Document

The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Legislator Hyde . . . . . . . . .

Budget Background and Balance Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Key Bills from the 2010 Legislative Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How They Voted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hey! Big Spender: How much did your legislator cost you? . . . . .

Only the Good Bills Die Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lawless Lawmakers: Rules bent and broken in Olympia . . . . . . . .

Questions for Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Who We Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THE INFORMEDVOTER GUIDE

2010

Tools for citizens who want to hold their legislators accountable

for governing well

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATIONPO BOX 552, OLYMPIA, WA 98507 • 360.956.3482 • WWW.EFFWA.ORG

347

112125262729

In memory of Ansgar Schei, a Founding Trustee, who passionately

believed that each citizen has the obligation and privilege of

being an informed voter.

I N F O R M E D v O T E R g U I D E . C O M

W W W . I N F O R M E D v O T E R g U I D E . C O M

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eparting legislators push their way out

through the heavy doors and walk down the

marble steps. Passing a State Patrol officer or two,

they find their cars and begin the drive

back to their districts and homes.

The trip, at least for some legisla-

tors, is transformational.

Within Olympia’s marble pillars,

they are in charge. Some of them

wield their power more like poten-

tates than public servants. They roll

out the red carpet for the bureau-

cracy and most lobbyists while get-

ting to citizen concerns last. Some

legislators sternly lecture or patron-

ize citizens who question their pro-

posals.

Committee Chairmen change agen-

das for public hearings at the last

minute and put critical votes in the fast lane, with

no time for the public or issue experts to study

bills or testify. Committees consider—and pass—

unwritten “title-only” bills. In the House chamber,

members cast votes for missing colleagues.

But during the drive home at the end of the leg-

islative session, these legislators undergo a meta-

morphosis. Emerging into their districts and onto

the campaign trail, we see thoughtful, humble can-

didates who just want to do what is right by the

people. They want to represent us, to clean things

up, save taxpayer dollars and take a thoughtful and

inclusive approach.

Robert Louis Stevenson wrote The Strange Case

of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, about a scientist who

creates his own fiendish alter ego. “Though so

profound a double-dealer,” Jekyll says in his final

admission, “I was in no sense a hypocrite; both

sides of me were in dead earnest.”

Earnest or not, voters are tired of voting for Dr.

Jekyll only to have Mr. Hyde show up in Olympia.

It is equally disconcerting for legislators who do

not adopt Mr. Hyde’s persona to be cast as double-

dealers when they are, in fact, humble men and

women who exercise great personal and policy dis-

cipline.

To provide a remedy, we created the Informed

Voter Project. It will roll out in several phases.

This is the first installment, and you will note our

attempt to reveal the “Mr. Hyde’s”

who serve here in Olympia, at least

in terms of their budget votes. We

detail how legislators voted on

seventeen key issues, how they

planned to spend taxpayer dollars,

and some good ideas they let fall

by the wayside.

We’ve also included a list of

questions you should consider

asking every incumbent or chal-

lenger for elective office. Our hope

is that this guide puts the tools in

your hands to hold your legislators

accountable for how they repre-

sent you.

We will continue to gather information to help

us know more about how our legislators are rep-

resenting us. Check our website at www.informed-

voterguide.com or our blog at libertylive.org for

updates.

The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Legislator Hyde

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Dealing with budget gaps was a major issue for legis-

lators this year. How did they do? Budget Analyst Brett

Davis describes the missed opportunity with specifics

you can use in conversation with your legislators.

uring the 11th hour of the special 2010 legislative

session, lawmakers passed a supplemental state

budget, which members of the majority party claimed

was balanced in its approach to dealing with a $2.8 bil-

lion deficit. They pointed to a combination of spending

cuts, closed tax exemptions and tax increases.

In reality, they increased overall spending and posi-

tioned the state to be in worse shape for the next bien-

nium. To raise more revenue to pay for the spending,

the majority passed a $794 million tax-increase pack-

age, which amounts to nearly $2.5 billion over the three

years of its current lifespan. The measure raises a myr-

iad of taxes, including a temporary surcharge on service

businesses such as attorneys and real estate agents.

Consumers will pay higher taxes on tobacco products,

bottled water, candy, gum and mass-produced beer.

The beer, pop and water taxes are slated as temporary,

though the tax on bottled water will be extended if vot-

ers approve a ballot measure this November for about

$505 million in bond sales.

Budget Background and Balance Sheets

D

General Fund State Balance Sheet

Enacted 2000-11 Budget including 2010 Supplemental Budget

Total Revenue: 29.2B

Total Spending: 30.5B

(1.3B)

Net Policy Level Change: (1.1B)

This is the balance sheet for the 2010 Supplemental Operat-ing Budget.

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Out of a $31 billion general fund, the final $200

to $300 million of the tax-increase package turned

out to be the biggest roadblock that kept Demo-

crats from finishing their budget work on time.

Senate leaders favored a state sales-tax increase,

while the House and Governor Christine Gregoire

backed a menu of targeted tax hikes. The latter

plan passed, and it allows total state spending to

increase $3.3 billion over the next 14 months.

During the exceedingly quiet special session,

most onlookers believed that Sen. Majority Leader

Lisa Brown, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp and

Governor Gregoire were debating the political and

financial merits and demerits of a particular tax

increases. Perhaps. At a minimum, it did provide

great cover for proponents of the income tax ini-

tiative to put together their plan. When they were

done, so was the special session.

For the most part, legislators who voted for the

budget claim they cut spending, scrubbed waste

from the budget, and routed out inefficiencies.

Nonsense! They increased spending, ignored

waste and inefficiency, and “swept” money from

dedicated accounts into the general fund to sup-

port the increased spending, knowing full well they

will have to backfill those accounts.

But there’s no shortage of ways to balance the

state budget without raising taxes. Here are a few

examples we floated during the legislative session:

• State workers could pay 20 percent of their

health insurance premiums—still a good deal by

private sector standards—instead of the current

12 percent, with taxpayers picking up the rest.

This would save $50 million over six months,

which translates into $200 million in savings

over the course of a biennium.

