GOAL Post 2017-Special 3

Reports from elsewhere suggest that the Republicans have presented a balanced budget, but that the Democrats are ready and rarin' to raise taxes, any taxes, all taxes, they don't care just so long as those nasty taxpayers give it up.

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FROM: GOAL WA <goalwa@cox.net>

TO: undisclosed recipients

SENT: Fri 5/26/2017 2:02 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2017-Special 3

Legislative Update from Olympia 19 May 2017

• SPECIAL SESSION ENDS IN IMPASSE
• SECOND SPECIAL SESSION CONVENED
• PROCEDURAL NOTE
• CRITICAL SPECIAL ELECTION AHEAD

 The first special session ended earlier this week without budget resolution. Therefore the governor called them back immediately into a second special session. We’re now four days into the second 30-day special session.

As I have reported in the past, those bills that did not pass the legislature during the previous session – bills that died in committee or awaiting a floor vote -- are still alive for legislative purposes. They can be called back and acted on in any subsequent session during the biennium (2017-2018). As a general rule, this does not happen, but it is something we need to be alert to. Those bills (more than 2,000 of them) are effectively frozen in place, and the bills are annotated “BY RESOLUTION, REINTRODUCED AND RETAINED IN PRESENT STATUS. “This is NOT a reintroduction of the bill, nor is it an indication that any action is intended… at this time.

A critical special session will be held later this year. As a result of vacancies that occurred just after the general election last November, several seats are up for what is called “confirmation” to elect the temporary appointees. There will be special elections this year for five vacated Senate seats and three vacated House seats.

Control of the Senate rests on the Senate elections. If the Majority Coalition (24 Republicans and one conservative Democrat) lose a single seat (of the three currently held by Republicans), the Democrats take control of the Senate. At that time it’ll be a race to see what happens first: more gun control bills or higher taxes (the race will likely result in a tie, with both passing).

The three districts with Republican incumbents that need to hold their seats are in the 7^th (northeast Washington), 31^st (south King/north Pierce counties) and the 45^th (north King/south Snohomish counties). The biggest fight will be in the 45^th , and probably also the 31^st. The 7^th is a safe Republican district.

A Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, 1 August. The General Election is on Tuesday, 7 November.

More specifics in the next GOAL Post (probably in two weeks).

BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION: Nothing to report.

PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED: None

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.Toll free!!!The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993.Also toll free!!!

1-800-562-6000TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature's web site at "www.leg.wa.gov". Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe's web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573.Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need "RealAudio" to do this, available free at the TVW web site). Each bill’s web page contains a link to any public hearing at the bottom of the page.

By reading the House and Senate "bill reports" (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the "roll call" for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to "jwaldron@halcyon.com". Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at "jwaldron@halcyon.com" with the words "Unsubscribe GOAL Post" in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list's admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

• Puyallup 3-4 June
• Puyallup12-13 August

 "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."

Article 1, Section 24

Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2017 Gun Owners Action League of WA