2006: A landmark session

Senate Democrats built on our immense successes from last session, keeping in mind our commitment to invest in opportunities for our families and our future.

Below are highlights from a particularly productive session.

ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

• Columbia River. After 25 years, Democrats and Republicans finally agreed to a landmark bill that will increase water storage.
• Low-income heating assistance. We increased funding for the Low-Income Heating and Energy Assistance Program so more families could stay warm this winter.
• Renewable fuels. To help assure farmers that there is a market for biofuels, we developed minimum renewable fuel content requirements.
• “E-waste.” Electronic manufacturers of TVs, computers and monitors must set up statewide collection and recycling programs for unwanted items.
• Removed state parks fees. Responding to a dramatic decrease in state park attendance, we repealed an unpopular $5 parking fee.

PUBLIC SAFETY

• Getting tougher on sex offenders. We filled gaps in our existing system by passing a package of bills.
• Methamphetamines. We tackled Washington’s methamphetamine epidemic by passing a sweeping meth omnibus bill.

EDUCATION

• WASL. We made four options available to high school students who fail the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, which will become a mandatory requirement for graduation beginning with the class of 2008. We also earmarked $28 million for remediation to help students reach academic standards.
• Higher education enrollments. The budget adds almost 500 enrollments at our higher education institutions.

ELECTIONS

• Primary date. We moved the date of the state primary election back one month to the third Tuesday in August, providing enough time between the primary and general elections to ensure that all votes are counted correctly.
• Campaign finance. To limit the influence of money on elections, we established campaign contribution limits for candidates for county and judicial offices and for larger counties and port districts.

CIVIL RIGHTS

• Gay rights. After more than three decades, we passed a bill that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

PROTECTING WORKERS

• Unemployment Insurance. Democrats and Republicans, and business and labor interests, came to a breakthrough agreement to make two-quarter averaging permanent, restore liberal construction and one eligibility cut, while also making some tax policy changes sought by employers.

HEALTH CARE

• Medical malpractice. We had a legislative breakthrough this session aimed at improving patient safety, reforming practices in the medical malpractice insurance market and improving the civil justice system.
• Basic Health Plan (BHP). We provided funding so an additional 6,500 people can enroll in the BHP, an affordable health care option for low-income adults.
• Children’s Health. We provided funding so 10,000 more children can be enrolled in the Immigrant Children’s Health Program.
• Small business partnership. To help small employers find affordable insurance, we provided subsidies targeted to low-wager workers with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

BUDGET

We created a fiscally and morally responsible budget that invests in our families and our future. We did the right thing and paid for needed programs now to avoid paying higher costs later. And we left a responsible reserve – nearly $1 billion – to pay for future costs we can already see coming.

SINE DIE

We did all of this in 59 days – adjourning early for the first time in 20 years.