Welcome home, Vietnam veterans

Near the Capitol Dome is our state's version of the Wall, with the names of the fallen written into the rock.

While the war has been over for forty years, the veterans who went to Vietnam still carry the memories of their service and the brothers and sisters who never made it back.

The House and Senate honored those veterans last week by establishing March 30 as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.  the last U.S. troops left Vietnam on March 30, 1973.

The measure was sponsored by Rep. John McCoy, at right wearing sunglasses, and Rep. Norm Johnson. 

Read this story in Spanish.

Recognizing our national heritage

The day after Thanksgiving will become much more than just a day to start holiday shopping and eat leftovers if a measure approved by the House makes it through the Senate next month. 

Washington took a big step toward becoming the latest state in the nation to officially designate every Friday after Thanksgiving Native American Heritage Day when the House approved HB 1014 by a vote of 93-4 earlier last week.

In 2008, then President George W. Bush signed a joint resolution by Congress in 2008 designating Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 as Native American Heritage Day. In 2010, President Barack Obama proclaimed November 2010 as Native American Heritage Month, and called for the country to celebrate November 26, 2010, the day after Thanksgiving, as Native American Heritage Day. As a reult of these presidential actions, several states have taken action to adopt the holiday on a permanent basis.

The measure's prime sponsor, Rep. John McCoy, stressed that the bill doesn't cost a cent but does recognize the rich cultural history, sacrifices and contributions of the first residents in our nation.

Read this story in Spanish.

Washington students can attend a "Capitol Classroom"

Representative John McCoy recently appeared on a new TVW program called Capitol Classroom. The TVW program included a discussion of an important legislative proposal advanced in McCoy's House Bill 1107, which concerns children of military parents.

Capitol Classroom is a new educational program broadcast by TVW, our state's public-affairs network that was founded in 1993. The program allows students to personally join in the legislative process by way of these video connections. Young people communicate directly with the lobbyists who testify in committee hearings on their behalf for legislation that the students have selected. The young men and women involved in the program also hear perspectives from:

• Bill sponsors, such as McCoy.
• Other bill proponents, as well as opponents.
• And their local legislators.

The bill reviewed on the latest episode of Capitol classroom has received a public hearing, and is awaiting a vote in the House Judiciary Committee. McCoy's bipartisan measure concerns residential provisions for children of parents who have military duties. He wants to make it less cumbersome for military parents to seek delegation of residential time with their children when they are on a temporary-duty assignment that involves being away more than one night during scheduled residential time or visitation.

Read this story in Spanish.

 

 

Easing the transition for our troops, veterans, and their families

​They put their civilian life on hold, standing ready if need be to put their very lives on the line.

So back here on the home front, military men and women have a right to fair and functional opportunities in transitioning to peacetime.
The very timely issue of “counting military training for college credit and professional-licensing requirements” was discussed in a meeting of the House Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs Committee, chaired by state Rep. John McCoy, earlier this week. McCoy is sponsoring a measure in the 2013 legislative session to strengthen protections for the parental rights of deployed military dads and moms. He said that our state's "policies and procedures should provide assistance for military men and women in their transition to safe, high-quality civilian lives and careers."

House Democrats two years ago championed successful legislation to make sure that military training and experience counts toward licensing-requirements in a wide array of professions. The Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs provides a great deal of employment assistance. Likewise, the U.S. Department of Defense and the commander in chief is also emphasizing employment-programs for veterans.

So far this year, a pair of other proposals to help support our servicemen and women are working their way through the legislative process. One bill would send financial help to veterans and active members of the military who are pursuing a higher education. A second bill would direct targeted colleges and universities to set up early-course registration for veterans and National Guard members. Both bills are in the House Higher Education Committee: HB 1011 is set for a vote in the 8 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, committee meeting, and HB 1109 is set for a vote in the 10 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, committee meeting.

Read this story in Spanish here.

Testing, testing, testing......

How do we balance the need for accountability in our public schools -- in the form of standardized tests and strict graduation requirements -- with the cost that these things place on students, teachers, and school districts?  That is a question educators and legislators grapple with every session.

Washington state needs “exit” exams to ensure that every student who receives a diploma — no matter where he or she went to school — has the knowledge and skills expected of high school graduates. Students in the Class of 2012 were required to pass two exit exams. By the time this year’s 10th graders graduate, it will be five.

