Jn2Wen5JoD2R8kJgnvTF3YwC2aVtj6U89avUieg07XKmnwxwVo/s1600/041613_0408_AnewCapitol1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43t2TIUDGpkU1Qj7vzZm_PHdxN107yP_3bxa6KtlUw8tUHBr_8-kPPitSm44EO01GfzaNrudCONf0xtAs_BvFQKyD4Jn2Wen5JoD2R8kJgnvTF3YwC2aVtj6U89avUieg07XKmnwxwVo/s400/041613_0408_AnewCapitol1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/podcast-de-capitol-ideas-presidente-de.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43t2TIUDGpkU1Qj7vzZm_PHdxN107yP_3bxa6KtlUw8tUHBr_8-kPPitSm44EO01GfzaNrudCONf0xtAs_BvFQKyD4Jn2Wen5JoD2R8kJgnvTF3YwC2aVtj6U89avUieg07XKmnwxwVo/s1600/041613_0408_AnewCapitol1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-11047037175903541342013-04-15T19:55:00.000-07:002013-04-16T09:11:07.481-07:00Justice at last for those wrongfully convicted <span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">The
third time was the charm for <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-tina-orwall/"><span style="color: blue;">Rep. Tina Orwall’s</span></a>
measure to compensate the wrongfully convicted in our state now that the Senate
passed <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1341&year=2013"><span style="color: blue;">HB
1341</span></a> unanimously this evening.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL7vvm5A4dooKWJQilkGUEvqZuTVHQ8VYc_IKejc9K2JH-9fHCOjVUpe8mj20ikd39gYqAMjzsYofw1945EuVerH5XVx6NYRvM51kq_pMzMGnaIihxD16oY_Wrb7fhe2qlxzGFhh_4do/s1600/Wrongly+convicted+bill+passage+board.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL7vvm5A4dooKWJQilkGUEvqZuTVHQ8VYc_IKejc9K2JH-9fHCOjVUpe8mj20ikd39gYqAMjzsYofw1945EuVerH5XVx6NYRvM51kq_pMzMGnaIihxD16oY_Wrb7fhe2qlxzGFhh_4do/s400/Wrongly+convicted+bill+passage+board.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">It’s
been a long and winding road for this legislation. When Orwall <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1435&year=2011"><span style="color: blue;">first
introduced it in 2011</span></a>, it didn’t even get a hearing. The <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2221&year=2011"><span style="color: blue;">2012
attempt</span></a> was passed out of Judiciary, but was not scheduled for a hearing in
Ways and Means. This time around, however, after numerous hurdles and some
tweaking in the Senate, it’ll be on its way to Gov. Inslee’s desk as soon as
the House agrees to the changes, which modified the bill to allow structured
settlement awards and establishes that claimants must waive any other
compensation under state or federal law.</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Orwall’s measure will provide a wrongfully
convicted person with:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="square">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">$50,000 for each year behind bars<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Additional $50,000 for each year on death row<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">$25,000 for each year on parole, community custody or as a
registered sex offender<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Compensation for child support<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Reimbursement for restitution, assessments fees and court costs
associated with the wrongful conviction<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Attorneys’ fees up to $75,000<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Higher education tuition waivers<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Access to reentry services<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p> Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/justicia-al-fin-para-personas.html" target="_blank">Spanish</a>.</o:p></span>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-70786040888039123682013-04-15T16:11:00.000-07:002013-04-16T09:37:49.667-07:00There's (not) an app for that -- yet<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">The Washington State Legislature has an <a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/pages/home.aspx">award-winning web site</a>. All four corners boast web sites (you're visiting one right now), as do executive offices from the governor on down. If you want to find out something about state government -- how's that bill doing, what's this or that agency's latest initiative, where's the governor speaking next Thursday, or why are flags at half-mast outside government buildings -- you can sit at your computer and get your answer with a few keystrokes. We're a wired state government. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">That only makes sense: With better than 85 percent of Washingtonians hooked up to the Internet, at home or at their business or, most often, both, we're well into the top 10 states for Internet penetration. We're a wired <i>state</i>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Increasingly, however, we're also becoming <i>un</i>-wired. Mobile devices are changing the way people connect. Unfortunately, many of those great government web sites haven't adapted to this new reality and it shows.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This might not be such a problem were it not for two interesting pieces of data. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQIvpI89pP2F9CsW_yGfiguJG3SXDCwPWqwXAmQu03G0WdIlb6biyO88vFDnHZnUT1GPxyVXHmhLo-xlJMPfUCxaBY8nGP9ybbCykfGDKSYXtWuHMBcRJzHwkZpTXNtIURmkBc4TFfqw/s1600/app.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQIvpI89pP2F9CsW_yGfiguJG3SXDCwPWqwXAmQu03G0WdIlb6biyO88vFDnHZnUT1GPxyVXHmhLo-xlJMPfUCxaBY8nGP9ybbCykfGDKSYXtWuHMBcRJzHwkZpTXNtIURmkBc4TFfqw/s320/app.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Last year, <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Blog/The_Imminent_Mobile_Commerce_Avalanche">smartphones topped the 50-percent mark among U.S. cellphone users</a>. For the first time, more than half the people you see carrying cellphones – and that's essentially everyone you see – are walking around with extremely sophisticated and capable hand-held computers that can also be used, in a pinch, as a telephone. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Second, and here's where the headline of this post becomes relevant, <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Insights/Press_Releases/2013/1/comScore_Reports_November_2012_U.S._Mobile_Subscriber_Market_Share">more of those smartphone owners</a> (54.2 percent) used them to access apps than to access an Internet browser (52.1 percent) last year. </span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">If there's an app for almost everything, what's missing? Conspicuously, most state-level legislative bodies. The Obama White House has a great app, the U.S. House has one, the Senate Republican Conference has one, and several U.S. representatives and senators have individual apps. Below that . . . crickets. As of last month, the National Conference of State Legislatures was aware of just seven legislative apps: </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-alaska-legislature/id449649208?mt=8" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Alaska Legislature</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=601119295&mt=8" target="_blank">Florida House</a><br />
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nysenate-for-ipad/id378035597?mt=8" target="_blank">New York Senate</a><br />
<a href="https://market.android.com/details?id=net.ncleg.ncga&feature=search_result" target="_blank">North Carolina General Assembly </a><br />
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.dgalewsky&feature=search_result" target="_blank">Texas Senate Business & Commerce Committee</a><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/watch-utah-legislature-bills/id598951706?mt=8" target="_blank">Utah Watch Bills</a> <br />
<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/senadopr.us/id422527392?mt=8" target="_blank">Puerto Rico Senate</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Why? Various reasons, starting with cost. It takes serious skills to create a worthwhile, attractive, user-friendly interactive app, and those skills don't come cheap. Just the initial coding can run upwards of $15,000 for a relatively simple app, and the best ones, while appearing to be simple, aren't. Few legislatures have people on staff with the expertise to build an app, and in the midst of a recession, no one wants to be accused of unnecessary spending of public resources. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Apps qualify as new territory – for us. But for the estimated <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/us-smartphone-market-2012-9">114 million Americans</a> who use smartphones (not to mention <a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/176545/us-tablet-users-double-to-70-million-in-2012.html">70 million tablets</a>, and that stat is almost a year old), apps aren't new. They're expected, and more and more, they're preferable to traditional web sites. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Every legislature will have an iPhone and Adroid app sooner or later, and probably a Windows Phone app as well. Every caucus within those legislatures will have their app. The only question yet to be decided is, who'll get there the quickest, with the best product? </span>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-59424397203041689582013-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:002013-04-15T09:15:13.520-07:00Hilarity in the HouseIt isn't all policy wonkery and political hardball in the House; sometimes, there's a bit of legislative levity, too. And each year, TVW nominates mirthful moments from its video coverage for the awards it calls "Cammies" -- a blend of "cameras" and "Emmys" -- and puts them to a vote by the attendees at its annual gala.<br />
<br />
Two of the side-splitting solons honored with Cammies this year are House Democrats <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-ross-hunter/" target="_blank">Ross Hunter</a> of Medina and <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-steve-kirby/" target="_blank">Steve Kirby</a> of Tacoma: Hunter in the category of "The Grinding Gears of Government" and Kirby in "Collegial Comity."
<br />
<br />
Check out Hunter's <a href="http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013030043A#start=77&stop=134" target="_blank">riff on color-coding</a> in the Appropriations Committee and Kirby's <a href="http://www.tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2013020172#start=3883&stop=3923" target="_blank">transgressive remarks about the other chamber</a> on the House floor.<br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.tvw.org/scripts/iframe_video.php?eventID=2013030043A&start=77&stop=134" width="460"></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe height="300" src="http://www.tvw.org/scripts/iframe_video.php?eventID=2013020172&start=3883&stop=3923" width="460"></iframe><br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/hilaridad-en-la-camara.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-83016837475134634132013-04-12T12:00:00.000-07:002013-04-15T09:37:06.654-07:00Keeping kids in school is in everyone's best interest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqL0mG4uaKI7ZaB1nIBfbFH7DxVMwJ72iyACV_VHIAWpG4J2NW81RsLpf3W5p3ByHk4Sf4oZHUlH1WrfzWUnxSFfYXES4G_AkXtImAWqaMRYhAdjLCM7LqL_Jin0ltI7bTwnH3IDKYgA/s1600/classroom.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqL0mG4uaKI7ZaB1nIBfbFH7DxVMwJ72iyACV_VHIAWpG4J2NW81RsLpf3W5p3ByHk4Sf4oZHUlH1WrfzWUnxSFfYXES4G_AkXtImAWqaMRYhAdjLCM7LqL_Jin0ltI7bTwnH3IDKYgA/s320/classroom.png" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dropouts come in all ages.
