Senator Steve Hobbs
Legislative Blog

November 19, 2007

It's been an extremely busy interim, and I eagerly await the start of the 2008 session. After evaluating the results of the latest election, it is clear to me that voters are tired of current levels of taxation. I aim to address this issue by sponsoring a bill aimed at lessoning the burden of property tax on our working class families. Under my proposal, all families earning less than the median household income in the State of Washington will receive a rebate check in the amount of 10 percent of their property tax paid. We have a responsibility to use the peoples' money wisely, and what can be better than giving the people back some of their hard earned money.

I am also very excited about my Tidal Energy bill. I started work on this issue last session, and am very proud to be associated with the Snohomish PUD and the work they have done with underwater turbines. We have a responsibility to seek out and provide new, clean and sustainable forms of energy, and the Snohomish PUD is on the cutting edge worldwide of this exciting technology that capitalizes on the gravitational powers of changing tides. We will work together this session to provide incentives to encourage the development of this important resource.

I have followed with great interest the process of bringing the University of Washington to Snohomish County, and I am extremely proud of the work our local officials, citizens and students have done to make the State and the UW aware of the support for higher education in this extremely underserved area. We have four great sites to choose from, and I will work to make sure we have the funding in place to provide university slots to area graduates. In particular, it is very important to me to increase access to incoming freshman who are looking to take part in the Husky experience. As an alumni, I couldn't be happier to bring the Purple and Gold to the Snohomish County area.

As always, please feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts, concerns and comments. I can be reached at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

April 9, 2007

Session is coming to a close and I’m thrilled with the progress we’ve made this thus far. To date, five of my bills have made it through both chambers and await the Governor’s signature. The Senate budget included much-needed funding for important 44th Legislative District projects, and the Transportation budget featured tens of millions in funding for crucial local projects. I’m also pleased with the progress made towards the development of a four year university in Snohomish County.

This week, I’m hoping my veterans anti-discrimination bill will make it out of the house. SB 5123 guarantees our returning soldiers won’t be asked inappropriate questions when interviewing for employment and prevents other kinds of discrimination. Should the House pass the bill – which received unanimous support in the Senate – I am optimistic that the Governor will sign it into law.

I’m looking forward to the end of session and a little free time. I miss my family and hope to clear a week or so to catch up with my kids, housework, etc. – but then it’s back to work. I’ve reached a tentative agreement with the Lake Stevens School District and will be renting space in the new Cavelero Mid High - a sparkling new campus near 20th St NE and SR-9. I look forward to interacting with the students, teachers, staff and administrators on a daily basis.

It’s been interesting experiencing the difference between public perception of a Legislator’s life and the actual thing. Outside of the Capitol, it may seem like our work is centered around one or two major headline-grabbing issues, but I’m amazed at the scope and volume of bills we work on. Another common misconception is the notion that the political parties have an unbridgeable divide. In point of fact, we agree on far more than we disagree –and that’s not just rhetoric – an examination of vote counts on recent bills will show that many pass with either unanimous or at least broad bi-partisan support.

I’ll keep you updated on the progress of my bills, and look for an e-newsletter this week as well. As always, feel free to call or email me with questions, comments or suggestions. I can be reached at 360-786-7686 or via email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

March 12, 2007

After a frenzied week of floor session, I’m happy to report that we have passed some of our most important legislation, and I’m personally excited that several of my bills have passed through the Senate and are that much closer to becoming law.

Last week marked the beginning of floor session in earnest. Monday, March 5th marked the fiscal cut-off date. In effect, this means that any bill that hasn’t made it out of committee and into Rules is likely dead for this session. Cut-off is a brutal day, and not surprisingly some of my bills were left on the cutting room floor, along with some bills I had cosponsored. Despite my disappointment in losing some of “my babies” (at least temporarily), I resolved to sharpen my focus on the legislation before us.

The Senate began meeting on the floor for morning, afternoon and evening sessions, and we worked through the weekend. We are pressing because time is short – we have through Wednesday to consider all the legislation that we’d like to forward to the House this session.

Here’s some highlights from action on the floor:

Last Wednesday we passed SB 5297 by a 30-19 margin after a lengthy debate that kept us on the floor past 10 p.m. The bill, sometimes referred to as the Healthy Youth Act, requires that all school districts teaching sex education must provide comprehensive, medically and scientifically accurate curricula. Whether we like it or not, teenagers are having sex, and they need to be informed of the facts and dangers involved in this choice. We must provide thorough and balanced information on abstinence, contraception and development. Our kids are smart, and in order to make sure they can make intelligent choices, they need to be armed with the facts.