State Superintendent Randy Dorn recently said that he thinks that's overkill.  Rep. John McCoy, a member of the House Education Committee, agrees.  He has already introduced legislation for the 2013 session to reduce the number of student assessments -- and, thus, reduce the cost to schools. 

How much cost?  Exit exams are estimated to be $30 each. If students don’t pass one or more of these exams, the state provides other ways for students to demonstrate their abilities, such as the Collection of Evidence (COE). The COE is a portfolio of classroom work prepared by the student with instructional support from a teacher. The COE is currently $400 per student in each content area.

Here's more information on our state's testing system.

The 'state' of all too many of our Washington students? They're falling through the cracks

Rep. John McCoy

'Twas the season. Speechifying season, that is -- as in, another fine season's collection of May-June "Listen up, you futures of America" graduation homilies and commencement colloquies just recently tucked into the pages of history.

Call them academic ukases, these thousands of scholarly addresses that sent millions of young folk off to their post-secondary careers in college, trade school, or what have you. So yes, what better time than right now, what better place than right here to discuss another sort of education-related "address" defining all too well the state of all too many of their younger peers still plugging away in the K-12 scene: 1234 Falling Through the Cracks Blvd., Anytown, USA. 

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos

An unacceptably large ratio of these falling, and failing, students comprise demographic groups who show up in other unfortunate measures. These students tend to be disproportionately disciplined, for one thing, and they are more likely than other kids to be enrolled in special-education classes and underperforming schools, to receive poor grades, and to drop out of school. They’re less likely either to take advanced-placement, honors and college-preparatory classes, or to go on to college even if they do finish high school. And they constitute what's called the "achievement gap" -- that dismal crevasse between the beautiful promise of American public education and the beastly reality for too many American students.

Which is exactly why it's such good and timely news that the House Education Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee is working hard to make sure that "No child is left behind" isn’t just another cute bumper sticker. State law (RCW 28A.300.136) calls on this relatively recently assembled committee to "… provide ongoing advice to education agencies and report annually to the (L)egislature and the governor." State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos chairs the Opportunity Gap Committee, and she also chairs the House Education Committee.   State Rep. John McCoy, who is an active member of Santos' Education Committee, was also lately appointed to her Opportunity Gap Committee.

In emphasizing his excitement at joining the new education panel, McCoy cited its statutory responsibility for "… closing the achievement gap (and affirming) the state's constitutional obligation to provide opportunities to learn for all students without distinction or preference on account of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender." He further noted that the statute also speaks to the fact that "(a) consistent and powerful theme throughout the achievement gap studies was the need for cultural competency in instruction, curriculum, assessment, and professional development. Cultural competency forms a foundation for efforts to address the achievement gap, and more work is needed to embed it into the public school system."

McCoy and several other legislators on the Opportunity Gap Committee are working with additional public officials and private citizens toward writing strategies for closing Washington's education chasm.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Got Net? Working toward a thoroughly wired Washington

Rep. John McCoy

Led by state Rep. John McCoy, legislative Democrats are continuing the demanding, extremely needed work of investigating and promoting broadband availability. It's a territory the investigating and promoting of which other communities, states and nations neglect at their great peril. McCoy chairs the pivotal House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee, which is monitoring state and federal work at establishing universal service reform. The McCoy committee, among its other missions, wants to find the best way to see to it that the so-called Internet Age is blind to color and economic class.

"We have before us a huge and fundamental goal," said McCoy. "It is the advancement of broadband services for citizens, communities and neighborhoods that right now are getting short shrift. We want to write -- we must write -- legislation that will strengthen broadband-availability in each of our 39 counties."

He emphasized that higher education and economic development "are intertwined with and, indeed, very closely connected with this booming technological sector of our 21^st-century economy. It's fundamental that we emphasize equitable opportunities in Washington's communities of color -- and in our communities of economic injustice and socio-political disenfranchisement."

McCoy noted a recent Seattle Times editorial -- "Mining deeper (and younger) for tomorrow's workers and citizens " (Tuesday, June 12, 2012) -- lamenting the dearth of engineers and scientists who have been produced by Washington's colleges and universities. The newspaper editorial emphasizes that businesses here in the Evergreen State are crying out for more women and men who are ready and qualified to step into new-century careers.

