Feb. 6, 2009

Bailey measures would bring more transparency, accountability to state government
10th District lawmaker focuses on fiscal notes, performance audits, agency rules and emergency clauses

Rep. Barbara Bailey is sponsoring four bills that would bring more transparency and accountability to state government. The 10th District lawmaker believes a $6 billion budget shortfall offers the state an opportunity to commit to responsible state spending and a more prioritized state government.

“At a time when people are hearing about a massive state budget shortfall and stimulus plans, they deserve more transparency and accountability in state government. My legislation would deliver on this goal,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “These bipartisan reforms will simply give us better state government.”

Bailey’s measures focus on fiscal notes, performance audits, agency rules and emergency clauses.

House Bill 1458 would require a fiscal note, or how much the legislation would cost, to be established before final passage of any bill before the Washington State Legislature.

“When I tell people that state lawmakers sometimes vote on bills without knowing their costs, they are often surprised,” said Bailey. “The concept is simple: state lawmakers should never pass legislation before they know how much it will cost taxpayers.”

House Bill 1702 would require the state auditor’s office to review the performance of new state programs and share its findings with the public.

“This would allow state lawmakers and citizens to assess whether new state programs are delivering on their intended outcomes,” said Bailey. “If the state is going to make a promise, it has an obligation to show that it has delivered for taxpayers.”

House Bill 1853 would require the governor’s approval of significant legislative rules for state agencies under his or her direct control.

“The goal is to add an important layer of accountability to state agency rules and ensure our governor understands what his or her agencies are seeking to do,” said Bailey. “We cannot forget that taxpayers are the customers of state government.”

House Joint Resolution 4205 proposes an amendment to the state Constitution to
require a sixty-percent vote from the Legislature for emergency clauses.

An emergency clause is added to a bill to allow the measure to become law immediately after the governor signs it. It also exempts a bill from the referendum process, preventing citizens from changing the law.

“The framers of our state Constitution created the emergency clause because they believed it was 'necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety, support of state government and its existing public institutions,'” said Bailey. “Relatively few bills truly need an emergency clause and we have seen far too many abuses over the years. We need to change this outcome.”

If HJR 4205 were to pass the state House and Senate with a two-thirds vote, it would then go to a vote of the people in November. If a simple majority of voters in the general election voted for it, then the state Constitution would be changed.

“The bottom line is these four reforms would give us better state government,” said Bailey. “At a time when we have an unprecedented budget shortfall and rising unemployment, taxpayers need to know that state government is efficient, transparent, accountable and living within its means.”

Bailey is the assistant ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee. The 2009 legislative session began on Jan. 12 and will run 105 consecutive days.

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