Washington Conservative Union's Legislative Ratings

Senate Vote Descriptions (2005)

Promotes Strong Families

1. Oppose human cloning research. After the House deleted a prohibition on use of state funds for research on human cloning, SB 5581 returned to the Senate for final passage, passed the Senate 25-24 and became law. A “no” 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 was defeated in the Senate 24-25. 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 Senate 31-17 and became law. A “no” vote is a family-friendly vote.

Promotes Responsible, Taxpayer Friendly Fiscal Policies

4. 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 Senate 25-21 and became law. A “no” vote respects taxpayer- mandated limitations on taxes.

5. 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. SJR 8202 would permit property tax levies by a majority vote. The measure failed in the Senate 25-23. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

6. Oppose death taxes. SB 6096 reestablishes in Washington State the estate tax repealed by voter initiative in the 1980s. The measure passed the Senate 25-21 and became law. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

7. Oppose increase to gas tax. SB 6103 increases Washington’s gas tax fifteen cents over the next 11 years. The bill passed the Senate 26-22 and became law. A “no” vote is a taxpayer friendly vote.

Maintains a Responsible Criminal Justice System

8. 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 Senate 30-18 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

9. Preserve sound testing for accountability. HB 1068 eliminates norm-based testing. The bill passed Senate 27-22 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote for preserving educational standards.

10. 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 Senate 27-19 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote in favor of reasonable regulation of business.

11. 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 Senate 25-22 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote for job creation.

12. 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 Senate 29-19 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote to avoid costly regulations.

13. Avoid excessive “entitlements.” SB 5069 would have established a new tax on workers to fund a state-provided five week “family leave” for new children or sickness in the family. It passed the Senate 27-20 but died in the House. A “no” vote is a vote to keep Washington’s business climate healthy.

Recognizes Constitutional Protections

14. Reject “impact fees” that burden property rights. One of the ways governments restrict a property owner’s use of his property is to charge heavy “impact fees” for the right to develop. Under SB 5164, even the Department of Highways would have that power. The bill passed the Senate, 27-21 but died in the House. A “no” vote respects property rights.

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 22-25. A vote “yes” is a vote in favor of honest elections.

WASHINGTON STATE SENATE

Promotes Strong Families

1. Reject homosexuality as a protected class . HB 2661 expands the jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission to hear and adjudicate complaints about discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation.” The bill passed the Senate 25-23 and became law. A “no” vote is a pro-family vote.

2. Oppose Use of Medicaid for Sex Change Operations. An amendment to SB 6386 to prohibit use of Medicaid to finance sex-change operations passed Senate 32-12 but was removed from budget before final passage. A “yes” vote restricts scarce Medicaid funds to higher priority health care for Washington's poor.

Promotes Responsible, Taxpayer Friendly Fiscal Policies

3. Restrain Increase in State Spending . SB 6386 increases spending by $1.3 billion, in a spending budget that far exceeds “supplemental” spending. It passed Senate 26-17. A “no” vote supports prudent fiscal policies.

4. Preserve voter-approved spending limits. SB 6896 dealt with state employee pensions. An amendment to preserve Initiative 601 spending limits failed 22-26. A “yes” vote preserves the voter-approved spending limits and is a taxpayer friendly vote.

5. Oppose Tax Preference for Indian-owned Gas Stations. SB 6785 would reverse a court-established exemption for gas tax collected by gas stations on Indian reservations. Passed Senate 30-14 but failed in the House. A “yes” vote supports equality of taxpayers.

6. Avoid New State Entitlement Spending. HB 2572 establishes taxpayer subsidies to provide health insurance for small business. Passed Senate 25-23 and became law. A “no” vote opposes a special interest raid on the state treasury.

Maintains a Responsible Criminal Justice System

7. Avoid trivializing criminal law. SB 5160 would have prohibited driving while using a cell phone, whether resulting driving is affected or not. Passed Senate 28-19 and died in the House. A “no” vote opposed trivialization of the criminal law.

Fosters a sound educational system for Washington's youth

8. Oppose State Involvement in Parent-School District Disputes. HB 3127 creates the office of State Education Ombudsman to resolve disputes between parents and local school districts. Passed Senate 27-21 and became law. A “'no” vote opposes centralizing power in the state government.

Assures Limited Government/deregulation/privatization

9. Preserve consumer choice in the market place. SB 6508 interferes with market choices of consumers by requiring all diesel fuel to include 2% biodeisel Passed Senate 29-19 and became law. A “no” vote supports economic freedom.