McCoy himself has a background very much heaped in technology. Retiring in 1981, his 20-year United States Air Force career had been filled with extensive training in computer operations and programming. He then worked as a computer technician in the White House from 1982 to 1985. McCoy went on to a management career in the private sector that continued his work and calling in the field of computer programming and operations.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

"Early and continuing story of Native Americans" in our state celebrated and examined in rare exhibit

An exciting, year-long exhibit is coming soon to the Capitol Campus here in Olympia.

State Rep. John McCoy will help unveil and launch "We're Still Here: The Survival of Washington Indians" in a special kick-off program Tuesday afternoon, April 24. The program runs from 5 to 7 that day, and it will be held in the Capitol Rotunda/Legislative Building. The Heritage Center is sponsoring the April 2012-April 2013 exhibit in the Office of the Secretary of State, which is located in the northwest corner of the second floor of the Capitol.

McCoy and his family are members of the Tulalip Tribes of Indians in Snohomish County. The Tulalip Tribes has a tribal population of about 4,000 people, with at least 2,500 members residing on the 22,000-acre Tulalip Indian Reservation. The reservation is a few miles north of Everett -- just across Interstate 5 west of Marysville.

"I'm very eager and excited to see the exhibit and displays myself," McCoy said. "It is certainly a great honor to be part of this whole wonderful program. The very worthy dedication of the program is helping folks in every community acquire a better handle and perspective on what's been happening for many millennia in this great place that, today, we call Washington.

"It is so wonderful for more and more people, very much including we Native Americans ourselves, to see and understand what men and women and their families have been doing here for thousands of years."

The "We're still here" website says that the exhibit "acknowledges the early and continuing story of Native Americans in four major themes: the relationship with earth and the struggle over land, assimilation practices and the conflict over Native identity, the century-long battle for treaty fishing rights, and the cultural revival of Indian customs and language in our world today. "

Further, the website points out: "Although the building is not yet constructed, the Heritage Center is alive and active through exhibits in the Legislative Building and elsewhere, the publication of oral histories and biographies by the Legacy Project, author talks with the State Library, family genealogy workshops with the State Archives and State Library, and a vibrant website with many historical resources accessible in one location."

To read this post in Spanish, click here.

Thousands of 38th District folks tune in for lawmakers' tele-Town Hall

The vast majority of policymakers really do work hard at increasing public participation in the legislative process. Take the Telephone Town Hall staged the other night for many thousands of Snohomish County people.

True, not every single one of the 28,086 Tulalip, Marysville and Everett citizens who received a telephone call from their three state legislators actually got a chance to get their two cents in. But 5,152 folks answered the phone.  And then they stayed on the line long enough to take in at least part of this second in an ongoing series of 38th Legislative District Telephone Town Halls. State Reps. John McCoy and Mike Sells, and state Sen. Nick Harper sponsored the tele-forum to emphasize more public participation for their 38th District constituents. The legislators are always on the lookout for ways to get more people more engaged in the state-government process. They held their first tele-forum a year ago, and they'll very likely do another one sometime after the 2012 session finishes up in March.

Some people who "attended" the January 31 teleforum asked questions of their lawmakers. More than a few had a desire to give them a piece of their mind. And others decided they wanted to do both. People talked about everything from the marriage-equality legislation, to funding for schools and social services, to tax reform, to government waste, to -- well, you name it.

McCoy, Sells, Harper and their 144 legislative colleagues just recently cleared the third-of-the-way mark in the 2012 Legislature. They're endeavoring to close the Olympia books by the 12 midnight, March 8, deadline for this year's 60-day legislative get-together.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Lawmakers reaching out to keep in touch with citizens

Heads up, good people of the 38th Legislative District -- the state capital is comin' at ya! And in a good way, too. Folks in the Snohomish County communities of Tulalip, Marysville and Everett are encouraged to keep their dance cards open early Tuesday night, January 31, for a Telephone Town Hall.

That's right; you read right. The three lawmakers who serve the 38th District -- state Rep. John McCoy, state Rep. Mike Sells, and state Sen. Nick Harper -- are hosting an hour-long tele-forum that evening from 6 to 7. It's a grand opportunity for citizens to engage their legislators in a frank conversation about what's going on in the 2012 legislative session.

