This is just a note to any Washington State guys n gals on here.
Don't know how many know about this but it takes the revenue generated by aviation taxes in the state and changes it from 10% to 100% going to the aviation department in the state, It is not a lot at face value, but when the state uses it as money leverage it works out to be a lot. Not sure how many agree or disagree, but it could use your help.
Thanks



Senate Bill 5430, which would reallocate aircraft excise tax to be 100% routed to the State Aeronautics Fund, remains in the Senate Rules Committee.

A measure that has been favorably reported back to the Senate by a standing committee (in the case of SB5430, that was Ways and Means) is first sent to the Senate Rules Committee. The Rules Committee determines which bills advance to the full Senate and possible final passage. The Rules Committee has the ability to prevent floor action on a measure by never giving it a place on the calendar. Determining which measures advance to the floor calendar is its most prominent duty.

Whereas standing committees use a majority vote to move bills forward, the Rules Committee works a bit differently. At the beginning of each meeting, the Majority Leader will announce how many pulls, or requests, each member will get to advance a bill. Each member, in order in which they are seated, announces the bill of their choice that they are pulling. Members may opt to NOT pull a bill on their turn, but they lose that pull. This process continues until all members pulls are used. This is a simplified description; for a more complete guide, go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees ... Guide.aspx.

As you can imagine, each member has numerous bills that they want to advance, yet a limited number of "pulls". The Rules Committee has met twice since SB5430 was referred to them from Ways and Means. Unfortunately, our bill has not yet climbed high enough on any committee members consideration list for them to pull it. Our lobbyist has communicated with members of the Senate and they know of no problems with the bill except that it doesn't appear to be anyone's priority.

This is where a bit of finesse would be helpful...

This is a Democrat bill, introduced by a Democrat. Despite having both Democrats and Republicans signed on as sponsors, it is most likely a Democratic Senator on the Rules Committee that will "pull" this bill forward.

If any WPA member personally knows a Senator on Rules - especially a Democrat - a personal request to that Senator to "pull" SB5430 would carry a lot of weight.
(See the Rules Committee member list below)

Meanwhile, we should continue a full court press on all members of the Rules Committee.

Thanks for reading this not-so-brief civics lesson. Thank you for all you have done thus far.
We are close and the real difference is yet to be made.

regards,
Les

Les Smith
State President
Washington Pilots Association
425-870-2287


Senator District airports
------------------ -------- ---------------------------
Owen, Brad (D) Chair Lt. Gov.
Sheldon, Tim (D) 35 Bremerton National / Sanderson Field
Bailey, Barbara (R) 10
Becker, Randi (R) 2
Benton, Don (R) 17
Billig, Andy (D) 3 Felts Field; district includes City of Spokane
Chase, Maralyn (D) 32 no airports; district includes Shoreline
Dammeier, Bruce (R) 25
Darneille, Jeannie (D) 27 no airports; district includes Tacoma
Ericksen, Doug (R) 42
Fain, Joe (R) 47
Fraser, Karen (D) 22 Olympic, Hoskins
King, Curtis (R) 14
Kohl-Welles, Jeanne (D) 36 Lake Union SPB; district includes Belltown, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, North Beach
McCoy, John (D) 38 no airports; district includes Everett, Marysville, Tulalip
Nelson, Sharon (D) 34 Vashon Municipal; district includes Vashon Island, Burien, West Seattle
Parlette, Linda Evans (R) 12
Pearson, Kirk (R) 39
Rivers, Ann (R) 18
Rolfes, Christine (D) 23 Port of Poulsbo SPB / Apex Airpark; district includes Bainbridge Island, Silverdale, Poulsbo, Kingston
Schoesler, Mark (R) 9
Tom, Rodney (D) 48