April 10, 2009

Dear friends and neighbors,

Only 16 days remain of the 2009 legislative session which began in January. Policy committees have, for the most part, finished their business. Appropriations committees continue to meet to iron out operations, capital and transportation budgets. Our focus has now shifted to long days and late nights in debate on the House floor.

Between now and next Friday, April 17, the House will be considering those Senate bills which have passed their respective committees. If the bill remains unchanged from when it passed the Senate last month, and it gains House approval, it will be sent directly to the governor for her consideration. If the Senate bill has been amended in the House, it must go back to the Senate for concurrence.

The same process is happening in the Senate with House bills. If this all seems confusing, it is. However, the process has been set up by design to make it very difficult to pass legislation without full deliberation.

Five bills that I introduced which have passed the House now await final Senate approval. In this e-newsletter is a status report of those measures.

I was also pleased to welcome the Washington Apple Blossom Royal Court this week to the Capitol. They were accompanied by chaperone Janet Rust, former House Speaker Clyde Ballard and his wife, Ruth, of East Wenatchee, and former State Rep. Bob Curtis and his wife, Vera.

I welcome your comments/questions on these and other legislative issues.

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Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve you!

Sincerely,

P.S. - When e-mailing me, please do not hit reply to this e-mail as I will not receive the response. Instead, I invite you to click here and e-mail me. Thank you!

ARMSTRONG BILL STATUS REPORT The following bills have passed the House and are now awaiting Senate action. The Senate has until April 17 to vote on this legislation.
	House Bill 1025 – COLLEGE BOOKS: This bill would require college- and university-affiliated bookstores to provide a four-week advance notification of course material requirements. The measure would give students time to find the best prices on the books and instructional materials they need. They may be able to order the books online and get a price break by buying used books.
	House Bill 1028 – METHOW COMMUNICATIONS:  This bill would allow an existing fee collected in the Methow Valley to be used to support local police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services. I first introduced this legislation last year at the request of the Methow Valley Communications District. The measure would allow the district to use fees they already collect to construct, maintain and operate public safety emergency communications for the benefit 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.
	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.”
	House Bill 1880 - BALLOT ENVELOPES: This legislation would provide a cost savings to county auditors in the purchase of election ballot envelopes.
	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 predators.

Former House speaker and former Republican Caucus chair return to Olympia
It was my honor and pleasure to welcome former House Speaker Clyde Ballard and his wife, Ruth, back to Olympia, along with former House Republican Caucus chairman Robert "Bob" Curtis and his wife, Vera. They were at the state Capitol to accompany the Washington Apple Blossom Royal Court which made a special visit to Olympia this past Wednesday. Former Rep. Ballard was elected to office from the 12th District in 1983. He served as House minority leader until 1995, when he was elected as speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaker Ballard served in that capacity for four years until an equal number of Republicans and Democrats were elected in 1998, creating a 49-49 tie in the House.		Former House Speaker Clyde Ballard
Ballard and the current House speaker, Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, were elected as co-speakers. Speaker Ballard retired from office in 2002. During his visit this week, Speaker Ballard reminded lawmakers of the importance of doing what is right, not what is politically expedient. "Always vote with your heart," he told House Republicans. Former Rep. Curtis served the 12th District in the Washington House of Representatives from 1969 to 1976. It was wonderful to visit with Bob and Vera as they returned to the state Capitol this week.
		Former Rep. Robert "Bob" Curtis and Rep. Mike Armstrong