Washington Conservative Union's Legislative Ratings

Senate Vote Descriptions (2004)

Promotes Strong Families

1. Increase accountability of local library boards. SB 5150 provides for recall of library board trustees to assure that boards are responsive to their communities. The bill passed the Senate 25-23 but died in the House. A “yes” vote is in favor of respecting community standards of decency.

Promotes Responsible, Taxpayer Friendly Fiscal Policies

2. Adopt a Responsible Budget. SB 6187 proposed a $69 million supplemental budget, meeting necessary expenses while adding to the state’s budget reserve. It passed 28-21. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of prudent budgeting.

3. Adopt a Responsible Budget. HB 2459, the House-passed supplemental budget, appropriated $225 million for the current biennium. Many legislators wanted to spend even more. It passed the Senate 34-15. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of prudent budgeting.

4. Impose job-work requirements for welfare. SB 6559 would require capable welfare recipients to seek employment. It passed the Senate 29-18, but failed in the House. A “yes” vote supports taxpayer friendly policies.

Maintains a Responsible Criminal Justice System

5. Defend society against terrorist crimes. A proposed amendment to SB 6187 would have prevented the establishment of a database regarding eco-terrorism. The amendment failed 23-26. A vote against the amendment is a vote for responsible protection of Washington’s citizens.

Fosters a Sound Educational System for Washington’s Youth

6. Advance education choice. HB 2295 establishes a charter school system in Washington to provide alternatives for parents. The bill passed the House 51-46 and the Senate 27-22. A “yes” vote supports a sound educational system.

7. Support job creation. SB 5697 provides that the state’s automatic minimum wage increases will only occur when the state suffers high unemployment. The bill passed the Senate 27-22 but died in the House. A “yes” vote supports sound economic policies.

8. Reform medical malpractice law. SB 5728, the omnibus tort reform, includes ceilings on noneconomic damages. It passed the Senate 27-22 but died in the House. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of sound economic policies.

9. Reduce unsound regulations. An amendment to HB 2460 reduced the mandatory contents of health insurance policies for small employers. It was adopted 25-23. In a revised form it became law. A vote in favor of the amendment is a vote against excessive government interference in the marketplace.

10. Limit regulatory authority. SB 5053 prohibits agencies from adopting regulations that exceed federal standards without specific legislative authority. The bill passed the Senate 26-23 but died in the House. A “yes” vote supports limited government.

Recognizes Constitutional Protections

11. Respect rights of religious organizations. SB 6516 expanded the right of religious organizations to hold church and church camp property as tax exempt. It passed the Senate 40-9 but died in the House. A “yes” vote is a vote to respect constitutional rights.

12. Standardize fees on property use. SB 6587 restricted the power of local governments to impose onerous “impact” fees on property owners seeking to develop their land. It passed the Senate 30-19 but died in the House. A “yes” vote supports private property rights.

13. Respect freedom of contract. SB 6519 would have overridden an overreaching Seattle city ordinance restricting the right of property owners to use billing services to collect utility costs. The bill passed 40-8 but died in the House. A “yes” vote is a vote in favor of freedom of contract.

House Vote Descriptions (2005)

Promotes Strong Families

1. Oppose human cloning research. In SB 5581 an amendment would have reinstated a Senate prohibition of the use of state funds for research on human cloning. The amendment failed 40-53, and the bill became law. A “yes” vote supports respect for life.

2. Reject homosexuality as a protected class. HB 1515 would have expanded the jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission to hear and adjudicate complaints about discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation.” The bill passed the House 61-37. A “no” vote is a pro-family vote.

3. Permit state monopoly sales of liquor on Sundays. HB 1379 requires certain liquor stores to be open on Sunday. It passed the House 62-34 and became law. A “no” vote is a family-friendly vote.

4. Reject mandatory sex education classes. HB 1282 would have required every school district to provide sex education including a range of family planning options. The bill passed the House 61-36 but died in the Senate. A “no” vote supports parental control over values education.

Promotes Responsible, Taxpayer Friendly Fiscal Policies

5. Respect voter-approved limitations on tax and spending. SB 6078 eliminates requirement for a two-thirds vote to raise taxes adopted by the voters in prior initiative 601. Passed the House 50-43 and became law. A “no” vote respects taxpayer mandated limitations on taxes.

6. Preserve Levy Limitations. The state constitution protects property owners by requiring that special property tax levies may be imposed only by a 60% majority of the voters. HJR 4205 would permit property tax levies by a majority vote. The measure passed the House 73-25. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

7. Oppose death taxes. SB 6096 establishes in Washington State the estate tax repealed by voter initiative in the 1980s. The measure passed the House 50-48 and became law. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

8. Oppose gas tax increase. SB 6103 increases Washington's gas tax fifteen cents over the next 11 years. The bill passed the House 54-43 and became law. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

Maintains a Responsible Criminal Justice System

9. Avoid Trivial Regulations. HB 1615 makes it a crime to drive a car in which stereo equipment (but not other equipment) is not tied down. It passed the House 82-16 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote against petty criminalization by an overactive state.

Fosters a Sound Educational System for Washington's Youth

10. Support objective history classes. HB 1495 would have required school districts to defer to local Indian tribes to determine the content of curricula dealing with tribal history. It passed the House 78-18, but the objectionable provisions were removed in the Senate. A “no” vote is a vote for objective educational standards.

Assures Limited Government/deregulation/privatization

11. Avoid excessive requirements on public contracts. SB 5097 increases the cost of construction on public works projects by mandating use of “apprentices” beyond what would be required for the job. The bill passed House 58-40 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote in favor of reasonable regulation of business.

12. Avoid unreasonable taxation of business. HB 2255 rescinds a careful balance in calculating unemployment taxes between seasonal and full year workers and makes Washington a less competitive place for employers. It passed the House 57-38 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote for job creation.

13. Oppose costly and questionable emission standards. HB 1397 adopts California emission standards for cars, increasing the cost of cars and hurting Washington consumers. It passed the House 53-42 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote to avoid costly regulations.

14. Support economic freedom. HB 2257 would grant broad discretion to state agencies to consider “the best interests of the state” as well as cost and quality in awarding contracts, in an effort to prevent use of foreign suppliers. Passed the House 61-35 but died in the Senate. A “no” vote supports economic freedom.

Recognizes Constitutional Protections

15. Require election law integrity. An amendment to SB 5499 would have required that an applicant for voter registration show proof of citizenship. The amendment failed 43-53. A vote “yes” is a vote in favor of honest elections.