Author Archives: Laudan

Rep. Short sponsors student page

Republic High School sophomore Dan Slagle traveled to Olympia March 14-18 to serve as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives.  He was sponsored by his 7th District Rep. Shelly Short.

Slagle, the son of Patty and Rob Slagle of Republic, stayed with a host family in Olympia while he served.

The 16-year-old attended page school each day to learn about the legislative process.  He also had the opportunity to sponsor a mock bill with other students from around the state regarding uninsured children.

“I heard Dan’s testimony persuaded many of his fellow pages to support his legislation, which is a good skill to have no matter where life takes him,” said Short, R-Addy. “I hope his time in Olympia was beneficial and will inspire him to future public service.”

In addition to page school, Slagle was responsible for distributing official paperwork to members in committees, offices and the House floor.

Students between the ages of 14 and 16 who are interested in the page program must have parent permission, acceptable grades and a legislative sponsor.  To learn more about the House Page Program, visit the Web site.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: Rep. Short with student page Dan Slagle on the House floor in Olympia.

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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7698.

Rep. Short’s bill to help pharmacies passes House unanimously

‘The subjective nature of the audits makes it difficult and extremely costly for pharmacies to prove their actions or intents with any real certainty,’ says Short

 

Legislation to make pharmaceutical audits more fair and equitable for pharmacies unanimously passed the state House of Representatives recently.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1737 places sideboards on the audits conducted by the Department of Social and Health Services and provides some clarity in the definition of “technical deficiency” that auditors use to either accept or deny documentation by pharmacies.

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, sponsored the measure after witnessing a local pharmacy go through the pharmaceutical audit process.  The audits are conducted on Medicaid providers to make sure the right medication got to the right person and that the appropriate payer was identified.

“While we certainly need audits to ensure there is no fraud or abuse taking place when the state pays for medication, the process that is currently in place amounts to a type of extortion on pharmacies,” Short said.  “They are demanding recoupment of payments over insignificant technical details like paperwork mistakes.  Even if the pharmacy can prove that the appropriate medication was delivered to the appropriate person and the appropriate payer was billed, the pharmacy can be punished – at great expense – for not correctly dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

Short said the auditors instinctively know the areas where pharmacies are confused or most likely to make technical errors and then focus on those areas in order to maximize their recoupment.

“The people conducting the audits know where the grey areas are; where the weaknesses in their own system are – and they take advantage of this ambiguity by getting nitpicky with the documentation requirements,” Short said.  “The subjective nature of the audits makes it difficult and extremely costly for pharmacies to prove their actions or intents with any real certainty.”

The pharmacy in Short’s district that recently went through the audit process chose to shut down after spending tens of thousands of dollars on attorney fees.  The owner/pharmacist had more than 32 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

“This isn’t right,” Short said.  “I’ve talked with hospitals in my district and they say if more pharmacies choose to not accept Medicaid patients or shut down completely, it will place a huge burden on all rural hospitals.  The ripple effect of these pharmacy closures would be brutal for rural areas.  Our rural pharmacies are struggling to stay afloat, yet our communities greatly depend on them.”

Short said the language in her original bill was watered down in the committee process.  However, the existing bill begins the process of providing more certainty for pharmacy owners moving forward.

“This is a step in the right direction,” Short said.  “I’m continuing to work with members from both parties to get this bill through the Senate and on to the governor’s desk for her signature.  This is something all pharmacies across the state need.”

ESHB 1737 passed the House unanimously and is now awaiting a public hearing in the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee.

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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7698.

Short e-newsletter: March 4, 2011

Short

 

SPECIAL ALERT

YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!

 

Dear friends and neighbors,

I need your help.  I’ve just been made aware of proposed legislation that could have drastic consequences for animal owners in Eastern Washington.  Unfortunately, this is another example of urban legislation having unintended consequences for our more rural lifestyle.

