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2006 Legislative Summary
4/7/06
The short 60-day session
focused on the supplemental budget and restoring some funding to health
and education programs cut in last session�s budgetary shortfall. Still
the legislature (and FCWPP) managed to make progress on substantive
issues, despite major time constraints and a heavy agenda. FCWPP
participated with University Friends Meeting and the Fellowship of
Reconciliation in the first Quaker Lobby Day, teaming with our
allies, the Lutherans.
Equality Testimony: Civil Rights for
Sexual Preference � After many years legislation passed
(HB-1515) extending Civil Rights Commission jurisdiction to discrimination
claims based on sexual preference.
Economic Justice: Tax Fairness
� As a member of the Tax Fairness Coalition we supported two
measures to address tax loopholes. HB-1069 passed, requiring periodic
performance audits for most tax exemptions to evaluate whether they
provide the intended benefit to the state. HB-1096 (requiring the
Governor�s biennial budget to include a tax exemptions report and
recommendations for exemption continuation) failed.
Criminal Justice: Prison and
Transition and Reentry Agenda � As part of the Transition
and Reentry Reform Coalition we continue to aggressively pursue
legislation to assist people returning from our prisons to successfully
transition back into society and increase their chances of doing so
successfully. Our lobbyist, Roger Kluck discussed issues facing people
returning to our communities from prison in an interview on the King
County (and internet) TV program, Moral Politics.
Joint task for recidivism
reduction � We supported Senator Carrell�s proposal
(SB-6308) for a joint task force to investigate changes in-prison
counseling and programming, sentencing, and community supervision to
reduce recidivism (repeat offenses). We testified for this measure and
lobbied both houses. It passed unanimously. We expect to be actively
involved in this ongoing effort.
Interest reduction for sentencing
financial obligations �We continued last years� effort to
reduce the interest rates ex-offenders pay on the restitution, and other
financial obligations imposed as part of their sentences (LFOs). The
current 12% rate often exceeds the person�s ability to pay, resulting in
demoralization and, we believe, increased recidivism. Our bills (SB-5611
and HB-1359) would reduce the rate to 2% above the T-bill rate (consistent
with other legal rates), cutting the rate about in half.
Both bills passed in their houses of origin,
but neither one was voted on by the second chamber. With the crush of
bills competing for legislative attention in the last hours before the end
of session, this constituency was once again pushed to the back of the
line. During the interim we will meet with leadership to gain their
perspective on how to avoid this next year.
Voting Rights* � We
supported an ACLU bill to reinstate felons' voting rights upon their
release from prison. (HB-2873). This measure failed to move beyond
committee. A replacement bill to study the issue of felon voting rights
and procedures also failed. Interagency task force on reentry and
transition (Roger and Dan along with other TRRC members) to solve problems
with solutions involving multiple state agencies.
Separating financial
obligations from discharge of sentence � Last year we
pursued HB-1358 to allow ex-offenders to have their sentence discharged
after meeting all non-financial obligations of their sentence. This would
result in restoring civil rights (including voting rights) much sooner and
begin eligibility for expungement of their record. After discussions with
leadership we did not pursue this measure this session and focused on
bills more likely to succeed. We will come back to this issue next
session, however.
Class I prison industries �
We continued to actively pursue FCWPP language for a constitutional
amendment to reinstate Class I prison industry programs. Class I programs
provided the best paying jobs in prison and gave inmates valuable job
skills. A state Supreme Court decision ended them last year. We have
worked with legislators and the Department of Corrections to reinstate
them in a manner that protects inmates from abuses. It did not pass this
session so we will revive the matter next year. It appears that the
language we have proposed will be the starting point for next years'
legislation.
Other FCWPP Initiatives: Peace
Testimony
School recruiter bills �
FCWPP initiated two bills (HB-2986 and SB-6681) this session to regulate
recruiter access to student records, as well as recruiter behavior,
coordinating with a network of peace groups, PTSAs, and counter recruiting
groups to generate testimony and visible support. This effort captured
considerable interest, generated several news stories and
radio interviews and brought FCWPP to the attention of a broad audience.
The House bill passed from committee, but did not get to the floor. The
Senate bill died in committee, in part because the ranking minority member
had recently returned from Iraq and members were hesitant to raise the
issue before him.
Speaker
Chopp�s Chief of Staff, however, told us the measure has captured the
Speaker�s interest and he wishes to work with us between now and next
January to prepare legislation that can pass. In a short session with a
crowded agenda he just did not feel there was enough time to explore the
issue and move it forward. Next year looks very promising! An interview
with our lobbyist, Roger Kluck regarding his work on this legislation was
reported in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer with a follow-up lesson plan
for secondary students. They are available on the
Seattle P-I's web site.
National Guard Exposure to Depleted Uranium (DU)**
� Depleted Uranium is this generation�s Agent Orange. Following
suggestions by several people, including FCNL representative Bob Schultz,
our lobbyist approached two groups concerned with depleted uranium
exposure and asked if they were interested in pursuing a bill to test our
returning National Guard for DU exposure. Their enthusiasm led to
collaboration with veterans and peace groups, again broadening FCWPP's
witness, service and exposure. Measures were drafted, copying those in
other states. Sponsors were obtained and the bills received hearings in
both houses, with powerful testimony from veterans. However, the issue
was new to most legislators who wanted more time to examine the issue than
the short session provided � so both bills died.
However,
Sen. Doumit revived our Senate bill as a budget item. We lobbied heavily
for its acceptance in the budget and with help from the Governor's
husband, Mike Gregoire, we were
successful in getting some of what we had proposed
study and an investigation into the budget. Washington has joined
Connecticut and Louisiana in moving this issue forward on the national
stage! We expect to monitor the study closely and work with others to make
sure fundamental information is provided to the Guard and the legislature
as the investigation proceeds. We are currently lobbying the legislature
and the Governor to have them insist on hearings and Health Department
participation in the study.
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[*]
Since the end of session, King County Superior
Court Judge Michael
Spearman ruled that denying voting rights based on a person�s eligibility
to
pay LFOs violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection, thus
restoring voting rights upon release from prison. However, Washington�s
Attorney General and Secretary of State are appealing the ruling.
[**] The military uses DU (Depleted
Uranium) to harden munitions and make penetrating shells
and explosives. The radioactivity released is suspected of causing serious
health problems and birth defects in both our troops and civilians in the
countries where it is used. Like Agent Orange, the military denies a
problem
and is suppressing research and testing that might prove the risks.
Because
of federal inaction, several states have committed to studying the issue
as
it relates to their National Guard. If enough states take action, it may
force the federal government to acknowledge the problem. Connecticut and
Louisiana have passed bills, New York and Hawaii are also considering
bills.
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