[WCADP-list] Legislative Update

[wcadp-list at lists.drizzle.com]

Hello!

It is with great excitement that I report that BOTH of our Task Force Study
Bills (HB 1518 and SB 5786) have **passed out of their respective Judiciary
Committees in both Houses!** In both houses, all Democrats voted yes and all
Republicans voted no.

Unfortunately, neither of the mental illness bills will be voted on this
year (committee cutoff is tomorrow). In the Senate, this is because we did
not have the votes to pass it (all Repubilcans and Senator Hargrove (D-24)
did not support.) We DO believe that we had the votes to pass it in the
House Committee. However, it is our understanding that leadership in the
House did not want this bill to move this year.

Such is way of politics. We are well-poised to introduce it again next year
(and we will). Do not despair - remember that it takes about 5 years for
bills like this to pass. Much work and education needs to be done, member by
member. We'll get this one done.

NEXT STEP FOR THE TASK FORCE BILLS:

THESE BILLS MUST BE HEARD AND VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE/HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE by MONDAY, MARCH 5TH.

Please call AND email the Chairs of these Committees and Urge a Hearing and
a Vote by Monday.

Chair of Senate Ways and Means: Senator Margarita Prentice. 

prentice.margarita at leg.wa.gov. 360-786- 7616. (Bill Number: 5786)

Chair of House Appropriations: Rep. Helen Sommers. 

sommers.helen at leg.wa.gov. 360-786-7814.

(Bill Number: HB 1518).

It is very important that we call the chairs of these committees (even if
you already have!)

Here are a couple of quick talking points:

*Very significant questions about the application in the death penalty in
Washington were raised by the Washington Supreme Court in the July 2006
Washington Davya Cross Case. Four dissenting justices said that the death
penalty in Washington was as random as lightning striking -- defying
rational explanation.

* It is the responsibility of the legislature to pass laws and ensure that
they are applied fairly.

* This bill has a small fiscal note - $122,000 -- but could have an enormous
positive fiscal impact in terms of ensuring that the death penalty does not
unecessarily waste taxpayer dollars.

GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE CALL SOON!

Amy

  _____  

To change the address where you receive these emails please send us a note
at info at abolishdeathpenalty.org.  

To unsubscribe from all future mailings simply send an email to
wcadp-list-request at lists.drizzle.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the
subject (you can leave the rest of the email blank). You will receive a
confirmation email. Be sure to respond to the confirmation email otherwise
you will not be removed from our list.

We welcome all feedback. Please send any comments or criticism to
info at abolishdeathpenalty.org. 

The Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
It's easy to support the death penalty when you don't have all the facts.
P.O. Box 3045
Seattle, WA 98114-3045
phone (206) 622-8952
fax (206) 622-2016
www.abolishdeathpenalty.org <http://www.abolishdeathpenalty.org/> 
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.drizzle.com/pipermail/wcadp-list/attachments/20070228/f9bf2212/attachment.html