Month: May 2015

NOT SO FAST

SECOND SPECIAL SESSION CALLED

I’m posting this a day early because I’ll be on the road all day Friday.  I’ll be in Orlando for the quarterly board meeting of the Florida Sport Shooting Association on Saturday.

Today, 28 May, is the 30th — and last — day of the special session.  After a flurry of insignificant bill passage (from a budgetary perspective)  on the first day of the session, all of the action has been at the committee level.

On Wednesday the House passed the 2015-16 transportation budget.  Today the Senate passed it.  Nice try, guys, but the biennial operating budget is still hanging…  A dozen or so non-budget-related bills were passed today.

Governor Inslee has called for a SECOND special session, to begin tomorrow, Friday morning.  And he’s asking the budget conferees to meet in HIS office.

Bottom line:  no action on gun bills.

 

BILL STATUS:

*ESHB 1713 Neutral

Mental health/guns

Cody (D-34)

S. W&M

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to (snail) mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup 27-28 June

Monroe 11-12 July

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”Article 1, Section 24

• Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post	2015-Special 4
Legislative Update from Olympia	22 May 2015

NOT THERE YET

SECOND SPECIAL SESSION?

NOTHING ON FIREARMS

MEMORIAL DAY

While budgeteers are still appear at an impasse, there have been some significant developments this week.  The most important was a new biennial revenue forecast that adds $400 million to anticipated revenues.  That would appear to negate the need for new taxes, major new taxes anyway.  About $500 million separate the Republican Senate and Democrat House budget proposals right now.  Even Governor Inslee acknowledges that the his proposed $1.4 BILLION tax increase is unnecessary.

That has not stopped the governor from pushing for a new tax on carbon fuels, and House Democrats are calling for a new tax on “the rich:”  a capital gains tax, as well as a business tax raise.  What’s the $500 million for?  Pay raises for teachers (many of whom are now striking in violation of state law) and state employees (mostly union members ).  The governor has said that if the House and Senate fail to agree on the required budget bills by next Thursday, the 30th day of the special session, he will call for an immediate second special session.

If a biennial budget is not adopted by July 1st, most state agencies will be forced to shut down.  Then we’ll REALLY save money!

There has been no floor activity since April 29th, the first day of the special session — no action on gun bills.  All the budget work is in the classic smoke-filled back rooms (of course, no indoor smoking allowed these politically correct days; another tradition gone).

As we begin the Memorial Day weekend, let us not forget that this holiday is not about the start of the summer season, a three-day weekend or backyard barbecues.  It began formally  shortly after the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression (take your choice) and was originally called Decoration Day (to decorate the graves of soldiers killed in the war).  Its purpose was to commemorate the 600,000 lives lost during the bloodiest war in American history.  The name was later changed to Memorial Day to honor ALL who made the supreme sacrifice in all of our wars.

Whatever activities you have planned for this weekend, pause for a few minutes to remember those who gave their lives that you might enjoy this day.  The peace and prosperity we enjoy were paid for in blood.

BILL STATUS:

*ESHB 1713 Neutral

Mental health/guns

Cody (D-34)

S. W&M

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to (snail) mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup 27-28 June

Monroe 11-12 July

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”Article 1, Section 24

• Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post	2015-Special 2
Legislative Update from Olympia	08 May 2015

NO ACTIVITY!

The lights are on, but apparently no one is home — at least as far as putting out work product is concerned.  It’s all about the biennial budget, and so far, no budget.  A couple of public hearings were held on various budget issues, most attention focusing on tax increases.

Two legislative committee meetings are scheduled for next week, but nothing involving firearms.

HB 1713 is included in the Bill Status list because technically it is in play.  But it’s going nowhere.

BILL STATUS:

*ESHB 1713 Neutral

Mental health/guns

Cody (D-34)

S. W&M

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to (snail) mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup 27-28 June

Monroe 11-12 July

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”Article 1, Section 24

• Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post	2015-Special 2
Legislative Update from Olympia	08 May 2015

SPECIAL SESSION DRAGS ON

NO SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY

After a flurry of holdover bill passing on 29 April, there has been no floor activity since the special session began.  There have been a handful of committee meetings, mostly to discuss future plans and activities (such as local town hearings or monthly work sessions in Olympia) before the next regular session begins in January 2016.

No doubt the budget conferees are hard at work behind the scenes.  What the status of those negotiations might be is a mystery.  The Democrat budget proposal calls for more than a $1 BILLION tax increase.  As I recall, Governor Inslee ran for office on a “no new taxes” promise.  But he supports the Democrat budget proposal.

BILL STATUS:

*ESHB 1713 Neutral

Mental health/guns

Cody (D-34)

S. W&M

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to (snail) mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Puyallup         27-28 June

Monroe            11-12 July

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”Article 1, Section 24

• Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA

GOAL Post	2015-17
Legislative Update from Olympia	01 May 2015

THEY’RE B-A-A-A-C-K!

SEVERAL HOLDOVER BILLS PASSED

ESHB 1713 REPASSED HOUSE

MORE GUN BILLS COMING BACK?