Shortly before 6 o’clock the night of January 31, thousands of 38^th District citizens will receive telephone calls inviting them to stay on the line and participate in the tele-Town Hall. People who want to join in will be given simple, uncomplicated instructions on what to do. But wait! What if you are a 38th Legislative District resident and you want to join in but you don't get the call between 5:45 and 6 Tuesday night, January 31? In that case, simply call this toll-free telephone number directly, 1-877-229-8493, and then enter PIN code No. 18646 when prompted. And you'll be in!

McCoy, Sells, Harper and the 144 other lawmakers are about a third of the way to an early March deadline for completing their work in the 2012 legislative session. The three lawmakers emphasized that citizens should always feel free to contact one, two, or all three of them whenever the citizens want to ask a question and/or share an opinion.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Service members' call of duty honored in flurry of legislative action

Talk about walking the talk.

The House of Representatives today got down to the serious business of standing up for citizens who’ve gone out of their way to stand up for their country. Military folks -- citizens who put their lives on hold, and all too often put their lives on the line -- shouldn't have to look over their shoulders and wonder what's going on with their parental, legal and education rights back home. That's the message hammered home this morning in a trio of measures among the very first bills to win House of Representatives approval in the 2012 legislative session.

House Bill 1050, prime-sponsored by state Rep. John McCoy, protects the rights of military parents. The legislation:

Courtesy www.mcchord.af.mil

* Allows a military parent to ask the court to delegate the parent's residential time with a child if the parent's military orders involve being more than one night away when the parent is scheduled to have time with a child.

* And provides that the delegation provision applies when establishing a parenting plan or court order, not just when modifying an existing plan or order.

House Bill 1615, prime-sponsored by state Rep. Connie Ladenburg, safeguards the legal rights for all of our citizens called up to active duty. The measure makes sure National Guard members can count on the same legal protections when they are called up in response to a state emergency as they now receive when they are called to service by the president.

 House Bill 1221, prime-sponsored by state Rep. Fred Finn, will see to it that colleges and universities provide a chance for reservist students to make up any tests they miss if they're called to active duty or military training for a month or less. This legislation fills a gap in current state law that can adversely impact men and women who are either involved in military drills and training or are called to duty in response to natural disasters that might run less than 30 days.

The three military bills passed the House unanimously and will now receive further consideration in the Senate.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Local, state, national leader celebrated for his community works

"All politics," observed a shrewd Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives now gone to his reward, "is local."

For talking about Washington State Rep. John McCoy, you might tweak ol' Tip O'Neill's proverb just a tad to read, "Leadership always starts locally." Rep. McCoy in a few weeks will be honored with the Pearl Capoeman-Baller Civic Participation Award from The Potlatch Fund. This local, state and national trailblazer will join other esteemed recipients of recognition in the 2011 Annual Potlatch Fund Gala, which is set for Saturday, Nov. 19, in Seattle.

"I'm so humbled and so very honored to be receiving this recognition," Rep. McCoy said. "Truly, I will accept this award on behalf of the multitude of folks in our communities who go the extra mile every day to make ours a better, safer, healthier place to call home."

A Tulalip Democrat who represents the 38th Legislative District, Rep. McCoy chairs the House Technology, Energy, & Communication Committee, and he sits on the House Education Committee and the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee. He also chairs the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators. He's an active member of the Environmental Management Roundtable, the Labor and Economic Development Committee, and the Communications, Financial Services & Interstate Commerce Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Snohomish County lawmaker has championed an expansion of broadband across the state as a way to get everyone connected. He has also pushed to expand Washington’s renewable energy portfolio and create incentives for alternative energy, such as biomass and solar. Around his community, McCoy is active with the United Way, the Native American advisory boards for the National and Snohomish County Boys and Girls Clubs, the advisory board for the Cascade Land Conservancy, and several other philanthropic community-support groups.

Formed in 2002, Potlatch is a foundation and leadership-development organization serving Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana. Potlatch strives to develop and empower Native leadership, and see to it that the wisest use is made of tribal resources.

Washington is bullish on renewable energy

Renewable energy? Not to worry. Folks in these parts have it covered. Fact is, we aren't a bit shy when it comes to developing renewable energy. For evidence supporting that very bold assertion, one need look no further than Initiative 937, a measure that stole the hearts of a solid majority of voters here a mere five years back.

