State House
Texting while driving
By a vote of 90-8 on Tuesday, the House concurred with the Senate amendments and approved HB 1214, which would prohibit sending a text message while driving. Exceptions are provided for emergency responders or individuals reporting illegal activity, reporting an emergency, or trying to prevent injury to other people or property. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Voting yes: Rep. Al O’Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace; Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell; Rep. Chris Strow, R-Freeland; Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor; Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, D-Edmonds; Rep. Brian Sullivan, D-Mukilteo; Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline; 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. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek
Voting no: None
Family and medical leave insurance
By a vote of 61-36 on April 13, the House approved SB 5659, which would create new employee benefits for family and medical insurance. Employees on family or medical leave would be entitled to $250 per week for up to five weeks. The Department of Labor and Industries would administer the program and employers would pay premiums of 2 cents per hour worked, per employee for the first year. L&I would then have the authority to adjust the premiums every year thereafter. The bill exempts employers with 25 or fewer employees. The Senate refused to concur with the House amendments and the bill is back under consideration.
Voting yes: O’Brien, Ericks, Roberts, Sullivan, Chase, Kagi, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee, Lovick
Voting no: Strow, Bailey, Pearson, Kristiansen
State Senate
Union fees for campaigns
By a vote of 29-20 on April 13, the Senate approved HB 2079, which would allow union shop fees to be used for political campaigns as long as the labor organization has sufficient funds from other sources. The bill has an emergency clause, which makes its take effect immediately. The bill has passed both chambers and is now under consideration by Gregoire.
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
WashingtonVotes.org
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
