GOAL Post 2014-9

In my previous post I speculated that Joe would have something to say about SB5956 returning from the dead.  I was right.  As usual, I have made minor formatting changes for the blog, but the post is otherwise as Joe sends it out.

FROM: GOAL [goalwa@cox.net]
TO: undisclosed-recipients:
SENT: Fri 3/7/2014 6:52 PM
SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2014-9
Legislative Update from Olympia 7 March 2014

• SECOND CHAMBER CUT-OFF
• LIFE AFTER DEATH
• CONCURRENCE OR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE?
• LAST WEEK

The second chamber cut-off passed at 5 p.m. this afternoon.  Bills that had not passed out of the second chamber are theoretically dead for the session (see the next item).  It appears SB 6025 (body-armor) died, while four total bills passed out of the House and Senate (two each).  Two are on their way to Governor Inslee, two are headed for a concurrence vote or conference committee (see below). 

Last week I reported that SB 5956 (short-barreled rifles) had died in Committee.  But as I noted earlier, dead doesn't mean dead.  In an unusual move, yesterday the entire House voted to pull the bill away from the House Judiciary Committee and brought to the floor, where it was voted 95-3.  The bill now goes to Governor Inslee for his signature... or veto.   Congressman Inslee had a dismal record on guns.  Now we'll see what Governor Inslee does.  The bill passed with only three dissenting votes out of 147, so it obviously had strong support -- and a veto-proof majority.

If a bill is amended in the second chamber before passing out (House bill in the Senate or Senate bill in the House), it has to go back to the originating chamber for a concurrence vote on the amended bill.  If they concur, the bill goes to the governor.  If the original chamber does not concur, it is sent to a conference committee (made up of Senators and Representatives) where they will try to reach compromise language.  If a compromise is adopted, it goes back to both chambers for an up or down vote. 

Two of the bills still under consideration passed their second chamber in amended form, and now await concurrence/conference.  These bills are marked "con" in the Bill Status section.

Next week is the final week of the regular session.  Per the state constitution, the fat lady will sing some time Thursday evening, and the legislators will go home, hopefully until next January.  The supplemental budget was passed, so at this point it does not appear a special session will be necessary.  But it's a long time until January 2015!

I'll be publishing at least one more GOAL Post for the session, a wrap-up.  With both I-591 and I-594 going to the electorate in November, I'm sure I'll be posting additional GOAL Updates for the remainder of the year, probably bi-monthly or monthly.  This is an election year, so GOAL will also be posting a list of candidates we are supporting.. or opposing.


BILL STATUS/GOAL POSITION:

The following bills remain under consideration in the 2014 session:

Bill #	Subject	Sponsor	Status	GOAL Position
*HB 1840	Firearms/restraining orders	Goodman (D-45)	Passed, To Gov.	NEUTRAL
*HB 2164	Juvenile firearm possession	Orwall (D-33)	Passed, Con	SUPPORT
*SB 5956	Short-barreled rifles	Hatfield (D-19)	Passed, To Gov	SUPPORT
*SB 6025	Use of body armor	O’Ban (R-28)	Died H. Aprop	NEUTRAL
*SB 6199	Wildfires/incendiary devices	Braun (R-20)	Passed   Con	SUPPORT
I-591	Protect gun rights		H. Jud/S. L&J	SUPPORT
I-594	Universal background checks/registration		H. Jud/S. L&J	OPPOSE

Key to abbreviations:  S. = Senate, H. = House, Ag/NatRes = Agriculture/Natural Resources,  HS&C = Human Services & Corrections, Jud = Judiciary, L&J = Law & Justice, , W&M = Ways and Means

* = status change this past week  

HEARING(S) 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!!!

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

You can also use the direct link available on each bill's web page to contact your legislators by clicking on "Comment on this bill."

 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).

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" or to "goalwa@cox.net.".  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.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

• Puyallup                22-23 March
• Monroe                  5-6 April

"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 2014 Gun Owners Action League of WA