{"id":416,"date":"2015-05-22T22:02:07","date_gmt":"2015-05-22T22:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wagoal.org\/wordpress\/?p=416"},"modified":"2017-03-04T16:31:50","modified_gmt":"2017-03-04T16:31:50","slug":"goal-post-2015-special-4-legislative-update-from-olympia-22-may-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagoal.org\/wordpress\/goal-post-2015-special-4-legislative-update-from-olympia-22-may-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"GOAL Post 2015-Special-4: Legislative Update from Olympia – 22 May 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
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GOAL Post<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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2015-Special 4<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Legislative Update from Olympia<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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22 May 2015<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

NOT THERE YET<\/p>\n

SECOND SPECIAL SESSION?<\/p>\n

NOTHING ON FIREARMS<\/p>\n

MEMORIAL DAY<\/p>\n

While budgeteers are still appear at an impasse, there have been some significant developments this week.\u00a0 The most important was a new biennial revenue forecast that adds $400 million to anticipated revenues.\u00a0 That would appear to negate the need for new taxes, major new taxes anyway.\u00a0 About $500 million separate the Republican Senate and Democrat House budget proposals right now.\u00a0 Even Governor Inslee acknowledges that the his proposed $1.4 BILLION tax increase is unnecessary.<\/p>\n

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:”\u00a0 a capital gains tax, as well as a business tax raise.\u00a0 What’s the $500 million for?\u00a0 Pay raises for teachers (many of whom are now striking in violation of state law) and state employees (mostly union members ).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

If a biennial budget is not adopted by July 1st, most state agencies will be forced to shut down.\u00a0 Then we’ll REALLY save money!<\/p>\n

There has been no floor activity since April 29th, the first day of the special session — no action on gun bills.\u00a0 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).<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 It began formally \u00a0shortly 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).\u00a0 Its purpose was to commemorate the 600,000 lives lost during the bloodiest war in American history.\u00a0 The name was later changed to Memorial Day to honor ALL who made the supreme sacrifice in all of our wars.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 The peace and prosperity we enjoy were paid for in blood.<\/p>\n

BILL STATUS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*ESHB 1713
\n<\/a>Neutral<\/strong><\/td>\n		Mental health\/guns<\/td>\nCody (D-34)<\/a><\/td>\nS. W&M<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* indicates change in status this week<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

HEARING(S) SCHEDULED:<\/p>\n

At this point, there is no published agenda for next week.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

OTHER DATA: Copies of pending legislation (bills), legislative schedules and other information are available on the legislature\u2019s web site at \u201cwww.leg.wa.gov<\/a>\u201c. Bills are available in Acrobat (.pdf) format. You may download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader from Adobe\u2019s web site (http:\/\/www.adobe.com<\/a>). 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\/<\/a> (you need \u201cRealAudio\u201d to do this, available free at the TVW web site).<\/p>\n

By reading the House and Senate \u201cbill reports\u201d (hbr, sbr) for each bill, you can see how individual committee members voted. By reading the \u201croll call\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

GET THE WORD OUT: If you want to subscribe to the GOAL Post by e-mail, send a message to \u201cjwaldron@halcyon.com<\/a>\u201c. 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\u2019s 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 \u201cjwaldron@halcyon.com<\/a>\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, please e-mail me at \u201cjwaldron@halcyon.com\u201d<\/a> with the words \u201cUnsubscribe GOAL Post\u201d 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\u2019s admin to unsubscribe.<\/p>\n

Upcoming WAC gun show(s):<\/p>\n

Puyallup 27-28 June<\/p>\n

Monroe 11-12 July<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201dArticle 1, Section 24<\/p>\n