I’m also proud to report the passage of Senator Pridemore’s SB 6001, legislation that will roll back Washington’s emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 – and ambitious, necessary and attainable goal. This legislation is part of our larger effort to combat global warming on a local level.

“With this bill, Washington will join an international effort to begin to address the impacts of climate change that come as a result of human activity,” said Pridemore. “We are addressing what the federal government is unwilling to address.”

In the ongoing effort to revamp public education, the Senate passed four bills aiming at implementing the Washington Learns report, which recommended innovative improvements to revolutionize early learning, K-12 education, educator preparation and math, science and technology education.

In addition to the aforementioned legislation, I’m pleased to report that some of my bills have progressed through the Senate. Here’s the breakdown:

SB 5841 – Early Learning

This bill phases in an all day kindergarten program. Investing in children early will pay dividends throughout their life. Families in which two parents work will especially benefit from this legislation.

SB 5123 – Ending Discrimination against Veterans

As a veteran of conflicts in Kosovo and Iraq, I know first-hand how difficult it can be for returning veterans who are seeking employment. I was asked inappropriate questions about my mental stability and my opinion on the war, and I know many other returning veterans were as well. This has to end, and I am hopeful that this legislation will help in that regard.

SB 5101 – Tuition Waivers for Teachers

Education is the paramount duty for our state. We must ensure that teachers remain on the top of their educational game. The best way to encourage this is by offering tuition waivers to teachers who are dedicated to improving themselves through further education.

SB 5242 – Internship Program for Wounded Combat Veterans

This bill passed unanimously and I am thankful for the bipartisan support. The bill establishes a DOT internship program for injured combat veterans.

We’re anticipating another late night, so I’m headed back to the floor. As always, feel free to contact me with a any questions, concerns or comments. I can be reached at 360-786-7686 or via email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

-Steve

March 5, 2007

I’m ready for the stretch run. Today marks the cut-off for all bills in fiscal committees, meaning that any bill that doesn’t get through Ways and Means or Transportation is done for this session. We have a ton of bills scheduled to be heard in Ways and Means today, it will be interesting to see how things shake out.

Cut-off creates a big shift in the day-to-day operations of my office. Before, my schedule was dominated by committee hearings and meetings with lobbyists, stakeholders and constituents. While I will always be meeting with constituents, the other meetings and hearings have come to a close. From here on out, the action will be on the floor, and I am excited to pass some bills.

We have a loaded schedule in front of us, and many goals we want to accomplish before session end April 22. To that end, we will be working evenings and weekends much of the time.

With that in mind, I was able to spend some time with my family this weekend. I had drill at Fort Lewis during the day, but my wife and kids came down to Olympia to visit during the evening. It was Pam’s birthday Saturday, and we had a great time as a family celebrating the event.

Aside from my bills and the major issues we are tackling, I am also working hard on the continuing efforts to bring a four-year independent university to Snohomish County. I am proud to be aligned with Senators Berkey, Shin and Haugen along with Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon.

I am putting the finishing touches on as direct mail/survey piece that I will be sending out soon. It will include information in a Town Hall meeting in district. My seatmates Hans Dunshee and John Lovick are taking part in a joint Town Hall meeting this month as well. Because it is my first term in office, I want to do the Town Hall meeting solo so that I can have a chance to personally address your concerns, questions and comments. Please keep an eye out for my mail piece, and check back here for more info on the Town Hall date.

As always, don’t hesitate to call me at 360-786-7686 or email me at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

-Steve

Feb. 22, 2007

SB 5827, my bill that will severely limit the use of credit checks as part of the pre-employment process, was exec’d out of committee - meaning that it received a majority vote of the committee members and will progress on its path to becoming law.

I am grateful for the support of the human services lobby on this bill. Without the help of the Statewide Poverty Action Network, the Jewish Federation, the ACLU and other like-minded organizations, we may not have gotten this far. I am also appreciative of the outpouring of response I have received from constituents and even people outside our state who feel that they have unjustly been denied employment due to the contents of a credit report.

For the moment, I’m turning my attention to the tidal energy bill, SB 6111. This bill was heard yesterday in Natural Resources and I hope it will be exec’d out soon. I think there’s a ton of potential for powerful clean and renewable energy right here in the Puget Sound.

I’m getting ready to head to the floor, and we’ll see what kind of action takes place on today’s bills. I’ll be back to give you an update on any legislation that the Senate passes a little bit later.

Until then…

Steve

Feb. 20, 2007

I just came from a hearing in the Consumer Protection and Housing Committee regarding SB 5827 – my bill that works to limit credit checks from being used during the pre-employment process. It’s a bill that is very important to me and I was pleased with the turnout and outcome of the hearing.

