2016 legislative wrap-upwsfb.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/vote-record.pdf · washingt ur ews |...
TRANSCRIPT
Washington Farm Bureau News
www.wsfb.com | October 20164
2016 Legislative Wrap-upGiven that a few thousand bills are introduced each
legislative session, historically it has been easy to present a handful of bills in a vote record that hopefully provides a helpful picture of how your local legislators voted on key issues.
The current makeup of the Legislature has made our job more of a challenge the past few years. The good news is very few bad bills come to a vote in either chamber. The bad news is votes on bad bills provide very helpful data for our annual vote record.
With the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus still in control of the Senate, bills harmful to agriculture and business in general were not brought up for a vote on the Senate floor. And the experienced leaders in the House were reluctant to bring bills up for final passage on the House floor that would force some of their members to take a tough vote on a bill that was only going to die in the Senate.
With that said, we still believe a vote record is a helpful
tool for you to measure how your legislators voted on issues of interest to agriculture. It is also useful in opening a dialogue with elected officials and in fostering a working relationship with them.
Since there were so few bills voted on in 2016 that were worthy of including in our vote record, we have chosen to include votes from 2015 as well to provide you with a more robust biennial look at how your legislator performed.
As in the past, legislators received credit for each correct vote cast. Unless otherwise noted, the vote listed for each bill is the one cast for the final version of the bill. For each missed vote, we deducted one percentage point from the score. We understand that legislators sometimes miss votes for valid reasons, such as negotiations on other bills. However, the fact remains that the legislator did not participate in a vote on a bill important to agriculture.
Washington Farm Bureau News
www.wsfb.com | October 20165
Here is a summary of the bills used in this year’s Vote Record:
2015 Vote Record
2SHB 1106 – Two-Year Operating Budget: Oppose. This bill was the original version of a two-year operating budget passed by the House majority party. It assumed approval of $1.5 billion in new taxes in order to pay for the 13 percent increase in spending. The new taxes included a capital gains tax on individuals and repeal of the existing sales tax exemption on bottled water. It passed the House 51-47 (Yeas-Nays) but was not voted on in the Senate.
HB 1355 – Minimum Wage Increase: Oppose. This bill would have increased the state minimum wage to $12 per hour over phased in over four years, with the wage adjusted for inflation thereafter. It passed the House 51-46 and was not voted on in the Senate.
EHB 2266 – Class Size Reduction: Support. This bill saved the state $2.8 billion over the next two years by amending I-1351 to phase in over several years the full implementation of the initiative’s class-size reduction requirements. HB 2266 was included in this year’s vote record because it was essential to defeating efforts to raise taxes to balance the budget. It passed the House 72-26 and the Senate 33-11.
ESSB 5077 – Supplemental Operating Budget: Support. This was the first budget passed by the Senate that created a balance budget using existing revenue without raising taxes. It also reduced college tuition and increased K-12 education funding by $2.7 billion. It passed the Senate 26-23 but was not voted on in the House.
SB 5491 – Reservation of Water: Support. This bill would have protected many reserves in jeopardy due to the Supreme Court’s Swinomish decision. Ecology has prevented some reserves from supplying water as intended for water right permits and permit exempt Ag, stock and domestic water uses. The bill passed the Senate 29–20 but never got a vote on the House floor.
ESSB 6052 – Final Two-Year Operating Budget: Support. After six months, the Legislature finally reached agreement on a state operating budget for 2015-17. This final budget agreement balanced the budget using existing revenue and without eliminating ag-based tax incentives, something that was threatened in earlier House budgets. The bill passed the Senate 38-10, the House 90-8 and was signed into law by the governor.
ESSB 6057 – Tax Preferences: Support. This bill provides important tax relief for a number of industries in the state, including two important to agriculture: extending the existing tax incentive for food processors and permanently extending a tax incentive to honey bee products. The bill passed the Senate 38-10, the House 77-21 and was signed into law by the governor.