Then, too, there's the State Energy Strategy, a collaborative effort championed by a wide range of extraordinary principles. The House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee, chaired by state Rep. John McCoy, has a lead role in this important mission. Voices of the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission, and other state agencies also feature prominently in putting the Energy Strategy together. Advisory committee members, using input from key stakeholders and private citizens, are working toward development of the 2012 State Energy Strategy which will be submitted for consideration this coming December.

The draft 2012 State Energy Strategy can be yours for the reading at the state Department of Commerce website noted above. In fact, you best be marking your social calendar for a couple of upcoming, very special public meetings called to discuss the Energy Strategy. One meeting is planned 6 to 8, tonight, Oct. 12, in the Vicky L. Carwein Auditorium of the University of Washington Tacoma campus, 1900 Commerce St. A second get-together is set 5 to 7, Thursday evening, Oct. 20, in Academic Center Room 107 of the Washington State University Spokane campus, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.

McCoy's committee will also discuss this titanic issue in its December meeting, with an eye toward developing pertinent energy legislation for review in the 2012 session of the Legislature. The Snohomish County lawmaker said distributed energy encompasses "a range of small power generation and energy-storage technologies that are placed at or near the actual point of energy-consumption."

Rep. Upthegrove receives WCV’s Legislator of the Year award today

He doesn't consider himself a morning person, but Rep. Dave Upthegrove was honored to be up early for this morning's Washington Conservation Voters 19th annual Breakfast of Champions.

Back in June, WCV announced that Rep. Upthegrove had been selected as their 2011 Legislator of the Year.   In a press release, WCV mentioned the ways he championed the environment during the 2011 Legislative Session, including helping to move toward a coal-free Washington, and clearing phosphorous pollution from our lakes and rivers.

This morning Rep. Upthegrove, who chairs the House Environment Committee, formally receives his award.

While he has been a key figure in moving many of the environmental community's top issues forward in the legislature, Rep. Upthegrove has also championed local environmental issues in his South King County district.  In accepting today's award, he said, "I’m proud of our work to protect the majestic Green River Gorge—and support the vision of the Green River Gorge Mountains to Valley Greenway. I’m proud of our success cleaning up toxic soil at local schools and daycares."

Previous WCV Legislators of the Year include former Rep. (now Senator) Sharon Nelson (2010), and Rep. John McCoy (2009).

Energy-focused town hall with Rep. McCoy coming up this Saturday

So what does this new Green Century have in store for us in the world of power? No, not economic or political power. We’re talking energy power – the kind of power you need to run stuff, to produce widgets, and to make things happen. The power that keeps people working, keeps society humming, and keeps the wheels of commerce rotating.

Want to get the scoop on the latest goings-on in the powerful world of energy? Set aside an hour or two Saturday afternoon, March 19, for state Rep. John McCoy’s “Green Workers Keep the Evergreen State Working” Town Hall in Monroe.

McCoy’s Town Hall will power up at 1 and run till around 4 at the Qualco Bio-Gas Energy Facility, which is located at 18117 SE 203rd Street. Folks on hand for the afternoon’s events will no doubt enjoy hearing from representatives of – not to mention viewing informational booths provided by – Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1, as well as Silicon Energy, Sunergy Systems, The Light Doctor, Puget Sound Energy (tentative), and, of course, Qualco Energy.

McCoy, who chairs the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee, has also invited other legislators from around the region to join the Qualco tour and other educational activities. McCoy will talk about the 21st century economy and he’ll review what’s up in the Legislature as far as fuel for economic development is concerned.

Washington: A smart state. And a very good state for business, too.

The hits just keep on coming for our Pacific Northwest corner. And when it comes to big-time hits in the form of praise for the way we do things here in Washington? Well, we take a back seat to no one!

Yes, Washington – our very own good old Evergreen State – has collected plenty of plaudits over the years from an array of academic, business and economic-development quarters. As a matter of fact, you might just want to check this Forbes site for the latest lowdown on how high up we stand in business rankings. But the very latest recognition comes from the Milken Institute, “an independent economic think tank whose mission is to improve the lives and economic conditions of people in the U.S. and around the world.” Milken’s 2010 State Technology and Science Index says we’re an impressive No. 6 among all the states.

State Rep. John McCoy, who chairs the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee, said the new Technology and Science Index “reflects our commitment to building the type of academic and economic infrastructure we need to compete – and to win! – in the 21st century.” McCoy explained that these meticulous Milken ratings evaluate what Washington and other states are doing “in terms of creating high-quality, high-paying jobs and companies that will endure in the decades to come.”