Senator Weinstein, the Chair of Consumer Protection, has scheduled the bill to be exec’d out of committee on Thursday – meaning that the committee members will decide whether the bill will progress on its path to becoming law. I am meeting with interested parties and agencies representing both sides of the debate and hope to work out acceptable bill language that will represent a compromise without damaging the integrity and purpose of the legislation.

In other happenings around campus, the Governor is warming up to the effort of keeping the Sonics in King County. She said in today’s papers that the tax structure does not have a measurable impact on those outside of King County. I spoke with former Sonics great Lenny Wilkens today and he asked me to continue to support the team’s efforts to relocate to Renton.

I was in-district over the weekend and had some very positive talks with the cities of Lake Stevens and Snohomish. Both agreed to work separately and together to bring a four-year independent polytechnic university to Snohomish County. This is a great step towards providing an optimistic future to tomorrow’s students, businesses and economy.

Things are heating up and we’re getting ready to start working through the night and weekends, but I’m never too busy for constituent concerns, questions or comments. Please feel free to call me at 360-786-7686 or email me at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

Feb. 16, 2007

As the week wraps up and I prepare to head home to visit the family, I’m pleased with all that was accomplished, and I’m eagerly awaiting next week. Wednesday was a big day for our party. We passed Senator Marr’s SB 5093, a bill that will make health insurance available to nearly every child in Washington. The bill was a Governor request, and despite some squabbling on the floor, nearly half of the Senate Republicans crossed the aisle to support this important cause.

I’m hopeful that some of my issues will reach the floor next week, particularly SB 5123, a bill that prevents discrimination against veterans. I also have a hearing on SB 5827, a favorite of mine that will prevent credit checks as part of the pre-employment process. After a couple delays, the bill will finally be heard at 1:30 Tuesday in Consumer Protection and Housing, a committee chaired by Senator Brian Weinstein, a co-sponsor of the bill. We are anticipating a lot of supportive testimony and I am excited.

I’m also happy to announce legislation that will lead to a feasibility study for light rail along US-2 from Everett to Leavenworth. Commuter rail will ease the growing traffic congestion in the area and will lead to increased tourism in the beautiful towns lining the slopes of the Cascades: towns like Index, Skykomish and Leavenworth. I am thankful that Senator Val Stevens has worked with me on this important issue.

In other news, I am working with Senators Jean Berkey and Paull Shin to bring an independent four-year polytechnic university to Snohomish County. Site evaluation is under way and I will keep you posted of our progress.

I hope you’ll all have a great weekend and as always, don’t hesitate to call me at 360-786-7686 or email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

- Steve

Feb. 13, 2007

There’s a lot of sports talk around campus these days. In Ways and Means today, the Sonics were on the agenda and King County Executive Ron Sims testified in support of the effort to relocate the Sonics and the Storm while keeping both in King County.

Executive Sims talked about how sports teams add to the identity of a community and our state as a whole, calling the proposed legislation a “quality of life” investment. I asked Executive Sims if a new arena would offer our state the chance to host additional high profile events such as the Final Four and possibly even a National Hockey League franchise.

Sonics/Storm owner Clay Bennett addressed the committee next, announcing that his organization had selected Renton as the preferred site. Mr. Bennett talked of building a “community and regional asset” and presented a viable financing plan – a plan that will be financed without the introduction of new taxes.

It was also interesting that the Seattle Chamber of Commerce supports the move – even though Seattle is “losing” the Storm and Sonics as tenants. Despite this, the Chamber realizes that as the 13th biggest metropolitan area it is important for the area’s identity and commercial viability to retain professional sports franchises.

As the Senator from the 44th District, I can tell my constituents that under this proposed legislation, they will be able to enjoy the benefit and added value of a world-class arena facility, the Sonics and the Storm without a single cent of added taxation - pretty good deal for a community within 50 miles of the proposed site.

In other sports news, I’m expecting the debate around the proposed NASCAR track on the Olympic Peninsula to pickup as well.

As always, if you’d like to chime in on these issues or any other, email me at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov or give me a call at 360-786-7686.

Feb. 12, 2007

It was my birthday today, and my friends and family showered me with riches and presents. Just kidding, but I did get a nice cake that I shared with my colleagues at the Ways and Means luncheon. Thanks to my wife, my mom and my office for the great day. No, I’m not going to tell you how old I am.

Moving on to more interesting matters, I testified at three hearings today for bills I’ve prime sponsored. SB 5790 works to improve skill center programs at the high school level, SB 5441 helps veterans gain access to state programs already in effect, and SB 5430 would create a shared leave pool for state employees who have been called to duty in the uniformed services. I am excited about the prospects of all three bills.

