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

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 Short

7th Legislative District

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:

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.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Here is a quick budget update on floor action that happened this week.  I’ll continue to send these snapshots in an effort to keep you informed about the process, contents and outcomes of the various budget proposals and ideas being considered in the Legislature.  I hope these periodic updates help you better understand the budget decisions being made in Olympia – decisions that will have an impact on you, your family, your job and your communities.

As usual, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office.  It is a pleasure serving you in Olympia.

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District

Substitute House Bill 1086 – not “early action” but “delayed reaction”

House Democrats passed a budget proposal Monday that includes $222 million in reductions and $58.6 million in fund transfers.  In total, the budget bill reduces the nearly $600 million shortfall for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year by about $346 million.  Not one House Republican voted for the bill.  Here’s why:

The Democrat proposal is not transparent and continues to fuel public mistrust:

• The public expects straightforward budgeting with no gimmicks and no backroom deals to raise fees.
  • The proposal put forth by the majority party includes reauthorization language for 10 different fee increases.  We believe the voters have spoken on the matter of fee increases.  If budget writers want to raise fees, separate legislation should be introduced for each fee and the appropriate policy committees should add their input with public comment.
• An honest, transparent budget does not push spending into the next biennium while claiming it as “savings” today.
  • There is a special education safety net award that usually comes onto the books in the spring.  SHB 1086 includes language to push the accounting for that allocation past the June 30 biennial line, thus creating fictional “savings” in the current budget.
• Their proposal is unsustainable and fails to prioritize and reform state government.
  • We need to eliminate entire programs in the next two-year operating budget.  Why not do it now and capture those savings?  Why pay for programs today that we can’t afford tomorrow?
  • We must use this as an opportunity to reduce the size of government rather than simply chipping away at programs until they become completely ineffective.
• Education is bearing the unnecessary brunt of “business as usual” because sacred cows continue to graze.
  • Their proposal retroactively takes money away from schools ($42 million), removes teachers from classrooms, punishes school districts for budgeting responsibly, and continues a theme of broken promises the majority party has perpetuated in past budgets.

The chart below shows that over 27 percent of the House Democrat budget proposal is taken from public schools.  This is not protecting our state constitutional mandate.  We can do better.

 HRC Solution

House Republicans offered a striking amendment on the House floor that included $253 million in non-gimmick reductions and fewer fund transfers.  Our proposal would have reduced the current budget shortfall by about $363 million.

The House Republican budget solution protects education and promotes long-term solutions by eliminating entire programs like General Assistance Unemployable (GAU), recently rebranded as Disability Lifeline, and the Basic Health Plan.  It also lessens the impacts to long-term care facilities.

• Our proposal does not touch the K-4 teacher enhancement dollars that are taken by the majority party’s proposal.  We don’t believe you take back funds that have already been budgeted and used to hire new teachers.  Where are school districts supposed to get this money?  And how can they budget in the future if they have to continue looking over their shoulders at the Legislature to see if promised funds are scheduled to be “recalled?”

• GAU is a state-funded program designed to provide temporary assistance to those deemed unemployable as they transition onto Social Security.  However, there is currently a federal program (General Assistance Expedited) that does this.  Taxpayers expect the Legislature to end duplicitous programs and streamline the delivery of services.

Simply put, the HRC solution begins the process of sustainable, accountable and transparent budgeting.  We are willing to make the necessary decisions to eliminate entire programs because we understand it puts us in a much better position heading into the next two-year operating budget.

Dear friends and neighbors,

We are two weeks into the 2011 session and things are moving fast and frantic.  I have once again been chosen by my colleagues to serve as the ranking Republican on the House Environment Committee.  I’m also the assistant ranking Republican on the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee and I serve on the Education Appropriations Committee and the Rules Committee.  (The Rules Committee determines which bills come to the House floors for consideration by the full house.")

The main issue again this year is the nearly-$5 billion budget shortfall for the 2011-13 biennium.  Previous budget deficits were solved with one-time bailout money from the federal government, a smattering of tax increases, fund transfers and delayed payments.  Many of my colleagues and I disagreed with these short-sighted, unsustainable tactics and warned that we would continue to have budget problems unless we come up with long-term, sustainable solutions.  And here we are again – only this year, there is no federal bailout money and the taxpayers have once again (and rightly so) said ‘no’ to new taxes.

While some are shrinking away from the very difficult decisions that need to be made in Olympia, I believe this is an incredible opportunity to reset government. This session can’t just be about the numbers on a calculator; if we fail to fundamentally change the way government does business we’ll be right down this road again in the very near future.

 Getting families working again

To me, one of the highest priorities this session must be getting people back to work.

The budget, and getting government spending under control, will take a huge amount of our time and efforts.  But we must not forget the people that have been impacted these last few years by the recession.  We need to keep them at the forefront of our decisions in Olympia and implement policies that remove barriers for entrepreneurs.  We need to give employers a chance to lead us out of our economic malaise and enable you to go back to work.

I hope you’ll contact me with your thoughts and ideas throughout the session on how we can balance our budget and help get people back to work.  It is an honor to represent your voice in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District

Feb. 11, 2010

Dear Friends,

While you are hard at work trying to make ends meet, the Democratic majority is working hard to increase your taxes. This weekend you have the opportunity to tell them exactly what you think about their plans to take more of your hard-earned money.

Folks, we are in a fight for our State, Counties, Cities, and the taxpayers of this State. The Washington State Senate Democrats voted to eliminate the 2/3 majority needed to pass a tax increase. This was done by rescinding the will of the people that passed I-960. Last night the Senate lost a two day battle by a vote of 26-22. The House is preparing for this fight in the House of Representatives. It only takes 50 votes in the house to overturn the taxpayer protections act (I-960).

