Sen. Fain proposal hopes to expedite future state-budget negotiations | VIDEO
Published 10:50 am Wednesday, June 24, 2015
For the Reporter
The Washington state budget affects everyone in the state, but too often in recent years completing a budget has required lawmakers to go into multiple overtime sessions.
With that in mind, Sen. Joe Fain (R-Auburn) introduced a bill Tuesday that would reduce the time lawmakers can raise money for their re-election campaigns if they do not approve a budget during the regular legislative session.
Under Fain’s proposal, each day spent in a special session needed for new operating, capital or transportation budgets would extend by one day the “freeze” state law places on legislators’ ability to raise campaign funds.
“With increased reliance on special sessions for budget negotiations in recent years we’ve been looking at ways to get away from perennial budget fights that create unease for the public and state employees,” Fain said. “School districts rely on budgets to know what resources they’ll have, state employees shouldn’t have to worry about layoffs due to a government shutdown and lawmakers should not be able to use special sessions for political gain. Extending the fundraising freeze will also draw more lawmakers into budget negotiations, broadening representation in the process.”
Lawmakers are prohibited from soliciting or receiving campaign contributions beginning 30 days before and while in a regular legislative session. In the first year of a budget cycle, the same amount of special-session days required for adoption of budgets would be added to the freeze following the conclusion of the final legislative session of both years of the budget cycle.
“Washington has a part-time citizen Legislature, which allows many more people to serve their communities,” Fain said. “However, the frequency of special sessions makes it harder for many people to balance family and professional commitments. Unpredictable schedules create a strong disincentive for many to run for the Legislature. We need predictability for the public, a dependable paycheck for state employees and a structure that invites our best and brightest to run for public office.”
The Legislature already has been in overtime for 56 days this year, following a 103-day regular session. Since Fain’s proposed change covers the two-year budget cycle and the Legislature is already about to complete the first year, his reform would not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2017.
To learn more about special sessions in Washington watch Fain’s 57 Seconds video series here.
