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A Citizen’s Guide to the WAshinGton LeGisLAture
A produCt of theCitizen ACtion netWork
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The Citizen Action Network is a project of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. We are dedicated to restoring power to the people of Washington state by helping them understand their roles as citizens and showing them how to exercise their sovereign authority.
You can join our statewide community by visiting our website, www.effcan.org, and clicking on “Join CAN Now.” Doing so will connect you with other citizens who are dedicated to making Washington more free. It will also give you access to quality training classes and videos and provide you with the best action-oriented information in the state.
If you want to make a difference, joining CAN is the first step.
Citizen involvement is essential to good government. Without it, our legislators pass laws from inside a bubble, insulated from the reality of how their legislation will affect the people they represent. Paid lobbyists, union representatives and the media have a tremendous presence in Olympia, and their influence skews our legislators’ perspective, often away from what’s best for the public. In order to govern properly and effectively, our elected officials desperately need taxpayer input to bring balance to the decisions they make every day.
Our state is not unlike a ship making its way through rough and uncharted waters. We have entrusted our state leaders to navigate this ship for the good of everyone aboard, but they have taken us into a storm and now we are facing blinding rain, gale-force winds and crushing waves. They need something to get them out of this storm and back into safer waters.
They need a compass. They need the people.
A compass is an instrument of guidance—it helps you determine where you are and where you should go. When citizens exercise their voice, they are playing the role of a compass for their legislators.
Today Washington finds itself in the thick of the storm. Thanks in large part to the grassroots resurgence in the wake of the Tea Party movement, however, more people than ever are vocalizing their concerns about overspending, overregulation and the rapid growth of state government. They are reclaiming their role as the compass.
Many citizens, unfortunately, feel helpless when it comes to affecting the politi-cal process. The Legislature runs on a complex system of committees, taskforces, hearings, and agencies. This guide will take the mystery out of the Legislature and help the people of Washington get this state back on course. Inside, you will find everything you need to know about how a bill is created, the process it goes through to become a law and what you can do to influence it’s progress.
As more and more people become involved, our influence will grow. The people will reclaim their state from misguided politicians and the special interest groups that have bent them to their will. Our state has many problems. Read on to learn how you can become part of the solution.
introduCtion the Guide
Join todAy At:
tAbLe of Contents
www.effcan.org
the Guide 3the Legislative process 4Committees 6Legislative terms 8how to interact with Legislators 12key Legislative dates 15preparing and delivering testimony 16policy recommendations 18Questions for Legislators 20Map of the Capitol Campus 25top ten tips 26
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understAndinG the LeGisLAture
Bills must go through a very specific process in order to become the law of the land. Citizens have the opportunity to influence pieces of legislation at several key points in that process. *
Request for Legislation—Citizens, agencies or the governor see a need for a new law and ask a legislator to propose a bill.
Introduction—A bill may be introduced in either the Senate or House of Representatives by a member.
Committee Referral/1st Reading—It is referred to a committee for a hearing. The committee studies the bill and may hold public hearings on it. It can then pass, reject or take no action on the bill.
Committee Report—The committee report on the passed bill is read in open session of the House or Senate, and the bill is then referred to the Rules Committee.
Rules Committee—The Rules Committee can either place the bill on the second reading calendar for debate before the entire body, or take no action.
Second Reading—At the second reading, a bill is subject to debate and amendment before being placed on the third reading calendar for final passage.
Third Reading—The final consideration of a bill before either house. The bill can be debated, tabled, referred, but not amended. Final passage takes at least a constitutional majority.
Repeat the Process—After passing one house, the bill goes through the same procedure in the other house.
Amendments—If amendments are made in the other house, the first house must approve the changes.
Sent to Governor —When the bill is accepted in both houses, it is signed by the respective leaders and sent to the governor.
Signed Into Law—The governor signs the bill into law or may veto all or part of it. If the governor fails to act on the bill, it may become law without a signature.
*At any point in this process a citizen or group can call, e-mail or meet with their legislator(s) to persuade them in a particular direction.
