With just one week left of session, we are plugging away at passing our priority legislation.

Simple majority

After nearly 15 years of trying to eliminate the current supermajority requirement to pass school levies, we finally succeeded! I was so proud I was literally reduced to tears after realizing we received the two-thirds vote necessary to bring this to a vote of the people.

The House of Representatives already passed the measure (House Joint Resolution 4204); it now heads directly to the November ballot.

Climate change

After nearly dying in the House, the Senate bill (SB 6001) that would curtail the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change is back on track: The House passed the bill close to its original form. Our proposal will roll back Washington’s emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

Assuming the governor signs the bill, Washington can point to yet another measure that proves we are a national leader in tackling this problem we can be almost certain humans have played a significant role in contributing to.

Institute for Systems Medicine

Assuming the House agrees with the amendments we proposed, House Bill 1705, which would create health sciences and services authorities, will be on its way to the governor’s desk. This measure will help the Institute for Systems Medicine, an effort to study medicine as a system to treat human disease.

Paid family leave

While the Senate’s effort to provide paid family leave did manage to pass the House, unfortunately the language is so weak, the bill is not in ideal shape. It would provide five weeks of family leave for someone to take care of their newborn or adopted child. A task force would study how to fund the leave.

I am not giving up. We will send this bill to a “conference committee” and work with the House and the governor to come up with a better compromise.

Sincerely,
Lisa

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