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The Green Sheet for Feb. 9 – Ethics, Ethics, Ethics

The Legislature enters its fifth week today, passing the quarter pole of a 105-day session that’s set to end April 26. That means this week is the one of the last full weeks of committee hearings scheduled before the cutoff date of Feb. 20.

So, with much of what’s to say about the important, controversial, beloved or hated legislation already spoken, this week should make for some key votes. The most significant could be Gov. Jay Inslee’s cap-and-trade proposal, HB 1314, which is due for a vote out of the House Environment Committee at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Here’s a look at what else should be on your radar this week.

QUOTES AND LINKS

“I think there’s pretty broad agreement that we’ll want to do more,” Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, tells The News Tribune’s Melissa Santos, in discussing going beyond the $750 million in maintenance and operating costs for satisfying the McCleary ruling’s education funding mandates. Hill takes the third swipe at the state budget, following Inslee and the House Democrats. Inslee has been adamant the state will have to raise taxes to fund McCleary, but Hill has been unconvinced, saying he wants to go over the budget carefully to identify savings. “All you get with a fine tooth comb is the lice, the little bits, the nits,” Appropriations Chair Ross Hunter told Santos.

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Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, & Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina

 

“I’m madder than hell,” Lt. Gov. Brad Owen tells the Seattle Times’ Jim Brunner, criticizing the ethics process that led the State Executive Ethics Board to fine him $15,000 for having staff in his office work on a nonprofit that employs his wife, among other findings. Owen is pushing legislation to make wholesale changes to the way ethics cases are investigated, arguing his treatment was unfair.

Speaking of ethics, the Legislative Ethics Board is meeting Tuesday afternoon to decide if lawmakers should be able to accept free tickets to the upcoming U.S. Open at the Chambers Bay golf course in Pierce County. Santos reports the county has 300 tickets to hand out with more than $100 each. The ethics board hearing starts at noon.

The Oregonian’s Jeff Mapes has the latest on the accusations battering Gov. John Kitzhaber. The Attorney General’s Office is under pressure to open an investigation, while the Secretary of State won’t let recall petitions to begin circulating for another six months. The Oregonian Editorial Board called on Kitzhaber to resign last week over allegations he and the first lady, Cylvia Hayes, were using taxpayer resources to boost a consultancy firm Hayes was running, according to Mapes.

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Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber

 

WIRE FEATURES:

Governor’s toxics reduction bill draws praise, fire in first committee hearing

Opinion: Cap and trade? Or no cap and all tax?

Climate Activists Expand Grassroots Efforts While Carbon WA Prepares to Collect Signatures

BILLS TO WATCH:

HB 1786 puts some heat on companies taking aerospace tax breaks, as it would require base pay for employees exceeding $20 an hour, or else they’d risk losing access to the incentive. Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac, is the prime sponsor.

This is not a bill, admittedly, but definitely worth keeping an eye on. The Department of Ecology released a “discussion draft” on a low-carbon fuels standard last week, which would require the state to gradually phase in tougher standards on the carbon-intensity of fuels. It sets off a public comment period that ends March 4.

CALENDAR ITEMS:

The ethics legislation Owen is advocating for is on for a hearing in Senate Government Operations and Security at 10 a.m. Monday.

The aerospace bill is slated to be heard in the House Labor Committee at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Senate Government Operations and Security is scheduled to hold a hearing on the Washington voting rights act, which could see some jurisdictions move from at-large to district-based elections, at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The Legislative Ethics Board convenes at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the application of the 12-free-meal limit for lawmakers, asking whether potlucks, events the entire Legislature is invited to, and meals paid for by local government count toward the cap. The board will also take up the U.S. Open tickets at that time.

House Environment has the vote on cap-and-trade scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The House Technology and Economic Development Committee hears legislation to reinstate tax incentives for research and development at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Senate Energy has another hearing scheduled on nuclear power at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Senate Ways & Means will be discussing the capital budget at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, while Appropriations takes on state employee compensation at the same time.


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