April 23, 2009

McCune works to save his veterans assistance bill
2nd District lawmaker's bill passes House unanimously, stalls in the Senate

Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham, is trying to save a bill he prime sponsored that would create a new account dedicated to funding services for veterans. He fears his measure is being put aside in favor of a deceptive, new opt-out approach for people who are renewing their vehicle license tabs. 

House Bill 1876, which passed the House unanimously March 3, would establish the Disabled Veterans Assistance Account. The account would be funded through vehicle owners who make voluntary donations of $5 when renewing their vehicle license tabs.

With the measure stalled in the Senate Transportation Committee, McCune is worried veterans and their families are being unfairly treated and it could prevent them from receiving assistance with important medical equipment, emergency home and vehicle repairs, and urgent food and shelter needs.
 
"Some veterans are barely hanging on by their shoestrings in these tough times. The House of Representatives has presented the Senate with a great way to provide new assistance for our state's veterans. We owe it to them to make sure this bill moves to the governor's desk," said McCune, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs. "All we want to do is offer people the option of donating to the Disabled Veterans Assistance Account. This would help fund services provided to veterans through the state Department of Veterans Affairs."

McCune feels his legislation is falling victim to a majority party that is scrambling to find more fee collections for state parks in the face of a $9 billion budget shortfall.

Under the state's current system, people are allowed to check an opt-in box if they want to pay an additional $5 fee when renewing their vehicle license tabs to support state parks. Under House Bill 2339, which passed the House and is expected to pass the Senate, people renewing their vehicle license tabs would instead be required to check an opt-out box or they would automatically pay an additional $5 fee.

"We're going from a clear and successful opt-in system, to a deceptive approach based solely on generating more money for state government." said McCune. "I don't support this practice because it relies on confusing people." 

McCune also doesn't understand why there is a need for an opt-out system and talk of closing state parks when the majority party is proposing that the state buy more lands.

"At a time when state parks could be closed due to costs, it makes no sense for the state to buy more lands," said McCune. "Let's properly maintain and fund the state parks we currently have in operation before adding to the state's responsibility." 

McCune offered a striking amendment to House Bill 2339 that would have helped to fund state parks without the opt-out fee system, and would have cleared the way for an opt-in fee system for the Disabled Veterans Assistance Account. It was rejected by the majority party.

House Republicans also offered an amendment to House Bill 2339 that would have transferred $25 million from the Washington Wildlife and Recreation (WWR) account for the maintenance and operation of state parks. The WWR account is used, among other things, to purchase new lands. The majority party rejected the amendment.

McCune is doing all he can to keep House Bill 1876 alive. The 2009 legislative session is scheduled to conclude Sunday, April 26. 

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