Bills die as cutoff deadline slips by

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Several bills ranging from a ban on owning bears, monkeys and snakes to one that could boost business competitiveness died Friday in the Legislature, failing to meet a cutoff deadline.

Also dead was a proposal to close a loophole in federal law allowing gun buyers to purchase weapons at gun shows and flea markets without undergoing criminal-background checks.

Still alive, however, are the session's major proposals that deal with the budget, transportation taxes, anti-terrorism tools and civil-service reforms for state workers. The 11 anti-terrorism measures include one to let government keep more records secret. Other measures expand police wire-tapping powers and prevent price-gouging by businesses during times of crisis.

Moving forward

The survivors list also includes bills to outlaw credit scoring by insurers, to create a preferred drug list for Medicaid patients, and to expand sick leave for family members. All of them move forward for possible Senate or House floor votes, the next step in a long process that would require passage in both chambers before going to the governor for signing into law.

"We've got 34 days left and we've got a lot to crowd into those 34 days," Senate Majority Leader Sid Snyder, D-Long Beach, said of the 60-day session.

In a bid to keep bills moving, House Appropriations Committee members are meeting at 9 a.m. today to consider a raft of proposals that could affect the state's estimated $1.25 billion budget shortfall. They might work into the evening, said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam.

Next week, Republican and Democratic transportation negotiators are expected to begin talks on a transportation revenue package, Kessler said. Gov. Gary Locke has already signed a package of transportation efficiency measures, and conferees in the House and Senate are haggling over a regional-tax package for transportation that would fit hand-in-glove with the statewide tax.

Republicans haven't been extensively included in Democrats' talks on road taxes yet, but there is GOP interest in a package that could raise the gas tax anywhere from a nickel to a dime higher than the 23 cents per gallon collected today, said Rep. Maryann Mitchell, R-Federal Way. Mitchell is her caucus' lead on transportation issues.

Few tears were shed Friday as the first deadline for passing bills fell, and proposals dropped dead for lack of votes to move them out of their committees of origin.

Death toll

The death toll included some economic development and regulatory-reform proposals sought mainly by Republicans and a sales-and-use tax exemption for highly fuel-efficient vehicles sought by Democrats.

"Businesses are crying out for regulatory and tax relief," said Sen. Pat Hale, R-Kennewick, chairwoman of her caucus' so-called Job Squad.

Senate Democrats released a list of bills that will be poured into the trash bin of history.

One proposal from Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Thurston County, would have created a task force to consider health threats from using mercury in silver fillings.

Another lost bill from Sen. Harold Hochstatter, R-Moses Lake, would have replaced the teaching of evolution theory in public schools with instruction in "the self-evident truth of creation."

Another proposal by Hochstatter would have added this question to the Washington Assessment of Student Learning: "What do you think of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning?"

Brad Shannon, political editor for The Olympian, can be reached at 360-753-1688 and at shannonbrad@hotmail.com.

For more state legislature stories go to the Legislature 2002 section .

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