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Senate Democrats respond to governor’s budget

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats today applauded Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed 2007–09 two-year budget, saying she shares many of their objectives for the upcoming session. more>>>

Building a lasting foundation for Washington’s students

Armed with the recommendations of Washington Learns, our state is poised to make major changes that will result in a globally competitive education system that better prepares students in math, science and the arts. The Legislature charged this blue ribbon panel of educators, business leaders and legislators—under the leadership of Gov. Chris Gregoire — with the enormous duty of laying a foundation on which to build the nation’s best education system. more>>>

Hargrove to remain focused on public safety, saving tax dollars in 2007

OLYMPIA – The Senate Human Services & Corrections Committee will focus in 2007 on legislation to improve child safety and reduce the number of repeat offenders cycling through the criminal justice system, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, said today. more>>>

Weinstein named chair of Senate consumer protection committee

OLYMPIA – Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-41st Legislative District (Eastside suburbs), whose top legislative priorities for 2007 include beefing up legal protection for Washington homebuyers, will serve as chairman of the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee when the 2007 legislative session begins on Jan. 8. more>>>

Weinstein proposes levy lid increase for Washington school districts

OLYMPIA – Washington school districts would be able to raise more money through local levies under a bill proposed by Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-41st Legislative District (Eastside suburbs). The legislation would raise the levy lid to 35 percent for all districts beginning Jan. 1, 2008. more>>>

McAuliffe vows to continue efforts to create ‘responsive’ education system

OLYMPIA – Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, will continue to chair the Senate committee on early learning and K-12 education, and said today that she is focused on an agenda that will promote a seamless education system that is responsive to all students’ needs. more>>>

Prentice selected to continue as Senate Ways & Means Committee chair

OLYMPIA – Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, will continue to chair the influential Ways & Means Committee. She was retained by the group of 14 majority-party senators who met over the weekend to name the chairs and vice chairs of the Senate’s 14 standing committees. Democrats, who now hold a 26-23 majority in the upper chamber, will see their numbers swell to 32 when the Legislature convenes next month. more>>>

Hatfield scores seat on Senate Ways & Means Committee

OLYMPIA – Majority Democrats in the Washington state Senate decided their committee structure for the 2007 legislative session over the weekend, and Sen. Brian Hatfield, D- Raymond, has been selected to serve as vice chair of the Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee. He also has been assigned to the Ways & Means Committee and the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee. more>>>

Senate Democrats select chairs, vice chairs for 2007, 2008 sessions

OLYMPIA – The Senate Democratic Caucus today announced committee chairs and vice chairs for the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions. more>>>

Lawmakers commit to addressing state beer and wine distribution laws

OLYMPIA – The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling yesterday that places much of Washington’s beer and wine distribution system in jeopardy, but Washington lawmakers vowed today to work in the 2007 legislative session toward a solution. more>>>

Nov. 25, 2006
The Olympian Op-ed

The future of Washington’s prison and supervision system

Washington's prison and supervision system needs an overhaul. We need to reduce the number of people returning to prison due to new convictions or release violations (recidivism). As co-chairs of the Joint Task Force on Offender Programs, Sentencing, and Supervision, we are working to develop a shared vision with the state Department of Corrections (DOC) that is the most comprehensive reexamination of DOC programs since its creation. more>>>

Senate majority leader lauds funding for fair Spokane County trials

OLYMPIA – Spokane County will receive nearly $2 million in new funding for two programs designed to improve public defense services, the Washington State Office of Public Defense (OPD) recently announced. more>>>

Hatfield heads to the Senate

OLYMPIA -- Brian Hatfield of Raymond has been selected as the next state senator from the 19th Legislative District. more>>>

Pierce County’s indigent services get overdue funding

OLYMPIA – Washington’s trial courts hear more than 2 million cases a year. This puts an enormous strain on the judicial system burdened with heavy caseloads, funding shortfalls and retaining quality staff. For the first time, the Legislature in 2006 gave the Office of Public Defense (OPD), an independent state agency of the judicial branch, $3 million to distribute to counties for public defense services for indigent defendants in criminal cases. Pierce County is slated to receive a portion of this money. In addition, $535,000 in state funding is now being provided annually to the county’s public defense attorneys who represent indigent parents in dependency and termination proceedings. more>>>