• Taxpayers could stop subsidizing the state liquor

monopoly with hundreds of millions of dollars

and leave that to the private sector. The state

could sell its massive warehouse and equip-

ment, eliminate operation costs of about $120

million a year and collect liquor taxes on top of

that.

• The Department of Printing costs $10 million a

year. It could be closed down and its equipment

put up for sale. The state’s printing needs could

met by contracting with private businesses,

most of which can probably provide identical or

improved service at a lower price. In fact, allow-

ing private companies to make competitive bids

on all routine government services—the “Yel-

low Pages test”—is a fine idea that could save

money in many areas.

• Other budget-balancing ideas include opening

up competition to the private sector to bring

down rates and decrease liabilities in the work-

ers’ compensation system; cutting red tape and

bureaucracy via charter agencies to get things

done cost effectively; and contingency-based

recovery audits that allow the state to collect

money it’s owed without costing taxpayers a

dime.

We have published several billion dollars worth

of savings opportunities, but majority party lead-

ers have been unwilling to entertain them for

fear of upsetting their political base. Legislators

would not build a responsible budget during boom

times, and now they won’t do it during a budget

crisis either. Witness the refusal of state leaders

to reopen contracts with state workers during the

just-concluded legislative session, even though the

law allows renegotiation if a significant revenue

shortfall is declared by the governor or by resolu-

tion of the Legislature.

Lawmakers will have to face prioritizing and mak-

ing serious cuts again next year, when they have to

write a new two-year budget. If Washington state’s

economic recovery is slow or flat and the unem-

ployment rate remains high, it will be virtually

impossible for lawmakers to again plead poverty

and demand even more money from taxpayers in

2011.

Of course, legislators will be forced to face hard

facts if Initiative 1053 passes, since it reinstates the

two-thirds threshold for the Legislature to raise

taxes.

You can see more details about these and other

ideas for reducing state spending in our “Top 10

Ideas to Balance the State Budget,” available on

effwa.org.

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Growth of WA State Government SpendingThe Freedom Foundation created this chart using official state accounting data from fiscal.wa.gov

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Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6130—Suspend-

ing I-960

In a controversial precursor to hiking taxes, the

Legislature voted to “temporarily” (through July

1, 2011) suspend Initiative 960’s two-thirds major-

ity requirement for raising taxes. The bill also sus-

pended 1) I-960’s advisory vote provisions for any

tax increases, 2) publication of all tax increases

approved, and 3) which legislators voted for them.

In a small victory for taxpayers, the final bill kept in

place the rule that the Office of Financial Manage-

ment must determine and publish the 10-year cost

to the taxpayers of any bill raising taxes or fees.

Substitute Senate Bill 6846—New Taxes for

Emergency Services

This bill increases the limits for county and state

excise taxes by twenty and thirty-nine percent

respectively to boost 911 emergency communi-

cations services. The taxes are charged per phone

line, wireless line and even VOIP line. Passage of

the bill demonstrates the legislature’s continued

unwillingness to fund core government functions—

Key Bills from the 2010 Legislative Session

For each of the Freedom Foundation’s

major issue areas, we picked two or

three key bills that made it to at least

one floor vote (with one exception) and

demonstrated a substantive decision

about whether to expand or contract

freedom. Many other bills are worthy

of discussion, but for sake of space we

concentrated on the list below. Exam-

ine them for yourself, and then check

out your legislators votes on page 11.

If you see inconsistencies in how your

legislators’ voted, or if you don’t agree

with their decision, use these pages as

a tool to strike up a conversation. The

“Questions for Candidates” on page

27 are useful for this as well.

Taxes and Spending

like public safety—as a first priority from the Gen-

eral Fund, rather than cut less important programs.

To avoid prioritizing state spending, they passed

on the costs to taxpayers through another ad hoc

tax. The new rates take effect on January 1, 2011.

The Office of Financial Management estimates the

enhanced 911 tax will cost an extra $79 million

over a 10-year period.

Engrossed House Bill 2561—Hans’ Bonds

This bill places a referendum on the November

2010 ballot to sell $505 million in bonds above and

beyond the state debt limit to finance construc-

tion projects at public facilities (mainly schools)

aimed at improved energy efficiency. A permanent

tax on bottled water would be imposed to pay for

the debt service costs of the bonds. While sponsor

Rep. Hans Dunshee calls EHB 2561 a “jobs bill,” it

would be more accurately pegged as a “spend now,

pay later” measure. The bill applies to the capital

budget, meaning more can be spent now because

it isn’t subject to the balanced budget rule. By the

time taxpayers are done paying off the $505 mil-

lion in 2040, they will have shelled out $928 mil-

lion. Because the legislation calls for an increase in

the state’s level of bonded indebtedness above the

constitutional limit, a public vote is required.

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the potential to dramatically affect many small

businesses in Washington.

Federal law exempts businesses with gross

annual revenues under $1 million from being sub-

ject to unionization because it is extremely costly

and burdensome to small employers. SB 5046 uses

state law to regulate unionization in small busi-

nesses. While SB 5046 deals only with sympho-

nies, similar provisions could easily be extended to

other small businesses, increasing state regulatory

interference. And SB 5046 contains “card check”

provisions, which deny employees the security of

a secret ballot when electing a union—giving free

rein for union strong-arm tactics.

Senate Bill 6726 and House Bill 1329—Expanding

the reach of public employee unions

Organized labor is trying to increase its power by

expanding mandatory union membership to pri-

vate employees who provide services to the state.

The first example of this occurred in 2007 with Ini-

tiative 775, which made private providers of long

term healthcare services quasi-public employees

for the purposes of unionization and collective bar-

gaining with the state.

Organized labor has continued to look for new

categories of private employees to bring under its

wing. One major focus this session was HB 1329,

which would extend collective bargaining to private

daycare workers and owners who receive state

Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6143—

The Big Tax Package

As part of its efforts to close a $2.8 billion budget

gap, the Legislature passed this $692.7 million tax-

increase package to be imposed in stages during

May, June and July of 2010. The measure raises a

myriad of taxes, including a “temporary surcharge”

in the Business and Occupation tax rate for service

businesses such as attorneys and real estate agents.

In addition, a de facto convenience store tax means

consumers will pay higher taxes on bottled water,

soda pop, candy, gum and mass-produced beer.