Read more at http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx
the LeGisLAtive proCess How a BillBecomesa law
Citizen ACtion
Citizen ACtion
Citizen ACtion
Citizen ACtion
Attend and/or testify at public hearings
request legislators to make amendments on the floor
Appeal to the governor to vetoor sign the bill
propose an idea for legislation to your representative
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understAndinG the LeGisLAture
What are committees?The Legislature has committees, small groups of senators or representatives, who review proposed laws and study issues before they are passed on to the floor for a vote. Many bills introduced in the Legislature will receive a public hearing, where citizens are given a chance to present their opinions on proposed legislation. Many committees have two versions, one for the House and one for the Senate. A bill will generally pass through both versions of the same committee before it becomes law.
fiscal CommitteesBelow is a list of all fiscal committees. All bills that pass through these committees have a fiscal impact, meaning that they will require a change in government spending to go into effect.
Ways and Means (House and Senate)The primary revenue and appropriations committee. The committee is responsible for recommending how state monies will be spent and the means that will be used to raise the tax revenues. The Ways and Means Committee is best known for writing the state’s two-year operating budget, although the Senate committee is also responsible for developing the capital budget. The committee’s responsibilities also include tax and pension policy. Other matters that have a fiscal impact on the state are also within the purview of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
rules (House and Senate)The Senate and House Rules Committee is the last stop a bill makes before being heard on the House and Senate floor. The rules committee determines if and when a bill will be considered.
transportation (House and Senate)The House Transportation Committee considers the transportation budget, revenue sources for transportation funding and issues relating to transportation policy. In addition, the committee considers how certain policies will affect transporta-tion agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol.
Capitol budget (House)The Capitol Budget Committee is responsible for making recommendations on how appropriations should be made to state and local agencies for building and construction projects.
education Appropriations (House)The House Education Appropriations Committee considers issues relating to funding of early learning, K-12, higher education programs and makes funding recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee. In instances where a bill has only a limited fiscal impact, the committee will consider the bill themselves.
General Government Appropriations (House)The House General Government Appropriations Committee considers issues relating to funding of general government, natural resources, corrections programs and makes funding recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee. In instances where a bill has only a limited fiscal impact, the committee will consider the bill themselves.
health and human services Appropriations (House)The House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee considers issues relating to funding of health and human services programs and makes funding recommendations to the Ways and Means Committee. In instances where a bill has only a limited fiscal impact, the committee will consider the bill themselves.
finance (House)The House Finance Committee considers issues relating to state revenues, such as increases or decreases in taxes, who does and doesn’t pay taxes and changes in the way taxes are applied to people and businesses.
A full list of committees can be found at:http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/committeelisting.aspx#
CoMMittees
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understAndinG the LeGisLAture
A lot of insider terms are utilized up at the Capitol and in the news coming out of the Legislature. Having a good grasp of legislative language is critical to both understanding and influencing the processes and those who operate within it.
Many of these terms were taken directly from the Legislature’s website.An exhaustive list can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/glossary.aspx
LeGisLAtive terMs
Adjourn – to conclude a day’ssession or committee meeting.
Amendment – a proposal offeredto a legislative bill that changes theoriginal language.
bill – a proposed law presented tothe Legislature for consideration.
budget (Capital) - appropriations made to state and local agencies for building and construction projects.
budget (Operating) – two-year plan for funding ongoing activities of state agencies, except transportation.
budget (Transportation) - for highways, bridges, ferries, transit, vehicle licensing and traffic enforcement.
Caucus – a group of peoplebelonging to the same politicalparty to select leaders and discussissues and policy.
Committee – a panel of senatorsor representatives which makespreliminary decisions aboutlegislation or other issues andreports its findings to the entirelegislative body. There are both fiscal and policy committees.
Committee Chair – a legislatorchosen to direct the activities ofa committee. Committee chairsnormally are approved every twoyears by a vote of either the Senateor House.
Constitution – the fundamental law that defines the powers and basic structures and processes of government. The Washington State Constitution was adopted in 1889 and begins with a declaration of rights.
Constitutional Amendment – similar to a legisla-tive bill, a constitutional amendment is aproposal to change the state’sConstitution that must be passed bythe Legislature and approved by avote of the citizens.