Sure, we know that as many as 20 out of every hundred schoolkids will never make
it to commencement. But did you know that some youngsters, for
all practical purposes, are actually "dropping out" of school <i>emotionally</i>
in the first, maybe the second grade? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/committees/ED/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">House Education Committee</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> members this year have examined the dropout quandary at length,
tackling it from a variety of real-world perspectives. Those<span style="color: #4c4c4c; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"> testifying in committee meetings offered a number of
observations, including the above-noted assertion that many of our very
youngest students are checking out emotionally in their first years of school. </span><span style="color: #676767; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black;">
</span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Hamm</span>ered home time and
again were the sad facts that dropouts tend to:</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">Make up a big percentage of the ranks
of the unemployed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">Take home meager wages when they do
work.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #4c4c4c; font-family: symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;">All too often tumble into the
criminal-justice system.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider also the fact that just as today's Washington businesses
cry out for more and more skilled workers, dropouts are in no position to
acquire the specific training and academic chops needed for 21st-century
jobs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #4c4c4c;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="color: #4c4c4c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Education Committee member </span><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-Kathy-Haigh/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">state Rep. Kathy Haigh</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is the prime-sponsor of</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1424&year=2013#documents"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">House Bill 1424</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which
is aimed at </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">"enhancing the statewide K-12
dropout prevention, intervention, and re-engagement system." The measure cleared
the House, 88-10, a month ago. Unfortunately, the
legislation is stymied in the Senate and likely going nowhere near the governor's desk this
year.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That is very unfortunate news, especially given the </span><a href="http://www.wssda.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA)</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> issued a summary recently of the big steps many districts have taken to keep young men and women in school. Their </span><a href="http://www.wssda.org/Portals/0/News/Research%20Blast/March%20WSSDA%20Research%20Blast.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: inherit;">e-newsletter</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> reviews the high level of success some of these intervention and prevention programs have worked in diverse districts around the state. The Sunnyside School District in the lower Yakima Valley, for instance, lifted its graduation rate an incredible 38 points in a recent five-year period -- from 41 percent in 2007 to 79 percent in 2012. The Spokane Public Schools worked to push </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">on-time graduation up from a rate just above 62 percent in 2008-2009 to way more than 76 percent in 2010-2011.</span><br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/mantener-los-ninos-en-la-escuela-es-en.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-23298496444501950492013-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:002013-04-12T07:00:11.398-07:00Putting $$$ where our mouth is on mental health<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iztv8OkIlxevvRkrMlIhvoB_UT8IDJp0bZedkJ6lFjn-Z_YwIlin2G3W9xPndzZRgpN78bK-5YvyqJVFQ7UWpClMgYYRHlOxEcEW4iJjv4wSr_mLi-YsW6_vA0JJ5rc51oXxl4HVC4Y/s1600/GreenPressConf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0iztv8OkIlxevvRkrMlIhvoB_UT8IDJp0bZedkJ6lFjn-Z_YwIlin2G3W9xPndzZRgpN78bK-5YvyqJVFQ7UWpClMgYYRHlOxEcEW4iJjv4wSr_mLi-YsW6_vA0JJ5rc51oXxl4HVC4Y/s320/GreenPressConf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Earlier this week, House Democrats released a <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/house-budget-proposal-best-for-schools/" target="_blank">proposed operating budget</a>. There are a lot of highlights – our proposal is the high-water mark on education funding, saves the safety net, and goes all in on Obamacare. <br />
<br />
What may have been missed in all the hoopla was the important investments our budget makes in mental health care. Our budget pays for improvements to ensure the mentally ill get the care they need and make Washington a safer place.<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1114&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 1114</a>: Introduced by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-jamie-pedersen/" target="_blank">Rep. Jamie Pedersen</a>, fills the gap between the criminal justice system and mental health care providers. It ensures that violent mental health offenders get the treatment they need, instead of ending up on the streets.</li>
<li><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1336&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 1336</a>: A <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-tina-orwall/" target="_blank">Rep. Tina Orwall</a> measure that requires school counselors and nurses to receive training on suicide prevention – giving these professionals the tools to identify early warning signs of troubled youth and prevent tragedies. </li>