Pridemore seeks student pages for 2007 legislative session

OLYMPIA – Pages play an essential role when the Washington State Legislature meets each year: They relay messages to the Senate floor, deliver packages throughout the Capitol campus, and bear the flag at legislative ceremonies. more>>>

Kastama receives honor from veterans’ group

OLYMPIA – For his dedication to improving the lives of Washington’s veterans and families, Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, has been awarded the “2006 Outstanding Patriotic Service” award by the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Council. more>>>

Haugen solicits federal help for service members who lost assistance

OLYMPIA – Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, is asking U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen to help the families of service members who have been disqualified for public assistance because of an administrative change. more>>>

Washington principals honor McAuliffe’s commitment to schools

OLYMPIA – A group representing Washington’s public and private school principals is honoring Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, with its annual President’s Award for her leadership on education issues. more>>>

North Snohomish County the best location for new four-year college

Research polls now show that for the first time in our country’s history, Americans expect their children to have fewer opportunities in life than they had. more>>>

Statement from Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown re: Supreme Court’s decision on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)  more>>>

RTID takes wrong turn with road projects

Some people might not want to hear this, but the day has arrived where we can no longer afford to build roads simply to ease commutes or improve aesthetics. With state resources increasingly limited, and competition from other nations constantly growing, our transportation spending must focus on projects that provide access to major employers, move freight and create meaningful jobs. Otherwise we’ll just wind up with more traffic jams while we watch top employers and career opportunities move overseas. more>>>

July 11, 2006

Sen. Lisa Brown named honorary fire fighter in memory of Spokane captain

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, who also teaches at Gonzaga University, can add yet another profession to her resume: fire fighter. more>>>

Senate Democrats say ‘Si, Se Puede’ to Spanish translation of caucus Web site

OLYMPIA – In the spirit of the Spanish motto ¡Sí, Se Puede! (“Yes, we can”), Senate Democrats today unveiled the caucus’ new Spanish language Web site. Democrats say that translating the Web site helps bridge language and cultural barriers. It also better reflects Washington’s rapidly changing demographics, as Latinos are the state’s fastest-growing minority group. more>>>

Our polluted bodies

As elected leaders, we try our best to understand and address the problems facing Washingtonians, from health care and education to traffic, housing and the environment. Last fall, we became test subjects in order to better understand — in a very personal way — yet another critical issue, the potential threat posed by polluting chemicals. more>>>

System in place to help on the WASL

Thousands of Washington families are now learning how their 10th-graders fared on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. It is an exciting and, understandably, anxious time for families, who all want their children to achieve academic success. more>>>

Pridemore honored as environmental legislator of the year

OLYMPIA – For his commitment to passing a groundbreaking bill that protects Washington from toxic electronic waste, as well as efforts on several other key environmental bills, Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, has earned top honors from Washington Conservation Voters (WCV) in his first term as a state lawmaker. more>>>

Statement from Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, chair of the Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee re: WASL scores  more>>>

Association honors Haugen for her work to repeal nursing home bed tax

OLYMPIA – When the Legislature proposed a daily tax on nursing home patients in 2003, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, was one of a handful of senators who voted against it. After the tax passed despite her opposition, Haugen persuaded her colleagues in 2005 to approve a bill phasing out the tax by 2011. Earlier this year, anxious to remove the tax even sooner, she sold them on a bill to repeal the tax as of July 1, 2007. more>>>

Haugen urges public to provide feedback at town halls on higher education

OLYMPIA – The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) is developing a plan for meeting the higher education needs of the three-county area of Skagit, Island and Snohomish Counties. Before it can proceed, however, the board needs feedback from the public at town halls scheduled for Tuesday in Stanwood and Wednesday in Oak Harbor. more>>>

Children’s advocacy group lists Tacoma legislator among its top advocates

OLYMPIA – Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, is being honored in a ceremony today at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital as a “Champion for Children” for her leading role in extending health care coverage for children. more>>>

