State Legislature
Transportation budget
ESSB 6381, which modifies the state’s 2009-11 transportation budget, passed the House 78 to 19. It increases spending from $7.5 billion to $8.5 billion and includes $590 million in new federal funding for high-speed rail infrastructure and $35 million for the North Spokane Corridor. The Senate concurred with the House amendments, 37-11. The bill was sent to Gov. Chris Gregoire.
House
Voting yes: Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell; Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace; Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor; Rep. Norma Smith, R-Whidbey Island; Rep, Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo; Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds; Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park; Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip; Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett; Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish; Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe; Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish; Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens. Voting no: Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline.
Senate
Voting yes: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island; Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds; Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park; Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett; Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens. Voting no: Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington.
2010 budget
ESSB 6444, which previously passed the Senate 25-19, proposed to close the state’s $2.8 billion budget. It passed the House, 55-43. The House and the Senate were unable to agree on a budget compromise before the end of the regularly scheduled 60-day session and will continue to negotiate during a special session that begins Monday.
Voting yes: Ericks, O’Brien, Liias, Roberts, Chase, Kagi, McCoy, Dunshee.
Voting no: Bailey, Smith, Kristiansen, Pearson, Hope.
Tax hikes
ESSB 6143 passed the Senate, 25-23. It imposes an additional .03 percent state sales tax. It was amended by the House, 52-45, removing the sales and use tax increase. In addition, the House’s tax package relies on eliminating additional business-and-occupation exemptions, which are not contained in the Senate proposal, and increasing taxes on candy, bottled water, cigarettes and owners of airplanes.
Senate
Voting yes: McAuliffe, Haugen, Shin, Fairley, Berkey. Voting no: Stevens, Hobbs.
House
Voting yes: Ericks, O’Brien, Liias, Roberts, Chase, Kagi, McCoy, Dunshee. Voting no: Bailey, Smith, Kristiansen, Pearson, Hope.
Cell phones while driving
SSB 6345 passed the House, 60-37 making it a primary offense to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. The bill was sent to Gregoire for her signature.
Voting yes: Ericks, O’Brien, Liias, Roberts, Chase, Kagi, McCoy, Hope*
Voting no: Bailey, Smith, Kristiansen, Pearson, Dunshee.
WashingtonVotes.org
* Correction: This article has been changed since it was first posted to correct Rep. Mike Hope’s vote on the cell phones bill.
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