Convene – to assemble for anofficial meeting.
Cutoff - time certain set by a legislative body for specified action such as bill introduction, commit-tee action or passage of bills by either house.
first reading – first of threereadings required to pass a bill. Billson first reading are introduced andsent to a committee. The First Reading is typically waived.
floor vote – the final vote on the passage of a bill, conducted after the third reading.
Governor – political and ceremonialhead of Washington state. Thegovernor is the leader of theexecutive branch of government.
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hearing – a regularly scheduledmeeting of a committee at whichthe public has an opportunity tovoice its opinions about proposedlegislation.
interim – the months betweenregular legislative sessions.
Law – a rule made by government. Today, the word “law” is often used to describe rules enacted through the legislative pro-cess, rather than “regulations” enacted by executive branch agencies.
Legislative district – area represented by legislators. There are 49 legislativedistricts, each having one senatorand two representatives.
page – students ages 14-16 whoassist members of the Legislatureand staff.
president of the senate – anothername for the lieutenant governor,who presides over Senate flooraction and debate.
representative – a citizenwho is elected to the House ofRepresentatives for a two-year term.There are 98 representatives inWashington.
resolution (Joint) - an act of the Leg-islature which proposes an amendment to the state Constitution for reference to the people for acceptance or rejection. To pass, joint resolutions must receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members elected in each house.
second reading – bills on secondreading are subject to debate andmay be amended, returned tocommittee, or advanced to a thirdreading.
senator – a citizen who is electedto the Senate for a four-yearterm. There are 49 senators inWashington.
speaker of the house – representative who is elected by the members of the House of Representatives to preside overHouse floor action and debate.
special session – a legislativesession that is usually heldbetween regular sessions to handleemergencies. A special session maybe called by the Governor or by atwo-thirds vote of the Legislature.
sponsor – the senator orrepresentative who presents abill, resolution or amendment forconsideration.
third reading – the final stage ofa bill during which the documentis read in its entirety and a vote istaken.
veto – rejection of a bill by thegovernor to the Legislature.
veto override – a two-thirds voteof the Legislature (33 votes in theSenate, and 66 votes in the House)which makes law any bill vetoed bythe governor.
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Be HoneSt—if you don’t know SometHing, Say So •
Cultivate a good rapport witH tHe aSSiStant •and Staff
know SometHing aBout tHe offiCial—read up on •tHeir online BiograpHy and diSCover wHo tHeir main finanCial SupporterS are
know tHe name and numBer of •tHe Bill and SometHing aBout it
aSk good queStionS—don’t juSt talk, liSten •
antiCipate Common reSponSeS and Have a •prepared anSwer
Before you make a trip to Olympia to meet with your legislator in person, you’ll want to go over these important tips. They will help you and your elected official get the most out of your visit.
the power of petition Influencing your legislator can sometimes be a numbers game. The more voting constituents you can claim to represent from your district, the greater the chance your legislator will be swayed by your arguments. While it isn’t a magic bullet, it can go a long way in aiding a well-prepared case. One way to increase the amount of support for your issue is to create a petition and gather signatures ahead of time. A group of 5-20 people bringing signatures from a thousand voters in their district can have a dramatic impact on their elected official.
There isn’t a prescribed protocol for these kinds of petitions, however, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind as you put it together.be prepAred – Do your due diligence before heading down
to the Capitol. It is one thing to be passionate about an issue, but completely another to be well-informed. You want to make yourself the go-to expert that legislator relies on when it comes to your issue of interest long after you’ve left your initial meeting. Remember, it’s about building a relationship.
tips
hoW to interACtWith LeGisLAtorsAnd their stAff
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frame the issue—Let people know what you are trying to accomplish and how you will be doing it. Write a paragraph or two describing your issue, stating why it is important, and detailing how you will be using their signature.
Collect the right information—Legislators will want to be able to verify that the signatures you collected are indeed from voters within their district. Make sure to get the name, address, city, zip code and signature from each individual who signs the petition.
