Sen. Sheldon, GOP forge 1-day majority

Alliance passes bills on shoreline regulations, workplace ergonomics

PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Mason County Sen. Tim Sheldon lived up to his maverick reputation Thursday when he teamed up with Republicans to wrest control of the Senate from his fellow Democrats and pass several bills.

Sheldon, D-Potlatch, broke off from the Democrats and aligned with the Senate's 24 Republicans, giving them the one vote they needed to hijack the Senate's docket for the day.

Sheldon's temporary majority passed two bills opposed by most Democrats.

One bill would give counties more freedom to set their own shoreline regulations, and another delays the implementation of ergonomics rules in the workplace.

The shorelines legislation exempts rural areas and all of Spokane and Clark counties from shoreline erosion regulations implemented by the state Department of Ecology.

Sheldon said that different parts of the state have different shoreline needs and should not all be held to the same standard.

Both bills must pass the House and win Gov. Gary Locke's signature to become law.

More moves planned

Sheldon and the Republicans placed six other controversial bills on the Senate floor calendar, including:

-Legislation to lock in $30 car tab fees for good.

-A bill that bars striking public school teachers from earning sick pay for days spent on the picket line.

-A bill that would let the top two vote-getters in a primary continue on to the general election, regardless of their party.

-A bill that prohibits state parks from charging entrance fees.

"I approach things in a bipartisan way, and if you have bills that you can't get through the regular process, you have to find 24 other votes to help you out," Sheldon said. "We should be approaching an issue on its merits. Too often here, everything is done along partisan lines."

Democrats were exasperated to find themselves stuck in the minority.

Majority Leader Sid Snyder, D-Long Beach, said it was a bad idea to add a raft of controversial issues to the special session agenda.

"Well, what we're doing here is really prolonging the session," Snyder said. "If we open the chute here today ... bar the door, Nellie. I wouldn't make any plans until after June 30."

New life for bills

Both of the bills the Senate passed Thursday had already been passed by the body during the regular session but died when the House failed to act on them before adjournment on April 22.

As with the first time around, both bills were passed by Republicans and a small group of moderate Democrats.

The ergonomics legislation delays for two years the implementation of rules designed to prevent workplace injuries. Washington business groups have complained the rules are too burdensome and confusing.

Senate Democrats were unable to muster the votes needed to stop the bill from passing a second time.

"I suppose this is futile, but I think what we're talking about here is the difference between the bottom line of businesses, and the personal health and safety of workers," said Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle.

Both bills were sent immediately to the House, where they face an uncertain future thanks to the 49-49 split between Republicans and Democrats.

Angry Democrats

The sharpest debate during Sheldon's maneuvers came when he moved to place the bill concerning teacher strike pay on the Senate calendar.

Democrats objected, pointing out that the bill has not received a committee hearing.

"I can't believe we're doing this," said Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way. "I have not read this bill. We have absolutely no business whatsoever voting for a bill that has not had a committee hearing."

Under the Sheldon-sponsored bill, teachers who strike can't receive sick pay or benefits for days they miss work to walk the picket line.

Current teacher walkouts in the Seattle area were on the minds of senators debating the bill.

"Students are being deprived of education today," said Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls. "That's wrong. We have a responsibility to these students. It's clear to me we should be addressing this serious issue."

But Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said that the Senate should leave such decisions to local school boards.

"It was probably the most difficult time of my life," Haugen said. "What I want to tell you is that we don't want to become the great big school board in Olympia."

Ultimately, all 24 Republicans and Sheldon voted to put the teacher strike bill on the Senate calendar, but it didn't come up for a final vote. That bill, as well as the $30 car tab bill and four others, are now on the Senate's calendar and could come up for a vote any time during the special session.

Sheldon said he approached Republican Caucus leadership and proposed Thursday's gambit.

Sheldon has voted with Republicans on several major bills throughout the legislative session.

In a high-profile decision shortly after last November's election, Sheldon stuck with the Democratic Party instead of switching to Republican or independent.

But Sheldon said his status as a Democrat doesn't translate to party-line votes.

"I was elected as a Democrat, and I made a vote at the beginning of session to elect Sid Snyder as majority leader," Sheldon said. "I think that is the only vote that I owe my caucus. The rest of my votes, I owe my constituents."

Eight bills on the Senate floor

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, joined with Senate Republicans Thursday to bring eight bills to the Senate floor over the oppo-sition of the Democrats who control the Senate.

The Senate went on to pass two of the bills and placed the remaining six on its pending calendar.

Bills passed

- Senate Bill 5378: Exempts rural areas as well as all of Spokane and Clark counties from shoreline management guidelines from the state Department of Ecology. Senate passed 25-23, with one member absent.

- SB 5882: Delays for two years the implementation of wide-ranging ergonomics rules for state workplaces. Senate passed 28-20, with one member absent.

Bills on calendar:

- SB 5959: Repeals the local portion of the motor vehicle excise tax, locking in $30 car tab fees for good.

- SB 5109: Prohibits Washington state parks from charging entrance fees.

- SB 5859: Creates a new primary system for Washington similar to that of Louisiana, where the top two vote-getters in a primary election advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

- SB 6137: Requires that public school teachers who go on strike do not collect sick pay or benefits for days missed from work.

- SB 5452: Provides that, if utility facilities must be removed or relocated as a result of the construction, repair, or improvement of a system, the costs of the project must be included in the costs of the system and paid by the authority.

- SB 5094: Grants a tax exemption for telecom-munications call centers to be built in rural areas.

On the web:

Senator Tim Sheldon.

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