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Week 2 - Fast Pace with Action Needed
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During the first week of the 2018 session, the House has already passed a major WSCC priority, reform of Legal Financial Obligations (see below for details). A Senate committee has scheduled an important hearing on the abortion insurance mandate for tomorrow, January 16 that will include testimony by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. And the delayed capital budget is still pending, a critically-needed step to ensure several Catholic Charities housing projects are able to move forward. See below for more information on major WSCC legislative priorities. |
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Life & Religious Liberty
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Abortion Insurance Mandate (SB 6219) - This legislation would mandate abortion coverage in insurance plans in the state of Washington. The Catholic Bishops of Washington strongly oppose this bill because it would enhance existing contraception coverage requirements and promote abortions while violating the constitutionally-protected conscience rights of individuals, churches, businesses and others. The bishops issued a statement last week that further explains the opposition to this bill (which is identical to HB 2409 referenced in their statement). The Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, January 16, at 10:00 am and Archbishop Sartain will be among those testifying in opposition. Please make every effort to attend the hearing which will be held in Senate Hearing Room 2, J.A. Cherberg Building.
Uniform Parentage Act (SB 6037) - A section of this multi-faceted bill would legalize paid or contract surrogacy. The Catholic Church opposes surrogacy because it treats human beings as commodities. The Senate Law & Justice Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the bill on Tuesday, January 16 at 10:00 am in Senate Hearing Room 1, J.A. Cherberg Building. |
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Education
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Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Students (HB 1539) - This bill would establish a task force to develop a prevention of sexual abuse curriculum for students in grades K-12. On Tuesday, January 16, the House Education Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1539, beginning at 1:30 pm. The committee is scheduled to vote on the bill on January 18 at 8:00 am.
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Poverty, Family & Restorative Justice
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Capital Budget (SB 6095) - The 2017-2019 $4.38 billion capital budget includes $106 million for affordable housing projects across the state, including seven being developed by Catholic Housing Services and Catholic Charities in the three dioceses. The Senate Ways & Means Committee heard SB 6095 on January 11. Please encourage your legislators to pass a capital budget as soon as possible.
Legal Financial Obligations (HB 1783) - The bill would help people convicted of crimes to get back on their feet after being incarcerated by eliminating the interest on most of the court-imposed debt and limiting the sanctions for those with an inability to pay. In a bi-partisan vote on January 11, the full House passed the LFO reform bill by an 86-12 margin. It now advances to the Senate.
Homeless Housing and Assistance (also referred to as document recording fee) (HB 1570) - This legislation would make the temporary Homeless Housing and Assistance surcharge permanent while increasing the surcharge from $40 to $90. Without extending the surcharge, thousands of people would likely become homeless. The House Appropriations Committee has scheduled a hearing on HB 1570 for Wed., January 17, at 3:30 pm in House Hearing Rm A, John L. O'Brien Building.
Source of Income Discrimination (SB 5407) - SB 5407 would prohibit a landlord from discriminating against applicants or tenants based on their source of income, especially people who rely on some form of public assistance. On January 11, the Senate Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee heard SB 5407 but has yet to schedule a committee vote. |
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Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities
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January 16 (Olympia) - Hearing on Abortion Insurance Mandate bill before the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee, at 10:00 am; Senate Hearing Room 2, J.A. Cherberg Building.
January 20 (Spokane) - Mass for Life & Walk for Life: Mass begins at 9:30 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes with the walk following at 11 a.m. at the Red Wagon in Riverfront Park. Contact walkforlifenw@gmail.com for more information.
January 22 (Lacey / Olympia) - Mass for Life, Saint Martin University, 9:30 am, and March for Life, State Capitol Building, Noon. For details and promotional materials, visit the Archdiocese of Seattle website.
January 25 (Olympia) - WCADP (WA Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty) Death Penalty Lobby Day, for more information and to register: https://abolishdeathpenalty.salsalabs.org/lobbyday2018/index.html.
January 27 (Spokane) - Eastern Washington Legislative Conference, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, "Framing Faithful Discourse for the Common Good," 9 am - 3 pm, for more details: http://www.thefigtree.org/FigTreeEvent.pdf.
January 28 (Yakima) - Mass for Life, Sunday, January 28 at 11:00 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 5315 Tieton Drive.
February 21 (Olympia) - Catholic Advocacy Day: Gather at St. Michael parish, before meeting with state legislators. Includes Mass celebrated by Archbishop J. Peter Sartain. For additional details, see the flyer in English and Spanish. Registration for is now open - please do so by February 2. For questions, call: 206.223.1138 or email: catholicadvocacyday@ipjc.org.
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