How did our lawmakers vote?

Published 11:24 am Wednesday, April 6, 2016

WashingtonVotes.org provides a free periodic roll call service to media outlets as long as the Legislature is in session. It is a free public service of Washington Policy Center, a nonprofit research and educational organization. See www.washingtonvotes.org.

House Bill 2376, Making 2016 supplemental operating appropriations

Passed the House on March 29 by a vote of 78-17; three members excused.

This is the compromise budget that would add about $191 million in spending to the current $38.2 billion 2015-2017 budget, without tax increases or new taxes. It assumes new revenues from $46 million in “royalty amnesty” payments and $34 million in Department of Revenue audit payment assessments.

The four-year balanced budget requirement remains intact and monies from the state’s reserve fund only would be used to pay for emergency wildfires.

The budget includes about $13 million for youth homelessness, including $7.4 million toward grants administered by the Department of Commerce for shelters, transitional housing and short-term housing assistance.

Mental health programs received about $40 million in new appropriations, including funding for additional staff at Western State Hospital and pay raises to attract and keep doctors.

The budget also includes funding for Washington’s public charter schools, as provided by SB 6149, which passed both houses of the Legislature but has not yet been acted on by the governor.

Rep. Steve Tharinger (D-Sequim)      Y

Rep. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) Y

House Bill 2988, Making expenditures from the budget stabilization account

Passed the House on March 29 by a vote of 88-7; three members excused.

The Budget Stabilization Account is commonly known as the state’s Rainy Day Fund. If monies are withdrawn from the account, the state balanced budget requirement for the next biennium could be suspended. This bill appropriates about $190 million to various state agencies for wildfire suppression, under an emergency declared last June by the governor. These appropriations do not suspend the balanced budget requirement for the next fiscal biennium, keeping the 4-year balanced budget requirement intact.

Rep. Tharinger Y

Rep. Van De Wege  Y

Senate Bill 6328, Concerning youth vapor product substance use prevention

Passed the House on March 29 by a vote of 74-20; four members excused.

The term “vapor product” is defined as a noncombustible, tobacco-derived product containing nicotine that uses a mechanical element to heat and vaporize a liquid solution. Electronic cigarettes are a form of vapor product.

Rep. Tharinger Y

Rep. Van De Wege Y