HOW LONG WILL THE SESSION LAST?

MANY ARE FILED, FEW ARE CHOSEN

The 30-day special session of the legislature convened on Wednesday, 29 April.  While waiting for the budgeteers to finish their negotiations, both the House and Senate took up several bills still pending at the end of the regular session.  A total of 25 bills were passed, eight in the Senate and 17 in the House.

The only bill of interest moving is HB 1713.  The bill passed both the House and Senate in the regular session, but the House refused to concur in the Senate amendments.  It went back to the House at the end of the session.  The House passed it out again, and the Senate assigned it to Senate Ways & Means… again.  The restrictive firearm language has been removed from the bill.

Rumors are circulating that the governor has asked that selected anti-gun bills be revived and acted on by the legislature.  You may recall, I reported that once the legislature goes into special session, they can do anything they please (legislatively!).  It’s alike a constitutional convention in that regard, once the door is opened, you lose control over who enters.

Having said that, the only specific legislation the governor mentioned in his proclamation calling for a special session is specific budgetary items… and one other thing:  “Work remains to be done with critical policy bills… ”  Could those include gun bills?  Yes.  Is the legislature going to act on them?  Not likely.  Here’s a link to the proclamation:  http://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/proc_15-08_0.pdf

For those of you who are not familiar with our governor’s history on the gun issue…  Jay Inslee was first elected to Congress in 1992 to represent the 4th Congressional District — the central Washington corridor.  In 1994, he cast an “aye” vote on the Clinton “assault weapon” ban.  In fact, it is believed he cast the deciding vote (it passed by ONE vote of 435) after his arm was twisted by then-Speaker Tom Foley (D-WA-5).  Sort of an “fellow eastern Washingtonian, do me a favor.”  That November BOTH Inslee and Foley were thrown out of Congress!  (Foley holds the distinction of being the first speaker to be thrown out of office since 1862 – 132 years.  Inslee moved to the west side, where he was elected to represent the 1st Congressional District (North Seattle and environs).  So Mr Inslee has no love for gun owners.

Special sessions are called in 30-day segments.  This session began on 29 April and will end on 30 May, unless previously adjourned.  How long will this one last?  Until budgeteers arrive at an agreement acceptable to both chambers.  It could be over in a few days, it could take the entire 30 days.  And ANOTHER 30 days!  Are you ready for a major tax increase?  The governor wants more money to spend, the House Democrats wan t to give it to him, the Senate Republicans do not.  Who will blink first?

To put things in a little better perspective, during the regular session that ended last week, a total of 2,445 bills of various types were filed in both chambers.  Of the 2,400, only 308 made it to the governor’s desk.  12.6% — almost 90% died along the way.

BILL STATUS:

*ESHB 1713 Neutral

Mental health/guns

Cody (D-34)

S. W&M

* indicates change in status this week

ESHB = Engrossed Substitute House Bill, SHB/SSB = Substitute Bill (bill amended in committee), HB = House Bill, SB = Senate Bill, H. Aprop = House Appropriations, H. Jud. = House Judiciary, S. L&J = Senate Law & Justice, S. W&M = Senate Ways & Means

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.

LEGISLATIVE HOT LINE: You may reach your Representatives and Senator by calling the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000. Toll free!!! The hearing impaired may obtain TDD access at 1-800-635-9993. Also toll free!!!1-800-562-6000 TDD 1-800-635-9993

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature’s web site at “www.leg.wa.gov“. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe’s web site (http://www.adobe.com). You may also obtain hard copy bills, initiatives, etc, in the mail from the Legislative Bill Room FREE OF CHARGE by calling 1-360-786-7573. Copies of bills may also be ordered toll free by calling the Legislative Hotline at (800) 562-6000. You may also hear floor and committee hearing action live at http://www.tvw.org/ (you need “RealAudio” to do this, available free at the TVW web site).

By reading the House and Senate “bill reports” (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the “roll call” for each bill, you can see how the entire House or Senate voted on any bill. The beauty of the web site is that ALL this information is available, on line, to any citizen.

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to “[email protected]“. Please pass GOAL Post on to anyone you believe may have an interest in protecting our rights. Better yet, make a couple of copies of this message, post it on your gun club’s bulletin board, and leave copies with your local gun shop(s). PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO DUPLICATE OR REDISTRIBUTE GOAL POST PROVIDED IT IS REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT TEXTUAL MODIFICATION AND CREDIT IS GIVEN TO GOAL. I can be reached at “[email protected]” or by telephone at (425) 985-4867. Unfortunately, I am unable to (snail) mail hard copy GOAL Post to individuals. Limited numbers of hard copies MAY be available at the Second Amendment Foundation book table at WAC gun shows.

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at “[email protected]” with the words “Unsubscribe GOAL Post” in the subject line. I will remove your name immediately. Keep in mind GOAL Post is also published on several gun lists. If you received GP via a list, you must contact that list’s admin to unsubscribe.

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):

Monroe May 2-3
Puyallup June 27-28

“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”Article 1, Section 24

• Constitution of the State of Washington

Copyright 2015 Gun Owners Action League of WA