2006 Legislature unusually ambitious for a short session

Usually the 60-day, off-year session of the Legislature focuses on fine tuning the two-year budget passed the year before — but not this time. We dealt with such high-profile matters as sex predators and alternatives to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), to lower-profile — but no less important — issues such as biofuels and mercury-free vaccines. more>>>

April 27, 2006

Statement from Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown re: Sen. Bill Finkbeiner’s decision not to seek re-election to state Senate

more>>>

April 12, 2006

Brown honored for looking out for all of Washington’s children

The Children’s Alliance recently named Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, a “Champion for Children” for the 2006 legislative session. more>>>

Pridemore named outstanding legislator for work on behalf of children

OLYMPIA – For his leadership in boosting funding for school breakfast programs, Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, has been named a 2006 “Champion for Children” by the Children’s Alliance. more>>>

April 10, 2006

Weinstein named outstanding legislator for work on behalf of children

OLYMPIA – As a leader in legislative efforts to give all students a fair chance at academic success, Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-Eastside suburbs, has been named a 2006 “Champion for Children” by the Children’s Alliance. more>>>

April 10, 2006

Haugen to host town halls on April 17 and 18 at four 10th District locales

OLYMPIA – Area residents can hear a report from this year’s legislative session, voice concerns and ask questions of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, at any of four town halls next week. more>>>

Olympic College gets preliminary approval for nursing program

OLYMPIA – The State Board for Community & Technical Colleges gave approval on Wednesday for a bachelor’s degree program in nursing at Olympic College.

“This is an excellent investment for our local community and economy,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, who serves on the Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee. “It is a major step in addressing the needs of Kitsap and Mason residents for access to quality training.” more>>>

Weinstein applauds preliminary approval of BCC 4-year degree

OLYMPIA – A Bellevue Community College (BCC) plan to offer a bachelor’s degree in radiation and imaging sciences will benefit both the Eastside and the entire state, Sen. Brian Weinstein, D-Eastside suburbs, said today. more>>>

New laws are tougher on family members and trusted adults who commit sex offenses

This session, the Legislature passed a package of sex offender bills, including House Bill 3277, imposing a 25-year minimum sentence for certain sex crimes. Sex crimes against anyone, particularly children and vulnerable adults, are despicable and the Legislature has worked hard to pass effective laws that remove dangerous offenders from our communities. more>>>

McAuliffe honored as Washington State PTA 2006 “friend of children”

OLYMPIA – For her ongoing efforts to ensure high-quality public schools and safe, healthy communities for all Washington children, Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, has been awarded the Washington State PTA’s 2006 Friend of Children Award. more>>>

Governor signs bill clarifying farmers’ rights to privacy with voluntary plans

OLYMPIA – Small farmers will have an easier time improving environmental conditions on their land, thanks to legislation signed into law Friday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. more>>>

Kitsap-friendly bills signed into law

OLYMPIA – If you live, work or play near the water, two bills signed into law today should be of particular interest.

Kitsap County residents may soon have more passenger ferry options as Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed Senate Bill 6787, sponsored by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, which establishes a stable funding source for passenger-only ferries. more>>>

Coastal Caucus members praise bill sending help to timber communities

OLYMPIA — A win for working Washington. That’s the word from legislative members of the Coastal Caucus today (March 29) as their plan to cut taxes on timber companies has become the law of the state. more>>>

Nursing home bed tax on the way out: Governor signs repeal

OLYMPIA – An unpopular tax on nursing home patients will be eliminated four years sooner than scheduled, thanks to legislation signed today by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

The tax was a longtime target of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, whose Senate Bill 6368 repeals the tax as of July 1, 2007. more>>>

Pridemore’s driver interpreter bill to be signed into law

OLYMPIA – It’s a nail-biting rite of passage for most teenagers: taking the driving exam to earn a license. The test requires months of preparation and determines whether teens will take a critical step to freedom and adulthood. more>>>

Governor signs McAuliffe legislation to improve safety, education

OLYMPIA – In a banner day for the safety and education of Washington’s families, Gov. Chris Gregoire in two separate ceremonies on Monday signed into law several measures that improve educational opportunities for students and tighten Washington’s sex offender policies. more>>>

Pridemore appointed as chair of legislative pension committee

OLYMPIA – It’s a thorny issue affecting thousands of Washington’s state workers: how to catch up on payments to the state’s pension system.

Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver, will take a turn tackling pensions. Pridemore was appointed 2006 chair of the legislative Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP) during its monthly meeting today in Olympia. more>>>

March 18, 2006
Everett Herald Op-ed

Success is within each student’s reach

The debate about the future of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) as a graduation requirement was intense and heartfelt this legislative session. more>>>

Public letter regarding Senate's lack of action on funeral protest bill

Thank you for expressing your concerns about House Bill 3293, which the full Legislature did not have the chance to pass this session. As you know, the bill’s intent was a good one. It would have banned protestors from being within 500 feet of a funeral. more>>>

Legislature prohibits mercury in vaccinations for children, pregnant women

OLYMPIA – Ever since 1999, when major health organizations warned against the use of thimerosal in vaccines, a cloud has hung over the mercury-containing chemical for fear it can cause autism. more>>>

Legislature accelerates elimination of nursing home bed tax

OLYMPIA – Last year Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, won passage of a bill that would have phased out the state’s nursing home bed tax by 2011. This year she went even further, pushing through a bill that repeals the tax as early as next year. more>>>

March 9, 2006

0:58 wrap with Sen. Margarita Prentice of Renton, on the budget approved this week by the Legislature. Lead: Olympia wrapped up early this year, and capped off a productive legislative session with a budget that invests and saves. Mike Bales reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Legislature approves supplemental budgets

OLYMPIA – The only losers are the sex offenders.

So said Senate Ways & Means Chair Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, about the supplemental operating budget for 2005-07 passed by the Legislature today. This year’s $1.6 billion in unbudgeted revenue provided lawmakers a rare opportunity to address current needs and save for future ones, according to Prentice. more>>>

Rockefeller bill to increase passenger ferry service approved by Legislature

OLYMPIA – More passenger ferries may follow in the wake of the Legislature’s approval today to provide a stable funding source for passenger-only ferry service. more>>>

March 7, 2006

1:20 wrap with Sen. Mark Doumit of Cathlamet on saving for a rainy day.

Lead: With nearly a billion and a half dollars in unbudgeted revenue this year, lawmakers in Olympia are debating what to should be done with it. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Pridemore e-waste, driving interpreter bills gain final legislative approval

OLYMPIA – A landmark electronic waste recycling program that will spare Washington’s environment from thousands of improperly disposed of electronic devices gained final legislative approval on Monday. more>>>

Rockefeller scores daily double: two environmental bills passed in one day

OLYMPIA – The Senate today approved a bill that holds owners of abandoned or derelict vessels accountable, and makes it easier for local jurisdictions to have the vessels removed. more>>>

March 6, 2006

1:22 wrap with Sen. Harriet Spanel of Bellingham on keeping our shorelines clean. Lead: The Legislature has passed an important priority for the year – legislation supporters say will go a long way toward protecting Puget Sound.  Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Legislature would require use of biodiesel and ethanol by state agencies

OLYMPIA – Aiming to encourage the development and use of renewable fuels, the Legislature has voted to require state agencies to begin using biodiesel in diesel-powered vessels, vehicles and construction equipment. more>>>

Bethel School District receives funds to plan vocational skill center

OLYMPIA – The state Senate budget includes $6.5 million to launch a pilot project of four vocational skill centers in Washington, including one in Frederickson in the Bethel School District that will serve students in southern Pierce County, Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen, D-Eatonville, announced this week. more>>>

Skill building: Equity plus opportunity equals success

OLYMPIA – The paths to success are as varied as the men and women who take them. That’s why it is critical that students have a variety of choices, including college, vocational education and skills centers. more>>>

1:12 wrap with Sen. Phil Rockefeller of Kitsap County on the promise of renewable energy. 

Lead: The alternative fuels industry is an emerging sector of national economy, and state lawmakers want to make Washington a national leader in their production. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia.  (Full script in Word Format)

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Tax break for seniors, farm plan protection pass Legislature unanimously

OLYMPIA – Seniors and disabled retirees gained a tax break on properties that cannot be subdivided, and farmers won protection from undue scrutiny under two measures that passed unanimously today in the House of Representatives. more>>>

March 1, 2006

1:06 wrap with Democratic Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane, on keeping our waters phosphate free.

