Washington State Senate Democrats: Tim Sheldon

Sheldon voices support for coalition budget

Senate Democrats — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:23:00 GMT

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, issued the following statement today regarding his support of a coalition budget proposed by Senate Republicans and three Democratic senators:

“Congressman Jack Kennedy once said, in the 1940s when he was first elected to Congress, ‘Sometimes the party asks too much.’ Well, that’s how I’ve felt about the budget process and that’s why I’m joining with this bipartisan coalition of senators to present a budget.

“The proposed House budget would make extreme cuts to 39 counties, cuts I find unacceptable in my additional role as a Mason County commissioner. This budget restores $18 million in cuts made by the House budget to the criminal justice administration account. This account pays for half of district court judges’ salaries and also for indigent defense. Those cuts would devastate county government.

“The coalition budget restores $5 million in cuts to vital county health programs. Whooping cough and diphtheria don’t respect county borders. Just as importantly, it restores $26 million in rural county sales tax credits for more than 30 counties. Mason County alone receives about $600,000 a year in sales tax credits that we use for county infrastructure — roads, bridges, water lines. If that money were to go away, we would have one heck of a time paying for infrastructure that we’ve already committed to, because we’ve bonded for that money.

“This budget avoids going back to what we had for many years, and what we would have again under the House budget, which is two Washingtons. We’d have a fairly prosperous King, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties while the other rural counties across our state would be devastated.

“It’s not fair to kick the can down the road and push these problems onto the rural counties. We have to work in a partnership with the state, and that’s why I’m supporting this budget.”

Sheldon votes to pull fiscally responsible budget to Senate floor

Senate Democrats — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:45:00 GMT

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, issued the following statement today regarding his vote on a parliamentary procedure to pull the governor’s proposed operating budget to the Senate floor:

“My votes today and tonight were not partisan votes, they are votes for a responsible budget without accounting tricks or gimmicks.

“As a businessman and a local government official, I see a clear and urgent need for a balanced budget.

“I have read the proposed budget as amended. I don’t agree with everything in it, but it is a point to start negotiations with the House. There are many problems with the House budget. This action places a conservative budget proposal on the table.

“I firmly believe we need less government spending, more fiscal responsibility and better prioritization of spending, with education first and support for our seniors.”

Sheldon honors fallen state trooper

Senate Democrats — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:13:00 GMT

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, said the death of Washington State Patrol Trooper Tony Radulescu, who was fatally shot during a traffic stop early this morning near Gorst, is a tragic loss for his loved ones, the State Patrol and the larger community.

“This is a tragic and sobering reminder that the troopers who work around the clock ensuring the public’s safety are at the same time putting their lives on the line at any given moment, day and night,” Sheldon said. “We owe Trooper Radulescu and his family our utmost respect, thanks, regrets and condolences. Washington state has lost a leader and a defender and a hero.”

Radulescu, 44 and a veteran trooper of 16 years after having served in the military prior to that, was apparently shot while making a traffic stop. Radulescu had stopped a pickup truck and radioed the vehicle’s location and license plate number but dispatchers did not hear back from him after that. A Kitsap County sheriff’s deputy responded and found Radulescu wounded at the scene. He was later pronounced dead at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. The owner of the pickup truck was later found wounded at his home. Members of a SWAT team heard a single shot from inside the house as they approached the door, went inside and found him wounded by a self-inflicted gunshot.

In a press conference earlier today, State Patrol Chief John Batiste said that Radulescu worked out of the Bremerton patrol office and was immensely popular with his peers and throughout the community, to the point he was regularly requested as a speaker at local schools. Batiste said also that Radulescu is survived by a son serving in the military.

Sheldon: “I-1183 fulfills longtime goal.”

Senate Democrats — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:31:00 GMT

The passage of Initiative 1183 on Tuesday will bring the state in line with the majority of other states, install a sounder process for selling liquor in Washington and fulfill the longtime goal of a Washington senator. 35^th District Senator Tim Sheldon has been battling to get Washington state out of the business of selling liquor since 1998. This week's passage of Initiative 1183 does just that and Sheldon couldn't be happier,

Sen Sheldon: “I’ve always thought that it makes no sense for the state to sell liquor and I credit the initiative organizers for getting the state out of the liquor business.”