I was also thrilled to see the Seattle Times editorial board weigh in on my SB 5827 - a bill that I’ve talked about at length in last week’s posts. To recap, the bill prevents employers from using credit checks in the pre-employment process, with a few narrow exceptions. It’s important and far-reaching legislation. To read today’s editorial, check out the Seattle Times webpage and search “Hobbs”.

In other news around campus, the action surrounding the Sonics and their proposed arena is heating up. I’m following the issue closely, and I’m currently of the opinion that nothing can be gained by a hasty decision.

The Sonics and the Storm have represented our community well and deserve a fair shot. I am reminded of the Everett Events Center project near my district. Many locals were opposed to this project originally, but several years down the road (and many raucous Silvertips games later); it’s hard to find someone with a negative thought about the EEC.

The city has also experienced a revival of its downtown core since the EEC center opened, and I’m tempted to think that the same may be true for  Renton or Bellevue, although it’s still early in the game.

I’m also working on several exciting district related transportation and energy related projects – more on that later in the week. For now, as always, please feel free to contact me at 360-786-7686 with any questions or comments, or via email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

Feb. 9, 2007

As I wrap up another week on campus, my excitement continues to grow as our party’s momentum continues to grow. I am proud of the progressive stances my fellow Dems have taken on civil unions, education and veterans issues.

A few of my bills made good progress this week. SB 5827, a bill that will eliminate credit checks from the pre-employment process, has been receiving a lot of positive media coverage and is scheduled for a hearing in Consumer Protection next Friday. It was originally scheduled for yesterday, but a busy agenda kept it from being heard. I was thrilled with the turnout, though. A glance at the sign-in sheet for testimony revealed numerous supporters ready to share their stories with the committee.

I am also the proud sponsor of SB 5841, a bill that is part of the Governor’s ambitious education omnibus. Our state has a mandate to fully fund education and that is what we are actively working towards.

I’ve been getting a lot of constituent input on the much debated civil union bill, SB 5336. This bill will grant basic rights to partners in long term relationships. These rights include hospital visitation and the ability to make funeral arrangements for a loved one. The bill is not solely a same-sex issue: the legislation applies to non-married senior citizen couples as well. These are basic rights and to deny them to anyone for any basis is simply not right. I have heard the argument that these rights are already available through power of attorney or other legal methods, but I feel that a citizen should not have to work through an attorney to preserve basic rights.

In other news, I met with representatives from the City of Lake Stevens today, including Mayor Vern Little, City Administrator Jan Berg and Police Chief Randy Celori. Lake Stevens is not only a part of my district; it is my hometown and it was a pleasure to meet with the capable and talented folks who are ably managing the former sleep town’s explosive growth.

On the floor today, my colleagues Senator Kauffman and Senator Hatfield each made their inaugural Senate floor speech. Senate tradition calls for other Senators to publicly “roast” their new colleagues until an appropriate “gift” is offered. After my first speech, I was heckled mercilessly until I handed out some lovely Aquafest tee-shirts to my fellow members. (Thanks to Lisa Elder, Aquafest Treasurer for your help in this matter.) Senator Kauffman offered some lovely handmade dream catchers from the 49th District and Senator Hatfield provided some tasty seafood treats. Kudos to both.

Well, that’s all I have to report for now. I’m off to a weekend of National Guard drill at Fort Lewis. It’ll doubtlessly be another thrilling and busy week next week. As always, feel free to contact me for any reason at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov or via phone at 360-786-7686.

- Steve

Feb. 7, 2007

After wrapping up another busy day, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow – two of my favorite bills have hearings and I’m working hard to gather testimony and perfect my talking points.

Today was a good day. SB 5575, a bill I’m the prime sponsor of that works to lessen the tax burden on consumers who sell excess amounts of natural gas passed out of Ways and Means and is headed towards the floor. I’m also happy that I was able to back SB 5006 in Ways and Means as well. The bill, which will provide low-interest loans to sewer districts in Snohomish and Lake Stevens (among other cities) passed successfully and is headed to Rules.

I took several interesting meetings this afternoon, including groups representing Seattle’s Children’s Hospital, banking interests, and education.

This evening, I’m attending a workshop on parliamentary procedure. I’ve got to brush up on my technique to make sure I look good on the floor! Being a freshman, my more-seasoned colleagues will look for any chance to criticize my presentation – in a constructive way of course!

