Fighting for the Freedom Agenda in Washington State

TAXES
Governor Locke and League of Education Voters (LEV) proposed a billion dollar sales tax increase to expand and fund new education programs.

CSE has taken an aggressive stance against this tax increase and the message that there is a better way is getting through. The legislature has refused to act on the proposal and LEV is now planning on filing an initiative to the people.

For specific talking points on the proposal click here.

To send a message to the governor click here.

Please help us distribute this information to your friends and neighbors.

LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES

Legislative Cut-off Day
Today is the last day for all committees to consider legislation with the exemption of the fiscal committees in the House and Senate. This technically means that if a bill has not had a positive vote in a standing committee, it is no longer in play this session. There may be, and usually is, a resolution passed by both chambers that will exempt certain bills from this list but nothing has been made public at this point.

Sine Die
The last day of the regularly scheduled session is March 11, 2004.

LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Liability Reform
Thanks to your persistence, Representative Pat Lantz allowed a public hearing on SB 5728 in the House Judiciary Committee on February 26th. We now need to get a committee vote on the bill and today is the last day. Please keep the pressure up on Representative Lantz and the members of the House Judiciary Committee. If the bill does not get out of committee today, the only option left will be for Speaker Frank Chopp to amend the rules and allow for a direct vote on the floor.

School Choice
The charter school bill, SSHB 2295, has been approved by the House Education and Appropriations committees. It has still not been allowed to come up for a vote on the floor of the House. Please contact Speaker Frank Chopp and urge him to allow a vote on SSHB 2295. We need to get choice and competition in the education system and this is the last chance this legislative session.

Speaker Chopp can be reached through the toll-free legislative hotline 1.800.562.6000 or directly at 360.786.7920.