<li><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1777&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 1777</a>: <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-tami-green/" target="_blank">Rep. Tami Green’s</a> bill will accelerate the implementation of critical involuntary commitment of people with pressing mental health issues. The new approach will take input from family members and friends into consideration when making a decision to involuntarily commit. We pay for this change two years ahead of schedule. </li>
<li><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1522&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 1522</a>: Another Green bill, HB 1522 builds a bridge between hospitals and the community for the mentally ill. It creates a step down from state hospitals – which will provide an important service to folks beginning to transition back into day-to-day life. This isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the cost-effective approach. </li>
<li><a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1627&year=2013" target="_blank">House Bill 1627</a>: A <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-dawn-morrell/" target="_blank">Rep. Dawn Morrell</a> bill to give county jails the tools they need to meet the growing demand for competency evaluations. Our county jails aren’t mental health care providers and, without adequate care, the mentally ill deteriorate rapidly in jail. </li>
</ul>
We’ve seen the tragedies that can occur when the mentally ill don’t get treatment they need. House Democrats believe mental health care is a critical investment – it’s just one of many priorities we will be fighting for in coming weeks.<br />
<br />
<em>Photo: Members of the House Health Care Committee discuss budget priorities.</em> House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-26347541994191956392013-04-11T12:47:00.000-07:002013-04-11T12:47:35.564-07:00When was the last time you exercised with Walkman?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The <a href="http://www.courts.wa.gov/jis/" target="_blank">Judicial Information System</a> (JIS) is the
primary information system for Washington state courts and the network
that connects the courts with law enforcement agencies. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDNfRh-Xf_x9DHXE2sx2kO0vguxh2_bpZzr2ruuc872miA1I_BHrFdJ7p4A29NZJtVet5J6yJSLAOHrbPXJVS2aocIz5_P0LPI6UszQXu_42QWSrygSkEbT8_Ld9sVGowyy9PiKE54aY/s1600/WalkmanTPS-L2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYDNfRh-Xf_x9DHXE2sx2kO0vguxh2_bpZzr2ruuc872miA1I_BHrFdJ7p4A29NZJtVet5J6yJSLAOHrbPXJVS2aocIz5_P0LPI6UszQXu_42QWSrygSkEbT8_Ld9sVGowyy9PiKE54aY/s200/WalkmanTPS-L2.jpg" width="128" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony Walkman (1979)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The JIS was state-of-the-art when it was created 35 years ago. What was also considered state-of-the-art in 1978? The Walkman. Our state's main judicial system is running on the efficiency and reliability of Walkman-era technology. <br />
<br />
JIS is failing. Today, this behemoth wastes incredible amounts of time and money – and worse, it's unreliable. The system is expensive to maintain and faces the possibility of catastrophic failure. <br />
<br />
Courts, like businesses, are urged to do more with less and use technology to work more efficiently and productively. How are the courts supposed to administer justice with a system like this? <br />
<br />
A serious problem with JIS is that it doesn't relay to law enforcement when defendants are convicted of felonies. This has placed domestic violence victims in danger and can allow criminals to keep firearms. How can police be expected to protect us if they do not have accurate information on criminals?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwnueHkveG9F3AT-AarbUKGRTMBzrtIClieFcAq64tj_Q8Jdy5ksvU4sdZMEB9v5Qr8HujXU6yqv6NfacikPuqWDuBISEt-3o5JjTvP1w6KqEtsATbOmjuKlToU6qe1cnLBj346d8DnY/s1600/041013_1856_JISRunninga1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwnueHkveG9F3AT-AarbUKGRTMBzrtIClieFcAq64tj_Q8Jdy5ksvU4sdZMEB9v5Qr8HujXU6yqv6NfacikPuqWDuBISEt-3o5JjTvP1w6KqEtsATbOmjuKlToU6qe1cnLBj346d8DnY/s400/041013_1856_JISRunninga1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Screenshot of the computer system used in Washington courtrooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If we want a justice system that functions and uses taxpayer resources effectively, then replacing these ancient systems is critical. The courts need $20 million to run the computer system and begin replacement. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2013/so1315p.asp" target="_blank">Senate Republican budget</a> sweeps the entire $20 million for the JIS database and the replacement of the Superior Court Management Information System (SCOMIS). <br />
<br />
It doesn't have to be this way. The <a href="http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/detail/2013/ho1315p.asp" target="_blank">House budget proposal</a> <i>fully</i> funds the JIS and the replacement of the SCOMIS system. With this investment, we can greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of our justice system. We can give judges, attorneys, and law enforcement the tools they need to protect us. And, we can save the taxpayers time and money. <br />
<br />
<i>Photo courtesy of the Administrative Office of the Courts and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WalkmanTPS-L2.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></i>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-88269741211528747842013-04-11T08:15:00.000-07:002013-04-11T09:00:45.347-07:00Yesterday was CRC Project day at the Capitol<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQJplzopDXNPZ3M45iX4OALpDStXE8noQiOZpBHSDtGbESKWzuEypfdzlLX2w45Te0L0vf9Wc7hFYyaR0ycm6lS5eZb2IvCmM9RaMAAX0bkWPoOlTGOVh50TTBF8V9TFj3XF_w4lP2zc/s1600/Annette-Jim-Sharon-CRC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQJplzopDXNPZ3M45iX4OALpDStXE8noQiOZpBHSDtGbESKWzuEypfdzlLX2w45Te0L0vf9Wc7hFYyaR0ycm6lS5eZb2IvCmM9RaMAAX0bkWPoOlTGOVh50TTBF8V9TFj3XF_w4lP2zc/s320/Annette-Jim-Sharon-CRC.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sen. Annette Cleveland & Reps. Jim Moeller and Sharon Wylie<br />