Mobilize volunteers—Depending on how many signatures you want to gather, you may want to recruit some help. If your goal is to get 100 signatures or more, head over to your local Tea Party meeting and ask for a few volunteers.
deliver it—Incorporate the petition results into the discussion with your legislator. Let them know that you have been out among voting constituents and that you have an insider’s edge on how voters feel about your issue.
four steps to a successful petition
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be ConCise—You probably have a lot to say about the topic you are there to discuss, and it can be tempting to give your representative an earful. It is critical to resist that temptation. Legislators are constantly being bombarded by interest groups from all sides and won’t retain a lot of information, especially from one group. It is best to pick one topic and present your issue as concisely and persuasively as possible—give them a quick breakdown of your issue, convince them why it is important and give them a one-page handout to take with them.
be poLite—It is very important to treat your legislators with the same respect that you would want them to treat you. It can be tempting to be aggressive and angry with them, especially if they disagree with you about an issue you are passionate about. Keep constructive dialog open and remember that effective lobbying is a process, not a one-time event.
don’t be angry or threaten• —“You’ll pay for this at the polls!”
don’t bring a lot of material• —keep your handouts limited to as few pages as possible. Try referencing webpages with your supporting infor-mation in case your representative wants to follow up.
thinGs to Avoid
JAnuAry 10, 2011—FIRST DAY OF SESSION
JAnuAry 15, 2011—PuSH FORWARD CONFERENCE, SEATTLE
JAnuAry 23, 2011—POLICY COMMITTEE CuTOFF (HOuSE OF ORIGIN)
JAnuAry 28, 2011—FISCAL COMMITTEE CuTOFF (HOuSE OF ORIGIN)
JAnuAry 29, 2011—PuSH FORWARD CONFERENCE, VANCOuVER
februAry 10, 2011—FLOOR VOTE CuTOFF (HOuSE OF ORIGIN)
februAry 22, 2011—FREEDOM FOuNDATION LEGISLATIVE DAY
MArCh 28, 2011—POLICY COMMITTEE CuTOFF (OPPOSITE HOuSE)
ApriL 4, 2011—FISCAL COMMITTEE CuTOFF (OPPOSITE HOuSE)
ApriL 15, 2011—PuSH FORWARD TAx DAY RALLY
*CuTOFF DATES SuBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON LEGISLATIVE VOTE
key LeGisLAtive dAtes
tipstips
StiCk to tHe SuBjeCt at Hand •
get a Commitment—aSk tHem wHetHer tHey •will Support your poSition
Call in or email a Summary of your •diSCuSSion to tHe legiSlator aS Soon aS poSSiBle after tHe meeting
make an appointment •
dreSS for SuCCeSS •
Be on time—But Be prepared to wait •
tHank tHe puBliC offiCial for tHe meeting •
Cultivate a good rapport witH tHe •aSSiStant and Staff
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in addition to meeting with your legislators, testifying at committee hearings is another way to influence a piece of legislation. Since the committee ultimately decides on whether or not to pass a bill to the floor for a vote, influencing its members one way or the other can have a dramatic effect on the outcome.
Below you’ll find some tips on how to testify successfully at a committee hearing.
preparationWrite out your full testimony, including all of your research and supporting •information. Bring copies for each member of the committee.
Break down your testimony into talking points for when you present. Com-•mittee members don’t want to hear a written script, they want to hear your passion and conviction about the issue.
Anticipate having anywhere from 2-5 minutes to testify. Make sure your •testimony is flexible to compensate either way.
before the meeting
Be on time, but be prepared to wait. A committee hearing usually covers •multiple bills, with the order of discussion determined by the committee chair. A typical hearing will last between 1-2 hours. Your testimony could be first, last or anywhere in the middle.
Sign in. There will be a sign-in sheet near the entrance to the room. You will •have the opportunity to register and indicate whether your stance on the bill is for, against or neutral. Even if you don’t testify, when you sign in your presence at the hearing and stance on the bill are entered into the record.