The beer, pop and water taxes are slated as tem-

porary. (The bottled water tax would become per-

manent should voters approve selling $505 million

in bonds per EHB 2561.) The bill also attempts to

extend in-state Business and Occupation taxes to

out-of-state businesses that do not have a physical

presence in Washington. Constitutional challenges

to the parts of the bill which discriminate against

out-of-state businesses are likely.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2493—Higher

Taxes for Cigarettes

Starting in May, smokers can expect to pay another

$1 for a pack of cigarettes. Beginning in July, the tax

on other tobacco products will jump from 75 per-

cent of the taxable sale price to 95 percent, with

the tax on cigars capped at 65 cents per smoke.

Legislators believe ESHB 2493 will raise more than

$100 million over the next two years. (They depend

on this revenue source, even while they argue that

people should stop smoking.) A likely result will be

that people will buy more of their tobacco prod-

ucts in states like Oregon and Idaho, where the

taxes are lower.

Senate Bill 5046—Creating a new type of labor

law

This new law grants collective bargaining rights to

symphony musicians belonging to orchestras mak-

ing gross annual revenues of more than $300,000,

creating a new type of state labor law which has

Worker Freedom

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subsidies for the low-income children in their care.

The bargaining terms, however, would be limited

to state subsidies and professional development—

essentially requiring private daycare owners to pay

dues to the union for help with lobbying and train-

ing, with little evidence that such help is needed

or wanted.

HB 1329 passed the House but failed to come to

a vote in the Senate. But SB 6726, which extended

collective bargaining rights to private interpreters

who provide services to the Department of Social

and Health Services, sailed through the legislature

with little attention. Interpreters hired by our DSHS

have to become a dues-paying union member first.

This expands the size of state government and allows

violations of a worker’s freedom of association.

Engrossed House Bill 2776—New Education

Funding Formulas

This bill is the culmination of last year’s ESHB 2261

that revised the state’s definition of a “basic edu-

cation.” EHB 2776 establishes new funding formu-

las for average class size, staff, administration and

more. It continues the phase-in of full-day kinder-

garten and pledges to double the per-pupil mainte-

nance, supplies, and operating cost (MSOC) alloca-

tions by 2015-16. The fiscal note estimates a cost

of $3,911,274,375 from the State Gen-

eral Fund over the next five years.

Rather than addressing the

multi-layered bureau-

cracy and special inter-

ests that siphon money

from public education, leg-

islators on both sides of the

aisle are increasing funding.

House Bill 2867—Expanding the

State’s Role in Early Childhood Devel-

opment

This dramatic expansion of the state’s role

in childrearing was introduced at Governor Gre-

goire’s request. It gives the Department of Early

Learning the responsibility to “develop, coordinate,

and implement services and programs for children

from birth to age three,” saying, “A successful out-

come for every child obtaining a K-12 education

depends on children being prepared from birth.”

The Department will present its recommendations

on December 1, 2010. Meanwhile, the 13 years of

public education currently provided will continue

to stagnate or decline. Besides, is it the role of gov-

ernment to prepare children for life from birth to

age three?

House Bill 2731—New Preschool Program

This bill creates a voluntary preschool program for

educationally “at-risk” 3- and 4-year-olds with the

intent to create a statewide preschool entitlement

program by the 2018-19 school years. Seldom-

publicized data from years of costly state-funded

preschool programs (like the federal government’s

Head Start program) show little to no benefit.

Over the next five years Washington’s pro-

gram is predicted to cost $57,709,163. We

know young children either benefit or

suffer from what happens in their first

three years of life. Many children

need help. But government pro-

grams have not worked because

this important task is not one of its

core competencies or functions.

Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6696—

Race to the Top

ESSSB 6696 was Washington’s attempt to be eligible

for President Obama’s “Race to the Top” competi-

tive grant. It affects school accountability, teacher

and principal evaluation, innovation, teacher prep-

aration and more. While the bill makes noises in the

right direction, particularly with school account-

ability procedures and teacher evaluation, there

are significant problems. It strictly prohibits char-

ter schools and requires that the teacher union sign

off on teacher evaluation components.

Educating the Next Generation

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critical area ordinances required by the Growth

Management Act from encroaching on the areas

regulated by the Shoreline Management Act. The

changes passed by EHB 1653 will now allow Critical

Growth Areas (and the accompanying regulations)

to cover shoreline areas.

Property development within shoreline areas

has already been heavily regulated. Now those

property owners will have to wrestle with criti-

cal area ordinances as well. Even though this bill

has some notable gains for property rights, its net

effect is more burdensome regulation within the

shoreline areas.

House Bill 1572—Requiring Vote-by-Mail in All

Counties

Despite the rush to voting-by-mail, Washington’s

39 counties so far retain a choice between poll-

ing places and the post office. Pierce County is the

last toehold for precinct polling places. HB 1572

was a hammer aimed at Pierce County’s electoral

toe. It forces postal voting on the entire state

and removes any choice for local government.

Senate Bill 6214—Restructuring the Growth

Management Hearing Boards

This bill restructures three growth management

hearings boards into one board. Prior to its passage,

growth management grievances were heard by

three regional Growth Management Boards com-

prised of three members each. The regional struc-

turing was created to ensure sensitivity to each of

our diverse Washington regions and easy access to

citizens in those regions. SB 6214 will consolidate

the three boards into one seven-member board.

The board restructuring creates a centralized,

top-down approach for a controversial program

already famous for diminishing people’s property

values and rights. This further hobbles local plan-

ning goals and regional needs.

Engrossed House Bill 1653—Clarifying Shoreline

and Growth Management Acts

This bill clarifies the relationship between the

Shoreline Management Act and the Growth Man-

agement Act. Local property rights groups have

fought lengthy and expensive legal battles to keep

HB 1572 passed the House, but never reached the

Senate floor.

Senate Bill 6449 & House Bill 2614—Increasing

Requirements on Signature Gatherers

Two bills would have made it more difficult to col-

lect signatures for initiative, referendum, and recall

petitions. SB 6449 required a new license for paid

signature gatherers and rejected otherwise valid

signatures if the signature gatherer failed to com-

ply. It passed the Senate. HB 2614 would require

all signature gatherers to sign an oath and provide

additional information. The bill did not reach the

House floor. (Therefore, voting records for this bill

on the following pages denote committee votes

only.)

