Washblog

Let me start by saying that I do not have inside information about this issue and why it is stalled. That said, if you look at the legislative year we are in, packed with bills and a strong desire to end on time, there is a potential explanation. The way deadlines work in the legislature is that any bill taken up prior to the deadline can be debated on as long as you like and then voted on as though the vote took place prior to the deadline or cutoff date. So if cut off were at midnight tonight and the house took up this bill at 11:59pm and debated it till 9AM and then voted on it, the vote would be recorded as prior to the deadline.
So the speaker decides which bill to take up last and whichever one that is will not usually be known or confirmed prior to the moment it is taken up. So with so many bills out there you tend to clear the easy ones first and direct an order that keeps the minority in line. This is to say, if the R's have some bill they really care about they better not burn up the clock with a bunch of blathering or they in effect kill their own bill. Also Frank or other key house democrats may hold up a good bill till the Senate moves on a bill near and dear to their heart. The house and senate each have RTID bills for instance. Hans Dunshee has his own idea of how to fund biodiesel plants. Did the senate pass out his bill?
Do make all the contacts and take nothing for granted, but let us not trash Frank unless or until he lets the bill die, as their may be more going on than we can see.

by Particle Man on Mon Feb 13, 2006 at 05:32:56 PM PST

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Thank you Mr. Barbieri, I wish I could be calling you my Congressman, but I appreciate your staying active and lobbying for healthcare for us!

by walla wallow on Mon Feb 13, 2006 at 08:14:17 AM PST

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I read this on the DFW website:

Sometimes, Olympia feels like it's a million miles away from reality - like when a legislative leader tell us he's not sure we should stop very large corporations from dumping the cost for their employees' health care onto taxpayer-supported health-care programs.

Not even when it costs us over $12 million a year to subsidize health care for employees of just one wealthy mega-corporation. We have just 48 hours to make a difference and get leaders to LEAD.

The "Fair Share Health Care" bill, HB 2517 and SB 6356 requires employers of 5,000 or more to spend a reasonable amount on employee health benefits, or pay the difference into a state health fund. It would curb health-care-dumping by very large, profitable corporations. It would put the brakes on the health care "race to the bottom."

So why are some legislative leaders unsure about passing the bill this year? Should our leaders sit on their hands and do nothing? The bill has to get a floor vote in one of the two houses of the Legislature by 5 p.m. on Tuesday February 14.

Why would legislators not act, and say we should all continue to pad the bottom line for a few big businesses who won't take responsibility for doing their fair share?

40 House members signed a letter urging the Speaker to bring the bill up for floor vote. Still more have committed their "yes" vote.

Tell your representatives to let the bill come to the floor for a fair, democratic vote at http://www.healthcareaction.org

So what is the deal here? Is the Speaker holding up the show on this bill, or am I reading this wrong?

by botch on Mon Feb 13, 2006 at 10:00:10 AM PST

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There are a few issues that I wanted to raise that came to mind as a result of this post:

• Don Barbieri would have made a fantastic Congressman!  This post, along with his opponent's abysmal voting record should remind us that the 5th District must be a priority in 2006 and beyond.

• Many thanks to Don for tying the pieces together in such a compelling way.  Often we lose the forest for the trees, and it is important to remember that this legislation will complete a broader package of health care accessibility legislation.

• I spoke with my own representative about this and other legislation pending in the House, and he shared that the usual workload for a short session is +/-500 bills, and this year they have over 1,200 to consider.  This has more than doubled their workload.  That is why it is critical as citizens that we let them know what legislation is important to us, and help it pass through the legislative log jam.

• Congrats to Brian for what has been an amazing few weeks, from Congressman McDermott to Senator Kohl Welles, and now Don Barbieri.  I think he deserves our thanks for working hard to not only create a community, but also bring in guests that will spur great discussion.

by markoliias on Mon Feb 13, 2006 at 11:25:45 AM PST

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Thank you for this insight and inspiration, Mr. Barbieri.  I wish you were in Congress representing us all.  Perhaps you will run again.

It is very helpful to have more insight into the business perspective.

I've been hearing that this bill is stuck in both the House and Senate Rules committees.  Since none of the legislators from my district are on these committees, I'm going to call the chair of each of them -- and refer their staff to this post and to the one by Senator Jeanne Kohl-Wells.  If anyone knows a better approach, please do post it!

This bill has the same name in the House and Senate but different bill numbers.  The name: "Requiring large businesses to pay a certain amount in health care coverage"

House Bill (HB) 2517:
Speaker Frank Chopp is the Chair of the House Rules Committee: 1-360-786-7920

Senate Bill (SB) 6356:
Brad Owen (Chair) 360-786-7700 owen.brad@leg.wa.gov
Rosa Franklin (Vice-Chair) 360-786-7656 franklin_ro@leg.wa.gov
Lisa Brown 360-786-7604 brown.lisa@leg.wa.gov
Mark Doumit 360-786-7636 doumit.mark@leg.wa.gov
Tracy Eide 360-786-7658 Eide_Tr@leg.wa.gov
Karen Fraser 360-786-7642 fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov
Mary Margaret Haugen 360-786-7618 haugen.marymargaret@leg.wa.gov
Adam Kline 360-786-7688 kline.adam@leg.wa
Debbie Regala 360-786-7652 regala.debbie@leg.wa.gov
Harriet Spanel 360-786-7678 spanel.harriet@leg.wa.gov
Pat Thibaudeau  360-786-7628 thibaudeau.pat@leg.wa.gov

by noemie maxwell on Mon Feb 13, 2006 at 11:55:29 AM PST

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