Welcome to Policy Watch 2008
PART II – WEEK FIVE IN OLYMPIA
THE SCENE
Three important events occurred in Week 5: (1) on 2/12, Fiscal Committee action was “cut-off;” (2) starting on 2/13, activity shifted to one solid week of Floor Action for surviving bills; and (3) on 2/15, new, sobering Revenue Forecasts were issued.
Because the schedule is posted well in advance, many groups plan big Lobby Days for Week 5 of the Session: they know it’s a time when many key decisions will be made, and they want to be a presence as that is underway. Anyone paying attention to the list of upcoming Lobby Days will see this schedule reflected there as well. Since Floor Action continues through 2/19, and Monday, 2/18 is a federal holiday -- early in Week 6 is also a popular time for Lobby Days… after which the size and number taper off.
So the Capitol Campus was full of lively interactions between constituents and their elected officials. Among them were Junior League members, advocates for refugees and new immigrants, PTA parents and teachers (armed with Chinese-carry-out cartons holding reminders of their key bills), and lots of Valentine’s Day-themes (e.g., “Civic Engagement is for Lovers” from advocates for health care reforms).
Some 450 advocates for people needing help with housing had their own take on the week’s theme, with bright red hearts and “Home is the Heart of it All” reminders on all their packets. Housing Advocacy Day is an annual event that grows every year, and this year they were in specially high spirits. After all, this year the Governor came to meet with them, complete with reminders of just how powerful their advocacy has become. She reminded a cheering, SRO crowd that her proposed budget included a request to the legislature for a $50 million addition to the Housing Trust Fund, and, that the first two bills she signed into law this year – by design – are bills dealing with housing assistance. (One, the Washington Families Fund, gets private funds to match state funds dollar-for-dollar, so the $6 million in new state money will result in $12 million of housing help.) Plus, she noted that her husband “Mike” participated in King County’s One Night Count of the homeless; himself a veteran, she reported that he has a special concern for homeless veterans.
Later, HAD participants -- housing developers/shelter residents/faith community members/housing advocates of all stripes – moved onto what any Lobby Day is all about. They held a rousing rally in the Capitol Rotunda, visited their legislators and/or aides, and generally made it hard for anyone in Olympia to avoid the state’s need for more affordable housing.
The PROCESS – “Pulling Legislators” during Floor Action
From 2/13-2/19 (and again in the week of March 3-7) the action shifts to the Floor of the House and the Floor of the Senate. During those periods, Capitol visitors need to practice a briefer, more concentrated form of lobbying visit. Here’s what happens during Floor Action.
All 49 of our State Senators are in the Senate Chamber; and all 98 of our State Representatives are in the House Chamber. Their job at this point is deciding whether to vote YES or NO on key bills and budget items. Often they’ll also be deciding whether to AMEND those bills.
- That’s why visitors to Olympia during this period should take THREE E-A-S-Y STEPS.
STEP 1: Go to the Capitol Building (the one with a dome), and go up to the 3rd floor, just outside the House and Senate Chambers (where-ever their key bills are being voted on).
As visitors, we can’t physically go onto the House or Senate Chamber floors to make the request, but the legislature has put in place an easy way for us to make the request.
There’s a big open area just outside the House and Senate Chambers, on the 3rd Floor of the Capitol building. The House Chamber is on one side, the Senate Chamber on the other.
(Anyone in the Capitol building will be happy to point you in the right direction.)
Each chamber has two entrances: a “North” Door and a “South” Door, and just outside those doors to the Chambers are shelves with small pads of “Floor Slips” on them.
Outside the House Chamber they are small (just about 4” x 5”);
Outside the Senate Chamber they are a bit longer (8.5” x 5.5”).
- In both cases the top of the pad shows whether you got it at the NORTH or SOUTH door.
- In both cases there is room for you to say WHO YOU ARE, and
WHICH SENATOR (or REPRESENATIVE) you wish to speak with.
- In both cases there is a little room for a brief message.
STEP TWO: Take a sheet from the message pad, and fill it out (pens are provided).
Write in your Representative or Senator’s name, as well as your name and your town. When sending in a Floor Slip to a Representative, you also need to check the Floor Seating Chart (right above the pads) so you can fill in their SEAT #.