Lead: In Olympia, lawmakers want to restrict certain additives in dishwashing detergent, and say that doing so will lead to cleaner Washington water.  Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Utsalady Elementary fourth-graders join Haugen for tour of state Capitol

OLYMPIA – Ninety fourth-grade students from Utsalady Elementary School toured the state Capitol last week as guests of Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. more>>>

Weinstein works to improve flawed ‘reporter shield’ legislation

OLYMPIA – A flawed bill that would do little to help protect journalists and confidential sources is facing opposition from at least one legislator as the 2006 legislative session winds down. more>>>

Feb. 28, 2006

1:11 wrap with Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell on improving the delivery of early learning opportunities. 

Lead: Lawmakers want help Washington students get a jump start on their education by putting a greater focus on public early learning opportunities. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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McAuliffe welcomes youth advisory panel to Olympia

OLYMPIA – A group of Snohomish County students got a glimpse into the inner workings of state lawmaking recently when they joined Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, for a day at the Capitol in Olympia. more>>>

Front-page story misreported the facts on eminent domain

On its front page on Monday, the News Tribune ran an Associated Press story about eminent domain (“Squabbling derails bills on land grabs”). The story would have made for lively reading if not for a serious shortcoming: It contained numerous inaccuracies and mischaracterizations. more>>>

Feb. 27, 2006

1:12 wrap with Sen. Harriet Spanel of Bellingham on recent progress in medical liability. Lead: When doctors and lawyers each saw their own tailor-made initiatives to reform our state medical liability laws fail on the ballot last November, both sides realized that a compromise was necessary. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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1:22 - Los Supersonics: ¿Se quedarían en Seattle?

Entrada sugerida: Los dueños del equipo profesional de baloncesto vinieron a Olympia para pedir apoyo fiscal. Sandra Manwiller, reportando desde Olympia (texto por completo en MS Word, español, ingles)

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Feb. 23, 2006

1:45 wrap with Sen. Margarita Prentice of Renton, Seattle Sonics owner Howard Schultz and NBA Commissioner David Stern on keeping the Sonics in Seattle.

Lead: The Seattle Supersonics’ lease on KeyArena is set to expire in 2010. Team owners say they’ve lost $60 million over the last five years, and if they don’t receive funds this year to expand the arena and make it more profitable, they may leave town. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Senate approves Rockefeller plan for passenger ferry service

OLYMPIA – Passenger ferries found clear sailing in the Senate today as a proposal was overwhelmingly approved to encourage a collaborative effort between the state and local governments to develop routes in Puget Sound and elsewhere. more>>>

Feb. 20, 2006

1:20 wrap with Sen. Harriet Spanel on the Senate's proposed budget. Lead: It’s an off-budget year in Olympia, but Democrats think we should still fund past cuts, make up some federal cuts, and invest in areas of real public need.    (Full script in Word Format)

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Democrats' capital construction plan clears Senate

OLYMPIA – A landmark water management plan for the Columbia River basin and added prison capacity to accommodate increased penalties for sex offenders are two items that Senate Democrats propose to fund in their 2007 supplemental capital budget. more>>>

Feb. 17, 2006

1:03 wrap with Sen. Margarita Prentice of Renton on the Senate Democrats' budget proposal

Lead: On Friday, the state Senate passed a Democratic proposal to deal with $1.6 billion in unbudgeted for revenue in state coffers this year. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Weinstein secures funding to finish Coal Creek Parkway improvements

OLYMPIA – Drive times could get a bit shorter for some Eastside commuters, thanks to a state transportation budget provision approved by the Senate today that will help complete a project to improve safety and mobility along the Coal Creek Parkway. more>>>

Senate’ s 2006 budget repeals nursing home bed tax

OLYMPIA – The supplemental budget passed today by the Senate would repeal a daily tax to nursing home patients, effective July 1, 2007.