2016 Vote Record
HB 1646 – Equal Pay Act – Rep. Short amendment: Support. This bill would have amended and enhanced the enforcement of the Equal Pay Act to protect worker communication about wages and employment opportunities. The language in the bill was very subjective, and terms were not well defined. We opposed the bill due to the burden it would place on employers, and because it would ultimately harm workers. While we opposed the bill, we did support an amendment offered by Rep. Shelly Short (R-Addy) that would have vastly improved the bill. The amendment failed by a 47-50 vote on the House floor.
HB 2376 – Final Supplemental Operating Budget: Support. This budget proposal represented the final agreed-upon budget deal between the House and Senate for 2016. It provided an increase in spending for K-12 education and mental health care, and balanced the budget without a need for a tax increase. The budget passed the House 78-17 and the Senate 27-17.
HB 2928 – Wildland Fire Suppression: Support. This bill represents the ongoing work by the Legislature to break through bureaucracy and find ways to effectively reduce the fuel loads that are creating the catastrophic wildfires we have experienced the past two years. It was passed by the House 96-1 and the Senate 49-0.
SB 6246 – Senate Supplemental Operating Budget: Support. This was the first budget passed by the Senate during the 2016 session that once again created a balanced budget without raising taxes. It was approved by the Senate 25-22, but did not receive a vote in the House.
SB 6321 – Industrial Insurance: Support. The bill sought to provide clarity for employers regarding the definition of independent contractors and who qualifies for unemployment insurance and worker compensation benefits. The bill passed the Senate 29-20 but failed to receive a hearing in the House.
See next two pages for a detailed breakdown of the vote record.
Washington Farm Bureau News
www.wsfb.com | October 20166
2016 House Vote Record F
irst N
ame
Las
t Nam
e
Par
ty
Dis
tric
t
HB1
106
Two-
Year
Op
Budg
et
HB1
355
Min
.Wag
eIn
crea
se
HB2
266
Clas
sSize
Red
uctio
n
SB6
052
Two-
Yr.O
p.B
udge
t
SB6
057
TaxPr
efer
ence
s
HB1
646
Equa
lPay
Act
/Sho
rtA
md
HB2
376
Supp
lem
enta
lOp.
Bud
get
HB2
928
Wild
land
Fire
s
Votin
gPe
rcen
tage
Firs
t Nam
e
Las
t Nam
e
Par
ty
Dis
tric
t
HB1
106
Two-
Year
Op
Budg
et
HB1
355
Min
.Wag
eIn
crea
se
HB2
266
Clas
sSize
Red
uctio
n
SB6
052
Two-
Yr.O
p.B
udge
t
SB6
057
TaxPr
efer
ence
s
HB1
646
Equa
lPay
Act
/Sho
rtA
md
HB2
376
Supp
lem
enta
lOp.
Bud
get
HB2
928
Wild
land
Fire
s
Votin
gPe
rcen
tage
N N Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Y Y Y Y Y YSherry Appleton (D) 23 O O ü ü O O O ü 38% Matt Manweller (R) 13 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Andrew Barkis (R) 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 ü ü 100% Joan McBride (D) 48 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Steve Bergquist (D) 11 O O O ü O O ü ü 38% Gina McCabe (R) 14 ü ü ü O ü ü O ü 75%Brian Blake (D) 19 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Bob McCaslin (R) 4 ü ü ü O ü ü O ü 75%Vincent Buys (R) 42 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Jim Moeller (D) 49 O O ü ü O O O ü 38%Michelle Caldier (R) 26 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% Jeff Morris (D) 40 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Reuven Carlyle (D) 36 O O ü ü O 2 2 2 40% Luis Moscoso (D) 1 O O ü ü ü O 1 ü 56%Bruce Chandler (R) 15 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Dick Muri (R) 28 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Frank Chopp (D) 43 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Terry Nealey (R) 16 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Judy Clibborn (D) 41 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Ed Orcutt (R) 20 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Eileen Cody (D) 34 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Timm Ormsby (D) 3 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50%Cary Condotta (R) 12 ü ü O ü ü ü O ü 75% Lillian Ortiz-Self (D) 21 O O O ü O O ü ü 38%Richard DeBolt (R) 20 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü O 88% Tina Orwall (D) 33 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Tom Dent (R) 13 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Kevin Parker (R) 6 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Hans Dunshee (D) 44 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50% Strom Peterson (D) 21 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50%Mary