Sheldon says the passage of I-1183 will also mean a guarantee of the sharing of liquor sale license revenues with the counties of Washington, erasing the fear of budget cuts in liquor revenues which could have cost counties hundreds of thousands of dollars…

Sen. Sheldon: “The initiative that is now passed ensures the sharing of those revenues with the cities and counties and they’re guaranteed for distribution so the governor and the legislature will have to come up with other options to find cost savings.”

The initiative will go into effect in January and Sheldon predicts that the initiative’s passage will lead to similar efforts in the handful of remaining states where the public sector is still involved in the sale of liquor.

Sheldon hails passage of liquor initiative

Senate Democrats — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:28:00 GMT

The passage of Initiative 1183 will bring the state in line with the majority of other states and install a sounder process for selling liquor in Washington, Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, said today.

"I always thought it made no sense for the state to sell liquor and I credit the initiative organizers for getting the state out of the liquor business," Sheldon said. "I love the initiative process because it can do what the Legislature couldn't."

Sheldon noted that he had proposed legislation to privatize the sale of liquor since 1998 but had been unable to win agreement from his colleagues in the Legislature.

“I couldn’t even get a hearing on my bill, which was almost identical to the initiative,” he said. “I’m gratified to see that the common-sense changes I long felt were needed were achieved by the initiative process.”

Sheldon, who also serves as a Mason County commissioner, offered reassurance to local governments regarding a recent proposal by Gov. Chris Gregoire to discontinue sharing with cities and counties the profits and tax revenues from the sale of liquor in Washington. He said such action, which would mean a budget cut of several hundred thousand dollars in Mason County alone, is prohibited by the initiative.

“The initiative is very similar to my bill, which ensures the sharing of those revenues,” Sheldon said. “Cities and counties are guaranteed their distributions.”

Sheldon further said he looked forward to seeing Washington join the vast majority of states where liquor sales are private operations.

“While it won’t go into effect here until June, I’m looking forward to a better way of doing business in this state,” he said. “Nearly every other state has some form of privatization.”

Sheldon predicted that the initiative’s passage will lead to similar efforts in the handful of remaining states where the public sector is involved in the sale of liquor.

“The initiative was high profile and passed by such a wide margin that I suspect other control states will have some initiatives very soon,” he said.

Sheldon disappointed by approval of SB 5942

Senate Democrats — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:09:00 GMT

Senator Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach, released the following statement subsequent to Governor Chris Gregoire's approval of SB 5942:

"I am deeply disappointed by the Governor's decision to sign Senate Bill 5942 and to retain the emergency clause therein.

"As drafted, the proposal provides little opportunity for a positive return to the taxpayers of Washington State. The narrow terms of eligibility within the bill will exclude more competitive proposals, resulting in even fewer dollars being generated for state and local governments.

“Furthermore, I find it difficult to believe that there is a liquor emergency in Washington State at this time. The clause serves only to pre-empt a new debate with the public on a compromise solution to a controversial problem.

“Washington taxpayers deserve a voice on the matter, but this transparently political maneuver has denied them that right.”

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For more information, Michael Althauser, 360-786-7326

Sheldon urges governor to veto liquor proposal

Senate Democrats — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:28:00 GMT

Olympia - From full privatization to leasing out individual functions, the legislature has seen no dearth of liquor reform proposals this year. One measure that would require to Office of Financial Management to develop and issue a request for proposals to replace the state’s existing system for liquor distribution, Senate Bill 5942, currently awaits approval by the Governor. But not all members of the legislature agree with the controversial proposal - including Senator Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach.

Sheldon sees the legislation as risky for the state.

“As drafted, the proposal provides very little opportunity for a positive return to the taxpayers of Washington,” Said Sheldon. “The narrow terms of eligibility alone within the bill will exclude more competitive proposals, resulting in even fewer dollars being generated for state and local governments.”

Today Sheldon sent a letter to Governor Chris Gregoire, urging her to veto the legislation.

“Liquor reform is a critical issues for countless businesses and Washingtonians across the state,” Said Sheldon. “That’s why more time is needed to articulate a proposal that works to the benefit of all Washington taxpayers.”