Integrity in Voting and Initiatives

Protecting Private Property Rights

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HOW T H E Y V O T E D

The chart below details how legislators voted on the bills described

in the previous section. It counts only floor votes on final versions of

the bills, except for one bill, HB 2614, in which we noted committee

votes. Look up your representatives by district and examine their vot-

ing record for yourself. Note inconsistencies within an issue (such as

voting against taxes but for higher spending), and ask your legislator

about it. We’ve also noted who the sponsors are for each of these

key bills, indicating legislators who felt strongly enough about sup-

porting a bill to actually put their name on it.

All votes represent floor votes on the final ver-

sion of the bill, except for HB 2614, for which

we’ve recorded only committee votes.

† signifies a bill sponsorSenators shaded gray represent those

up for reelection this fall. All House

members are up for reelection this fall.

Nothing in this publication should be construed as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any legislation or ballot measure.

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House of Representatives Budget/Taxes Labor Education Property Elections/

Initiatives

Last First Party Dist.SB

6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Alexander Gary R 20 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Anderson Glenn R 5 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO YES† YES NO YES YES NO NO

Angel Jan R 26 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO NO YES NO NO NO

Appleton Sherry D 23 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES† YES

Armstrong Mike R 12 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO

Bailey Barbara R 10 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Blake Brian D 19 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES

Campbell Tom R 2 NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO NO NO YES YES NO NO NO

Carlyle Reuven D 36 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES †

Chandler Bruce R 15 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Chase Maralyn D 32 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Chopp Frank D 43 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Clibborn Judy D 41 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Cody Eileen D 34 YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Condotta Cary R 12 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A N/A N/A N/A NO NO NO

Conway Steve D 29 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

Crouse Larry R 4 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Dammeier Bruce R 25 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES† YES YES YES YES NO NO

12

E V E R G R E E N F R E E D O M F O U N D A T I O N 2010

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the informed voter guide 13


Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Darneille Jeannie D 27 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES

DeBolt Richard R 20 NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Dickerson Mary Lou D 36 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Driscoll John D 6 NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

Dunshee Hans D 44 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Eddy Deborah D 48 NO YES YES† YES YES YES NO NO YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Ericks Mark D 1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Ericksen Doug R 42 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Fagan Susan R 9 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Finn Fred D 35 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES

Flannigan Dennis D 27 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES†

Goodman Roger D 45 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

green Tami D 28 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES NO YES

Haigh Kathy D 35 YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Haler Larry R 8 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES† YES NO NO NO

Hasegawa Bob D 11 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Herrera Jamie R 18 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES† NO NO NO NO YES NO NO

Hinkle Bill R 13 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES NO

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Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Hope Mike R 44 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES YES NO NO NO

Hudgins Zack D 11 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Hunt Sam D 22 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES†

Hunter Ross D 48 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Hurst Christopher D 31 NO YES YES NO NO N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES

Jacks Jim D 49 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Johnson Norm R 14 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO NO

Kagi Ruth D 32 YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES† YES† YES† YES YES YES YES

Kelley Troy D 28 NO YES YES NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES NO NO

Kenney Phyllis D 46 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Kessler Lynn D 24 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Kirby Steve D 29 YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

Klippert Brad R 8 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Kretz Joel R 7 NO NO N/A NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Kristiansen Dan R 39 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Liias Marko D 21 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES† †

Linville Kelli D 42 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Maxwell Marcie D 41 YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

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Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

McCoy John D 38 YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

McCune Jim R 2 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO

Miloscia Mark D 30 NO YES NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES† YES

Moeller Jim D 49 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Morrell Dawn D 25 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES† YES† YES† YES YES YES YES

Morris Jeff D 40 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Nealey Terry R 16 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Nelson Sharon D 34 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

O’Brien Al D 1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Orcutt Ed R 18 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO YES NO NO

Ormsby Timm D 3 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES

Orwall Tina D 33 YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Parker Kevin R 6 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES YES NO NO NO NO

Pearson Kirk R 39 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Pedersen Jamie D 43 YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Pettigrew Eric D 37 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Priest Skip R 30 NO YES NO NO NO NO YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES NO

Probst Tim D 17 NO NO YES NO NO YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES NO YES


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Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214EHB 1653

HB1572

SB6449

HB2614

Quall Dave D 40 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Roach Dan R 31 NO NO NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO NO YES NO NO NO

Roberts Mary Helen D 21 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Rodne Jay R 5 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO YES YES N/A NO

Rolfes Christine D 23 YES N/A YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Ross Charles R 14 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Santos Sharon Tomiko

D 37 YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES

Schmick Joe R 9 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Seaquist Larry D 26 NO YES YES† NO YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

Sells Mike D 38 YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES† YES† YES YES YES YES YES

Shea Matt R 4 NO NO NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Short Shelly R 7 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Simpson Geoff D 47 YES YES YES† NO YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES† YES

Smith Norma R 10 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO

Springer Larry D 45 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Sullivan Pat D 47 YES YES YES† YES NO YES YES YES† YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES

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Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214EB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Takko Dean D 19 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Taylor David R 15 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Upthegrove Dave D 33 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Van De Wege Kevin D 24 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES

Wallace Debbie D 17 NO YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES

Walsh Maureen R 16 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES† NO N/A NO NO

Warnick Judy R 13 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO YES YES YES NO NO

White Scott D 46 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES †

Williams Brendan D 22 YES YES YES† YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES† YES

Wood Alex D 3 YES N/A YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

All votes represent floor votes on the final ver-

sion of the bill, except for HB 2614, for which

we’ve recorded only committee votes.

† signifies a bill sponsorSenators shaded gray represent those

up for reelection this fall. All House

members are up for reelection this fall.