Take your written materials to the committee staff for distribution. •
Talk to the committee staff if you are going to be using the •presentation equipment.
how the Meeting is ConductedBe present at the beginning of the hearing. The committee chair will open the hearing on a particular bill. Frequently, opening comments will be made by the bill’s sponsor or by committee staff. Sometimes, however, the chair will ask for testimony from proponents and opponents immediately. You may be called to testify with others to save time.
delivering your testimonyBegin by introducing yourself to the chair and committee members •and stating your purpose.
In your opening remarks, make it clear whether you are representing other •citizens or a separate group.
Give your testimony in a clear and concise manner. Avoid going into too much •detail on any particulars. Define the problem and give the supporting facts, making sure to give your best evidence first.
Be prepared for questions and comments from committee members. •
Respect other’s testimonies. Avoid making comments or noise while others •are giving their presentations.
prepArinG AnddeLiverinG testiMony
Committee memBerS will likely already Have tHeir mindS made up BaSed on tHeir perSonal preferenCeS. you Have to SHow tHem tHe faCtS and your Side of tHe Story to influenCe tHeir deCiSion.
if you need faCtS, figureS, reSearCH or talking pointS, CHeCk witH tHe freedom foundation. we Can Help you prepare and provide you witH reSourCeS, BaSed on our poliCy arenaS. CHeCk tHe “poliCy reCommendationS” SeCtion of tHiS guide to See tHe iSSueS we Cover.
don’t Be nervouS. unleSS it’S an aBnormally HigH-profile Bill, it’S likely to Be juSt you, tHe Committee memBerS, and a few otHer people in tHe room.Qu
iCk
tips
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the freedom foundation operates on the following principles. we believe the people of washington will become freer when both citizens and lawmakers adhere to these principles and vigorously defend them.
Liberty: The foundations of a free society are human liberty and personal responsibility. To sustain liberty, the people must choose to understand it, recognize threats to it and protect it.
free enterprise: Human needs are best met in a competitive marketplace where creativity is unleashed, property rights are protected and contracts are enforced.
Limited Government: Human liberty and free enterprise can be sustained only when government’s power is limited to its constitutionally defined role and is accountable to the people it serves.
the following are the essential arenas by which the laws of our state should be measured. as you interact with legislators and involve yourself in the political process, refer to these principles for guidance on how to frame your position for a particular issue.
economic freedom: it is the nature of governments to spend too much, borrow too much, promise too much and regulate too much—eventually collapsing an economy. to retain the viability, creativity and productivity of the marketplace, people need to be educated about the benefits to them of economic freedom and the risks of too much government intervention.
Guiding principles:Taxes are simpler, lower, and more equitable.•Economic freedom is protected by resisting central planning and •collectivism at all levels of government.
Government spending is confined to its primary role of protecting and •maintaining inalienable, individual rights, ensuring no generation gets unjust burdens or benefits.Choice and competition regarding individual investment and health •and employment decisions are ensured by eliminating government coercion.
education reform: Only an educated people can remain free. This means public education must be a mission, not a government-designed and -run school monopoly. Public education can and should be shaped around the needs of free individuals and the requirements of the marketplace.
Guiding principles:Public education is seen as a mission rather than an institution.•Parents and students hold the locus of power in education.•Education funding follows students, not institutions.•Students and their families have a menu of educational options.•People understand what it means to be a literate citizen in the •21st century.
individual Liberty: American government was designed to divide and limit its powers in order to protect unalienable individual rights. At its best, it is the world’s greatest success story for advancing human rights and opportunity. At its worst, it is the greatest threat to human rights and opportunity. People must be educated about the indispensible nature of liberty and the institutions that protect it, and inspired to preserve and defend those institutions.
Guiding principles:Government is transparent and its officers accountable for •its actions.The integrity of elections is protected.•People understand the essential nature of liberty and the institutions •that protect it.Those institutions (Constitutionalism, Federalism, The Rule of Law, •etc.) are preserved.People have an understanding of America’s founding documents.•Individual liberty is asserted and defended.•The right of individuals to own and use real and intellectual property •is upheld.
foundational principles
principle-driven Arenas
poLiCy reCoMMendAtions
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Questionsfor LeGisLAtors
the proper function of taxation is to raise money for core functions of government, not to direct the behavior of citizens or close budget gaps created by overspending. this is true regardless of whether government is big or small, and this is true for lawmakers at all levels of government.
a complex, high-rate tax system favors interests that are able to exert influence in the state capitol, and who can negotiate narrow exemptions and tax benefits that help only limited taxpayers and not the general economy. “a fair field and no favors” is a good motto for a strong tax system.
taxation will always impose some level of burden on an economy’s performance, but that harm can be minimized if policymakers resist the temptation to use the tax code for social engineering, class warfare and other extraneous purposes. a principled tax system is an ideal way for advancing a state’s economic interests and promoting prosperity for its residents.