Dye (R) 9 2 2 ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Eric Pettigrew (D) 37 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Susan Fagan (R) 9 ü ü 2 2 2 2 2 2 100% Liz Pike (R) 18 ü ü ü ü ü ü O ü 88%Jessyn Farrell (D) 46 O O O ü ü O ü 1 42% Gerry Pollet (D) 46 O O O ü O O ü ü 38%Jake Fey (D) 27 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50% Chris Reykdal (D) 22 O O O ü O O ü ü 38%Joe Fitzgibbon (D) 34 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Marcus Riccelli (D) 3 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50%Noel Frame (D) 36 2 2 2 2 2 O ü ü 67% June Robinson (D) 38 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Roger Goodman (D) 45 O O O ü O O ü ü 38% Jay Rodne (R) 5 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Mia Gregerson (D) 33 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50% JD Rossetti (D) 19 2 2 2 2 2 O ü ü 67%Carol Gregory (D) 30 O O O ü ü 2 2 2 40% Cindy Ryu (D) 32 O O O O O O ü ü 25%Dan Griffey (R) 35 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% David Sawyer (D) 29 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50%Larry Haler (R) 8 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Joe Schmick (R) 9 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Drew Hansen (D) 23 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50% Elizabeth Scott (R) 39 ü ü ü O ü ü O ü 75%Mark Hargrove (R) 47 ü ü O ü ü ü 1 ü 85% Mike Sells (D) 38 O O O ü ü O ü ü 50%Mark Harmsworth (R) 44 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% Tana Senn (D) 41 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Paul Harris (R) 17 ü ü O ü ü ü O ü 75% Matt Shea (R) 4 ü ü ü O ü ü O ü 75%Brad Hawkins (R) 12 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% Shelly Short (R) 7 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Dave Hayes (R) 10 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% Norma Smith (R) 10 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Teri Hickel (R) 30 2 2 2 2 2 ü ü ü 100% Larry Springer (D) 45 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Jeff Holy (R) 6 ü ü ü ü ü ü O ü 88% Melanie Stambaugh (R) 25 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88%Zack Hudgins (D) 11 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Derek Stanford (D) 1 O O O ü ü O ü ü 50%Graham Hunt (R) 2 ü ü ü O ü 2 2 2 80% Drew Stokesbary (R) 31 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88%Sam Hunt (D) 22 O O ü ü O O O ü 38% Pat Sullivan (D) 47 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Ross Hunter (D) 48 O O ü ü ü 2 2 2 60% Dean Takko (D) 19 O O ü ü ü 2 2 2 60%Christopher Hurst (D) 31 O O ü ü ü O 1 ü 56% Gael Tarleton (D) 36 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Laurie Jinkins (D) 27 O O ü ü O O ü ü 50% David Taylor (R) 15 ü ü O O ü ü O ü 63%Norm Johnson (R) 14 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Steve Tharinger (D) 24 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Ruth Kagi (D) 32 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Sharon TomikoSantos (D) 37 O O O ü O O ü ü 38%Christine Kilduff (D) 28 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Kevin VanDeWege (D) 24 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63%Steve Kirby (D) 29 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Luanne VanWerven (R) 42 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Brad Klippert (R) 8 ü ü ü O ü ü O ü 75% Brandon Vick (R) 18 ü ü ü ü ü ü O ü 88%Linda Kochmar (R) 30 ü ü O ü ü ü ü ü 88% Brady Walkinshaw (D) 43 O O O ü ü O ü ü 50%Joel Kretz (R) 7 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Maureen Walsh (R) 16 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Dan Kristiansen (R) 39 ü 1 ü ü ü ü ü ü 99% J.T. Wilcox (R) 2 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Patty Kuderer (D) 48 2 2 2 2 2 O ü ü 67% Lynda Wilson (R) 17 ü ü O ü ü ü O ü 75%Kristine Lytton (D) 40 O O ü ü ü O ü ü 63% Sharon Wylie (D) 49 O O ü ü O O O ü 38%Drew MacEwen (R) 35 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Jesse Young (R) 26 ü ü O ü ü ü O ü 75%Chad Magendanz (R) 5 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100% Hans Zeiger (R) 25 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%
ü= Vote supporting WFB position, O= Vote opposing WFB Position, è=Absent/excused from voting
Farm Bureau Position Farm Bureau Position
7Washington Farm Bureau News
www.wsfb.com | October 20167
2016 Senate Vote Record F
irst N
ame
Las
t Nam
e
Par
ty
Dis
tric
t
HB2
266
Clas
sSize
Red
uctio
n
SB5
077
Supp
.Op.