Senate Bill 5065 is a bill sponsored by an urban Republican Senator to help address animal cruelty.  It looks to me like this bill is trying to look out for that little poodle chained up in a backyard during 20 degree weather or in the middle of a snowstorm.  But for those of us who own and ride horses or other animals, it may have a significant affect.

The bill seeks to strengthen existing animal cruelty laws by enacting stricter penalties (including a gross misdemeanor for repeat offenders) and by laying out specific definitions.  Here is part of the new section in law:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 16.52 RCW to read as follows:

(1) An owner who, under circumstances not amounting to animal cruelty in the first or second degree, fails to provide an animal with necessary food, water, shelter, ventilation, rest, sanitation, space, or medical attention has committed the infraction of failure to provide care.

(2) Failure to provide care is a class 2 civil infraction under RCW 36 7.80.120(1)(b).

One of the concerns I have is that the above directives are left up to quite a bit of interpretation.  If someone walks by my tethered horse as we’re getting ready for a parade or other ride, and they don’t see “necessary food” or “water,” am I going to be reported and an animal cruelty investigation started?  The bill requires the food and water to be “easily accessible to the animal.”  But who’s to say that my daughter didn’t just give the horse food and water just a few moments ago?

And what about “shelter”?  The law defines shelter as “a constructed or natural structure that keeps the animal dry and protected from the elements, allows the animal to turn around freely, sit, stand, and lie without restriction, and does not cause injury, disfigurement, or physical impairment to the animal.”  Again, I think about my husband taking our horses out hunting and tethering them up together.  Is he now going to have to construct shelter for them while out on his hunting trips?

Another concern I have is that the bill includes a specific exemption for the “accepted animal husbandry practices commonly used in the commercial raising and slaughtering of livestock or poultry.”  While I certainly agree that animal husbandry should be exempt, the problem is, as soon as you put a specific exemption like this into statute, it begs the question: “Who isn’t exempt?”  I fear many of us in Eastern Washington who own a few horses for recreational purposes or raise a few animals for non-commercial use would NOT be exempt.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I’m working with the bill’s sponsor and with appropriate committee chairmen to write up an amendment to address some of my concerns.  But I need you to share your concerns with me so I have more information – more ammo – to help our case.  You can e-mail me at: short.shelly@leg.wa.gov or call the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  The bill passed the Senate and is being heard in the House Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, so I need your comments by Monday afternoon.

If you need more information on the bill, you can click here where you can view the bill and the bill report.

Thank you so much for your efforts.

Sincerely,

 

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District

Proposal to prematurely close Centralia power plant not based on economic or environmental reality

Special to The Olympian (published 2/19/11)

 

The Olympian’s recent editorial regarding the future of TransAlta’s coal-fired electrical plant in Centralia demands a level-headed response free from the clouded rhetoric of extreme environmentalism and political correctness.

First of all, let’s all agree clean air and water are a necessity for those of us living in the region now and for generations to come. That fact is beyond dispute and the continuing goal of cleaning up our environment is something we all share to some degree or another.

However, the recent proposal to shut down the electrical plant in Centralia is based more on Pollyanna environmental policy than realistic expectations; more on extremist views from out-of-town special interests than community or state leaders; and more on political paybacks than sound economic strategy.

The coal portion of TransAlta’s plant is in the process of being phased out by 2025, and being replaced by natural gas. In addition, the company has already spent more than $300 million in pollution controls which remove 99 percent of particulate matter, 98 percent of sulfur dioxides, 50 percent of nitrous oxide and, by 2012, 50 percent of mercury from its emissions. Opponents don’t like to admit it, but the Centralia plant is one of the cleanest coal generation plants in the United States.

The Centralia plant also accounts for about 8 percent of the state’s total power generation. This is reliable, baseload power. Our energy grid continues to rely more and more on alternative power, such as wind, solar and Biofuels. As such, the need for baseload power – power that is consistent and reliable, not based on the weather or other unpredictable factors – becomes more important.

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) says without the consistent baseload energy provided by the TransAlta plant, the energy grid will become unstable. Those who have proposed to kill the Centralia plant have offered no solutions to keep the lights on in Washington.

