The Senate Ways & Means Committee hearing on SB 6563 was held on Thursday, February 16th. There was a huge turnout primarily of LEOFF 1 members but with a few LEOFF 2 fire fighters and police in attendance as well. As a humorous side note we observed a number of LEOFF 2 fire fighters signing in under multiple names in favor of the bill. Sort of childish behavior.

You can view the TVW footage of the hearing at http://tvw.org/index.php?option=com_tvwplayer&eventID=2012021058. The hearing starts about 13 minutes into the video. You can scroll to the start.

We estimate there were over 200 LEOFF 1 members in attendance. The Senators should now know that there is a lot of dissention over this bill and that it should not be passed until its problems can be resolved.

We thought that the opportunities to speak on the bill were extremely limited and particularly when one considers the complexity of the bill. While some senators asked very good questions it was apparent that many did not seem fully conversant with the bill contents.Some of the questions were just to illuminate various talking points or positions but few dealt with a substantive effort to elicit new facts and enhance understanding.

As bad as that sounds it is not unusual.It is just the way the legislative process works.

So, in this hearing we did not learn anything that would indicate that the bill would or would not be passed out of committee. That decision will come later.But, we did learn that we need to work harder with all the legislators to insure that they are fully conversant with all of the problems resident in this bill.

That means it is probably time to start making direct phone calls to all the legislators.You may not be able to reach the legislator directly, but you can certainly speak with their aide. Remember, the aides do read our letters and do read the various position papers.We should not let up the pressure on this issue until this bill is dead.

As of this writing we cannot say the bill is dead and we cannot say the bill will pass. What we can say is that we still remain confident we can kill this bill if we keep up the pressure to stop the bill.  Remember the opposition is still fighting to pass this bill and they have paid professional lobbyists walking the halls of Olympia every day to push their position.

Keep up your efforts. We need action from everyone.It is your pension don’t forfeit it to inaction.

We need each LEOFF 1 that can, to attend the hearing and express their opposition. If you want to testify by all means do so.

Whether you are going to attend or not, email to each member of the Senate Ways and Means your opposition and call their offices as well. They need to hear of this opposition from a lot of people and constantly. Join in now and start calling and emailing.We need each LEOFF 1 that can, to attend the hearing and express their opposition. If you want to testify by all means do so.

First thing to do is  email each member of the Senate Ways and Means your opposition and call their offices as well. They need to hear of this opposition from a lot of people and constantly. Join in now and start calling and emailing.

See the Ways & Means Committe members and email addesses.

No harm in going to Olympia and calling on legislators and their aids directly. 

See where to park in Olympia.

Each of these Senators need to hear from you.  Rember to be nice.  Some of these members have already pledged to oppose the bill.  Others are still in flux. Phone calls and emails are good.  Your neighbors, friends, aunts and uncles can call as well.  You probably have kids old enough to vote, have them call too.
 

Senator	Room	Phone
Murray, Ed (D) Chair edward.murray@leg.wa.gov	JAC 303	(360) 786-7628
Kilmer, Derek (D) Vice Chair, Capital Budget Chair derek.kilmer@leg.wa.gov	JAC 227	(360) 786-7650
Zarelli, Joseph (R) * joseph.zarelli@leg.wa.gov	INB 204	(360) 786-7634
Parlette, Linda Evans (R) Ranking Minority Member Capital linda.parlette@leg.wa.gov	LEG 316	(360) 786-7622
Baumgartner, Michael (R) michael.baumgartner@leg.wa.gov	INB 201	(360) 786-7610
Brown, Lisa (D) lisa.brown@leg.wa.gov	LEG 307	(360) 786-7604
Conway, Steve (D) steve.conway@leg.wa.gov	JAC 213	(360) 786-7656
Fraser, Karen (D) karen.fraser@leg.wa.gov	LEG 404	(360) 786-7642
Harper, Nick (D) nick.harper@leg.wa.gov	JAC 226	(360) 786-7674
Hatfield, Brian (D) brian.hatfield@leg.wa.gov	JAC 237	(360) 786-7636
Hewitt, Mike (R) mike.hewitt@leg.wa.gov	LEG 314	(360) 786-7630
Holmquist Newbry, Janéa (R) janea.holmquistnewbry@leg.wa.gov	INB 106B	(360) 786-7624
Honeyford, Jim (R) jim.honeyford@leg.wa.gov	INB 107	(360) 786-7684
Kastama, Jim (D) jim.kastama@leg.wa.gov	JAC 235	(360) 786-7648
Keiser, Karen (D) karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov	JAC 224	(360) 786-7664
Kohl-Welles, Jeanne (D) jeanne.kohl-welles@leg.wa.gov	JAC 219	(360) 786-7670
Padden, Mike (R) mike.padden@leg.wa.gov	LEG 417	(360) 786-7606
Pflug, Cheryl (R) cheryl.pflug@leg.wa.gov	LEG 415	(360) 786-7608
Pridemore, Craig (D) craig.pridemore@leg.wa.gov	JAC 212	(360) 786-7696
Regala, Debbie (D) debbie.regala@leg.wa.gov	JAC 233	(360) 786-7652
Schoesler, Mark (R) mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov	INB 110	(360) 786-7620
Tom, Rodney (D) rodney.tom@leg.wa.gov	JAC 220	(360) 786-7694

Parking near the Capitol is difficult when the Legislature is in session.  If you don't find anything in the visitor lot, head for the Market and park there.  Then take the free DASH shuttle to the Capitol.  It runs about every 15 minutes.  Be sure to add enough time in for planning to allow you to dirve downtown and catch the shuttle.