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Senate Budget/Taxes Labor Education Property Elections/Initiatives


6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Becker Randi R 2 NO YES NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES NO NO

Benton Don R 17 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

Berkey Jean D 38 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Brandland Dale R 42 NO YES† NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES YES YES YES NO NO

Brown Lisa D 3 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Carrell Mike R 28 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO NO NO YES YES NO NO

Delvin Jerome R 8 NO N/A N/A N/A N/A NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES NO NO

Eide Tracey D 30 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Fairley Darlene D 32 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† N/A YES YES†

Franklin Rosa D 29 YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Fraser Karen D 22 YES YES† YES YES YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES

gordon Randy D 41 YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Hargrove James D 24 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES N/A YES YES† YES YES YES

Hatfield Brian D 19 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO

Haugen Mary Mar-garet

D 10 YES YES NO YES YES NO NO N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES

Hewitt Mike R 16 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES YES NO

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6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Hobbs Steve D 44 NO YES YES NO YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Holmquist Janéa R 13 NO NO NO NO N/A NO NO N/A NO N/A YES YES YES NO NO

Honeyford Jim R 15 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES NO YES NO

Jacobsen Ken D 46 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES

Kastama Jim D 25 YES YES YES YES YES YES NO N/A NO YES YES NO YES YES YES

Kauffman Claudia D 47 NO YES YES NO YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Keiser Karen D 33 YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES†

Kilmer Derek D 26 NO NO YES NO YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

King Curtis R 14 NO NO NO NO NO YES NO N/A NO YES NO YES† YES YES NO

Kline Adam D 37 YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES†

Kohl-Welles Jeanne D 36 YES YES YES YES YES YES† YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES†

Marr Chris D 6 NO NO YES NO YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

McAuliffe Rosemary D 1 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

McCaslin Bob R 4 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A YES† N/A N/A

McDermott Joe D 34 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES YES†

Morton Bob R 7 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES† NO NO

Murray Ed D 43 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Oemig Eric D 45 YES NO YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES YES

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6130SB

6846HB

2561SB

6143HB

2493SB

5046SB

6726HB

1329HB

2776HB

2867HB

2731SB

6696SB

6214HB

1653HB

1572SB

6449HB

2614

Parlette Linda R 12 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES† YES NO

Pflug Cheryl R 5 N/A NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES N/A NO

Prentice Margarita D 11 YES† YES YES YES† YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES N/A YES

Pridemore Craig D 49 YES N/A YES YES NO N/A YES† N/A YES YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Ranker Kevin D 40 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES† N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES

Regala Debbie D 27 YES YES† YES YES YES YES NO N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Roach Pam R 31 NO YES NO NO NO NO YES N/A N/A YES NO N/A† NO NO NO NO

Rockefeller Phil D 23 YES YES YES YES YES YES YES N/A YES N/A YES YES† YES† YES YES

Schoesler Mark R 9 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES† YES NO

Sheldon Tim D 35 NO YES NO NO NO YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES YES† NO NO

Shin Paull D 21 YES YES YES YES NO YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES† YES YES

Stevens Val R 39 NO NO N/A N/A N/A NO NO N/A NO NO NO YES YES† NO NO

Swecker Dan R 20 NO YES NO NO NO YES NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES YES NO

Tom Rodney D 48 YES YES NO NO YES YES YES N/A YES YES YES YES† YES YES YES

Zarelli Joseph R 18 NO N/A NO NO NO NO NO N/A NO YES NO YES YES NO NO

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#1: Rep. Maralyn Chase (D-32)

$39 BILLION#2: Rep. Bob Hasegawa (D-11) $35.6 BILLION#3: Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36) $26 BILLION#4: Sen. Joe McDermott (D-34)

$45.7 BILLION

$25.5 BILLION#5: Rep. Sam Hunt (D-22)

$24.1 BILLION#6: Sen. Rosa Franklin (D-29)

$21.6 BILLION#7: Rep. Brendan Williams (D-22)

$18.6 BILLION#8: Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-37)

$17.6 BILLION#9: Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48)

$17.4 BILLION#10: Rep. Steve Conway (D-29)

HEY! BIG SPENDER HOW MuCH DID YOuR LEGISLATOR

COST YOu?

In the third annual “Hey! Big Spender”

report, we used ten-year projections

compiled by the state Office of Financial

Management to determine which legisla-

tors wanted to take the most from your wallet

over the next decade. We added up proposed

ten-year tax and fee increases for each legisla-

tor, using the list of bills they sponsored. Here

are the infamous top ten. The full list is also

included on the following pages.