“It’s the best we could get, but it’s still not soon enough to suit me,” said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, who sponsored the bill to eliminate the tax. “Taxing elderly, bed-ridden patients is the worst idea I’ve ever seen in all my years in the Legislature.” more>>>

Feb. 16, 2006

State parks recognize volunteer role of Island County Beach Watchers

OLYMPIA – Two Beach Watchers contingents from Island County were recognized as top volunteer groups today by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. more>>>

Demócratas del Senado reflejan sus valores en el presupuesto para el 2005-07

OLYMPIA – Los Demócratas del Senado estatal revelo su presupuesto para el bienio fiscal 2005-2007. La Senadora Margarita Prentice, Demócrata de Renton y presidenta del Comité de Apropiaciones, dijo que las prioridades del presupuesto reflejan los valores democráticos: mantener la economía moviéndose hacia delante, crear nuevas oportunidades para el futuro y proteger a las familias de los cortes drásticos que se han estado haciendo al nivel federal. mas>>>

Senate budget tracks spending, delivery of major transportation projects

OLYMPIA – The Senate Supplemental Transportation Budget for 2006 will keep Washington’s major projects on course while making only minor changes in policy and implementation, Senate leaders said today. more>>>

Feb. 15, 2006

1:16 wrap with Sen. Mark Doumit of Cathlamet on the Senate Democrats' budget proposal.

Lead: With a rare budget surplus in Olympia, budget talks heating up, and Democrats say we should both invest and save. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Investing in opportunity for our families and our future

OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats today released a proposed supplemental to the 2005-07 budget with a focus on investing in opportunity for our families and our future. more>>>

Skills centers provide opportunities for success

OLYMPIA – The world needs skilled carpenters, electricians and plumbers as well as physicians and lawyers. That’s why skills centers are a critical piece of the education puzzle.

“Skills centers are an excellent way for students to learn technical knowledge and skills,” said Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County. “However, until now, we have lacked a systematic approach to locating the facilities.” more>>>

Juvenile interrogation bill gains Senate approval

OLYMPIA – Studies show that most teenagers – particularly those who are 14 years old or younger – do not fully understand their constitutional rights when taken into police custody. Yet under current law, there is no requirement that law enforcement officials notify a parent that they have a juvenile in custody for questioning or provide the juvenile with an opportunity to consult with a parent before waiving their constitutional rights. more>>>

Senate moves to ban sex tourism

OLYMPIA – We may rarely hear about sex slavery in Washington, but we nevertheless need to stay vigilant to combat it, according to Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County. more>>>

Senate gives local governments greater collective bargaining latitude

OLYMPIA – The Legislature should always be searching for new ways to help local governments improve efficiency, says Sen. Mark Doumit, D-Cathlamet, a former Cowlitz County commissioner. more>>>

Feb. 13, 2006

1:09 wrap with Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen of Eatonville on making biofuel Washington's next cash crop.

Lead: State lawmakers say biofuels can help us meet our electricity demands while powering our economy. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia.  (Full script in Word Format)

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East side production, west side consumption

OLYMPIA – The state’s proposed biofuel industry is one step closer to reality today after the Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a biofuel loan program. more>>>

Senate votes for better approach to traditional ferry bid process

OLYMPIA – When it comes to building ferries, lawmakers have discovered a perplexing problem: Low-bid contracting doesn’t necessarily produce low-cost ferries. Numerous other factors, from a contractor’s capacity and efficiency to the location and quality of shipyard facilities, can result in ferries that cost more while delivering less. more>>>

Senate makes it easier to remove derelict vessels

OLYMPIA – If the boat don’t float, you must take note.

The Senate today unanimously passed a measure to hold owners of abandoned or derelict vessels accountable, and to make it easier for local jurisdictions to have the vessels removed. Senate Bill 6223, sponsored by Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Kitsap County, makes it a misdemeanor to leave a vessel abandoned or derelict upon aquatic lands. more>>>

Senate lowers motor vehicle excise tax valuation for cars and small trucks

OLYMPIA – When voters approved Initiative 776, which repealed state laws governing the valuation of vehicles, they created a two-pronged problem. First, jurisdictions that impose a motor vehicle excise tax had no option but to continue to follow the repealed statutes to retire existing debt. Second, other local jurisdictions that have the option of imposing an MVET in local, voter-approved transportation plans have no guidance on vehicle valuation or rates of depreciation. more>>>

Feb. 11, 2006

1:20 wrap with Sen. Harriet Spanel on getting even tougher on sex offenders.