STEP THREE: Write a brief note, asking them to step out to see you.
This is often referred to as “pulling a legislator from the Floor.”
Mention the issue that brings you to the Capitol (a bill they are voting on, a budget item).
Ask them to step out for a brief conversation, e.g., I hope you will vote for ______ and would like a minute to explain why.
Hand the note to the Doorman standing just at the entrance to the chamber; he’ll hand it over to one of the high school student Pages…, who will deliver it to the legislator’s desk.
The legislators will know from the note whether you are standing outside the NORTH (or SOUTH) Door, and if they can, they will step out to speak with you.
If they are in the middle of an important vote, or waiting to debate an amendment or issue, they won’t be able to step off the Chamber Floor. But if they can, they will come out for a brief (repeat BRIEF – maybe one or two minutes) conversation. That’s why most Olympia regulars know that it pays to wait for 10-15 minutes to see if a legislator is able to come out.
It is also why savvy visitors make a point of checking their legislators’ photos before coming to Olympia … the better to recognize them when they step out for a conversation. (Those photos and bio’s are at www.leg.wa.gov – Find Your Legislator.)
If you’ve never met your legislators, they may wave your message and try to pronounce your name: wave when you hear it. Then quickly:
- Shake hands and introduce yourself, mention the group you came with
- Mention the bill or budget item you want their attention on – in just 2-3 words, and
- say that you hope they will VOTE FOR (or AGAINST) it.
- Offer a sentence or two to explain why you care about this issue.
or
- Hand them a Fact Sheet about the bill/budget item, with your name and contact information on it.
- If they ask you something you don’t know… admit you don’t know (honesty is good), but offer to find out and get back to them. (Then find someone who knows, and send the information back inside to them, on a second note.)
They’ll need to get back inside the chamber to vote on the next bill or amendment so it helps if you’ve prepared a VERY BRIEF little speech (just 60-90 seconds minutes) containing those key points, and timed yourself. That way you will get your key points across, and won’t hold your legislators back from important votes.
Later stop by their office to leave a written version of your conversation… make the point again.
WATCH/ENGAGE the Process.
It’s also fun to watch the Floor proceedings from the VISITORS’ GALLERY. Both the House and Senate have a North and South Visitors’ Gallery, accessible from the 4th Floor of the Capitol.
Spending a little time in one of those Galleries is a great way to participate in a Lobby Day, and to watch your elected Representatives and Senators doing their jobs. This week a small group of high school students - future Asian Pacific Islander leaders - came to Olympia. For a while they sat in the House Visitors’ gallery, watching bills being debated and voted on. They spotted the legislators from their home Districts down on the Floor, and then watched as their electronic votes lit up the screen once the vote was called: names in green for YES, in red for NO, and orange for EXCUSED. As one student remarked: “wow - this is exciting!” Plus, they got a first-hand taste of just how quickly things move at this point in the process: in the space of roughly10 minutes two bills were called up, discussed, and voted on.
Then, although these future leaders are not yet even old enough to vote, when they went downstairs to “pull” one of their legislators from the Floor, he quickly stepped out to meet with them. Surrounded by all the other people crowded outside the Chamber door, they quickly asked a few questions, mentioned an issue (proposed changes to the WASL), and got a quick civics lesson. In response to one question, the Representative mentioned that he and his colleagues try to meet with any constituents who come to the Capitol, because it’s an excellent way to learn how people from their District wish to be represented. If constituents like the responses they get, he explained, the legislators hope to get re-elected. But – to the students’ surprise he went one step farther, explaining: “…and if you don’t like the way we do our jobs, you should vote us out of office. Follow what we do and hold us accountable. That’s what democracy is all about.”
Via TVW – our own Public Affairs television station. Much of their programming can be viewed via computers, and in any case, much of it these days is focused on Floor Action.
USE THE HOTLINE or EMAIL. Visitors are often surprised to see their Representatives and Senators sitting at their desks on the House and Senate Floor, with their laptops open. They aren’t playing video games, they’re checking messages from constituents… to stay abreast of how the people they represent with to be represented.
YOUR PART: LOBBY DAYS ARE NOT THE WHOLE STORY.
