Y = Yes, N = No, E = Excused, X = Not Voting

House Bill 1000, HB 1000 – Concerning the voting process for overseas and service voters

HB 1000, which passed the House by a vote of 95 to 0, modifies the voting process for overseas and service voters. HB 1000 provides a county auditor with the authority to send overseas and service voters an official ballot via fax, e-mail or other electronic means. This measure would also allow the overseas or service voters to return the ballot by fax or e-mail, as long as the ballot contains the voter’s signature. In addition, overseas and service voters may request to receive all future ballots via fax, e-mail or other electronic means. HB 1000 is now before the Senate for further consideration.

5th District, Rep. Glenn Anderson, (R-Fall City), Y

5th District, Rep. Jay Rodne, (R-North Bend), E

41st District, Rep. Judy Clibborn, (D-Mercer Island), Y

41st District, Rep. Marcie Maxwell, (D-Renton), Y

Senate Bill 5135, SB 5135 – Making temporary changes to the Unemployment Insurance Program

SB 5135 modifies the Unemployment Insurance program which includes the approval of extended benefits for beneficiaries, as well as cost savings measures. SB 5135 also establishes a temporary calculation methodology to determine a beneficiary’s compensation under the program, including the use of three year look-back instead of two years. SB 5135, which passed the Senate by a vote of 46 to 1, is now in the House for further consideration.

5th District, Sen. Cheryl Pflug, (R-Maple Valley), Y

41st District, Sen. Steve Litzow, (R – Mercer Island), Y

House Bill 1086, ESHB 1086 – Adopting a 2009-10 Supplemental Operating Budget

ESHB 1086, which passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 9, provides additional savings in the 2009-11 biennial budget. The Senate modified ESHB 1086 by decreasing total state spending by approximately $394 million. Previously the House passed ESHB 1086, by a vote of 55 to 43, reducing the total state deficit by $345 million. The proposals to reduce state spending were accomplished by reducing spending across many state agencies and a series of fund transfers. The largest cuts under the Senates proposal are focused on Higher Education, Early Learning and the Department of Social Health Services. ESHB 1086 is now before the House for further consideration of the Senate’s amendments.

5th District, Sen. Cheryl Pflug, (R-Maple Valley), N

41st District, Sen. Steve Litzow, (R – Mercer Island), N

SOURCE: WashingtonVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website to find plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes. www.WashingtonVotes.org.