I’m continuing to get a lot of response on SB 5827 – a bill that will be heard tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. in Consumer Protection. This bill is very important to me – it eliminates credit checks from the pre-employment process with a few very narrow exceptions. The bill has received a generous amount of media coverage – The P.I. ran a story yesterday and consumer advocate Connie Thompson from KOMO 4 ran a piece on last night’s 5 p.m. broadcast. I expect her to repeat the piece again tonight.

This kind of media coverage is vital because it generates the response that I need to judge whether my proposed legislation is relevant and appropriate. So far, I’m very encouraged by both the volume and nature of the response I’ve seen. Keep it coming!

In addition to SB 5827, I’ll also be testifying on SB 5841, a piece of the Governor’s education omnibus that I’m sponsoring relating to early learning. I’m proud to be a part of the Governor’s landmark legislation.

Speaking of education, I’ll be having lunch with Lake Stevens School District Superintendent Dave Burgess tomorrow. Dave is in town to testify on behalf of legislation that he originally proposed last year. I always enjoy meeting with Dr. Burgess – he’s a great advocate for students, teachers and the community as a whole.

Later tomorrow night my wife Pam will be in town, and we’ll attend a dinner at the Governor’s Mansion. This event will cause me to miss an important district meeting in Snohomish, but I’ll send a representative to cover the event on my behalf. It’s times like these that I wish Olympia wasn’t 92 miles from home!

Thanks again for reading, and feel free to send response to hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov or give me a call at 360-786-7686.

- Steve

Feb. 6, 2007

Every day brings a news surprise. Today, I was happy to see the Seattle P-I’s prominent coverage of a bill I’m prime sponsoring – SB 5827. This legislation will prohibit employers from using credit checks as a condition of employment with a few exceptions.

People with less-than-perfect credit need assistance in gaining employment – they don’t need roadblocks. Also, many credit reports contain inaccuracies - errors that could cost somebody a chance at a job. These are just a few of the reasons I’m proud of this legislation.

I appeared on KIRO radio’s Dave Ross Show this morning to talk about SB 5827 and also spoke briefly with KOMO radio. KOMO 4 television’s Connie Thompson also contacted my office regarding this issue – a positive sign that this important issue is getting the attention it deserves.

Aside from SB 5827, I also had a full slate of other meetings and hearings today. This afternoon, I spoke at a workshop on the payday lending industry. I had an opportunity to discuss the plight of young soldiers who often become victims of the predatory and cyclical nature of the payday lending industry. I am working on legislation that will help prevent this from happening to more of our soldiers in the future.

The back and forth between legislators and constituents is vital to our process. I wish I had an opportunity to speak with residents of my district more often, and really enjoy it when constituents take the time out of their busy lives to call, email, or schedule a visit here in Olympia. I really mean it when I say that constituents always come first, so please feel free to set up an appointment to speak with me on any issues that are currently on your mind.

If you have a story you’d like to share regarding your payday lending experience, if you’ve been subject to credit checks as a condition of employment, or if you would simply like to discuss any matter that is important to you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 360-786-7686 or via email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov.

- Steve

Feb. 5, 2007

Welcome to my blog. I’m excited about opening the lines of communication with the 44th District. The first month of session has flown by at a dizzying pace – and while I’m still getting my bearings, I feel like I’ve got a lot accomplished with great things to follow.

I’m particularly happy that the veterans’ issues I’ve been working on have received so much attention. Over the weekend, Fox News ran a national spot on Senate Bill 5123, which prohibits discrimination against veterans. It’s not lip service to say that veterans protect us abroad, so we need to protect them at home. If you’re interested in seeing the spot, head to the Fox News website and search “discrimination”.

I’m looking forward to using the blog to share with readers my daily activities at the capitol. I think many of you would be surprised at the pace and content of each day. My staff does a great job of keeping me busy – I seldom have a break – and I’m usually looking for a spare ten minutes so I can grab a quick lunch to keep my energy up.

Today I met with six different groups before noon on topics ranging from payday lending to wireless communication, natural resource protection, and cultural issues. I had a working lunch meeting with my colleagues from the Ways and Means Committee before heading to my Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee meeting at 1:30.

Later in the afternoon, I met with University of Washington President Mark Emmert and representatives from the Governor’s Policy office. Meetings like these are why I love my job. It’s energizing to debate and discuss issues with such a wide variety of intelligent and talented people.

Later this week my wife and I will be attending a dinner at the Governor’s mansion, and I’ll be meeting with budget staff in preparation for submitting my capital requests. I also have hearings on several of my bills, which I’ll keep you posted on. As always, feel free to call me at 360-786-7686 or email at hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov with any input, questions or comments.

- Steve

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