10. Oppose Increased Government Regulation of Terms of Employment. SB 6185 Expands Family Medical Leave Act establishing required amounts of leave that must be provided for children, dependents and domestic partners. Passed Senate 37-17 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote in favor of letting businesses and employees set terms of employment.

11. Oppose Steps Toward State-Sponsored Health Insurance. SB 6197 creates a Council on Health Disparities to develop an action plan for eliminating “health disparities” among Washington citizens. Passed the Senate on final passage 38-10 and became law. A “no” vote opposes a step toward mandatory insurance plans.

Recognizes Constitutional Protections

12. Oppose Taxpayer-funded election campaigns. SB 6221 would have eliminated the voter-approved prohibition of use of public funds for local campaigns, including county, city, town, school district, and port district offices. The bill passed Senate 27-22 but died in the House. A “no” vote keeps the government out of supporting candidates for political office.

13. Oppose Limitations on First Amendment Freedoms. HB 1226 establishes campaign contribution limits for judicial races and county races in larger counties. Passed the Senate 36-11 and became law. A “no” vote opposes restriction of political speech.

SENATE TABULATION 2006

Promotes Strong Families

1. Reject homosexuality as a protected class. HB 2661 expands 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 and became law. A “no” vote is a pro-family vote.

2. Oppose taxpayer funded sex change operations. Amendment to SB 6386 to prohibit use of Medicaid to finance sex-change operations. Passed in House 64-32 but was removed from budget before final passage. A “no” vote restricts scarce Medicaid funds to higher priority health care for Washington 's poor.

Promotes Responsible, Taxpayer Friendly Fiscal Policies

3. Restrain Increase in State Spending. SB 6386 increases spending by $1.3 billion, in a spending budget that far exceeds “supplemental” spending. It passed House 55-43. A “no” vote supports prudent fiscal policies.

4. Preserve voter-approved spending limits. SB 6896 dealt with state employee pensions. An amendment to preserve Initiative 601 spending limits failed 47-51. A “no” vote preserves the voter-approved spending limits and is a taxpayer friendly vote.

5. Avoid New State Entitlement Spending. HB 2572 establishes taxpayer subsidies to provide health insurance for small business. Passed the House 56-42 and became law. A “no” vote opposes a special interest raid on the state treasury.

6. Oppose New Government Subsidy for Business. HB 1815 would have established state funding program for organizations that help small businesses. Passed House 69-29, but died in the Senate. A “no” vote opposes creation of one more taxpayer-subsidized interference in the market place.

Fosters a sound educational system for Washington's youth.

7. Oppose State Involvement in Parent-School District Disputes. HB 3127 creates the office of State Education Ombudsman to resolve disputes between parents and local school districts. Passed House 60-36 and became law. A “no” vote opposes centralizing power in the state government.

Assures Limited Government/deregulation/privatization

8. Preserve consumer choice in the market place. SB 6508 interferes with market choices of consumers by requiring all diesel fuel to include 2% biodiesel. Passed House 68-30 and became law. A “no” vote supports economic freedom.

9. Oppose Increased Government Regulation of Terms of Employment. SB 6185 expands Family Medical Leave Act establishing required amounts of leave that must be provided for children, dependents and domestic partners. Passed House 55-44 and became law. A “no” vote is a vote in favor of letting businesses and employees set terms of employment.

10. Oppose Steps Toward State-Sponsored Health Insurance. SB 6197 creates a Council on Health Disparities to develop an action plan for eliminating “health disparities” among Washington citizens. Passed the House on final passage 58-40 and became law. A “no” vote opposes a step toward mandatory insurance plans.

11. Oppose government mandates on hospital prices. HB 2574 would have required hospitals to charge uninsured patients based on patient's income. Passed House 60-38 and died in Senate. A “no” vote preserves freedom in the market place.

Recognizes Constitutional Protections

12. Oppose Limitations on First Amendment Freedoms. HB 1226 establishes campaign contribution limits for judicial races and county races in larger counties. Passed the House 56-40 and became law. A “no” vote opposes restriction of political speech.

13. Support Property Owner Rights. HB 2815 would have established new statewide “management recommendations” for use by local governments in regulating critical areas, thus, effectively, centralizing more land use restrictions at the state level. The bill passed the House 57-41 but died in the senate. A “no” vote opposes centralized land use decisions.