2006 supplemental budget. By a vote of 55 to 43 in the House and 29 to 19 in the Senate on March 8, the legislature approved SB 6386. The finalized 2006 supplemental budget adds $522 million in spending, raising the total 2005-07 biennium budget to $26.5 billion. The budget increases spending in a number of areas, including health care subsidies, teacher pay, and unfunded pension liabilities. The budget also puts away nearly $1 billion in earmarked reserves for planned spending in specific areas. The budget is awaiting the governor's signature or veto. West Seattle Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe McDermott voted Yes.

Increasing state spending limit and earmarking reserve funds. By a vote of 25 to 22 in the Senate on March 6 and 51 to 47 in the House on March 7, the legislature approved SB 6896. The bill would raise the state spending limit to allow for an increase in spending in the 2005-07 biennium. The bill also appropriates several hundred million dollars into specific reserve accounts for health care, education and pension spending in the 2007-09 biennium. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature or veto.

Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe McDermott voted Yes.

Increasing penalties for DUI. By a vote of 45 to 0 on March 7 and 98 to 0 on March 8, the legislature approved HB 3317. The bill would make a person's 5th offense of driving under the influence of alcohol a felony, subject to 22 months in jail and mandatory treatment while incarcerated. The bill is effective starting July 2007. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature or veto. West Seattle Sen. Erik Poulsen and Reps. Cody and McDermott all voted Yes.

Subsidizing health insurance for employees of small businesses. By a vote of 25 to 23 on March 8, the Senate approved HB 2572. The bill would provide premium subsidies to eligible employees who are employed by a small business that offers health coverage equivalent to the state Basic Health Plan. The small business will pay at least 40% of the monthly premium cost for the employee. The Senate had approved an earlier version of the bill that would have provided subsidies to employees who have Health Savings Account plans, would have removed Health Savings Account plans from the community rating pool, and would have loosened state regulations to allow health insurers to offer more affordable health plans. The House voted 56 to 42 to remove those amendments. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature and veto. Poulsen voted Yes.

Requiring the recycling of electronic products. By a vote of 38 to 11 on March 6 the Senate approved SB 6428. The bill requires manufacturers of computer monitors, desktop computers, laptop or portable computers, and televisions used in Washington to participate in and pay for the recycling of their products. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature or veto. Poulsen voted Yes.

Alternatives to the WASL. By a vote of 38 to 8 on March 6, the Senate approved the final version of SB 6475. The bill would establish 3 alternative ways of assessing student performance and aptitude. 1) a comparison of the student's grades to the grades of a group of students in the same school who took the same courses, but who met or slightly exceeded the state standard on the high school WASL; 2) an evaluation of a collection of work samples or collection of evidence; 3) a collection of work samples submitted by students in an state-approved career and technical program. The bill would also allow a student's score on the mathematics portion of certain college entrance examinations to be used as an alternative assessment to the WASL for high school graduation. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature or veto. Poulsen voted Yes.

Puget Sound Regional Transportation Commission. By a vote of 38 to 7 in the Senate of March 7 and 70 to 28 in the House on March 8, the legislature approved HB 2871. The bill would create a Puget Sound Regional Transportation Commission for Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties. The commission would develop a regional transportation plan for approval by the legislature in 2007, and would develop a funding package to be submitted to voters for approval or rejection. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature or veto. Poulsen, McDermott and Cody voted Yes.

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