Legislative Report #1, 2005

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LEGISLATIVE REPORT #1

January 27, 2005

J. Pat Thompson
Deputy Director

2005 Legislative session under way

THE 105 day (“long”) session kicked off January 10 and the pace seemed slower than usual. Perhaps it was the intrigue created by the close Governor’s race that held lawmakers’ attention. Whatever the reason, it won’t last long. The large debt ($1.6 billion) coupled with a long list of wants and needs from interest groups will get things hopping quickly.

For the record, Democrats control all three branches of State Government, but the majority in the Senate is a mere three seats with at least a few conservative Democrats who may vote with the minority depending on the issue. Whatever the political mix, your help is needed.

Click here to find out the names of your legislators, who can be reached using the toll free hotline number (1-800-562-6000). If you don’t know who your legislators are, they can tell you by your home address or you can go to www.leg.wa.gov and click on “Find Your Legislator”.

You can also choose to email your legislator as well. This is a great way to lobby and it will make a difference.

Any way you do choose to do it; it’s easy and very productive. Despite what you may have heard from the anti-government crowd, politicians do listen to constituents who take the time to contact them. Let your voice be heard!

Bills of interest

The newly created Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) continued its work over the interim and has presented the legislature with a list of bills that include:

HB 1324/ SB 5246:

HB 1324: Sponsored by Representatives Fromhold, Conway, Crouse, Simpson and Linville

SB 5246: Sponsored by Senators Fraser, Regala, McAuliffe and Rasmussen

These are the largest and most important bills of the session for PERS members. Details will be published in the next report. The largest benefit in these bills to our members is the “Modified Rule of 90” which is a prospective (not retroactive) system that would allow people with 30 years of service to retire at 60 with no reduction in benefits.

These bills also include an increase in Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for retirees and extend the Plan II choice to school employees who are currently forced into Plan III.

HB 1320: Sponsored by Representatives Alexander, Conway, Crouse, Simpson, Upthegrove and Chase.

This bill would allow Plan III members to be vested after five years instead of the current 10.

INITIATIVE REFORM BILLS

Several bills have been introduced to reform our initiative system in response to the sleazy use of paid signature gatherers including:

HB 1222: Sponsored by Representatives McDermott, Nixon, Ericks, Buri, Simpson, Shabro, Williams, Dickerson, Sells, Ormsby and Haigh

This is our third attempt to require signature gatherers to sign the petitions they turn in, so when forgeries are found they can be prosecuted.

HB 1105: Sponsored by Representatives Appleton, Jarrett, Moeller, Sells, Fromhold, Conway, Grant, Hunt, Haigh, Pettigrew, Morris, Tom, Santos, Ormsby, Williams, Linville, Kilmer, Roberts, Cody, Flannigan, Wallace, Darneille, Kagi, Chase, Dickerson and Upthegrove.

This would require signature gatherers to be state residents and that they be paid by the hour instead of the current per signature “bounty” that elicits forgery.

Legislative Weekend coming up

Legislative/Executive Board Weekend — March 3–5

DEADLINE to return room reservation/legislator appointment forms — MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7

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