And what about the 300 families that would be put out of work? These are family-wage jobs we’re talking about. Workers at the Centralia plant average around $85,000 a year. These jobs are Lewis County’s version of Snohomish County’s Boeing employees. The impact to the local economy would be devastating, especially at a time when so many are already out of work. The trickle-down effect of these job losses could very well push the region into a vicious economic tailspin which could take years to recover.

We also need to examine Washington’s overall greenhouse gas emissions. Our state is accountable for less than three-tenths of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Of that, the transportation sector emits the most, accounting for about 45 percent of the state’s total.

When you take all the factors into account, the proposal to eliminate the Centralia power plant smells too much like the politics of pleasing a particularly small but vocal special interest – jobs, our energy grid and our economy be damned.

The Olympian editorial board, which previously had been a strong supporter of the Lewis County steam plant, had an opportunity to voice strong opposition to this nonsensical proposal. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

This is a time to rise up and stand by our local community and the families whose lives would be thrust into turmoil should the plant be forced to close its doors. Our hope is that cooler, more realistic heads prevail and this bill dies a deserved death in the Legislature. And we will do all within our power to make that happen.

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(Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, represents the 20th Legislative District which includes the Centralia power plant. Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, is the ranking Republican on the House Environment Committee.)

Rep. Short’s legislation urging Congress to adopt an ‘Honor and Remember Flag’ for fallen soldiers passes House

 

Legislation requesting Congress adopt an “Honor and Remember Flag” for fallen United States Armed Forces members passed the Washington State House of Representatives unanimously this week.

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, sponsored the measure at the behest of several constituents from her 7th Legislative District.

“This is something I was asked to do on behalf of folks in my district who have lost family members serving in the armed forces,” said Short.  “They are seeking a way to honor their sacrifice and to remember their service to our country.  The committee hearing and floor action on this bill were solemn, but I’m pleased we were able to get the bill through the first half of the legislative process.”

House Joint Memorial 4004 is part of a nationwide effort to have an “Honor and Remember Flag” displayed as an official flag on military holidays alongside the current United States flag and the Missing in Action/Prisoner of War flag.  The national campaign was started recently by the father of a soldier killed while serving in Iraq and has since spread to several states.

Short, who presented the bill in front of the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee earlier in the legislative session, said she’s cautiously optimistic about the future of her legislation.

“The bill is now before the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee,” Short said.  “I’ll be working with my colleagues in the Senate to get the bill passed through the process over there.  Frankly, there hasn’t been any opposition to this proposal.  Honoring and remembering those who have given their lives in service to our country and to protect the freedoms we all enjoy is something I think we can all support, no matter the political party.”

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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7698

Short e-newsletter: Feb. 4, 2011

Short

 

Dear friends and neighbors,

Here is a quick update on some of the issues we’re dealing with right now in Olympia.  As always, if you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  And please join me and Rep. Joel Kretz for our 7th District telephone town hall meeting next Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. (see box at end of e-newsletter for details)

Sincerely,

 

Rep. Shelly ShortRep. Short testities on HJM 4004

7th Legislative District

 

 

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Honor and Remember Flag

My bill to ask Congress to adopt an “Honor and Remember Flag” received a public hearing in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee this week.  House Joint Memorial 4004 is part of a nationwide effort to have an Honor and Remember Flag as a national flag honoring Armed Forces men and women who have died in the line of duty.  The flag would be added to the official United States flag displays on military holidays alongside the United States flag and the Missing in Action/Prisoner of War flag.  The national campaign was started recently by the father of a soldier killed while serving in Iraq.

I’m hopeful this bill will pass the Legislature and our state will join with many other states in making this official request to Congress.  A huge “thank you” (and a big hug) to Ginger Rhoades Bell from Colville for coming to Olympia to testify.  Ginger, the words you shared and the courage you displayed meant more to the committee members than you’ll ever know, and I can’t thank you enough for being a part of this effort.  Bless you.

