During last year’s session of the Washington State Legislature, 578 new laws were passed as a result of 3,328 bills introduced, which resulted in 1,784 proposed amendments.
This information was once difficult to obtain, but now is readily available on a Web site called Washington Votes, at www.washingtonvotes.org, sponsored by the nonpartisan Washington Policy Center, which states it “improves lives of Washington citizens by providing accurate, high-quality research for policy makers, the media and the general public.”
Its Web site certainly meets that goal, and should be bookmarked by any citizen who wants to keep track of his or her legislators. Besides general information such as that cited above, the site keeps track of every bill introduced, follows its journey through the Legislature, and makes it readily accessible to the public. Best of all, it’s easy to use.
Every bill legislators introduces immediately goes up on the Web site, just by clicking on the name of the legislator. In our 10th Legislative District through Wednesday, for example, Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen had already introduced 17 bills in the session that started Monday. Each bill cited includes a short description and a link to where you can read the entire proposal. One of Haugen’s that sticks out is SB 6377, which levies an additional license fee of $100 on all-electric vehicles, in order to diminish the impact on gasoline tax revenues.
In the House through Tuesday, Rep. Barbara Bailey had introduced six bills. Her first proposal was to limit state workers’ benefit increases until a retirement system risk analysis is finished. Another of her bills defines black powder as “not an explosive,” presumably at the request of local muzzleloader hobbyists. If approved, the bill would allow them to possess and transport less than 50 pounds of black powder.
Rep. Norma Smith had introduced three bills. Her first bill, HB 2460, would modify the definition of what agricultural products are labeled as “organic.” Another would give small businesses 48 hours to correct a violation of state rules before being fined.
The ability to search present and past bills and voting records is included on the Web site. The language is simple and understandable. It’s easy to forget the time while perusing all the new bills introduced, and trying to figure out why we need hundreds of new laws every year.
Daily newspapers don’t have the time and space to do the detailed reporting they once did, but Web sites such as washingtonvotes.org more than fill the gap. The Washington Policy Center has done a great public service in creating it, and the public should take advantage of this valuable resource.
