Roll Call
Published 12:01 am Saturday, March 26, 2011
@List subhead:HOUSE
House Bill 1357, Expanding the use of electronic means to remit and report taxes: EHB 1357, which passed the Senate by a vote of 34 to 13, would require all taxpayers to pay taxes to the state through electronic methods. The bill also authorizes the Department of R
evenue to waive the mandatory electronic filing and payment requirement for annual filers, as well as extends an existing 10 percent penalty for willfully disregarding specific written instructions provided by the state. EHB 1357 does allow DOR to provide additional exemptions from the electronic fi
ling requirements for reasons of hardship. This bill’s intent is to help DOR achieve operational efficiencies through the expanded use of electronic payment of taxes. The House previously passed EHB 1367 by a vote of 65 to 31. EHB 1367 has been delivered to the governor for her signature.
Voting yes: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell; Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island; Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds; Sen. Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline; Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett; Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens.
Excused: Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington.
House Bill 1489, Limits use of phosphorus in turf fertilizers: ESHB 1489, which passed the Senate 32 to 16, would ban the sale of turf fertilizers with phosphorus beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Retailers, however, may still sell fertilizer with phosphorus if the product labeling clearly lists the allowable uses of the product. The Senate also amended ESHB 1489 to allow the sale of phosphorus fertilizers already in stock by Jan. 1. The amendment also removes provisions in the bill that would have allowed local governments to implement additional prohibitions on the use or sale of phosphorus fertilizers. Under ESHB 1489 there are acceptable uses and application of turf fertilizers containing phosphorus allowed, including; for use on new lawns, repairing unhealthy existing lawns, to correct deficient soils and for vegetable gardens. ESHB 1489 will now be returned to the House, where it first passed 58 to 39, for consideration of the Senate amendments.
Voting yes: McAuliffe, Shin, Chase, Harper, Hobbs.
Voting no: Haugen.
Excused: Stevens.
House Bill 1175, 2011-13 House Transportation Budget: EHB 1175, which passed the House by a vote of 89 to 6, establishes the 2011-13 transportation budget. The proposed budget spends nearly $9 billion on transportation operation and capital needs. Funding includes approximately $3.9 billion on Nickel fund projects, $1.1 billion on maintaining highway infrastructure, as well as investments in passenger rail, freight mobility, transit and other programs. The House budget highlights several accountability measures, particularly with regards to the state’s ferry system, and makes investments in technology. The House transportation budget will likely be introduced in the Senate for further consideration.
Voting yes: Rep. Luis Moscoso, D- Mountlake Terrace; Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell; 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. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline; Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip; Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett; Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish; Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens and Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish.
@List subhead:SENATE
Senate Bill 5005, Immunization Exemption for Children: ESB 5005, which previously passed the Senate by a vote of 35 to 11, makes changes to the form used to exempt a child from immunizations. ESB 5005 would require the exemption form to include a statement and a signature from a health care practitioner, showing that the benefits and risks of immunization have been explained to the parent or legal guardian. The House amended ESB 5005 to clarify that certain exemptions from the law are allowed based on religious beliefs or medical advisements. The bill also provides liability protections for a health care practitioner. ESB 5005 passed the House by a vote of 66 to 29 and will be returned to the Senate for further consideration.
Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Bailey, Smith, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, Ryu, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee, Hope.
Voting no: Kristiansen; Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe.
Senate Bill 5124, Requiring elections by mail: ESSB 5124, which passed the House by a vote of 52 to 43, requires every county in Washington state to conduct elections entirely by mail ballot. This bill would require any county auditor currently using poll site voting to notify each registered voter that all future primary, general and special elections will be conducted by mail. In addition ESSB 5124 directs county auditors to open a voting center in the county auditor’s office that must be open during business hours for a period that would begin 18 days before an election and end at 8 p.m. on the day of the election. ESSB 5124 previously passed the Senate by a vote of 26 to 23 and will now be delivered to the governor for her signature.
Voting yes: Moscoso, Stanford, Liias, Roberts, Kagi, Ryu, McCoy, Sells, Dunshee
Voting no: Bailey, Smith, Kristiansen, Pearson, Hope.
WashingtonVotes.org