at the Columbia River Crossing Information Exhibit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many lawmakers in both chambers, as well as the general public got a chance to get a better understanding of the <a href="http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/Default.aspx">Columbia River Crossing</a> Project yesterday at the CRC Information Exhibit in the Columbia Room. The <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDcQFjAA&url=http://www.crossingcoalition.com/&ei=ajRjUYvsN9DmiwKshIDYBA&usg=AFQjCNG_U8Yxr6TdpVIVc9NDas5VO2tafw&sig2=36AqzIc0Qoku70N26Ln50w&bvm=bv.44990110%2cd.cGE">Columbia River Crossing Coalition</a> organized the event and brought pictures, brochures, and CRC engineers to answer questions and provide information. <br />
<br />
The section of I-5 just north and south of the Columbia River has major safety and congestion problems that, experts say, will only worsen unless something is done pronto. The solution put forth after ten years of considering other options is the Columbia River Crossing Project, which, according to its proponents, will reduce crashes, provide predictable travel times, add travel choices, prevent traffic backups, and benefit the economies of Oregon and Washington. <br />
<br />
The CRC project could begin creating thousands of much needed jobs on both sides of the river as early as next year if the funding is secured. Oregon has already committed to its share ($450 million) in order for the CRC Project to get $850 million in federal dollars; if Washington doesn't do its part, those federal funds will go to other states. <br />
<br />
Secretary of Transportation, <a href="http://www.dot.gov/secretary">Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood</a>, who a year ago said that the <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/aug/18/obama-we-cant-wait-columbia-river-crossing/">CRC is a great project anyway you can describe it</a>, and Federal Transit Administrator <a href="http://www.fta.dot.gov/12318_9772.html">Peter M. Rogoff</a> were also in Olympia yesterday. They met with House and Senate Transportation chairs and with Southwest Washington legislators to talk about the regional and national importance of the CRC project. The Columbian ran <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/10/lahood-crc-deserves-move-forward/" target="_blank">this story</a> shortly after the meeting.<br />
<br />
For more information on the CRC Project, please visit the <a href="http://www.columbiarivercrossing.org/Default.aspx">CRC Website</a>. <br />
<br />
You can also get the handouts from the 49th Legislative District CRC Town Hall hosted by <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-jim-moeller/">Reps. Jim Moeller</a> and <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-sharon-wylie/">Sharon Wylie</a> and <a href="http://www.sdc.wa.gov/senators/Cleveland/default.asp">Sen. Annette Cleveland</a> on March 16 <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/jim-moeller/get-the-crc-town-hall-handouts/">here</a>. <br />
<br />
Read the <a href="http://www.cfm-online.com/crc-factbook">Columbia River Crossing "Factbook"</a> released last week. <br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/ayer-fue-el-dia-del-proyecto-crc-en-el.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a><br />
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-9785385907442057662013-04-10T12:15:00.000-07:002013-04-10T18:41:04.883-07:00House doubles up on educationHouse Democrats unveiled a state budget that funds education without shredding the safety net for <br />
kids, seniors, the blind, and disabled – and without resorting to accounting tricks or one-time spending. <br />
<br />
<i>Education </i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YItgPN7hW2e09QOqOWWWwk6B0n_J0k76F5KRJWAE72nLYyL3xAjgpPUvFs3tV8nqaB18aXyA2czYMKfc2b9YBECfG5diUOQnGAQugX5CTp89uyFLNj7u6AnKCWgqf7q8vq7G-8PNIs8/s1600/BWBabyPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YItgPN7hW2e09QOqOWWWwk6B0n_J0k76F5KRJWAE72nLYyL3xAjgpPUvFs3tV8nqaB18aXyA2czYMKfc2b9YBECfG5diUOQnGAQugX5CTp89uyFLNj7u6AnKCWgqf7q8vq7G-8PNIs8/s320/BWBabyPic.jpg" width="212" /></a>The budget set the high-water mark for education spending, adding $1.3 billion over predicted spending on public schools. If you compared total education spending to the current budget, the House proposal spends $1.9 billion more than the status quo. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget13inslee/education.pdf" target="_blank">Gov. Jay Inslee proposed putting $1.2 billion more toward education</a>, while <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/senate-skimps-on-education-funding" target="_blank">Senate Republican budget writers put forth a budget that adds only $760 million to meet our <i>McCleary</i> obligations</a>. <br />
<br />
<i>The House proposal also: </i><br />
<ul>
<li>Invests in early learning </li>
<li>Reduces class sizes in K-3</li>
<li>Puts more money into high-demand college degrees </li>
<li>Expands health care and protects the safety net </li>
</ul>
<br />
The House proposal fully embraces the savings and opportunities offered by Obamacare. The budget: <br />
<ul>
<li>Offers affordable health coverage to 385,000 more people by expanding Medicaid</li>
<li>Helps small business with costs by implementing the health care exchange, giving business owners and employees affordable and portable options for health coverage</li>
</ul>
<i>Tax reform and tax fairness </i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.citizentaxpref.wa.gov/" target="_blank">A citizens' commission</a>, <a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/JLARC/AuditAndStudyReports/2012/Documents/2012TaxPreferenceReviewsProposedFinalReport.pdf" target="_blank">panel of experts</a>, and the <a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/FIN/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">House Finance Committee</a> all examined the massive number of tax breaks, exemptions, and loopholes. Hundreds of breaks and loopholes costs the taxpayers $24 billion, compared to the entire two-year state budget proposal of $34 billion. <br />
