Report #3 3/16/1999
Our efforts to restore collective bargaining rights for deputy prosecutors moved out of the Rules Committee with unanimous bipartisan support. It was then placed on the Senate floor calendar for a full vote of the Senate. Not a single Senator had voiced objections to the bill until floor action was taken. Senator Adam Kline (D) Seattle, the prime sponsor, spoke to the merits of the bill and the need to make the correction to the statute. It was then that Senator Bob Morton (R) Orient rose in opposition. Senator Morton read a letter from the Prosecutor in Okanogan County, Rick Weber (R), that portrayed the bill as a "just cause" mandate on all prosecutors that would cripple rural counties war on crime! Senator Kline then responded with a letter from Steve Tucker, Spokane County Prosecutor (R), stating his support for the bill as he supported collective bargaining, because it helped attract and retain experienced and qualified deputies. However, the partisan damage was already done. Senator Morton, aided by Spokane Senators West (R) and McCaslin (R) personally lobbied other republicans who had committed their support to the bill to change their votes. This is directly against the wishes of their own county prosecutor and fellow republican, Steve Tucker! The final tally – 29 to 19 with four republicans voting Yea – Benton, Roach, Sheahan and Winsley and one Democrat voting No – Tim Sheldon.
The bill now moves to the House Commerce and Labor Committee.
Please call the following Representatives and ask them to support SB 5152.
Our bill to raise bid limits is now in the Rules Committee. They have not been raised since 1987 and this bill would double them and add an inflation escalator. The bill was voted out of committee with 5 yes votes (Senators Patterson, Gardner, Haugen and Horn.)
This bill would help rural counties defray some of the cost of extraordinary criminal justice expenses that are breaking budgets in small counties. Representative Cathy McMorris (R) is the prime sponsor of this bill which has received bipartisan support. We support the bill because our members in these counties are directly affected when crime costs cut into the general funds used to pay for salaries and benefits. Please call your Senator and ask them to support HB 1599. Do not make hard working public employees another victim of crime!
Senate Bill 5995 and in House version HB 2237 were introduced but failed to receive a hearing – these bills would lower the current penalty of 8% per year to 3% per year. This would allow P.E.R.S. II members to retire prior to age 65 without taking such a drastic cut in benefits. The outlook for passage of these bills is not great but members should still call their legislators to let them know it is an important issue that will not go away!
The Pension Governance Bill – PSHB 1771 is gaining momentum amongst some influential lawmakers. This bill would create an oversight board that gives us a seat at the table where pension policy is created. Unfortunately, due to a misguided employee organization, the bill was dealt a setback. The lobbyist for the Washington Public Employee "Association" (not a union) introduced a P.E.R.S. III bill and linked it to the passage of the Governance Bill. This was a very shortsighted strategy that jeopardizes all the hard work that Representative Wolfe and other labor unions put into PSHB 1771.
Your calls to all Representatives and Senators are needed.
Over 200 members attended Council 2’s legislative weekend March 11 through the 13th. Our activities included a reception for legislators on Thursday night, lobbying the capital on Friday and a Legislative Committee meeting on Saturday. A special thanks should be given for all those who took the time to attend.
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