If you cannot come to Olympia, communicate your wishes from a distance. Legislators pay close attention to the calls, letters, and emails that come to them from back. home.
And if you come to a Lobby Day – don’t think your job is done. BACK HOME, follow-up:
- CALL (directly to their offices, or TOLL FREE 1-800-562-6000)
- EMAIL/WRITE
- KEEP THE GOVERNOR INFORMED of how you feel about the bills being voted on. Remember, she has the power to sign, or veto any bill that is passed.
- SHOW UP AT MEETINGS WHEN THEY’RE BACK IN THE DISTRICT
The SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
The new Revenue Forecasts came out on 2/15, and while not as grim as some had feared, they offered sobering news. Tax revenues are expected to be down by $423 million (compared with projections back in November), largely due to a slowing housing market, and national economic forces. And while most commentators felt our state is in better shape than many, with good long-term prospects, legislators never like to hear there is LESS money to allocate.
As a result of the new Revenue Forecasts there will likely be less money set aside in reserves, less available for new spending, as maybe even a need to make some reductions. For a legislature in which all of the Representatives and half the Senators must face the voters in November, that can’t be pleasant news.
Work on the Supplemental Budget now shifts into high gear. The House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways & Means Committee will be responsible for writing their chambers’ versions of the Supplemental budget. The House Appropriations Committee will release its version of a Supplemental Budget next week, and the Senate soon after. Readers can review the Governor’s proposed budget at: www.ofm.wa.gov. A “Citizen’s Guide to the Washington State BUDGET” is available at the Senate Ways & Means Committee website.
Anyone concerned about an issue that requires spending (e.g., full children’s health coverage, more money for low-cost housing, or a new effort of any kind) should speak up now.
YOUR PART: As POLICY WATCH is fond of reminding readers, influencing legislation isn’t a one-time deal. Keep checking on your bills by going to www.leg.wa.gov, and then, at each stage in the process, let your legislators know how you wish to be represented. You don’t want to be a pest, but you do want to be polite, brief, and persistent. Lobby Days during the Session to raise visibility, plus on-going relationships year round, help legislators gain insights they can’t get any other way.
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SNAPSHOTS
** Being in Olympia changes minds. One first-timer said: “Going to Olympia made me see that we CAN make a difference. I was amazed at how approachable our legislators are. I arrived with a skepticism; I left with enthusiasm.”
** Among the modern additions to old-fashioned lobby days: a BLOG - written right there under the Capitol dome (http://www.gothomeonline.com/). Noted one Housing Advocacy Day participant: “Anyone that is curious if your representatives in Olympia care about your concerns, then make a trip down here and meet with them in person. They do care and they will listen to what you have to say.”
** This week’s Trivia Question in the Legislative Information Center: who is the youngest member of the WA State Legislature?
Answer: Marko Liias, not quite 27. Liias was appointed in 2008 to fill the seat of former Representative Brian Sullivan, when he won a 2007 election to the Snohomish County Council.
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SOME ISSUES -- UPDATE
Bills have been introduced on such a broad range of issues that PW cannot mention them all. This list simply notes a few health/human services Bills that got Floor action this week.
REMINDER:
House Bill numbers start at 1,000 and may begin with a 1, 2, or 3;
Senate Bill numbers start at 5,000 and may begin with a 5, 6, or (occasionally) 7.
Thus a bill identified as SB 6264 is the 1,264th Senate Bill introduced in the session; HB 1058 was the 58th bill introduced in the House. More recent bills have higher numbers.
In Week Six and beyond.
- To learn whether a bill you care about is scheduled for FLOOR ACTION, go to,
Agendas, Schedules, and Calendars: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/calendar/.
Then click on “Calendars,” next click on
- HOUSE FLOOR ACTIVITY REPORT, or
- SENATE FLOOR ACTIVITY REPORT.
- To learn whether a bill you care about has cleared the 3rd Question - Can a majority of the people support it? - check the Bill Status Report, or, put the bill number in the Search Box for BILL INFORMATION, and read down to learn whether the bill has moved from its “house of origin” to the “opposite house.”
