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Friday, February 1, 2013

Olympia Republicans Proposing Amendments to State House Rules to Cement Republican Agenda

Posted by Goldy on Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 11:19 AM

Coming in midstream, I'm not sure exactly how they got to this issue, as they're supposed to be debating the adoption of permanent rules, but the state House just completed debate on an amendment that would have required a two-thirds supermajority for approval of tax increases. From what I gather, it was an amendment to the rules, not a constitutional amendment. In either case, it failed 41-52, with five members abstaining.

Up now is a proposal to embed in House rules the Republicans' "fund education first" agenda, which would require that K-12 education be fully funded in a separate budget before any other appropriations. Great propaganda, but it's really just a clever ruse to dramatically slash social services, since there wouldn't be nearly enough money left. Democrats aren't (very) stupid, so I suppose this amendment will fail too.

If you're interested, you too can watch the live TVW stream, and experience the excitement. Or whatever.

UPDATE: Meanwhile in the state Senate, the members are debating a bill allowing open ended "structured" (i.e. lump sum) settlements for workers compensation claims. This, of course, is the Rodney Tom led Republican majority's main priority: fucking the interests of workers on behalf of Republicans' corporate patrons. You can watch this for yourself too. If you're a glutton for punishment. (Oops, too late, Senate adjourned until 12 noon on Monday.)

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Comments (4) RSS

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Rules are established each session by each house.

Rules Committee is where the power is. Everything else is meaningless twaddle, intended for gullible MSM reporters to get excited at on TV or in print.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on February 1, 2013 at 11:28 AM

Yawn.

Somehow fiscal sanity is considered a bad thing with Goldy. That agenda will protect everyone, not just a special interests...

Posted by GeneStoner on February 1, 2013 at 12:28 PM

Who abstained?

Posted by Joe Szilagyi

on February 1, 2013 at 2:10 PM

Why do Republicans hate our State Constitution? Article II, Section 22:

No bill shall become a law unless on its final passage the vote be taken by yeas and nays, the names of the members voting for and against the same be entered on the journal of each house, and a majority of the members elected to each house be recorded thereon as voting in its favor.

Confidential to Republicans: majority is different (and less than) two-thirds.

Posted by kk in seattle on February 1, 2013 at 5:44 PM