WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Legislative News, March 15, 2013

Telephone Town Hall, Tuesday March 19th at 6:15

Households across the 32nd Legislative District will receive a phone call on Tuesday March 19th at around 6:15 p.m. from Rep. Kagi and Rep. Ryu. If you choose to stay on the line, you can participate in a one hour town hall-style discussion.

Households who do not automatically receive a phone call invite can still participate by calling toll-free 1.877.229.8493 and entering the ID code 18646#.

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Flash Mob Story Time

Rep. Kagi at story time
Photo courtesy Moms Rising

On Monday, I took a break from floor action to join a group of preschoolers and their parents for story time. It was wonderful to see interested, energized young children in the Rotunda.

The parents all understood how important it is that they read to their children. Parents are children’s first and most important teacher. That’s why it is so critical that we provide support for families so they have the information and help they need to give their kids a good start.

I want to thank the organizers, Moms Rising for organizing this event, and for the attention they bring to the importance of early learning in our state. Every child deserves story time.

Cover Your Load! HB 1007 Passes the House

We all want safe roads. Yet every year, there are injuries and accidents caused by unsecured loads. That’s why I’ve made road safety one of my legislative priorities.

In 2005, I sponsored “Maria’s Law,” named after Maria Federici, who was blinded and disfigured when a piece of furniture fell from a trailor and flew through her car windshield. Maria’s Law concerned unsecured loads, but it didn’t deal with rocks and gravel, which also can be hazardous, especially to motorcyclists. HB 1007 picks up where Maria’s Law left off, further improving road safety for the traveling public by requiring that gravel, sand, and other dump trucks to cover their loads.

HB 1007 is headed over to the Senate Transportation Committee where it will have a public hearing on Tuesday. Nobody likes a dinged windshield or chipped paint on their car. It’s time we make sure that all loads are secured.

Youth Opportunites Act Passes House Unanimously

In my last newsletter, I highlighted a bill that I am very proud to have sponsored. The “Youth Opportunities Act” requires that the criminal records of juveniles be kept confidential, except for all serious violent and sex offenses. Under current law, Washington sells these records–a deplorable practice–and one that I’m hopeful we will be ending soon. We should not create barriers to rehabilitation and reintegration for juvenile offenders.

I’m pleased to report that HB 1651 passed the House unanimously. Now it’s on to the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee. I hope my colleagues in the Senate will concur with the House and that we send this bill to Governor Inslee soon to sign into law.

The advocates supporting HB 1651 have put together a brief video which shows the people whose lives have been impacted by this policy. I recommend you take a look. Click on the picture below or copy and paste the link.

 

Let’s give Washington’s youth a fair shake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuO3JC-B5UQ

Universal Background Checks

It was an enormous disappointment that the House was unable to pass the universal background check bill to ensure that anyone buying a gun has to pass a background check. To me this is a basic public safety issue. Our laws require a background check when a person buys a gun from a dealer; felons and many seriously mentally ill people will not pass a background check. But anyone can purchase a gun from a private party or gun show without the check. Michael Boysen, the man who killed his grandparents earlier this week, was surfing the net looking for a gun show so he could purchase a gun. We should all be grateful that the police were able to capture him before he was able to make that purchase. Our current laws would not have stopped him from buying a gun from a gun show or private party.