Questions for Legislators: does the tax add complexity to the state’s current tax structure? -- The tax code should be easy for the average citizen to understand, and it should minimize the cost of complying with the tax laws. Tax complexity adds cost to the taxpayer, but does not increase public revenue. For governments, the tax system should be easy to administer, and should help promote efficient, low-cost administration.
is the tax transparent? -- Tax systems should be accountable to citizens. Taxes and tax policy should be visible and not hidden from taxpayers. Changes in tax policy should be highly publicized and open to public debate.
is the tax economically neutral? -- The tax system should exert minimal impact on the spending and decisions of individuals and businesses. An effective tax system should be broad-based, utilize a low overall tax rate with few loopholes, and avoid multiple layers of taxation through tax pyramiding. The tax code should not be used to pick economic winners and losers in society, or unfairly shift the tax burden onto one class of citizens, nor should it be used to bestow special favors on any particular group of taxpayers.
Conventional thinking says lawmakers must adjust the current budget for inflation, add caseload increases, splice in a few new initiatives, and call it good for another legislative session. when budgets are built in this manner, without deliberative efforts to develop core governing principles first, legislators become “enablers” for agencies and programs that likely have fundamental design flaws, or that may be providing services in direct conflict with lawmakers’ policy values. State budgets should instead be built around core governing functions and outcomes achieved by the state’s spending policies. outcome, or priority-based budgeting, leads to better and more accountable results for citizens. no more than 98% of projected revenue should be spent in the budget, keeping 2% in reserve. unexpected revenue should also be put in reserve unless it is needed for a one-time emergency.
Questions for Legislators: What are the core functions of government? -- Defining core principles is the crucial first step toward responsible governing because delivering services ef-ficiently and effectively is hardly significant unless government knows what it is supposed to deliver and why.
how much money does the state have? -- What is the forecasted revenue for the next budget cycle?
how will the state measure its progress in delivering core functions of government? -- What will success look like? What measurable outcomes can be identified?
What is the most effective way to accomplish the state’s goals with the money available? --If a service/program is a core function of government, what level of government should provide it? How can services be provided efficiently and effectively? How can market forces and competition be introduced into core functions, assuring costs are controlled and quality enhanced?
how does the tax affect the state’s competitiveness relative to other states? -- A low tax burden can be a tool for a state’s private sector economic development by retaining and attracting productive business activity. A high-quality revenue system will be responsive to competition from other states. Effective competitiveness is best achieved through economically neutral tax policies.
does the tax create uncertainty for individuals and businesses? -- A high-quality tax system should be stable, providing certainty in taxation and in revenue flows. It should provide certainty in financial planning for individuals and businesses.
taxes
spending
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previously, the role of caring for the poor or disabled was accepted as a charitable or family function. the government takeover has centralized this role, creating an entire bureaucracy geared toward “client rights” rather than temporary assistance to improve the condition of individuals and families. we must gear our efforts toward rejuvenating the spirit of freedom and responsibility within all people with makes us strive toward becoming self-sufficient and strong. government help should be of a temporary nature and should never demean the human spirit.
Questions for Legislators: how much does this proposal/program cost and who pays for it? •
does it offer incentives to improve conditions? •
does it imply mutual obligation between providers and recipients? •
Will the recipients be involved in evaluating the programs or services? •
Will the money be spent to enhance the bureaucracy or to help the needy? •
Are at least 85% of the funds going to the recipients? •
does this service or program provide dignity or degradation for those who •want to change their circumstances?
does this proposal create a new level of bureaucracy? •
Could the private sector do this better?•
the washington State Constitution mandates the legislature make “ample provision” for the education of all children within its borders. it does not define basic education or set standards. However, standards must be established. we need to know what a diploma really means. therefore, solid academics and outcome standards are necessary.