<br />
Many of these breaks have been on the books since the 1930s. Do they still make sense? Do they actually create jobs? <br />
<br />
The House proposes a series of reforms to shift tax dollars from loopholes that don't create jobs to funding education, which we know is the foundation of our modern economy. <br />
<br />
The $1.3 billion in loopholes and revenue match up with the $1.3 billion invested in new education spending aimed at meeting our constitutional duty under the Supreme Court's <i>McCleary</i> decision. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/house-budget-proposal-best-for-schools" target="_blank">To find out more about the our budget proposal, click here</a>.<br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/camara-de-diputados-duplica-en-educacion.html" target="_blank">Spanish</a>.House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-72683630622720470172013-04-10T08:00:00.000-07:002013-04-10T09:16:57.003-07:00House budget will be released today<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRHZZXtDJyBU5Dlao0IQzSNXB7736olrXe3J6nNjOyVN7825bSDeJytq3CHqJkmfOaLCnZj2uaigyDclGMF7fU-QYe7FHUnDFauFEAYXCxB92n-iSGQbOlE-Po21Hpn2GWIWl3lL8thU/s1600/Ross+at+rev+forecast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWRHZZXtDJyBU5Dlao0IQzSNXB7736olrXe3J6nNjOyVN7825bSDeJytq3CHqJkmfOaLCnZj2uaigyDclGMF7fU-QYe7FHUnDFauFEAYXCxB92n-iSGQbOlE-Po21Hpn2GWIWl3lL8thU/s200/Ross+at+rev+forecast.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Appropriations Chair Ross Hunter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, Appropriations Committee Chair Ross Hunter, and Finance Committee Chair Reuven Carlyle will release the House 2013-15 operating budget proposal at 12:15 today in House Hearing Room A.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tvw.org/" target="_blank">TVW</a> will cover their press conference live, and <a href="http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/default.asp" target="_blank">documents</a> will be made public at the same time.<br />
<br />
Check back here later for more details.<br />
<br />
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/presupuesto-de-la-camara-se-dara.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-86123433359978475732013-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:002013-04-09T08:00:03.724-07:00House transportation budget passes committee
<br />
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<span id="ms-rterangepaste-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span>Yesterday, with a bipartisan 20-10 vote, the
House Transportation Committee passed their budget that was <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/judy-clibborn/house-unveils-no-new-taxes-transportation-budget/">rolled
out</a> late last week.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTW1h70XDdIU1tOIwjj839Aw8SRXnelgTjCH-fUjUDs26Auu-KBMi3oxdkCZ0M5siqmOXIcOnGRIybJRDTfLli_7f7k1pNnkiQDxq_xWyTNYOUpzh2XcgPRYcEUDxRQbZSWF9N_RsfTU/s1600/20130318_LegWA_4491sc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTW1h70XDdIU1tOIwjj839Aw8SRXnelgTjCH-fUjUDs26Auu-KBMi3oxdkCZ0M5siqmOXIcOnGRIybJRDTfLli_7f7k1pNnkiQDxq_xWyTNYOUpzh2XcgPRYcEUDxRQbZSWF9N_RsfTU/s320/20130318_LegWA_4491sc.jpg" width="320" /></a>The $8.4 billion budget allocates $4.9 billion for existing capital projects, and $3.5 billion for operating programs. The sum
represents a decline of about $1.4 billion from the previous biennial
transportation budget, primarily due to declining revenue from the state’s gas
tax.</div>
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Some highlights include: stabilizing the Washington State
Patrol, Washington Ferry System, and Department of Transportation budgets;
funding the continued construction of the SR 99 Tunnel, 520 floating bridge,
I-90 improvements and North Spokane Corridor expansion; and implementing
efficiencies to make transportation dollars go further. A full summary is
available <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/tmp/2013/04/House-Chair-2013-2015-Transportation-Budget-Summary1.pdf">here</a>.</div>
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House Democrats acknowledge that this budget is only a
stopgap measure to fund our transportation system for the next two years. Both
Transportation Chair Judy Clibborn and Vice-Chair Marko Liias
</div>
pointed out that additional revenue will be necessary before the
next biennial budget in order to prevent gridlock and agency shortfalls.<br />
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The budget, <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1864&year=2013">House
Bill 1864</a>, will go to the Rules Committee and then proceed to the floor of
the House for a vote by the full chamber. The Senate has released their own
version, but the differences are small and are expected to be resolved when the
two bodies conference.<span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span></div>
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House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-48416009303305120232013-04-08T12:36:00.000-07:002013-04-09T14:18:52.921-07:00Tax loopholes: Did you know...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03vK03aQsvryHxaxron-hyriHhixow9Cf6pzugyMkyZJFcpIqvGG59Qbu4qMPlooid9rNb81oCUNeqhzt0BIatEk7O2TShIQJgpKuh9Dk6mkd9XxJ7RHDMX3eImPrZGFoIV9ScXd8lHY/s1600/handshake.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03vK03aQsvryHxaxron-hyriHhixow9Cf6pzugyMkyZJFcpIqvGG59Qbu4qMPlooid9rNb81oCUNeqhzt0BIatEk7O2TShIQJgpKuh9Dk6mkd9XxJ7RHDMX3eImPrZGFoIV9ScXd8lHY/s320/handshake.jpg" /></a><br />
Washington State gives the oil industry about $3 million a year <a href="http://www.leg.wa.gov/JLARC/AuditAndStudyReports/2012/Documents/13-1.pdf">through a tax loophole based on how gasoline</a> was transported back in the 1930’s. It’s completely outdated and <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/5027%20SBR%20TRAN%2009.pdf">even they have admitted they don’t want or need the exemption anymore</a>.
