Olympia, WA – As the four-month legislative session continues in Olympia, it’s interesting and sometimes very alarming to see which bills the Democrat majority (they have a trifecta, meaning they have the majority in the State Legislature (representatives), the State Senate, and the Governor) is pushing through toward passage into law.
Here are just a few:
SSHB 1996 –
Rep. Steve Tharinger (D – 24th LD) and Adam Bernbaum (D – 24th LD) voted for this bill.
(The Center Square) – Members of the Washington State House of Representatives spent nearly four hours Thursday night debating Second Substitute House Bill 1696, which would dramatically expand the pool of those who could qualify for the state’s Covenant Home Ownership Program, before finally passing it.
The Covenant Home Ownership program offers home buying assistance to minorities who have faced housing discrimination in the past. The program is open to those who lived in or had a parent, grandparent or great-grandparent living in Washington before 1968 and who meet one of the following government-defined racial identities: “Black, Hispanic, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, Korean and Asian Indian.”….
During Thursday night’s floor debate, House Republicans offered 15 amendments, all of which were rejected by majority party Democrats.
“People in Washington are tired of taxes, and it’s the people in Washington who are ultimately paying for this program … and now when the state is facing a $10 or $15 billion deficit, now we’re looking to give more money away that we don’t even have?” Rep. Sam Low, R-Lake Stevens, asked.
(READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE)
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HB 1163
SSHB 1996 – Rep. Steve Tharinger (D – 24th LD) and Adam Bernbaum (D – 24th LD) voted for this bill.
Gun control showdown: WA House Democrats advance ‘permit-to-purchase’ many
(The Center Square) – Washington state lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday requiring a “permit-to-purchase” to buy and possess firearms.
The Appropriations Committee approved House Bill 1163 on Thursday, setting the stage for the Rules Committee to schedule a floor debate before sending it to the Senate for consideration. If approved, Washington would join several states mandating the permit system….
This bill proposes a permit-to-purchase system for firearms that requires background checks and some safety training,” Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, said regarding HB 1163.
Building on the existing language, HB 1163 retains most of the existing requirements while adding the new permit system. If approved, the Washington State Patrol would issue a permit-to-purchase rather than dealers verifying the completion of a safety course….
According to a fiscal note, implementing HB 1163 over the next six years could cost roughly $58 million. The Legislature plans to pay for it by levying permit and fingerprint fees, which the fiscal note projects would generate slightly more than the implementation costs….
According to the state constitution, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”
(READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE)
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Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5098
(The Center Square) – A bill expanding gun-free zones cleared a major legislative hurdle on Wednesday, passing the Washington State Senate on a 28-21 vote.
The legislation was previously amended to exempt concealed pistol license holders…
The focus on law-abiding gun owners was a sticking point for Holy.
“Lawful gun owners are not the problem,” he said.
Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, spoke in opposition to the bill ahead of the final vote.“We’re not trying to take away your gun rights. You just can’t carry here, and you can’t carry here and over there,” he said. “It makes it more difficult for a legal gun owner to obey the law, and it’s like we’re trying to create a situation where the person we’re targeting isn’t the bad guy who’s going to do some harm to someone, but the average citizen. People intent on doing harm aren’t stupid. They’re going to go someplace where they know there isn’t going to be any resistance.”…
It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
(READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE)
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Conservative Ladies of Washington talk about some more bad bills that have moved forward. Here’s the video:
And of course, the Democrat State representatives and senator from our 24th Legislative District have voted along party lines on these bad bills.