week was the cutoff for bills to be considered in their House of origin.  That means, if a House bill didn't pass the House last week, and it is not necessary to implement the budget, it is considered "dead" for the rest of session.  The House bills that have passed now go over to the Senate for further consideration in Senate committees and vice versa with Senate bills.

The priorities we saw last week during late night floor sessions from the majority party in the House of Representatives remain counter to what I believe the people of this state want and expect from their elected officials.  I wish I could tell you we passed legislation last week to help our struggling families and businesses.  I wish I could tell you that we've made health care more affordable and our streets safer.

But I can't.  Instead, the House passed legislation to make it easier for convicted felons to vote; allow childcare workers to unionize; give some state union workers raises even though the governor has decreed a salary freeze on all state employees; and extend state-sponsored health care for families making over $66,000 a year.

Earlier in this session, I made a commitment to myself and my constituents to do my best to talk about solutions, to stay positive and report back to you the good things that are happening and not get down in the midst of being in the extreme minority.  But, last week was a difficult week.  The true priorities of those in charge of the Legislature are starting to show and it's disappointing where their priorities seem to be. The good news is that there were some very bad bills -- bad for taxpayers, bad for farmers, and bad for our employers -- that did NOT make it out of the House.  This includes the House version of Gov. Gregoire's "cap and trade" legislation, House Bill 1819.  However, Senate Bill 5735 is still alive and we need to be vigilant to make sure that this bill doesn't survive the next cutoff. I want to thank those of you who have called to express your opinions or to offer an encouraging word.  That means more to me than I can express. Sincerely, Joe Schmick State Representative, 9th Legislative District

Rep. Schmick with Page Hannah Nelson from Spokane on the House floor.

Making it easier for convicted felons to vote House Bill 1517 will give felons their voting rights back immediately after they are released from prison, even if they have not paid court fees or restitution to victims as is the requirement under current law.  I was livid when this legislation passed.  We should be standing up for crime victims, not perpetrators.  When a person commits a felony, they forfeit some of their rights.  SOME of those rights can be reinstated once they've completed their full sentences, including probation and parole, and paid all of their fines and paid all restitution to their victims.  This legislation demeans the right and privilege to vote and is a slap in the face to crime victims.

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