Washington State Senate Democrats: Randy Gordon

Video: Gordon on KBTC’s Northwest Now

Senate Democrats — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:50:00 GMT

Sen. Gordon was a featured guest on KBTC's Northwest Now program May 6th. He discussed the difficult budget challenges facing the state and what the Legislature did in the special session to solve a $2.8 billion budget shortfall. Click here to watch the program.

Gordon talks education, state budget at town hall meetings

Senate Democrats — Sun, 09 May 2010 03:42:58 GMT

Sen. Randy Gordon covered a lot of ground Saturday, May 8th, hosting three town halls in the 41st Legislative District. Gordon updated constituents on what was accomplished during the regular and special legislative sessions and answered questions about a host of public policy issues.

The subjects varied from the state’s fiscal problems to identifying an alternate funding source for K-12 education. School reform efforts were also discussed.

At each meeting, Sen. Gordon gave an overview of the state budget process and how revenues are generated. The Legislature’s balanced budget solution achieves the following:

Makes no cuts to basic education and preserves 54,658 teachers,
Preserves critical preschool programs for children under three,
Protects Working Connections childcare for 37,000 families,
Fully funds all-day kindergarten,
Maintains the Apple Health for Kids program serving 486,000 children,
Preserves levy equalization funding for rural school districts,
Secures state financial aid for 57,000 young adults,
Provides retraining in high-demand fields for an additional 3,800 workers,
Provides community mental health services to an average of around 55,000 people per month
Saves health care for 69,000 people on the Basic Health Plan.

The meetings were held in Bellevue, Mercer Island and Newcastle.

New: Gordon honored by Newcastle City Council

Senate Democrats — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:22:59 GMT

On Tuesday, May 4, the Newcastle City Council awarded Sen. Gordon a certificate of appreciation for his work obtaining $325,000 in state capital budget funds to replace potentially dangerous playground equipment in Lake Boren Park.

“I am honored by this recognition,” said Gordon. “I know how hard you work. Of all the things I’ve done and the billions at issue in our state budget, I think I may be proudest of this modest project that takes care of the kids in our community. This is our state government getting it right for our neighborhood. Thank you so much!”

During his first legislative session, Sen. Gordon also helped secure $2 million for capital improvements to the Performing Arts Center Eastside.

Gordon’s civil justice reform bill signed into law

Senate Democrats — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:54:00 GMT

Legislation Sen. Randy Gordon sponsored to end appellate abuses in civil cases has been signed into law. Gordon attended the signing this afternoon in the governor’s conference room in Olympia.

Currently, a person or company losing a case and who is ordered to pay a judgment may be tempted to file an appeal and invest the amount owed in investments earning more interest than the 2 percent interest rate pending judgments currently earn. Under Gordon’s bill, known as the Appellate Congestion Reduction Act, SB 6764, the interest rate on judgments against public agencies remains at 2 percentage points above the 26-week T-bill rate. The interest rate on judgments arising from the tortious conduct of any other individual or entity is 2 percentage points above the prime rate.

Gordon, a practicing attorney and law professor, is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 6764 is the first bill he’s sponsored to be signed into law.

Gordon says no to special session per diem

Senate Democrats — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:33:00 GMT

Sen. Randy Gordon, D-Bellevue, is doing his part to save the state money during the budget crisis by declining per diem payments during the special session.

“I came here to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Gordon. “By waiving reimbursements and relieving staff, we have reduced daily expense from $18,000 to $13,000. Whether Senators and Representatives waive their per diem expense reimbursements or not, people should know that, without exception, all the people’s representatives are eager to wrap up this session and get back to their lives and work, myself included.”

Many Senators have had to juggle personal plans against a legislative session that went into “extra innings” for the first time since 2003. “I think that we are making good progress towards a balanced budget,” he said. “We aren’t thrilled about staying longer and putting our lives on hold. A few days more are still a small price to pay to get it right for the people of Washington.”

Senator Gordon, the only practicing lawyer in the state Senate, is scheduled to start a jury trial on Monday. “You might say,” he laughed, “that I am ready to finish up this weekend if it can humanly be done. ”

Members of the Legislature are provided $90 for every day of session to cover their lodging and meal costs. And those costs are the primary driver behind what it costs to stage a special session.

To date at least 48 members -- 27 in the 98-member House and 21 in the 49-member Senate -- have decided to decline the per diem for the special session.

Originally, it was thought that it would cost $18,264 per day of session. That's now down to $13,944. Sen. Gordon is mentioned in an article about per diem expenses in The Olympian. Click here to read the article.

For interview, contact Sen. Gordon at (360) 786-7641.