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LegislatorTotal Tax & Fee

IncreaseRank

Last First Party Title

Chase Maralyn D Rep $45,749,765,624 1

Hasegawa Bob D Rep $39,075,456,854 2

Kohl-Welles Jeanne D Sen $35,620,901,197 3

McDermott Joe D Sen $26,045,637,100 4

Hunt Sam D Rep $25,566,962,835 5

Franklin Rosa D Sen $24,165,443,041 6

Williams Brendan D Rep $21,605,339,530 7

Pettigrew Eric D Rep $18,602,905,000 8

Hunter Ross D Rep $17,612,159,000 9

Conway Steve D Rep $17,365,915,421 10

Appleton Sherry D Rep $15,233,910,597 11

Nelson Sharon D Rep $14,791,881,280 12

Ericks Mark D Rep $13,487,118,100 13

Cody Eileen D Rep $13,468,810,000 14

Kline Adam D Sen $12,985,982,980 15

Ormsby Timm D Rep $12,876,126,988 16

Darneille Jeannie D Rep $12,820,429,310 17

Kenney Phyllis D Rep $12,260,804,280 18

Keiser Karen D Sen $11,193,318,477 19

Prentice Margarita D Sen $10,737,122,234 20

Dickerson Mary Lou D Rep $10,386,039,110 21

Fraser Karen D Sen $10,354,119,353 22

Moeller Jim D Rep $10,322,737,672 23

Roberts Mary Helen D Rep $9,946,527,880 24

Fairley Darlene D Sen $9,752,644,327 25

Pedersen Jamie D Rep $9,104,624,300 26

White Scott D Rep $8,959,887,179 27

Regala Debbie D Sen $8,285,156,455 28

Murray Ed D Sen $8,231,722,450 29

Oemig Eric D Sen $8,177,256,118 30

Jacobsen Ken D Sen $8,162,646,749 31

Ranker Kevin D Sen $7,708,918,077 32

Upthegrove Dave D Rep $7,707,002,315 33

Flannigan Dennis D Rep $7,268,829,450 34

Eddy Deborah D Rep $6,455,118,000 35

Sells Mike D Rep $6,410,662,267 36

Clibborn Judy D Rep $6,209,633,000 37

Quall Dave D Rep $5,803,005,780 38

Carlyle Reuven D Rep $5,708,894,649 39

Springer Larry D Rep $5,704,094,000 40

Tom Rodney D Sen $3,840,599,496 41

Kastama Jim D Sen $2,241,074,631 42

Goodman Roger D Rep $2,179,989,880 43

Rockefeller Phil D Sen $2,027,427,380 44

Simpson Geoff D Rep $1,966,299,505 45

Kagi Ruth D Rep $1,707,208,900 46

Orwall Tina D Rep $1,485,377,800 47

McCoy John D Rep $1,286,171,200 48

[ ]B I L L I O N A I R E C L U B

HEY! BIG SPENDER: HOW MuCH DID YOuR LEGISLATOR COST YOu?

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*Schoesler Mark R Sen $487,407,792 68

Honeyford Jim R Sen $420,284,474 69

*King Curtis R Sen $372,822,898 70

*Delvin Jerome R Sen $371,686,790 71

Wood Alex D Rep $364,921,094 72

Kirby Steve D Rep $361,500,325 73

Sullivan Pat D Rep $360,086,367 74

*Pflug Cheryl R Sen $302,277,824 75

*Hewitt Mike R Sen $302,087,824 76

*Stevens Val R Sen $300,217,824 77

*Zarelli Joseph R Sen $300,217,824 77

Becker Randi R Sen $300,217,824 77

Carrell Mike R Sen $300,217,824 77

Morris Jeff D Rep $298,838,368 81

Van De Wege Kevin D Rep $291,049,400 82

Hatfield Brian D Sen $259,663,368 83

Jacks Jim D Rep $247,798,074 84

Kessler Lynn D Rep $245,303,840 85

Armstrong Mike R Rep $223,818,070 86

Walsh Maureen R Rep $213,252,840 87

Hinkle Bill R Rep $194,073,750 88

Kretz Joel R Rep $194,073,750 88

Miloscia Mark D Rep $180,779,100 90

Haugen Mary Mar-garet

D Sen $174,325,231 91

Finn Fred D Rep $158,049,367 92

Takko Dean D Rep $138,486,840 93

Marr Chris D Sen $132,286,353 94

Sheldon Tim D Sen $115,907,228 95

McCaslin Bob R Sen $115,294,128 96

Hargrove James D Sen $1,167,904,085 49

Shin Paull D Sen $1,164,086,231 50

Maxwell Marcie D Rep $1,090,696,900 51

LegislatorTotal Tax & Fee

IncreaseRank

Last First Party Title

Brown Lisa D Sen $985,282,000 52

Gordon Randy D Sen $977,436,777 53

*Parlette Linda R Sen $969,582,824 54

Rolfes Christine D Rep $888,488,168 55

Liias Marko D Rep $868,031,107 56

Pridemore Craig D Sen $859,771,032 57

Kauffman Claudia D Sen $853,610,665 58

McAuliffe Rosemary D Sen $853,444,000 59

Green Tami D Rep $849,137,914 60

Eide Tracey D Sen $847,265,000 61

Berkey Jean D Sen $845,368,825 62

Seaquist Larry D Rep $823,963,000 63

Santos Sharon Tomiko

D Rep $769,425,100 64

Dunshee Hans D Rep $740,677,892 65

Hudgins Zack D Rep $738,553,965 66

Swecker Dan R Sen $619,853,063 67

[ ]M I L L I O N A I R E C L U B


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Hobbs Steve D Sen $114,432,228 97

O'Brien Al D Rep $114,432,213 98

Chandler Bruce R Rep $114,065,474 99

Bailey Barbara R Rep $111,678,500 100

Wallace Debbie D Rep $111,329,000 101

Johnson Norm R Rep $109,420,750 102

Ericksen Doug R Rep $109,417,000 103

Ross Charles R Rep $109,417,000 103

Morrell Dawn D Rep $84,755,788 105

Cox Don R Rep $83,403,000 106

Brandland Dale R Sen $78,791,000 107

Linville Kelli D Rep $73,465,100 108

Blake Brian D Rep $9,142,078 109

Campbell Tom R Rep $4,945,607 110

Condotta Cary R Rep $2,996,300 111

Smith Norma R Rep $2,241,000 112

Orcutt Ed R Rep $2,225,850 113

Driscoll John D Rep $1,797,200 114

Warnick Judy R Rep $1,694,000 115

Schmick Joe R Rep $1,654,840 116

Hurst Christopher D Rep $1,612,050 117

Crouse Larry R Rep $1,413,074 118

Benton Don R Sen $940,516 119

Haigh Kathy D Rep $861,900 120

Kristiansen Dan R Rep $861,900 120

Morton Bob R Sen $861,900 120

Roach Pam R Sen $861,900 120

Kilmer Derek D Sen $276,966 124

Kelley Troy D Rep $25,650 125

Taylor David R Rep $3,750 126

Shea Matt R Rep $3,750 126

McCune Jim R Rep $0

Alexander Gary R Rep $0

Anderson Glenn R Rep $0

Angel Jan R Rep $0

Chopp Frank D Rep $0

Dammeier Bruce R Rep $0

DeBolt Richard R Rep $0

Grant Bill D Rep $0

Haler Larry R Rep $0

Herrera Jamie R Rep $0

Hope Mike R Rep $0

Klippert Brad R Rep $0

Parker Kevin R Rep $0

Pearson Kirk R Rep $0

Priest Skip R Rep $0

Probst Tim D Rep $0

Roach Dan R Rep $0

Rodne Jay R Rep $0

Short Shelly R Rep $0

Holmquist Janéa R Sen $0


* This legislator sponsored SB 6858, which increases state property taxes by $7,610,900,000

over ten years. This was not included in the legislator’s spending total because the state

tax increases in SB 6858 are clearly offset by local tax decreases. The Office of Financial

Management only calculates the impact on state taxpayers and does not take into account

any offsetting reductions to taxpayers at the local level. A few other bills included in the Big

Spender list may also have partially or fully offsetting reductions in local taxes.

