Quake aid bill is unanimous

State allots $1 million for damaged homes, $1 million for heating bills

PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Mar. 11

OLYMPIA -- After nearly nine weeks since the first gavel dropped on the 2001 legislative session, the first bill is on its way to Gov. Gary Locke's desk for his signature.

The state Senate on Saturday unanimously approved $1 million for emergency aid to earthquake-damaged homes, along with an additional $1 million to help low-income citizens pay their heating bills. The House of Representatives passed the same bill Friday.

Locke's office released a statement saying the governor will sign the bill Monday.

"This state and its citizens are being tested by earthquake, drought and outrageous energy costs, so I'm pleased to join the Legislature to do all we can to help as quickly as possible," Locke said in the statement.

The legislation will pour $1 million into a specially created Nisqually Earthquake account in the state treasury.

That will be matched at a ratio of 3-1 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The $4 million fund will be used to provide individual family grants to thousands of homeowners who suffered damage in the Ash Wednesday earthquake.

"I would like to express my great appreciation for this quick action," Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia, said during the Senate floor debate. "Being so near the epicenter of the earthquake created a traumatic experience in my district, and we're going to be living with the aftermath for a long time."

According to FEMA, the maximum grant available is $14,400, but the average grant will run between $3,000 and $4,000.

The other $1 million approved Saturday will match a $4 million federal energy assistance grant, and will help 2,500 low-income families pay their heating bills.

Families are "facing a choice between paying utility bills and paying for rent and food," said Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, the prime sponsor of the energy assistance bill.

A month ago, Brown pushed $2 million in heating assistance through the Senate, but the bill got tripped up in the House. Trimmed to $1 million and paired with the earthquake assistance, the legislation flew through both bodies, passing unanimously in the Senate and 90-3 in the House.

"I want our members to recognize this bill as one of the paramount duties of this body -- to help the people we represent," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Vancouver.

Meeting all day Saturday to make up for time lost because of the earthquake, the Senate tore through its calendar, passing 50 bills by the time it adjourned at 5 p.m.

The House of Representatives did not meet Saturday, after passing 139 bills Friday.

Both bodies will rest today before reconvening Monday morning.

Patrick Condon covers the Legislature for The Olympian. He can be reached at 753-1688 or at condonpatrick@hotmail.com.

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