March 23, 2009

Armstrong makes another effort to
break DSHS into smaller agencies
Speaker pro tempore rules against amendment

When House Bill 2295 to reorganize the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) came to the House floor today for a vote, Rep. Mike Armstrong saw an opportunity to add language to the measure from his prime-sponsored bill.

Armstrong proposed Amendment 275, which called for the elimination of DSHS by July 1, 2011. Under the amendment, the powers, duties and functions of DSHS would be transferred to the Department of Economic Services, Department of Medical Assistance, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Children's Services. It was the identical language that had been contained in Armstrong's House Bill 2197, a measure that died earlier this year in the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee.

On the House floor, Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, said DSHS has become too large and needs to be reined in.

"There are nine separate departments inside DSHS. Of those nine departments, four of those are larger than any other state agency. DSHS has 20 thousand employees and a budget of close to 20 billion dollars. That's 34 percent of our state's total operating budget. That is amazing," said Armstrong. "This agency is so large, the Legislature cannot get its arms around it. By breaking it up into four smaller agencies, we feel not only can we save a lot in administrative fees and costs, but it will make the organizations more accountable to the citizens of Washington."

HB 2295 seeks to create new regional support network boundaries for DSHS. Armstrong argued that his original bill's language was a good fit for the measure.

"The title of this bill says 'an act relating to the organization of the Department of Social and Health Services.' I believe restructuring this department into four agencies fully fits into the title of this bill," said Armstrong.

A ruling was requested to determine if Armstrong's language was within the "scope and object" of the bill's title. The House speaker pro tempore ruled against the amendment, saying "while proponents may argue that it is necessary to streamline service delivery to achieve administrative efficiency, the speaker finds that the amendment greatly exceeds the limited structural change contemplated by the underlying bill, and therefore exceeds its scope and object."

Although disappointed, Armstrong said he will continue to seek opportunities where possible to reduce the size of DSHS, and hold it accountable to the citizens it serves.

HB 2295, without Armstrong's amendment, passed the House 57-35.

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