Children belong to their parents, not the state. the home is the center of learning and it is from the home that individual education decisions should be made. for that reason, education choice is essential. furthermore, students learn differently. washington’s one-size-fits-all restrictions on choice have led to plateauing test scores and deprived generations of the education they deserve.
fortunately, the tide is turning as technology and public opinion increasingly support the notion of offering a broad menu of education options—and empowering parents to make the decision. poor student performance can also be attributed to the fact that washington rewards mediocrity as much as excellence in its teachers and administrators. this is unfair both to students and to exceptional educators and administrators.
Questions for Legislators: does this proposal strengthen options in the public education system? •how?
does this proposal promote innovation and flexibility in public schools/•programs?
does this proposal move decision-making closer to the local communities? •
is this proposal measurably cost-effective? What data supports this? •
how will this proposal be funded? •
is there a way to measure the effectiveness of this proposal? When will •this analysis be done?
does this proposal reward excellence without protecting mediocrity? •
does this plan encourage a working partnership with parents? •
does it encourage parental responsibility and accountability? •
What financial reporting and accountability will be in place to monitor •the execution of this proposal?
does this proposal protect private schools and homeschooling from •regulations pertaining to the public school system?
social services
education
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the economic backbone of our country is provided by those who create jobs through meeting consumers’ needs and by those who productively fill jobs while earning a decent wage. the job creator and the wage earner must fairly balance their needs. the primary responsibility of unions is to safe-guard legitimate “rights” of employees. labor policy should seek to benefit individual workers, not labor bureaucracies. policies should be considered pro-worker rather than pro-union.
unions and private enterprise can co-exist as long as both are committed to fair competition.
Questions for Legislators: What does it cost and who will pay for it? •
Will this proposal promote jobs and encourage growth? how? •
Will it encourage entrepreneurism? •
does it seek to safeguard legitimate employee “rights” • (such as safety and competitive wages) or does it champion “wants” (such as certain mandated health benefits)?
Who will be impacted by any new regulations? •
Will it create the climate for “in-state” jobs? •
does this policy favor monopolistic union power over the rights of workers?•
Labor Map of Capitol Campus
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top ten tipsto A suCCessfuLCApitoL visit
solidaritythere is power in numbers. take along a few friends if you are going to make the trip to olympia to see your legislator(s).
Make appointmentsrespect your legislator’s time. let them know that you are coming and how long you want to meet. this is essential if you are traveling any large amount of distance.
Constituencyknowing your vote keeps them in office is a big deal to legislators. when you call/write/meet, be sure to remind them that you are a voter from their district. it carries weight.
know your legislator’s committeesknowing what committees your legislators serve on can have a big impact on your discussions with them. they may be able to do more about the issue you are there to discuss if it pertains to a committee they serve on.
bring resourcesalways bring something to leave with the person you are meetings with. it should give them supplemental information as well as remind them of your conversation. keep it clear and concise—try not to go more than one page.
be the expertlegislators rely on many different sources of information for their understanding of all the issues they cover. if you can demonstrate that you are an expert on a particular topic, you may become their go-to source for that issue. it’s all about building the relationship.
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Come in the middle of the weekas tough as it might be to pull away from work or your kids, try to come in the middle of the week. this is when legislators will be in the midst of their discussions and when you will likely be able to influence them. Be sure to call ahead to make an appointment, though.
bring your kidsnever underestimate the “cuteness factor.” Bringing your kids along will not only earn you points with your legislator and their staff, but it will also be a great learning experience for them.
parkingduring session, it can very difficult to get a decent parking spot. Bring quarters if you want to attempt to secure street parking. otherwise, check out http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/pages/parking.aspx for alternate options.
baked goodsthis is a trick that home school organizations have been using for years. legislative staff are the gatekeepers—win them over and you’ll have a much better chance of engaging your legisla-tor. Cookies are the key to the legislative staff’s good graces.
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