 

Jobs and economy:

This Friday at 8 a.m., House Bill 1686, which would make changes to the state’s workers’ compensation insurance system, is tentatively scheduled for a public hearing. The bill was put forward by the governor. Senate Bills 5566, 5582 and 5583, which aim to address some of the problems in the system, were heard in the Senate Tuesday. While these proposals may be a good start to moving the financially uncertain and costly system in the right direction, they fall far short of any real reform. Both employers and employees pay into this system.

Also being debated are reforms to the unemployment insurance system. House Bill 1091 and Senate Bill 5135, proposals put forward by the governor, would begin to look at how to curb the steep yearly increases of unemployment insurance taxes. While these bills attempt to address Washington’s costly unemployment insurance system, which is 300 percent more expensive than the national average, they do not take any steps to create long-term fixes in the program, certainty for employers and security for those receiving the benefits. Labor groups are attempting to make this system even more costly by adding new benefits based on the number of dependents the recipient has. A vote on this bill may take place as soon as Monday, Feb. 7. Only employers pay into this system.

Rep. Cary Condotta, the Republican leader on labor and workforce issues, authored an informative guest column on our unemployment insurance system and the governor’s proposed fixes that was recently published in the Seattle Times.

Workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance taxes do not just impact employers. They also have a direct relation to job creation and retention. They also impact an employer’s ability to offer good benefits and pay increases, as well as to expand their operations.

 

Health care:

Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, and ranking Republican on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee, released a statement this week regarding a federal court’s ruling that President Obama’s health care legislation is unconstitutional. The case now moves to the next level of federal court, after which it will likely be heard by the United States Supreme Court. Schmick also introduced House Bill 1804, which would prohibit the use of state funds in the planning for, or implementation of, federal health care reform.

House Republicans’ priorities to improve our health care system have not changed: we need to address lawsuit reform, and we need more competition – more insurance carriers offering more plans – in the state marketplace. These reforms will create an environment where costs will go down and consumers will have more choices.

 

Sunshine in government:7thTeleforum (4)

The public expects budget negotiations and deliberations to be done in an open, transparent fashion. That’s why House Republicans put forward a proposal on the House floor this week that would require
the final budget document to sit for a full 72 hours before we vote on it. We believe allowing citizens and lawmakers time to review where $30 billion will be spent is critical to rebuilding trust in government.

While the majority party rejected this solution, we also offered another amendment to the rules that would allow 48 hours for the public and members to review the budget before a vote. Unfortunately, the Democrats told us that anything more than 24-hours notice was too difficult. It’s better than nothing, but in our view, it is not nearly enough time for you, us or anyone else to review such a complex documents as the state, transportation and capital budgets.

 

Fund education first:

According to our state constitution, education of the children within our borders is the “paramount duty” of the state. That’s why House Republicans offered a resolution on the floor to amend how we construct the state budget. Our proposal would have required budget writers to fund education first in the budget – before any money is spent on other state programs. Democrats, once again, rejected this proposal. House Republicans believe these tough budget times are the perfect opportunity to better prioritize spending.

Kretz, Short to host telephone town hall Feb. 10

7th District lawmakers encourage residents to participate, share views

Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short will host a one-hour town hall over the phone with their constituents Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m.  To participate, residents should call toll-free 1-877-229-8493 and then enter pin number 15429.

The legislators will again use this popular technology to communicate with constituents about the issues they’re facing in Olympia.  The event works much like a call-in radio show, where participants ask questions of Kretz and Short directly during the hour.

“We’re facing some very difficult choices in Olympia, and we want to make sure we connect with the folks back home in a way that is convenient and cost-effective as we make major decisions,” said Kretz, R-Wauconda and deputy House Republican leader. “We hosted a telephone town hall last session that was the best-attended call of any others. It was a huge success with hundreds of constituents on the line and asking questions. This is just one more way we can reach out to residents and hear their views.”

