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Senate Democrats kill
Armstrong's bills in retaliation
Wenatchee lawmaker stands on principle against
personal gain of a bill
The Senate Democrat
majority leader informed
Rep. Mike
Armstrong Friday his bills awaiting Senate action would be dead
by the end of the day
because of comments he recently made against a saltwater algae bill.
Among his bills that died is one that would have named chronically-ill
children "chief for a day."
During a
public hearing April 1 in the House General Government
Appropriations Committee, Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, expressed concern that
the sponsor of
Senate Bill 5412 could personally benefit from the measure because
she owns beachfront property along Puget Sound.
"I will be a no on this
bill. I think this bill has the potential of being an ethics violation
by the sponsor of this bill. I think we have to be very careful as
legislators when we pass legislation that has direct impact on our
personal lives. And for that reason, I'm going to be a no," Armstrong
told committee members before the measure was approved with a vote of
8-5.
The bill would transfer 25
cents of every dollar from the Freshwater Aquatic Algae Control Program
into a new Saltwater Algae Control Account to pay for clean up of
saltwater algae and sea lettuce along Washington's beaches.
Armstrong said he learned
Thursday that the bill's sponsor intended to put a hold on his five
bills until after yesterday's Senate 5 p.m. cutoff for considering
House bills. The Senate majority leader later confirmed Armstrong his
bills would be killed because of his committee comments.
It was only after
House Republican Leader Richard
DeBolt voiced his concerns to Senate Democrats that they allowed
one of Armstrong's measures,
House Bill 1025,
to be released for a vote. The measure would require college- and
university-affiliated bookstores to provide a four-week advance
notification of course material requirements, giving students time to
find the best prices on the books and instructional materials they need.
Friday afternoon, the measure passed the Senate, 44-0.
By the 5 p.m. Friday
deadline, Armstrong's four other bills, including "chief for a day,"
remained on hold.
"It's political
retaliation at its worst. I stood on principle because I believe that if
you stand to personally gain financially from a bill you've introduced,
that is not in the best interest of the citizens of Washington, and it's
not legislation you should be involved with," said Armstrong. "They want
to punish me for standing up against something I think is very wrong.
However, I am not the one who is being punished. It is the citizens who
have sought the legislation and they are the ones who ultimately will
bear the brunt of the Senate Democrats' retaliation."
The following Armstrong
bills had passed the House and their respective Senate committees, but
died after the Friday deadline:
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House Bill 1028 METHOW COMMUNICATIONS:
This bill would allow the
Methow Valley Communications
District
to use fees it already collects to construct,
maintain and operate emergency
radio equipment.
That equipment would be placed in TV
reflector sites for increased
public safety of the Methow
Valley. An annual, voluntary fee of $35 is
billed by the county to support broadcast
signals in the Methow Valley. That fee would not
increase under this bill.
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House Bill 1785 CHIEF FOR A DAY: This measure would allow
the Washington State Patrol to partner with local law
enforcement agencies and hospitals to name chronically-ill children “chief for a day.”
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House Bill 1880 BALLOT ENVELOPES:
This legislation would provide a cost savings to
county auditors in the purchase of election ballot
envelopes.
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House Bill 1912 SEX OFFENDER CONFINEMENT:
This
bill would ensure a better permitting process
when construction or improvements are needed at
facilities that house sexually violent
offenders.
"I am just astounded Senate Democrat
leaders would purposefully kill bills that would help a
chronically-ill child have a day as a police chief, and would improve
the Methow Valley's emergency communications, just because I stood
on principle against a bill that could personally benefit the prime
sponsor," said Armstrong. "In the seven years I've served as a state
representative, I have never seen anything more disappointing or
politically disgusting as this. The people of the 12th District elected
me to be their voice. When I see something ethically wrong with
legislation, I will not be censored or silenced."
Armstrong urged concerned citizens to
call the Senate majority leader at: (360) 786-7604 or toll-free at
1-800-562-6000.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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