GOAL Post 2015-15

FROM: GOAL

TO: undisclosed-recipients:

SENT: Fri 4/17/2015 5:33 PM

SUBJECT: GOAL Post 2015-15

Legislative Update from Olympia 17 April 2015

• SECOND CHAMBER CUT-OFF
• BILLS MOVE, DIE
• 9 DAYS LEFT IN SESSION
• BUDGET IMPASSE
• SPECIAL SESSION LIKELY
• SPECIAL ELECTION UPCOMING

The second chamber cut-off passed on Wednesday, and with it, one more bill died: SB 5658.  HB 1713 was amended in the Senate, so it has to either receive a concurrence vote in the House or go to a conference committee to hammer out language both sides can agree on.  SB 5381 just went through that process, with the Senate concurring in the House amendment.  In all three cases, there is nothing in any of the bills to concern gun owners.  

We have nine days left in the regular session.  Per the state constitution, the legislature MUST adjourn by midnight, Sunday, 26 April.  The fat lady has been spotted on the Capitol Campus, I think in the cafeteria, practicing a few arias.

The primary purpose of the odd-year regular session is passage of a biennial budget.  Hence the 105 day length vice the 60 allowed for the short session.  There is significant disagreement between the Republican Senate and the Democrat House over several budget issues, especially as they regard major tax increases.  Miracles do happen, but the chance of agreement being reached in the next nine days is somewhere between slim and none.  

So it looks like we're headed for a special session.  If negotiations appear close, they may start a special session right away.  If not, they'll likely go home for a few weeks to cool off, relax, have back-room discussions, and then come back to hammer out an agreement.

Speaking of special events, there is a special election coming up in November.  Rep. Roger Freeman (D-30) passed away just a couple of days before the regular election last November.  In fact, his name was on the ballot and on paper at least he was reelected.  He was replaced by an appointed member, Rep. Carol Gregory (D).  Gregory must run for confirmation in November.  Teri Hickel (R) has filed to run against Gregory.  Teri is the interim CEO Of the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce, so she has a good grasp of issues in the 30th District, and should pose a solid challenge to Gregory.  More on this race as the year progresses.  Teri's web site is currently being rebuilt, but you can see her Facebook page at  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Teri-Hickel/362492700619693  

BILL STATUS:

Bill #	Subject	Prime sponsor	Status	GOAL Position
*ESHB 1713	Mental health/guns	Cody (D-34)	Awtg House action	NEUTRAL
*SSB 5381	Return of firearms held by law enforcement	Billig (D-3)	To Gov.	NEUTRAL
*SB 5658	Reporting of mental health commitment	Dansel (R-7)	Died in H. Rules	NEUTRAL

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

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

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".  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 (snail) 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.

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Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

             Puyallup            25-26 April

             Monroe                2-3 May

"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 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA