Cleaning up our own house is priority number one
The Washington state House of Representatives took its first vote of the year last Thursday, which aimed at protecting the legislative community from sexual harassment and bullying. The problem of harassment festered in the Legislature for decades until more than 200 women in the legislative community came together to sign a “Stand With Us” letter. Since then, the Legislature has taken significant steps to end this culture of harassment, including creating the House Workgroup on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment, which I served on along with my colleague Rep. Nicole Macri. Last week’s vote saw the House unanimously pass House Concurrent Resolution 4401 establishing the Legislature’s Code of Conduct.
From now on, all members of the legislative community — legislators, staff, and people who conduct business with the legislature — are expected to:
- Conduct themselves with self-awareness, self-respect, and professionalism;
- Treat all others with respect, dignity and civility, regardless of status or position;
- Refrain from engaging in hostile, intimidating, offensive, or unlawful activities or behaviors that may amount to discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or bullying.
As Rep. Macri said during her floor speech, “If we can’t protect our staff here in the House and Senate, then we have no moral authority to legislate how any other employer should protect their workers.”
I was proud to vote for this resolution to create a workplace where everyone is treated with respect.
Continuing Dr. King’s work
Every year, the state House of Representatives gathers together to honor the life, work, and memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The speeches that lawmakers give are important – they remind us of the work that has been done and the work that remains. We have made significant progress in the fight for equality and justice, but that fight is far from over. As our country wrestles with turmoil over race, police violence against communities of color, policies that impact the ability of working families to earn a good wage, and much more, Washington state legislators have to remain focused on how we can improve our state and local communities. I don’t have every answer but I am proud to join my colleagues as we work together to put people first.
Collaboration leads to consensus on deadly force initiative
When police shoot or kill someone, and the law doesn’t offer a clear path to justice for the victim, it does damage to the community, to the reputation of law enforcement, and to the notion of justice. For years, communities, especially communities of color, have been frustrated by the outcomes of interactions between police and members of the community. There have been too many instances where people in a mental health crisis end up injured or dead instead of receiving help.
Last fall voters approved Initiative 940, which updates Washington’s statute on police use of deadly force. While I-940 was a great step forward in repairing the trust between the public and law enforcement, there are provisions that need to be more defined. Last session, community groups and representatives of law enforcement worked with lawmakers on language to clarify and strengthen the initiative.
Before the 2019 session began, that coalition of stakeholders called on the Legislature to move quickly and pass the clarifying and strengthening language agreed upon last year. That language is mirrored in House Bill 1064, which was introduced this session by my colleague, Rep. Roger Goodman. Together, I-940 and HB 1064 will improve public safety and interactions between police and the communities they serve by providing law enforcement with the tools to carry out their difficult jobs, while ensuring that victims of unnecessary violence can get justice.
I’m pleased to report that HB 1064 passed the House last week on a unanimous vote!
As always, feel free to reach out if you have comments, questions, or ideas.
Sincerely,
Rep. Strom Peterson