Y = Yes N = No E = Excused NV = Not Voting

Constitutional Amendment for School Levies

By a vote of 74 to 23 on Jan. 23, the House approved House Joint Resolution 4205, which proposes to amend the state constitution to allow a simple majority of voters to approve school levies. Current law calls for a 60 percent majority to authorize levies. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate, where it must also receive a 60 percent majority to pass.

Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) - Y

Rep. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle) - Y

Increasing medical license fees and bed taxes

By a vote of 73 to 24 on Jan. 23, the House approved HB 1291. The bill increases the licensing fee for 15 different health care professionals by $2, and places a $2 surcharge on each bed licensed in acute care and psychiatric hospitals. The bill also requires that 1 percent of attorneys' fees collected in medical malpractice cases where the plaintiff received money in a settlement or judgment be paid to the Department of Health. All revenues will be used for grants, loans and other arrangements that "support efforts to reduce medical errors and enhance patient safety." The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) - Y

Rep. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle) - Y

Medical malpractice

By a vote of 54 to 43 on Jan. 23, the House approved HB 2292. The lengthy bill would make numerous changes to state law regarding health care practices and discipline, including protecting apologies and reports of unprofessional conduct, health care provider disciplining standards, and disclosure of adverse events. The bill regulates the medical malpractice insurance industry by requiring closed claim reporting, changing underwriting standards and cancellation or non-renewal of policies, and requires state approval of insurance rates. The bill also changes the health care liability system, changes the statute of limitations, expert witnesses, certificates of merit, offers of settlement, voluntary arbitration, collateral sources, and frivolous suits. The bill is now under consideration in the Senate.

Rep. Eileen Cody (D-West Seattle) - Y

Rep. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle) - Y

Discrimination based on sexual orientation

By a vote of 25 to 23 on Jan. 27, the Senate approved HB 2661. Introduced at the request of Gov. Gregoire, the bill would prohibit discrimination against a person based on their sexual orientation in employment, in credit and insurance transactions, in places of public resort, accommodation or amusement, and in real property transactions. For these purposes, "Sexual orientation" means heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and gender expression or identity. As used in this definition, "gender expression or identity" means having or being perceived as having a gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior, or expression, whether or not it is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned to that person at birth. The bill passed the House 60 to 37 on Jan. 20, and is awaiting the governor's signature.

Sen. Erik Poulsen (D-West Seattle) - Y

Streamlined sales tax

By a vote of 48 to 0 on Jan. 25, the Senate approved SB 6594. The bill would implement many provisions of the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, a multi-state effort to simplify state sales and use tax structures and make them more uniform. The ultimate goal of the agreement is to remove the price advantage of purchasing in areas with lower or no sales taxes. The bill is now under consideration in the House of Representatives.

Sen. Erik Poulsen (D-West Seattle) - Y

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