State Representative Mike Armstrong - 12th Legislative District
 

E-newsletter

  
 

Olympia Office:
426-A Legislative Bldg.
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7832
 


Toll-Free Legislative Hotline
1-800-562-6000
Website
 www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Armstrong

Committees:
 Appropriations Subcommittee on General Gov't and Audit Review  (Ranking)
Rules (Alternate)
State Government and Tribal Affairs
Transportation

  
 

March 16, 2007Happy St. Patty's Day from Rep. Mike Armstrong.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of my friends and neighbors in the 12th District!

It's been a very busy time in the Legislature. We've been working late nights and weekends on the floor of the House to meet a March 14 deadline. By that date, all House bills must have passed from the House or they are considered "dead" for the remainder of the 2007 session.

To date, 469 bills have passed the House. Nearly 1,000 bills introduced since the beginning of the session Jan. 8 have died.

The death of many of these bills is a good thing. Many were aimed at increasing government's size, adding new taxes and fees, and providing more burdensome regulations. I don't mourn the loss of those bills for one moment.

However, we had some very good bills that also died. Most notably was legislation I co-sponsored to provide significant property tax relief to home- and property owners in the 12th District.

One bill that did make it through the House was a measure that would prohibit text messaging while driving. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be on the same stretch of road with someone who is text messaging on a cell phone and not paying attention to the highway.

This week, we also had the honor of hosting the Washington State Apple Blossom Royalty at the state Capitol.

If you have a moment or two, I invite you to keep reading about each of these subjects in this week's E-newsletter. And if you'd like more information, go to my website at www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Armstrong.

It is an honor to serve you!

Rep. Mike Armstrong
Rep. Mike Armstrong
BILLS LIVE AND DIE AFTER FIRST FLOOR CUT-OFF
    
     Our first floor cut-off was March 14 at 5 p.m. Bills that have not passed from the House by that date are likely dead for the session.

     We were able to kill off many bad bills, including those that sought tax increases, implementation of government-run health care, and public funding of campaigns.

 Dead bills

     Unfortunately, we also lost some good bills as well. Most significant was legislation that would have reinstated Initiative 747 - the voter-approved measure which limited increases in regular property tax levies to 1 percent per year. That initiative was struck down last year by a King County judge. That means that future property tax assessments could go sky high.

     I'm very concerned about the ability of our local folks to afford their property taxes and stay in their homes. That's why I have fought for this measure. Let's not give up though. No bill is really dead until the final gavel falls on the last day of session, which is April 22. Hopefully we can somehow revive this legislation and provide the property tax relief our homeowners need.

     If you'd like to find out more about which priority bills died, check out our DEAD or ALIVE web page.  And if you want to know about which good and bad bills are moving forward, go to our SURVIVOR BILLS page.
 
Text messaging R U DRVNG? PLS DNT TXT!

     It's not only a good idea to keep your eyes on the road when you are driving, it could save your life and the lives of others around you. Unfortunately, as the use of cell phones becomes more popular, so does a very dangerous act of text messaging while driving.

     Text messaging was recently the cause of a five-car pile up near Seattle. Incredibly, no one was seriously injured. However, it does provide one of many examples of why driving and using your cell phone keyboard for text messaging is a lethal combination.
 
     This week, I voted in favor of House Bill 2272, a measure that would prohibit text messaging while driving. It's important to note that the measure does not ban the use of cell phones while driving. However, it would make it against the law to text message while operating a vehicle.

     Text messaging takes a lot more attention than simply talking on a cell phone. The measure does exempt amateur radio operators (Ham radio). However, it makes it a primary offense if a police officer spots you text messaging, meaning the officer can stop you for the offense.

     We need to keep our highways safe. It's common sense to pay attention to your driving when you are behind the wheel of a car. Many lives count on it!

     To learn more about this bill, see the press release from my colleague, Rep. Joyce McDonald, the prime sponsor of this bill.
 
2007 APPLE BLOSSOM ROYALTY MAKE A VISIT TO THE STATE CAPITOL

     I was honored to introduce the 2007 Apple Blossom Royalty to lawmakers in the House of Representatives earlier this week. It's become an annual tradition for the queen and her princesses to visit the state Capitol.

     Queen Laura DeCamp, Princess Mikel Stanaway and Princess Courtney Roberts are excellent ambassadors for our Washington State Apple Blossom Festival.

     If all goes well in Olympia and we adjourn on time (April 22), I'll be home in time to enjoy this wonderful festival (which is scheduled for April 26 through May 6). I'm looking forward to it!

 Washington apples
 
     
 

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