Bud
get
SB5
491
Rese
rvat
ions
ofw
ater
SB6
052
Two-
Yr.O
p.B
udge
t
SB6
057
TaxPr
efer
ence
s
HB2
376
Supp
.Op.
Bud
get
HB2
928
Wild
land
Fire
s
SB6
246
Supp
.Op.
Bud
get
SB6
321
Indu
stria
lIns
uran
ce
Votin
gPe
rcen
tage
Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y YJan Angel (R) 26 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Barbara Bailey (R) 10 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Michael Baumgartner (R) 6 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Randi Becker (R) 2 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Don Benton (R) 17 ü ü ü ü ü 1 ü 1 ü 98%Andy Billig (D) 3 ü O O ü ü O ü O O 44%John Braun (R) 20 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Sharon Brown (R) 8 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Reuven Carlyle (D) 36 2 2 2 2 2 O ü O ü 50%Maralyn Chase (D) 32 1 O O O ü 1 ü O O 27%Annette Cleveland (D) 49 O O O ü ü O ü O O 33%Steve Conway (D) 29 O O O O ü O ü O O 22%Bruce Dammeier (R) 25 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Brian Dansel (R) 7 ü ü ü ü ü O ü ü ü 89%Jeannie Darneille (D) 27 ü O O ü O ü ü O O 44%Doug Ericksen (R) 42 1 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 99%Joe Fain (R) 47 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Karen Fraser (D) 22 O O O ü O O ü O O 22%David Frockt (D) 46 O O O O O O ü O O 11%Cyrus Habib (D) 48 O O O ü ü O ü 1 O 37%Jim Hargrove (D) 24 ü O ü ü ü 1 ü O O 62%Bob Hasegawa (D) 11 O O O O O O ü O O 11%Brian Hatfield (D) 19 ü O ü ü ü 2 2 2 2 80%Mike Hewitt (R) 16 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Andy Hill (R) 45 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Steve Hobbs (D) 44 ü O ü ü ü ü ü O O 67%Jim Honeyford (R) 15 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Pramila Jayapal (D) 37 O O O O O 1 ü O O 13%Karen Keiser (D) 33 ü O O ü ü O ü O O 44%Curtis King (R) 14 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D) 36 O O O O O 2 2 2 2 0%Marko Liias (D) 21 O O O O ü O ü O O 22%Steve Litzow (R) 41 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Rosemary McAuliffe (D) 1 O O O O O O ü O O 11%John McCoy (D) 38 ü O O O ü O ü O O 33%Mark Miloscia (R) 30 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Mark Mullet (D) 5 ü O O ü ü O ü O ü 56%Sharon Nelson (D) 34 ü O O ü O ü ü O O 44%Steve O'Ban (R) 28 1 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Mike Padden (R) 4 ü ü ü ü ü O ü ü ü 89%Linda Parlette (R) 12 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Kirk Pearson (R) 39 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Jamie Pedersen (D) 43 1 O O O O O ü O ü 25%Kevin Ranker (D) 40 1 O O ü O 1 ü O O 27%Ann Rivers (R) 18 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Pam Roach (R) 31 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Christine Rolfes (D) 23 O O O 1 1 O ü O O 12%Mark Schoesler (R) 9 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Tim Sheldon (D) 35 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%Dean Takko (D) 19 2 2 2 2 2 ü ü O O 50%Judy Warnick (R) 13 ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü ü 100%
Farm Bureau Position