<br></br>
Fifteen years ago, the Legislature tried to entice out-of-state prescription drug companies to build warehouses in Washington by giving them a tax break. The plan didn’t work out as originally intended. Out-of-state companies are getting the tax break even if they don’t have warehouses in Washington. In other words, we’re giving away $15 million in tax loopholes for no reason.
<br></br>
Washington State gives away $32 million a year to public utilities through a 1935 tax loophole. This exemption was created to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that has since been overturned.
<br></br>
When you travel to another state, you help support their schools and other needs when you buy goods and pay their sales tax. How much do out-of-state residents pay in sales tax when they buy items in Washington? ZERO. That tax loophole costs Washington taxpayers $32 million a year.
<br></br>
These are just a few examples of the 640 tax loopholes our state hands out to businesses each year. According to the <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/images/Infographic_withcircles.jpgv">Washington Budget & Policy Center</a>, these tax loopholes cost Washington taxpayers over $10 BILLION per biennium – that’s about one-third of the total state budget.
<br></br>
Last week, the Senate unveiled a budget proposal that added 15 new tax loopholes to the books, which will cost taxpayers over $11 million. How many did they eliminate? <a href="http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/04/03/bipartisan-senate-budget-a-work-in-progress/">ZERO</a>.
<br></br>
Tax breaks themselves are not inherently bad things. Many serve the people well. But there are also several tax loopholes, like the 1939 fuel spillage loophole, that are outdated and unneeded. Because most do not have expiration dates, they’ll remain on the books unless the Legislature repeals them.
<br></br>
Budgeting is all about priorities. By preserving unneeded tax breaks, the Senate budget prioritizes corporate profits over kids and working families. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can do better.
<br></br>
House Democrats will unveil our budget proposal on Wednesday. In our proposal, you will see kids and working families come first.
<br></br>
Check out our website for a <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/senate-budget-bad-for-kids-families-and-our-future/">Top 10 list of reasons why the Senate budget is bad for kids, middle class families, and our future</a>.
<br></br>
<br></br>
Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/lagunas-fiscales-sabia-usted-que.html" target="_blank">Spanish</a>.
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-80454391024400154722013-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:002013-04-08T12:12:32.501-07:00Guns and restraining orders don’t mix, says House bill that advances in Senate<div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Image courtesy of Boaz Yiftach/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Two House bills that tighten critical
areas of firearms regulation quietly moved another step closer to final
Legislative approval this week when they cleared a Senate committee. </div>
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<a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1840&year=2013">House
Bill 1840</a> would prohibit possession of a gun by anyone subject to certain restraining
orders, no-contact orders or protection orders if a judge finds that the subject
of the order poses a threat to an intimate partner or the child of an intimate
partner. Those who fall under the finding and already have guns would be
required to surrender them to police. </div>
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<div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2">
The Senate committee
added the requirement for both an order and a court finding of a threat to the
version of the bill that earlier passed the House 61-37. The House-passed
version would trigger the gun prohibition in the case of <em>either</em> an order or a
finding of a threat. </div>
<br />
<div class="ms-rteThemeFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-2">
A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/us/facing-protective-orders-and-allowed-to-keep-guns.html?ref=michaelluo&_r=1&">recent
New York Times article</a> looked at how states nationwide deal with gun rights
and restraining orders. </div>
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If the amended
bill is approved by the full Senate, it would return to the House, which could
either accept the Senate change or negotiate a version acceptable to both
chambers. </div>
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The Senate committee
also approved <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1612">House Bill
1612</a> which sets up a statewide data base
to log felony firearms offenders. The data base is designed to aid
law-enforcement officers and would not be available for public viewing. It
earlier passed the House 85-10. <span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span></div>
House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-30837398064822087892013-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:002013-04-08T09:58:39.043-07:00Prevent drunk driving -- save lives<span style="font-family: "calibri", "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQBbTFMFj_iOKoOcrdmbIulcLIntQyl_xHmcpHDIVc8mujjvRWNvVOukH2nNKbjC_20AJiXKHL_hxMgX59VnSnalydGhUXhAi21N19JRVBtyFU-S_ophm3Hbnr1gV-zmzf-cmAt7DM2w/s1600/dui.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQBbTFMFj_iOKoOcrdmbIulcLIntQyl_xHmcpHDIVc8mujjvRWNvVOukH2nNKbjC_20AJiXKHL_hxMgX59VnSnalydGhUXhAi21N19JRVBtyFU-S_ophm3Hbnr1gV-zmzf-cmAt7DM2w/s1600/dui.jpg" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lately, our local
news has been full of disasters involving drunk drivers. In just one week, two
grandparents were killed and their daughter-in-law and grandchild gravely
injured when they were struck by a truck, and a mother was killed on her way to
work by a car heading in the wrong direction on SR 520. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The drivers responsible for these incidents are both accused of being drunk at the time –