Today WE NEED YOUR HELP. We need to activate republicans, tea party members, conservative and moderate independents, chambers of commerce, businesses, and people that don’t want to pay more in taxes. We need to be clear; this is being done so the majority democrats can push tax increase after tax increase upon us. WE HAVE TO BE UNITED NOW MORE THAN EVER. This battle will begin anytime now and possibly last through the weekend. Please spread this email to your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

THINGS YOU CAN DO:

1. Call or Email the following state representatives asking them to vote against SB 6130:

Rep. Ross Hunter – (360) 786-7936 (Chair of the House Finance Committee)

Rep. Bob Hasegawa – (360) 786-7862 (Vice Chair of the House Finance Committee)

Rep. Mark Ericks – (360) 786-7900 (Member of House Finance Committee)

Rep. Steve Conway – (360) 786-7906 (Member of House Finance Committee)

Rep. Larry Springer – (360) 786-7822 (Member of House Finance Committee)

Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos – (360) 786-7944 (Member of House Finance Committee)

2. Come to Olympia on Saturday, Feb. 13 for a 9:00 AM public hearing on the SB 6130 in the House Finance Committee (House Hearing Room A) and then sit in the Gallery in the afternoon to show your support of taxpayer protections.

My colleagues and I look forward to your assistance as we fight to keep taxpayer protections in place.

Sincerely,

Rep. Shelly Short, 7th District

Jan. 20, 2010

Dear Friends and neighbors,

I’ve found these email updates to be a great way to reach you and other constituents with important news and information affecting our district and state. But election year restrictions limit my ability to send out these e-newsletters unless you agree to continue receiving them.

If you want to continue receiving these emails, do nothing and we will keep you on the list. If you do not wish to continue receiving this email update, please reply to this e-mail and we will remove your name from this list.

YOU ARE INVITED – TELEPHONE TOWN HALL WITH 7th DISTRICT REPS

Rep. Joel Kretz and I are hosting a telephone town hall next Monday, Jan. 25 at 7:00 p.m.  To participate, callers should call toll-free 1-877-229-8493 and then enter pin number 15429.

This is a great way to touch base with you during the busy session from the convenience and comfort of your own home.  Joel and I look forward to hearing from as many as possible.  We face many difficult issues in Olympia and it will take ideas and solutions from everyone.  Please participate if you are able.

SESSION

The 2010 legislative session has begun.  Over the next 60 days, legislators will introduce legislation and debate the merits of policy changes that will absolutely have an effect on you and your family.  I encourage you to stay involved and continue to voice your opinions via phone calls, e-mails and letters.  I am here to represent you and your interests in Olympia.  Your input makes a difference and helps me serve you better.

BUDGET & TAXES

Less than a year ago, state legislators closed a $9 billion budget hole with one-time bailout money from President Obama, budget fund transfers, and some program closures or delays.  But because there was no fundamental reform of government services, the 2010 Legislature is once again faced with a budget hole – this time, around $2.6 billion.

To deal with this shortfall, the majority party and the governor have openly discussed a tax package which includes a tax on candy, gum, muffins, and professional services.  There has also been talk of an increase in the cigarette tax and creation of a new state income tax.

I want you to know that I do not support tax or fee increases as a solution to our state’s budget problem.  Families and employers are struggling and making do with less – they are not operating in the same way with the same resources as before.  State government cannot expect to continue in the same way, either.  True reforms are needed to ensure stability in our state budget.  For more information on our budget ideas, click here.

JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

I strongly believe that it will be the private sector and the innovation, courage and entrepreneurial spirit of small and large employers that will lead our state and country out of this recession.  Government – at all levels – needs to get out of the way and let employers create and retain jobs!

I am joining with my House Republican colleagues in proposing a plan to make “Made in Washington” mean something again.  The main components of this plan include workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance reforms for employers; regulatory relief to help ease costly and burdensome regulations; health care reforms to reduce costs and increase access; and increasing our affordable (and RENEWABLE) energy supply.

Government needs to be doing everything it can – exhausting every option – to making changes needed to get people working again.  The counties in the 7th Legislative District have some of the highest unemployment rates in the state.  And I know from visiting with many of you this past year – you’re looking for a hand up, not a hand out.  You want a job – you want to work in order to provide for your families.  Every decision I make in Olympia this year will be with that key thought in mind.

For more information on our Made in Washington plan, click here.

10th AMENDMENT – STATES’ RIGHTS

I had the privilege last week to stand in support of States’ rights and the 10th Amendment at a rally on the Capitol steps.  The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that any rights not given to the federal government, or prohibited by the states, are expressly given to the states and the people.  With the direction the federal government is going on issues like nationalized health care, cap and trade, and other environmental policies, there is a growing grass-roots movement taking a stand.

While I wasn’t one of the featured speakers at the rally (Rep. Matt Shea from Spokane Valley did a GREAT job!), I was proud to be a part.  It was great to see many folks from the 7th District in attendance.

I’ve also joined with other members of the House Republican Caucus in sponsoring many of the ‘10th Amendment bills,’ which includes legislation dealing with self-defense, greenhouse gas emissions and ‘cap and trade,’ firearms, state sovereignty, presidential elections, and the initiative and referendum
processes.

I want to thank you again for reading my e-newsletter and for being involved in your government.  Without your participation, the “We the People” part of the equation goes missing – to the detriment of our families and our communities.  Remember, I work for you.  If you have a question or concern, or would like to share your ideas about some of the issues we’re facing today, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  It is an honor to represent you.

Sincerely,

                                                   Rep. Shelly Short, 7th District