Just a few of the bills voted on, on the House or Senate FLOOR, this week:
BILL TOPIC Status
Some House Bills Committee or Chamber
HB 1421 Privacy Protect’s for DV victims passed House; in Sen.Gov’t Ops&Elec.
HB 2474 Superv’n Require’t’s for Social Workers passed House; in Sen. HumServ&Correc.
HB 2487 Vulnerable Adults passed House; in Sen. Judiciary Cttee
HB 2497 Nurse Practitioners passed House; in Sen. Health & LT Care
HB 2551 Juvenile Treatment passed House; in Sen. HumServ&Correc.
HB 2576 Affordable Housing likely DEAD
HB 2834 Foster Parent License passed House; in Sen.HumServ&Correc.
HB 3133 Mobile Home Parks & Manufac’d Housing On House Floor; no vote yet
HB 3104 Expand’g Domestic Partner Rights passed House; likely in Sen. Govt. Ops
Some Senate Bills
SB 5530 Restore Voting Rights of former felons likely DEAD
SB 5900 Victims of Domestic Violence passed Senate; in Hse Comm&Labor
SB 5909 Foster Care on Senate Floor; no vote yet
SB 6333 Work Group on Health Care on Senate Floor; no vote yet
SB 6357 Protection Orders in Domestic Violence passed Senate; in Hse Judiciary
SB 6364 Long-term Care Insurance passed Senate; in Hse Health Care&Well.
SB 6809 Working Families Credit on Senate Floor; no vote yet
SB 6896 Legal Representa. For Foster Youth likely DEAD
And much, much more… e.g., over 100 bills are listed on the House and Senate Calendars.
YOUR PART. Use the tools available. We have three ways to contact our representatives to tell them how we wish to be represented: we can CALL, WRITE, or VISIT.
If you go to Olympia try to make an appointment in advance, but even if you just drop in, staff and elected officials alike will be friendly and eager to meet with you.
Don’t feel bad if your legislator is busy and you meet with staff. Every Senator gets two aides, every Representative gets one aide, and the whole place gets the help of Committee staff (who work for members of both parties) and Caucus staff (who work for either Democrats or Republicans). All are eager to be helpful. Some are knowledgeable about the details of bills, others will know practical matters like legislators’ schedules. But all try to point visitors to the right person, all are very patient, and all are very good about passing information along.
TWO EASY ACTIONS -- Same As Last Week
- Sign up to get regular legislative alerts from an advocacy group that monitors the issue(s) you care most about. (POLICY WATCH lists health/human service/low-income groups, at:
http://depts.washington.edu/sswweb/policyw/2008Useful_Info.pdf
If that list doesn’t have what you need, ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers – or google.)
Those who write the alerts monitor what is happening and will tell you when your voice is needed. Most will offer a “sample message” you can put in your own words. You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to care about an issue, and talk about it from your own experience.
- Try to make a call or send a note or email once each week about one of the issues in the Legislative Alert you are receiving. Use the state’s TOLL-FREE LINE (1-800-562-6000) to leave a brief message for your Senator, your 2 Representatives, and the Governor – all in just a matter of minutes. 1 call/message a week for the next 4 weeks, and you can have an impact.
Brief Note. POLICY WATCH should be read with three things in mind. First, we ask a lot of the men and women we elect to serve. They deserve our respect. Second, every activity, every program, every issue affected by the budget has its champions and detractors; legislators will be pressured from all sides on every item. Third, it is our privilege to help our citizen-legislators sort among competing needs and difficult choices. They need us to help them make hard choices.
Pay Attention to the Legislative Calendar.
The 2008 Legislative Session runs from Jan. 14 – March 13. Every day is counted (Weekdays/ Sat/Sun/Holidays) Session. The legislature may also meet on weekends later in the Session. “Cut-off dates” control the action on bills; those failing to get action before “cut-off” usually die.
…here are the next critical points in the 2008 Session:
- 2/19 – last day for bills to be considered on the floor in their “house of origin”
- 2/29 – last day for bills consideration in the Policy Committees of the "opposite house"
- 3/01 – last day for bill consideration in the Fiscal Committees of the "opposite house"
- 3/07 – last day for bill to be considered on the floor of the opposite house
- 3/13 – 2008 Session adjourns for the year.
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