Gordon votes to nix dozens of boards and commissions; make government more efficient

Senate Democrats — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:59:36 GMT

HB 2617 eliminates forty-eight statutory boards, commissions, committees, or councils. Where appropriate, duties are transferred to the agency that the board, commission, committee, or council advises.

Gordon, who is a member of the a member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), a bi-partisan group working to make state government operations more effective, efficient and accountable, has been a strong advocate of reform to save money and make government more efficient.

HB 2617 passed the Senate 40-1 and now goes to the House for further consideration.

List
Airport Impact Mitigation Advisory Board;
Athletic Training Advisory Committee;
Basic Health Advisory Committee;
Boards of Law Enforcement and Correctional Training Standards (2);
Citizen's Advisory Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction;
Combined Fund Drive Committee;
Committee on Agency Official's Salaries;
Community Transition Coordination Networks Advisory Committee;
Department of Information Services Customer Advisory Board;
Driver Instructor Advisory Committee (Driver Training School Advisory
Committee);
Emergency Medical Services Licensing and Certification Advisory Committee;
Employee Retirement Benefits Board;
Environmental Land Use Hearings Board;
Family Practice Education Advisory Board;
Fire Protection Policy Board;
Forest Fire Advisory Board;
Hazardous Substance Mixed Waste Advisory Board;
Health and Welfare Advisory Board;
HECB Advisory Council;
HECB Research Advisory Group;
Industry Cluster Advisory Committee;
Integrated Justice Information Board;
Interagency Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee;
Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee;
K-20 Educational Network Board;
Senate Bill Report - 2 - E2SHB 2617
K-20 Network Technical Steering Committee;
Land Bank Technical Advisory Committee;
Migratory Waterfowl Art Committee;
Mortgage Broker Commission;
Oil Spill Advisory Committee;
Olympic Natural Resources Center Policy Advisory Board;
On-site Sewage Disposal Systems Alternative Systems Technical Review Committee;
On-site Wastewater Technical Advisory Committee;
Orthotics and Prosthetics Advisory Committee;
Pesticide Advisory Board;
Property and Liability Advisory Board;
Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Advisory Board;
Revenue-Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administrative Advisory Group;
Solid Waste Advisory Committee;
Special License Plate Review Board;
State Board on Geographic Names;
Strategic Health Care Planning Office Technical Advisory Committee;
Veteran's Innovation Program Board;
Washington Main Street Advisory Committee; and
Water Supply Advisory Committee.
The Vehicle Equipment Safety Commission and the Western States School Bus Safety Commission are eliminated as of June 30, 2011.The Women's History Consortium Board of Advisors is eliminated as of November 15, 2010.

Beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, members of boards, commissions, councils, or committees identified as class 1 through class 3 and class 5 groups may not receive allowances for subsistence, lodging, and travel if these costs are funded by the State General Fund. All classes are directed to use methods of conducting meetings that do not require
members to travel and to use state facilities for meetings that require members to physically be present. Those boards, commissions, councils, or committees funded by sources other than the state General Fund are encouraged to reduce travel, lodging, and other costs.

Video: Gordon floor speech on wrongful death legislation

Senate Democrats — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:24:59 GMT

Senate Bill 6508 would change the class of persons entitled to recoveries under a wrongful death or survival action. The legislation caused serious debate in both chambers in the last few weeks of the regular session. On March 11th, Sen. Gordon urged the Senate to concur with House amendments to the bill to help grieving families.

Gordon’s early learning bill passes Legislature; victory for children with developmental disabilities

Senate Democrats — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:23:42 GMT

Sen. Randy Gordon is celebrating yet another legislative victory for the people of Washington after the Senate voted today to concur with House amendments to his early learning bill, SB 6593.

The legislation transfers responsibility for the administration of the Infant and Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) from the Department of Social and Health Services to the Department of Early Learning (DEL) this summer.

ITEIP provides children from birth to 3 with developmental disabilities educational support in an effort to help them reach their full potential.

“This will help the state refocus its educational energies on providing thousands of children with disabilities with top quality early learning opportunities,” said Gordon, D-Bellevue. “Right now the program is run by the Department of Social and Health Services, which has a myriad of other programs to administer and a different mission than the Department of Early Learning. My bill brings all early learning programs under one roof. It’s a good piece of legislation that has strong support among parents, service providers and educators.”

The program will be renamed the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) Program.

This is second bill Gordon sponsored to clear the Legislature in as many days. SB 6593 now goes to governor for her consideration and signature.

Video: Gordon floor speech on proposed Senate revenue package

Senate Democrats — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:17:00 GMT

Video: Sen. Randy Gordon on TVW’s The Impact

Senate Democrats — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:19:45 GMT

Aired March 3, 2010