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Trent England, the Freedom Foundation’s Direc-

tor of Constitutional Studies, details a series of

bills that, in our opinion, should have had at least

a hearing by legislators. Use this as a tool to deter-

mine whether your legislators have the courage to

champion a politically unpopular idea, and whether

they are pushing forward good ideas, not just build-

ing defenses against bad ones.

he place where good ideas go to die,” might

be a cynic’s description of the Washington

State Legislature. Yet like the Phoenix of ancient

myth, every bill can rise from the ashes at the

beginning of a new legislative session.

Below are some of the best bills—and their spon-

sors—from 2010. None became law this session.

Many were simply denied a hearing. But there’s

always next year.

Just a little budget sunshine. It’s a classic trick:

release the budget bills at the last possible moment

and then demand an almost immediate vote. It

shuts out citizens, reporters, and even most leg-

islators from meaningful participation in the most

important legislative process. HB 2872 would have

required a 72-hour waiting period after a budget

bill was complete before either legislative chamber

could vote on the bill. It was sponsored by Repre-

sentative Gary Alexander (R-20), where Chairman

Kelli Linville (D-42) refused to allow a vote on this

measure of common sense.

Fix Workers Comp. Senator Janéa Holmquist

(R-13) introduced SB 6638 to help reduce the bur-

den to businesses and government of our waste-

ful workers compensation system. The bill would

allow voluntary settlements between injured work-

ers and employers and create medical provider

networks that specialized in treating injured work-

ers. It also would have tightened the definition of

“occupational disease” to prevent fraud and abuse.

Representative Jeff Morris (D-40) introduced the

House version, HB 2950. Chairman Jeanne Kohl-

Welles (D-36) in the Senate and Chairman Steve

Conway (D-29) in the House refused to give these

bills a hearing.

End the state’s liquor business. Why does state

government run a network of monopoly liquor

stores? Senator Tim Sheldon (D-35) sponsored SB

6204 to get the state out of the booze business.

A companion House bill, HB 2845 was sponsored

by Representative Gary Alexander (R-20). unfor-

tunately, a Senate committee changed Sheldon’s

bill into an uninspiring call for an expensive gov-

ernment study. Alexander’s bill was never given a

hearing by Committee Chair Steve Conway.

Sunshine for government labor negotiations. Mas-

sive state labor contracts are negotiated behind

closed doors. Unions condition political contribu-

tions on candidates’ pledges to vote for whatever

contract emerges. Representative Bruce Chandler

(R-15) introduced HB 1471 to open up these nego-

tiations to public scrutiny. And what happens when

you propose to expose the most powerful union

bosses and the leaders of the party in power? Com-

mittee Chairman Sam Hunt (D-22) refused even to

allow a public hearing on the bill.

Repeal National Popular Vote. Last year, against

bi-partisan opposition, the legislature joined Wash-

ington with four other states in an interstate com-

pact to side step the Electoral College, enhance

the power of big cities, and ensure litigation over

future presidential elections. Representative Matt

Shea (R-4), with eleven cosponsors, introduced HB

2715 to repeal Washington’s entry into the com-

pact and instead allocate most of the state’s elec-

toral votes by congressional district. Chairman Sam

Hunt denied this bill a hearing.

Only the Good Bills Die Young

“ Yet like the Phoenix of ancient myth, every bill can rise from the ashes at the beginning of a new legislative session.”

“T

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final vote. Each committee provides a public hear-

ing and then a second hearing just for committee

members to discuss and vote on whether to allow

the bill to move ahead. But what about holding

hearings on a bill before the bill is actually written?

As absurd as it sounds, this session has featured

a number of hearings on ghost bills (legislators call

them “title-only” bills). Holding a public hearing on

a ghost bill is like legislators holding a public hear-

ing, but making citizens wear blindfolds and ear-

plugs. It deprives citizens of any meaningful way

to provide input on legislation. And yet somehow

lobbyists show up knowing at least some details

about the bills….

Impossibly Short Notice. Related to the

ghost bill problem are hearings held with little or

no notice. Committee chairs feel free to change

Trent England describes how legislative leaders

avoided their own rules this past session in order

to hide their strategy for dealing with the budget

deficit from their constituents. Use this info and the

related “questions for candidates” to make sure

your representatives or potential representatives

know that it’s okay to disagree on the issues, but

it’s not okay to violate the processes that make our

republic work.

isagreements over policies are what politi-

cal processes are all about. There is nothing

wrong with conflict—as long as both sides follow

the rules. In fact, conflict is where the rules matter

most. They keep things from getting out of hand

and allow both sides to accept the end result.

The Washington State Legislature has rules

intended to ensure open consideration and rea-

sonable deliberation about proposed laws. Unfor-

tunately, legislative leaders have become content

to manipulate and ignore some of these rules.

Ghost Bills. As TVW-watchers know, proposed

legislation makes pit stops in various committees

before it reaches the House or Senate floor for a

Lawless Lawmakers: Rules bent and broken in Olympia

agendas on a whim and they often do, leaving cit-

izens unable to make their voices heard. In some

cases, ghost bills were introduced and then rushed

to hearings with little notice. For some of the big-

gest tax bills, public hearings were even “waived”

all together. Some legislators seem to think that

both they and their bills are just too important to

follow the rules.

Emergency Clause Abuse. Even after

a bill is passed by both houses and signed by the

governor, the State Constitution provides a waiting

period before it takes effect. During that time, a citi-

zen can file a referendum in order to put the law on

the ballot. The one exception to the waiting period

and citizen referendum is for legislation that is “nec-

essary for the immediate preservation of the public

peace, health, or safety, or support of the state gov-

ernment and its existing public institutions.”