Lead: The debate in Olympia continues about the best approach to dealing with sex offenders in Washington.  (Full script in Word Format)

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Feb. 11, 2006

0:44 wrap with Sen. Phil Rockefeller of Kitsap County on keeping Washington waterways clean.

Lead: Oil spills wreak havoc on the waterways they pollute; one state senator wants to reduce the potential for oil spills in the Puget Sound and other Washington waters. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Feb. 11, 2006

1:15 wrap with Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell on helping our students meet high education standards.

Lead: Current 10th graders must pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning or WASL in order to graduate in 2008, and state lawmakers want to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Oil and water don’t mix

OLYMPIA – Think of Western Washington and you think of Puget Sound. The region’s natural splendor is inextricably tied to its waterways — the hundreds of bays, coves, harbors, inlets and passages that surround and define us. more>>>

Senate gives go-ahead to bills to improve student achievement

OLYMPIA – In a move to strengthen Washington’s assessment system by giving students more opportunities to reach state academic standards, the Senate today approved measures that will help identify barriers to academic success, and will give students who struggle with pencil-and-paper tests alternative ways to pass the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). more>>>

A voter’s right to know: revealing campaign costs of small town races

OLYMPIA –In Washington state, if voters want to find out how much money a candidate has poured into their race for public office, they can turn to the state’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). But campaigns are required to reveal that information only if candidates live in an area with more than 5,000 registered voters. more>>>

Haugen requests $2.7 million to shield NAS Whidbey from encroachment

OLYMPIA – In a bid to protect Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NAS Whidbey) from area development and possible inclusion in congressional base-closing plans, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, is asking the state to appropriate $2.7 million to the City of Oak Harbor to purchase 17.7 acres of adjacent land. more>>>

Focus on education key during short legislative session

A fellow lawmaker recently remarked to a reporter that the short 60-day legislative session that just began in Olympia will be “the budget, gay rights and done.”

If only it were so easy. more>>>

Senate approves bipartisan legislation to strengthen sex offender laws

OLYMPIA – Today, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, shepherded through the Senate a package of wide-ranging, bipartisan bills designed to enhance public safety through, among other things, tougher monitoring and registration requirements for sex offenders, increased penalties for those who use the Internet to prey on children, and improved community education programs to help families avoid sexual predators. more>>>

Summary of sex offender bills (PDF)

1:20 wrap with Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam on strengthening our state's sex offender laws.

Lead: Lawmakers in Olympia continue to debate the best approach to dealing with sex offenders in Washington.  

Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Senate votes to restore assistance to military families, expand senior tax break

OLYMPIA – Many military members and their families could see their public assistance restored, and seniors and disabled retirees would receive a tax break on larger properties, under two measures passed today by the Senate. more>>>

Senate wraps its arm around the problem of e-waste

OLYMPIA – Like fruitcake, an unwanted computer monitor gets passed along from person to person until someone finally decides to throw it away. But where do these old monitors go? more>>>

Senate votes to clarify rules on disclosure of farm plans for critical areas

OLYMPIA –Small farmers in Washington often find themselves in a frustrating Catch-22: They want to improve their lands’ critical areas such as streams and wetlands, but doing so could open them up to oversight that would be disruptive and expensive, at a time when many farmers have little margin for error. more>>>

Feb. 7, 2006

1:14 wrap with Sen. Mark Doumit of Cathlamet on cleaning up raw milk operations.

Lead: When 18 people in southwest Washington became seriously ill with E.coli from drinking raw milk late last year, one state senator wanted to know what happened --  and is making sure it doesn’t happen again.  Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Senate votes to clean up raw milk operations

OLYMPIA – When 18 people became seriously ill in December from E. coli traced back to unpasteurized milk at the Dee Creek Farm in Cowlitz County, a loophole in protecting public health from the risks of raw milk became apparent. more>>>

Senate moves to give land buyers more notice about potential toxins

OLYMPIA – You’d never cover your kids’ bedroom walls with lead-based paint, or tile their ceilings with asbestos. If legislation approved today by the state Senate becomes law, potential property buyers will receive more information about whether land on the real estate market ever had harmful toxins like lead-based paint or asbestos on the premises. more>>>

Feb. 6, 2006

1:07 wrap with Sen. Jim Kastama of Puyallup on making tattoo parlors safe.

