The Current | February 14, 2014

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The Current

An update on your citizen Legislature • February 14, 2014


Rep. Dan Kristiansen

Letter from Leadership

The busiest week of the 2014 legislative session is coming to a close. We were on the House floor the last five days, passing legislation that is now headed to the Senate.

This coming Tuesday is house of origin cutoff, meaning bills must advance out of the House or Senate or they are considered "dead." The only exceptions are bills necessary to implement the operating, capital and transportation budgets.

As you probably know, Governor Inslee surprised everyone this week by declaring a moratorium on capital punishment in our state for as long as he's in office. Many of us have concerns about this decision, including the pain it is causing victims' families. The timing was poor too, as state lawmakers are in the middle of the legislative session trying to address the issues that people care about most. The governor's action was a distraction from these priorities.  

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus (SMCC) also rolled out its transportation tax package on Thursday, but it was not well received by Democrats. You can learn more here and watch the SMCC's news conference here.

Have a restful weekend.

In your service,
Rep. Dan Kristiansen
39th District
House Republican Leader


In the news

“I think his (Inslee) decision has prolonged my agony, not shortened it. It’s reopened a lot of wounds.” 

- Frank Holden, whose 12-year-old daughter Cassie was murdered by Jonathan Lee Gentry on June 13, 1988. Learn more here.


Rep. Norma Smith

Latino Legislative Day

Rep. Norma Smith (pictured above) talks to participants of Latino Legislative Day at the Capitol on Monday. Learn more about the event here.


Republican women at the Capitol


Secretary of State Kim Wyman (pictured above) talks to a group of Republican women visiting the Capitol on Monday. 


Dead or alive list update

Find the latest "dead or alive" list here. We will continue to keep this link updated for you. 


Media avail

We held our weekly media availability event with the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus on Wednesday. One of the topics we covered was the transportation tax package.


The week ahead

This week included a lot of House floor action; next week we will see a lot of committee action and the consideration of Senate bills. Find out what's going on next week here.


Thank you, Congressman Hastings

Congressman Doc Hastings, who beat Jay Inslee in the 4th Congressional District in 1994, announced he will not seek reelection this year. Thank you for your 20 years of service Congressman Hastings!

News conference

Victims' families hurt, outraged by governor's moratorium on death penalty  

In a surprise move Tuesday, Governor Inslee announced he will place a moratorium on the death penalty in our state as long as he is in office. The announcement drew a response from victims' families who were hurt and outraged by the decision and prosecutors who were upset they were not consulted.  

For more information on the convicted murderers who may benefit from the governor's decision, click here.

Rep. Jay Rodne, ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, released this statement Tuesday. He joined Sens. Steve O'Ban and Kirk Pearson (pictured above, left to right) at a news conference Wednesday to share their various concerns about the governor's decision, including the safety of correctional officers. You can watch the event here.

Sen. O'Ban also introduced Senate Bill 6566, which would prevent the governor from issuing a moratorium without first going through the clemency and pardons board.


Low-carbon fuel standards 

Are you ready to pay up to a dollar more for a gallon of gas? You might be forced to eventually if the governor gets his way on the issue of low-carbon fuel standards.

In this Inside Olympia TVW interview, Sen. Doug Ericksen, chair of the Senate Energy, Environment and Telecommunications Committee, explains how low-carbon fuel standards have failed in California and why they would be harmful for our state. You can also compare and contrast Republican and Democratic solutions for the environment from the same interview here

This report, from a consultant selected by the governor and Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup, explains how low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS) would cost jobs, decrease revenue and increase the price of a gallon of gas. On page 76, it says: "Using proprietary models, the BCG forecast potentially dire economic consequences from the California LCFS including a loss of 28,000 to 51,000 jobs, a loss of $4.4 billion in tax revenue and between $0.33 and $1.06 in costs per gallon."

Oregon's governor said yesterday that he plans to move forward on a low-carbon fuels program since legislation failed. Stay tuned.