This Milken ranking is based on almost 80 indicators, including our research hubs, industry clusters, and favorable business-tax and regulation policies. Chock-full of kudos for Washington, the complete title of this recent report is “2010 State Technology and Science Index: Enduring Lessons for the Intangible Economy.”

The top states are singled out for their estimable handling of “increasing pressure to nurture their own innovation assets in order to grow and sustain diverse economies for the future,” according to the laudatory report. “These top-ranked states have successfully invested in and are leveraging the tech and science assets that are the engines of 21st century economic growth.”

Proposed changes to high school assessments spark discussion in Olympia

Teachers, parents, principals and superintendents shared passionate testimonies on high school assessment bills during Tuesday's House Education Committee.

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos’ House Bills 1412 and 1410 brought forth proposals to change requirements for high school math and science assessments. Amidst harsh budget realities and a continued strain on education funding, State Superintendent Randy Dorn requested the legislation to make sure the assessment system in Washington is “aligned and fair” for students.

House Bill 1412 allows students in the classes of 2013 and 2014 to pass one end-of-course (EOC) math exam instead of two in order to help transition to future assessment requirements. As for House Bill 1410, it postpones the science assessment graduation requirement until the class of 2017 to allow for more time and funding for implementing science requirements.

Rep. Christine Rolfes’ House Bill 1330 also sparked conversation around further adjustments to the assessment system. The proposal to eliminate the use of statewide assessments as a high school graduation requirement was brought forth by Rep. John McCoy’s House Bill 1463.

Who first wired the White House for personal computers? Hint: It's a legislator...

The Herald published a very interesting and in-depth article about Rep. John McCoy yesterday. In addition to his work in the House, where he chairs the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, McCoy has been instrumental at home:

Quil Ceda Village contributes millions of dollars per year to the tribal and local economies and the tribes donate millions to nonprofits. The tribes’ relations with their non-Indian neighbors are much improved from 20 years ago.

While John McCoy didn’t make all this happen by himself, he had a huge part in it.

You can read about McCoy's history, which includes work on the beginnings of the Internet and installing computers at the White House, here: John McCoy, Quil Ceda Village helped Tulalips to prosperity

#hdcblueride: Lawmakers to join Law Enforcement on the front lines this weekend

It was an emotional week in the Legislature as we honored the law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty this past year. As the families and colleagues of the slain officers bore witness, lawmakers passed new measures in order to protect them and their families, as well as increase public safety.

In order to show their gratitude another way, several House Democrats will participate in ride-alongs with their local law enforcement and State Patrol this weekend.

Ride-alongs are one of the best ways to fully grasp what those on the frontline of our security deal with day in and day out. Those participating will see the best - and sometimes the worst - of humanity on display. They’ll see and confront firsthand for a few hours what the people behind the badge see and confront 24-7.

Those joining their local law enforcement are:

• Rep. Jim Moeller: Vancouver PD – Saturday, 9am to Noon
• Rep. Marko Liias: WA State Patrol – Saturday, 6pm-10pm
• Rep. John McCoy: Snohomish Co.Sheriff Dept.– Friday, 6pm-8pm (Legislative action permitting)
• Rep. Jeff Morris: Skagit Co. Sheriff Dept. – Saturday, 9am to Noon
  

Here’s Jim Moeller on the impetus behind the idea:

“We talk very often in the Legislature about the importance of public safety. I want to acquire a concrete feeling for what life is like for the people who are willing to put their lives on the line for me every day. Some of us were talking the other morning about the specific, real-world ways that the budget crisis is manifesting itself in the lives of every single citizen. Public safety came up as a very good, and certainly a very concrete example of the money we invest in public programs and services."

Moeller and the other legislators will post regular updates from their ride-alongs. Follow along as the legislators provide updates from their beats via Twitter with the hashtags: #hdcblueride and #waleg

Virtual Town Hall Tonight at 6:30 for Reps. McCoy and Sells

We're liveblogging yet another tele-town hall tonight at 6:30pm with Reps. John McCoy and Mike Sells.

Just like before, take part, listen in, ask questions, post comments, and learn up on the good members from the 38th LD, and see what they have to say about the 2010 state budget and legislative session so far.