Lead: A state senator wants to make tattoo parlors more sanitary, so that anyone getting inked need only worry that it’ll last forever. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia.  (Full script in Word Format)

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Senate passes bill to regulate tattoo artists, body piercers

OLYMPIA – As the popularity of tattoos and body piercings has risen in recent years, so have the number of providers and the potential incidence of accidental infection of customers. more>>>

Haugen bill would ease taxes on seniors, disabled retirees in rural areas

OLYMPIA – Increasingly more seniors and other retirees living in rural areas are facing a double whammy: the property taxes on their land are rising beyond their means, but zoning ordinances bar them from subdividing properties of five or fewer acres. This prevents them from selling off parts of their property, either to raise money to pay taxes or to reduce the property size on which they are taxed so that they aren’t priced out of their homes. more>>>

Biofuel is a real gas

OLYMPIA – Investing in the state’s biofuel industry will pay big dividends. That’s why a Senate committee has approved a measure to create a bioenergy loan program to help jump-start our state’s renewable energy supply. more>>>

Senate honors mental health professionals

OLYMPIA – Recognizing the difficult, and often dangerous, service that mental health professionals and crisis workers provide, the Senate today officially honored them with the adoption of Senate Resolution 8694. more>>>

Haugen’s leadership earns high rating from Sierra Club

OLYMPIA – Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, has received a 20-point rating for her work on environmental issues in 2005 from the Sierra Club’s Cascade Chapter. more>>>

Women’s seminar honors Haugen for leadership in transportation solutions

OLYMPIA – The Puget Sound Chapter of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS) presented a Recognition of Achievement Award on Tuesday to Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, for her role in guiding the 2005 9.5-cent transportation tax package to passage. more>>>

Feb. 2, 2006

1:43 wrap with Sen. Mark Doumit of Cathlamet on helping our state's timber industry.

Lead: If aerospace companies get state tax breaks, so should the timber industry, according to one southwest Washington lawmaker. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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Brown selected as 2005 legislator of year by police, sheriffs group

OLYMPIA – The state’s sheriffs and police officers have the back of Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. The Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (WACOPS) yesterday honored Brown with its 2005 Legislator of the Year Award. more>>>

Senate votes to advance state primary date to third Tuesday in August

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate voted today to move the date of the state primary to the third Tuesday in August.

Legislators made the move to accommodate absentee voters, particularly military members stationed overseas, and to avoid the possibility that a close primary race would postpone the printing of general election ballots. The 2004 gubernatorial election took two recounts and several weeks of court challenges to determine a winner, and lawmakers feared a similarly close race in a primary election could disrupt the general election. more>>>

Senate Democrats add podcasts to daily reports

OLYMPIA – Is your iPod ready for Sen. Jim Hargrove?

Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are now issuing daily podcasts to help citizens stay informed about and involved in their state government. more>>>

1:48 wrap with Sen. Karen Fraser, D- Thurston County on outlawing sex tourism in Washington.

Lead: Worldwide, more and more criminals are choosing to traffic in humans than drugs. One state senator says Washington must do its part to reduce the demand. Jeff Reading reports from Olympia. (Full script in Word Format)

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McAuliffe proposes study of student achievement

OLYMPIA – Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, today proposed an independent review of student achievement on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to better understand why some students have not been able to meet the state standards, and to determine whether more alternative options could be used to augment Washington’s current assessment system. more>>>

Jan. 27, 2006

1:17 wrap with Sen. Harriet Spanel on achieving equal rights for Washington gays and lesbians.

Lead: History was made in Olympia on Friday, as a nearly thirty-year effort to add sexual orientation to Washington’s civil rights law succeeded in the Legislature.  (Full script in Word Format)

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Kastama proposes bill to strip state legislators’ health-care coverage

OLYMPIA – Lawmakers would work harder, and faster, to provide benefits for Washingtonians who lack health care if they themselves knew how it felt, Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, said today in proposing a measure that would strip state legislators of their health-care coverage. more>>>

Washington needs to be center stage again in film industry