A project of the Washington Policy Center, WashingtonVotes.org issues a periodic report of recent votes cast by state lawmakers in Olympia. Following are the votes cast in March by District 42 representatives Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) and Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) and state Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale).
Senate Bill 6032: Making supplemental appropriations for the 2017-19 state budget. Passed the House on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 55-44.
This is the supplemental budget to adjust the state’s spending plan for the 2017-19 state budget approved by the legislature last year. The bill was agreed upon by a conference committee of legislative leaders that worked out the differences between earlier versions passed by the House and Senate. The budget agreement was released just one day before the final votes were taken. As passed, the bill raises general-fund spending by $900 million for the current biennium to $44.6 billion, and total spending from all funds by $1.7 billion to $89 billion. The overall supplemental budget package includes a property tax cut of $391 million. for 2019 and $776 million for teacher salaries to comply with the last piece of the state Supreme Court’s 2012 McCleary school funding mandate. The supplemental budget takes into consideration the state’s latest revenue forecast that projects about $1.3 billion more in existing taxes through 2021. No new taxes, notably capital gains income and carbon emissions taxes, are called for in this budget.
Representative Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) – No
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) – No
Senate Bill 6032: Making supplemental appropriations for the 2017-19 state budget. Passed the Senate on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-24.
The bill passed the legislature and is on its way to the Governor.
Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) – No
Senate Bill 6614: Concerning funding for the support of common schools. Passed the Senate on March 7 by a vote of 25-23 with, one member excused.
This bill is part of the supplemental budget agreement reached between the House and Senate and would reduce state property taxes by 30 cents per $1,000 in assessed valuation for calendar year 2019, or a total of $391 million in property tax relief. Under the school funding plan approved by the legislature last year, the state property tax rate increased from $1.89 per $1,000 in assessed valuation in 2017 to $2.70 in 2018, resulting in steep increases for many property owners around the state. The property tax cut would be funded by redirecting moneys that would normally go into the state’s reserve fund. A 2011 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution requires that most of the extra money collected during periods of extraordinary general state revenue growth must be deposited into the Budget Stabilization Account – the rainy day fund. This bill, instead, would divert $935 million in state property tax collections for fiscal year 2019 to the Education Legacy Trust Account. Funds in this account are not considered general state revenues for purposes of the rainy day fund. During floor debate, Republicans objected to this move, because they said it was designed to circumvent the two-thirds vote requirement for spending moneys from the reserve fund. They also echoed state treasurer Duane Davidson’s stated concern that using moneys intended for budget reserves could hurt Washington down the road.
Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) – No
Senate Bill 6614: Concerning funding for the support of common schools. Passed the House on final passage March 8 by a vote of 59-39 with one member excused.
The bill passed the legislature and is on its way to the governor.
Representative Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) – No
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) – No
Senate Bill 6362: Modifying basic education provisions. Passed the House on March 8 by a vote of 50-48.
Also part of the overall supplemental budget agreement, this bill would provide $776 million more for teacher salaries. It would move ahead the schedule for full funding of the increased state salary allocations for school employees to the 2018-19 school year, rather than phasing it in over two school years. In the 2012 McCleary decision, the state Supreme Court ruled that insufficient state funding for basic education unconstitutionally caused districts to rely on local levy funding to support the costs of implementing the state's program. Since the McCleary decision, the legislature has funded a number of specified enhancements to the basic education program, including transportation; all-day kindergarten; and kindergarten through grade 3 (K-3) class size reductions. Full funding of teacher salary increases, as provided in this bill, would bring the legislature into compliance with the court’s ruling.
Representative Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) – No
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) – No
Senate Bill 6362: Modifying basic education provisions. Passed the Senate on final passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-23 with one member excused.
The bill had passed the Senate earlier in February, but was amended in the House. The Senate agreed with the House amendments and the bill has now passed the legislature. It is on its way to the governor.
Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) – No
House Bill 3003: Relating to law enforcement. Passed the House on March 7 by a vote of 73-25.
In January 2018, Washington’s Secretary of State certified Initiative to the Legislature No. 940. dealing with law enforcement, including training, rendering of first aid, criminal liability standards for using deadly force, and investigations. Under the state constitution, the legislature may enact the initiative, in which case it becomes law. Alternatively, the Legislature may reject it or take no action, or propose an alternative, in which case the initiative along with any alternative is submitted to a vote of the people at the next general election. This bill would amend the initiative to modify the provisions relating to training, the criminal liability standard for use of deadly force, and independent investigations of deadly force incidents. It would make it easier to bring charges against a law enforcement officer for use of deadly force by removing a “malice” requirement and mandates new programs on de-escalation and mental health training for officers. It also requires the state to reimburse a law enforcement officer for reasonable defense costs when he or she is found not guilty or charges are dismissed by reason of justifiable homicide, justifiable use of deadly force, or self-defense, for actions taken while on duty or otherwise within the scope of his or her authority as a law enforcement officer. The bill was passed before passage of the initiative itself but included a provision declaring it null and void should Initiative 940 fail to be subsequently approved by the legislature.
Representative Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) – No
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) – Yes
House Bill 3003: Relating to law enforcement. Passed the Senate on Final Passage on March 8 by a vote of 25-24.
The bill passed the Senate on final passage and was delivered to the governor.
Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) – No
Senate Initiated Legislation 940, Initiative by the people to the legislature concerning law enforcement. Passed the Senate on March 8, 2018 by a vote of 25-24.
This is the Initiative to the legislature amended by HB 3003. It requires all law enforcement officers in the state receive violence de-escalation training and mental health training. It also establishes the duty of all law enforcement officers to render first aid to preserve the life of persons whom the officer comes into contact with while carrying out official duties, and provides for a good faith standard, to determine whether a law enforcement officer is criminally liable for the use of deadly force. It also requires independent investigations of certain incidents involving a law enforcement officer's use of deadly force.
Senator Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale) – No
House Initiated Legislation 940, Initiative by the people to the legislature concerning law enforcement. Passed the House on March 8, 2018 by a vote of 55-43.
The Initiative to the legislature was submitted and passed separately by both houses of the legislature. It was filed with the secretary of state to become law.
Representative Vincent Buys (R-Lynden) – No
Representative Luanne Van Werven (R-Lynden) – No
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