and both had prior arrests for impaired driving on their records.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In response to
these tragedies, </span><a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-roger-goodman/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rep. Roger Goodman</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, founder and chair of the
Washington Impaired Driving Working Group, is holding an emergency meeting Tuesday,
April 9<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup>. There, lawmakers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law
enforcement and judges will discuss smart solutions to stop impaired drivers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some policies up
for discussion will certainly be:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Sobriety checkpoints.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Decreasing the number of impaired driving
offenses before someone is charged with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a felony DUI from 5 to 3.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Immediate arrest and jail time after
offense. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Mandatory impoundment and
installation of an Ignition Interlock Device upon arrest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Spike strips on freeway on-ramps to
prevent cars from driving the wrong way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">·Better enforcement for our current DUI
laws through increased funding for the State’s </span><a href="http://targetzero.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Target Zero Plan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Washington state
is a national leader in effective DUI Prevention legislation. Since 2006, we
have reduced deaths and injuries on our roadways by </span><a href="http://targetzero.com/PDF/PartnersPresentation.pdf"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">34 percent</span></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But we clearly must do more. Regardless of what happens at
tomorrow’s meeting, it is certain that our legislators will continue to push
forward with smarter laws to prevent Impaired Driving and save lives in
Washington state.</span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/evitar-conductores-ebrios-salvar-vidas.html" target="_blank">Spanish.<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></div>
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</span><br />House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142681692466925373.post-58219851703901904162013-04-05T13:01:00.000-07:002013-04-08T10:25:05.441-07:00Women of the House say Senate GOP budget chooses loopholes over familiesThey are mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters. They're nurses, educators, and community activists. The women of the House Democratic caucus come from different backgrounds and different towns, but today they all shared one message: The Senate Republican <a href="http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/Budget/Detail/2013/SOSummary0403.pdf" target="_blank">budget proposal</a> prioritizes special interest tax loopholes over our children and most vulnerable people.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUu-UyvFmCD9bNDB9xO2UVPTelYBDPMmL_Flv1Q8_JmaYh1u1JtrQhh8B3xYubRmY8bnF3Sn131so3Fh7Q_dmRyNe2zxeihkbYuYfFP6TnroChs4D8FPZY5eE4OXeRFoLbWZfO4WjaPs/s1600/women+presser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUu-UyvFmCD9bNDB9xO2UVPTelYBDPMmL_Flv1Q8_JmaYh1u1JtrQhh8B3xYubRmY8bnF3Sn131so3Fh7Q_dmRyNe2zxeihkbYuYfFP6TnroChs4D8FPZY5eE4OXeRFoLbWZfO4WjaPs/s320/women+presser.jpg" width="320" /></a>Representatives Eileen Cody, Tami Green, Ruth Kagi, Laurie Jinkins, and Dawn Morrell led a group of women legislators calling out the problems for families in the Senate's plan. <br />
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They pointed out that, instead of closing a single tax loophole -- many of which have been on the books for decades without any review -- the Senate actually includes 25 more loopholes. <br />
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Cuts in the budget plan include:<br />
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· Childcare support for more than 4,500 families through Working Connections Childcare;<br />
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· TANF Services – A temporary lifeline to struggling families used for the most basic of needs like rent assistance, school supplies and basic hygiene items;<br />
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· Funding for career services and educational certification programs for the poor;<br />
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· Required health care cost-sharing for low-income individuals, limiting access; <br />
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· Transitional housing services for seniors and reduced access to shelters for homeless families;<br />
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· Corrections services, leading to early release of offenders;<br />
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· Funding to home care services which keep seniors and the disabled from going into nursing homes;<br />
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· Support for grandparents caring for their grandchildren, keeping them out of foster care; and<br />
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· Legal services for low-income persons who need help to keep their homes.<br />
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<a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/news/war-on-middle-class-families-continues-in-senate-budget-proposal/" target="_blank">Here</a> is the full press release from today's event, and <a href="http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/tmp/2013/04/Working-Families-Handout-final.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> are more comments about the budget plan.<br />
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Read this story in <a href="http://hdcadelante.blogspot.com/2013/04/las-mujeres-en-la-camara-de-diputados.html" target="_blank">Spanish.</a>House Democratshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09051040473328370562noreply@blogger.com