Obviously, the “Emergency Clause” exception

was mean for real emergencies—volcanoes, earth-

quakes, and the like. Yet this legislature passed and

Governor Gregoire signed 24 bills this year contain-

ing Emergency Clauses, including the temporary

repeal of Initiative 960. Last year, 66 “Emergency”

bills became law. Abuse of the Emergency Clause

is just one more example of how out of touch leg-

islators are with regular citizens who expect more

than a wink and a nod at constitutional processes

that protect citizens’ rights.

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“The Washington State Legislature has rules intended to ensure

open consideration and reasonable deliberation about proposed laws.”

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Senate Bill 6143: the problem in a nutshell.

Senator Margarita Prentice introduced SB 6143 as

a blank sheet of paper with just a title—a ghost bill.

The bill was referred to the Senate Ways & Means

Committee, chaired by none other than Senator

Prentice herself. The contents of the bill—$890 mil-

lion in tax increases—were filled in just in time for

an almost unannounced hearing on March 5. The

committee voted it out on March 6. The next day it

was brought to the Senate floor and passed, 25-23.

The House waived all hearings on the bill, brought

it to the floor on March 7, and passed an amended

version of the bill on March 8. And it includes an

Emergency Clause. Senator Prentice has been in

the legislature since 1988.

It is often hard to determine a candidate’s

character and principles, and we’ll be listen-

ing to a lot of them between now and the elec-

tion this fall. But how can we discern a candi-

date’s likely vote on particular issues should

he or she be elected?

Think about getting answers to the following

questions as a starting place. They are written

for state legislative candidates, but many of

them can be modified for people running for

other offices. Be alert for the “non-answer”

answer, which is different from an answer you

might not agree with or an honest “I don’t

know,” with a commitment from a candidate

to find out.

Legislative Transparency and AccountabilityDo you support the following policies to pro-

vide greater transparency and accountability

in the legislative process?

• Require a waiting period of at least sev-

eral days after a bill is introduced before

it could be considered at a hearing; and a

one-day waiting period after a bill is con-

sidered in a public hearing before a committee

may vote on the bill.

• Prohibit the introduction of “title only”

(ghost) bills.

• Make casting a vote for another legislator an

ethics violation.

• Require a supermajority vote on bills with an

emergency clause attached.

Spending & Taxes• Do you support prioritizing government spend-

ing beginning with its stated key duties?

• Would you vote to spend no more than 98

percent of revenue projections and save 2

percent?

• Would you support reinstating the aim of Initia-

tive 960 that two-thirds of the legislature must

approve tax increases and that the public must

be notified of proposed increases in advance?

• Would you commit to adopting the recommen-

dations of performance audits unless your pub-

licly available analysis indicated the recommen-

dations would not be prudent?

Worker Freedom• More than 50 percent of all state employees are

unionized right now. Is this a good idea?

• Will you support the right of workers to have a

secret ballot about whether or not to unionize?

These rule-breaking habits won’t stop

until legislators are held accountable

for their actions. Inform yourself about

these problems, and make them a

topic of conversation with your repre-

sentatives. Several related questions

are included on the following pages to

help you start the discussion.

Questions for Candidates

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• Should collective bargaining sessions between

the government and government worker unions

be public?

• Would you support renegotiating state employee

contracts in the event of a fiscal emergency,

such as the state is experiencing now?

• Would you support changing the model for state

employee benefit programs from a state-man-

aged pension to employee-directed (defined

contribution) plans?

Protecting Private Property• Are you satisfied with the Growth Management

Act and its implementation, including its goals

of protecting job creation, economic growth,

and private property rights equally with protec-

tion of the environment?

• Do you support a ban on public entities using

eminent domain to take private property for

economic development?

Educating the Next Generation• How much money does the state currently allo-

cate for each student in our public education

system, and is that enough? If not, how much

is enough? (Current allocation in 2010 is $9,267

per student; more than $12,000 when capital

costs are included.)

• What is the most important outcome a school

can deliver to its students, and how will you

know if we are getting it?

• In your opinion, what is the most important

controllable ingredient in a quality education?

• Do you support offering a menu of educational

options within the public school system and let-

ting parents choose which program best meets

the needs of their children?

• What is the proper role of the teachers’ union in

K-12 education?

Election Integrity• Do you support the repeal of Washington’s

entry into the National Popular Vote interstate

compact, which would give Washington’s elec-

toral votes to the winner of the national popu-

lar vote and ignore the will of Washington’s own

voters?

• Do you support enacting measures that would

strengthen the eligibility screening procedures

for voter registration? (to prevent felons, 16-year-

olds, non-citizens, dogs, etc. from voting)

• Do you believe Washington should force coun-

ties to vote by mail, or should counties continue

to have the choice of voting at precinct polling

places?

Health Care• Do you think the federal government ought to

design and administer health care insurance?

• How will the new health care legislation affect

Washington state?

• As an elected official, what policies would you

advocate as a result of the new federal law?

The Role of Government• Government—its agencies and its regulations—

affects virtually every aspect of our lives. What

do you consider to be the proper role of gov-

ernment? Name at least one thing that govern-

ment is currently doing that you believe is not its

role, and explain why. Name at least one thing

that government is currently not doing that you

believe is its role, and explain why.

“Do you support a ban on public entities using eminent domain

to take private property for economic

development?”

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Who We Areome people call us a “think” tank; others a “do” tank. The

IRS labels us as a non-profit educational research organiza-

tion. We have been all those things for the past 19 years, from our

humble beginning of 341 members to more than 5,000 today.

What sets us apart at the Freedom Foundation is our determi-

nation to make rigorous, non-partisan research accessible to

voters, not just politicians. We envision a day when opportu-

nity, responsible self-governance, and free markets flourish

in Washington state because its citizens understand and

cherish the principles from which freedom is derived.

Our primary research areas are budget, taxes, education,

labor, elections, property rights, and citizenship. We pub-

lish, teach, speak, testify, and occasionally litigate when public

information is withheld or when constitutionally protected rights

have been trampled.

S

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iscouraged by what you just read? Join with the thou-

sands of other citizens in our Citizen Action Network to

help restore freedom in Washington state and our nation. Go to

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D

THE INFORMEDVOTER GUIDE

Tools for citizens who want to hold their legislators accountable for governing well

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