Last year, the 7th District representatives hosted a town hall phone call that exceeded their expectations. Constituent feedback was very positive on the format and ease of use.

“The participation we’ve had in past telephone town halls has been tremendous,” said Short, R-Addy.  “Citizens in our district are very involved in their communities and in local and state government issues.  I’m looking forward to hearing from folks back home and discussing common-sense solutions to the problems we face.”

Constituents who are unable to join the call are encouraged to call, e-mail or write the representatives. Kretz can be reached at joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7988. Short can be reached at shelly.short@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7908.

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For more information, contact Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252

OP-ED: Washington citizens deserve better than broken promises, budget gimmicks from Olympia

By Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short

It’s no secret Washington is in a financial hole. The current budget is still $600 million in deficit and the projected spending gap for the 2011-13 budget is nearing $5 billion. We believe it is past-time to take bold actions that put our state on solid financial footing. State government needs to get realistic about what we taxpayers can afford, and what we can’t.

The public expects state leaders to be straightforward and do what is best for the people of the state. Unfortunately, the majority party in Olympia is still doing cartwheels to keep all the “sacred cows” grazing.

It’s time for fresh ideas and solutions. That’s why we, along with our House Republican colleagues, offered an alternative budget plan that not only took a bigger bite out of the current spending gap, but would dramatically lessen the $5 billion shortfall in the next budget. While our proposal was sidelined by Democrats, here’s what the Everett Herald wrote in an editorial published on Jan. 25, 2011 about our spending adjustments:

“Rather than sitting on the sidelines complaining about the big-spending ways of majority Democrats, … Republicans stepped up and offered an alternative that set clearer priorities and dealt much more decisively with the tough budget realities lawmakers face.”

With the difficult challenges facing our families, employers and communities, we believe the citizens of this state deserve more than the proposals generated by one-party-rule in Olympia. Democrats, while holding the majority in the House and Senate along with the governor’s mansion, do not have a trademark on good ideas. That’s why we offered up solutions that embrace smaller government, more accountability and set clear priorities for government services. We know we can no longer avoid the realities of our budget situation.

The voters spoke loud and clear in November – they want government to live within its means, prioritize spending, and reduce its footprint. Despite this directive, Democrats again demonstrated their unwillingness to set priorities with the passage of Substitute House Bill 1086, dubbed the “early action” budget bill.

The truth is, the bill was neither “early” nor “action.” It’s more like a “delayed reaction.” As we have pointed out, the current budget problems have been building due to overspending since 2005. House Bill 1086 did not include any long-term solutions and continued their theme of kicking the tough financial decisions down the road. The legislation did not enact a single government reform or eliminate expensive programs we know we cannot afford in the future.

One of the worst elements of their proposal is that it retroactively de-funds schools’ K-4 enhancement programs, but it saves funding for General Assistance Unemployable (GAU) (recently renamed Disability Lifeline). Basically, the Democrat budget bill allowed the state to break a promise it made to our kids by asking for money back that most schools have already spent to hire teachers.

The state-funded GAU program is designed to serve as a temporary plan for those deemed “unemployable” (usually adult men with mental or substance-abuse issues) as they transition to social security. But there is already a federal program – General Assistance Expedited – that provides for this. The taxpayers in this state want us to end the duplicitous programs and streamline government services. We cannot continue to support this program at the expense of teachers in the classrooms.

Constituents should also know there is continued discussion among the majority party that levy equalization will be the next pot of money to be rolled into their budget “fix.” It is unacceptable to us that kids are forced to suffer due to the majority party’s poor spending habits. We will fight to protect education, levy dollars and the kids they serve.

We understand tough decisions are on the table, but we know you understand that we must look long-term and craft budget solutions that actually solve the problems, not further delay needed action. We hope you will contact us with your ideas and feedback as we work through the budget process this session.

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Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, serves as the deputy Republican leader in the House and can be reached at (360) 786-7988 or joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov. Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, is serving her second term as state representative and can be reached at (360) 786-7908 or shelly.short@leg.wa.gov.