Sheldon pointed to a recent citizen-based initiative as a compromise solution that voters would be able to examine next fall, but likely won’t if the bill is signed as it stands. The emergency clause within the bill would allow it to go into effect immediately, without public right to referendum.

“I find it difficult to believe that there is a liquor emergency in Washington State at this time,” Said Sheldon. “The clause serves only to pre-empt a new debate with the public on a compromise solution to a controversial problem. Should the Governor sign the bill, I hope that she, in the least, vetos this transparently political maneuver.”

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For more information, Michael Althauser, 360-786-7326

Sheldon reflects on 2011 legislative session

Senate Democrats — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:36:20 GMT

Olympia - With the swing of a gavel, President of the Senate Brad Owen and House Speaker Frank Chopp adjourned sine die the special session of the 2011 Legislature. The long-anticipated event was made possible by recent breakthroughs between parties and chambers just days ago.

Among the largest hang-up was the Operating Budget for the 2011-13 biennium. One Senator, Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, voted against the proposal.

Asked to list some of his reasons why, Sheldon first pointed to the deep cuts borne by the state’s education system.

“As lawmakers, we have a Constitutional duty to fully fund basic education for our children,” Said Sheldon. “This budget slashes well over a billion dollars to K-12 education alone. While I appreciate the inclusive nature of budget discussions over the past few months, the values represented by this budget cut simply did not mirror the values of my district.”

Sheldon went on to say he would have preferred to see tightened levels of prioritization and success in capturing efficiencies in state government as opposed to the deep cuts.

“Since day one, we’ve been talking about how this recession has presented state government with an opportunity to create the kind of fiscal reform that would not be possible in other years,” Said Sheldon. “But what we see instead is over-reliance on news fees, short-sighted budget tricks and a failure to reduce the size of state government through consolidation.”

Sheldon, however, did note a few positive measures to emerge from the 2011 session.

“What we did see a lot of this year is positive government reform measures,” Said Sheldon. Asked to cite an example, Sheldon looked to recent reforms of the state’s worker’s compensation system. “For over 100 years, our state has utilized the same methods for helping workers and families get back on their feet. Today, we make a thoughtful change to modernize that system in a way that boosts the quality of care for injured workers, returning them to work as soon as possible, while reinforcing the system’s long-term sustainability,” Said Sheldon.

Lawmakers now leave Olympia until next year’s legislative session, to begin early January of 2012.

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For more information, Michael Althauser, 360-786-7326

Senate makes historic change to its own rules

Senate Democrats — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 23:49:00 GMT

OLYMPIA - Today, the state Senate ended a 96-year-old requirement that amendments to the operating budget offered on the Senate floor receive a supermajority in order to pass.

"This is the most significant change the Senate has made to its own rules in 90-plus years," said Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, chair of the budget-writing Ways & Means Committee. "A simple majority of this body should make a decision on any issue. With this rule change, all members of the Senate have the opportunity to participate in the budget process fully and equally."

“This is the most significant thing we can do to have a bipartisan process in constructing this budget,” said Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam. “It’s a statement of good faith about working together through our current budget challenges toward a solution that works for everybody.”

“We may be saving the taxpayers at least one special session, and maybe a second special session by passing this rule change,” said Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch. “There is an opportunity to pass a coalition budget – not a Democratic budget or a Republican budget – but a budget that truly is a reflection of the public and in the public’s best interests.”

In 1915, the Senate adopted a supermajority requirement for floor amendments to the operating budget proposed by Ways & Means Committee. A two-thirds vote was requirement for amendments, but the Senate heard amendments on the floor as a committee of the whole, which appears to have meant that votes on the amendments were not recorded.

The requirement for voting as a committee of the whole was dropped in 1983, and the threshold lowered from two-thirds to sixty percent, creating the rule as it has existed for 28 years until today.

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For more information: Jeff Reading, 360-786-7845

Sheldon disagrees with governor's ferry proposal

Senate Democrats — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:14:00 GMT

"Our ferries are part of our state highway system, just like roads, rail and transit.

"Isolating the needs in our ferry system and creating another layer of government to address them is not the solution. Users of ferries already pay into the highway system just like everybody else when they pay gas taxes, in addition to ferry fares.

“The state’s not asking Seattle residents to pay special taxes for the tunnel or the 520 bridge. It’s not asking Spokane residents to pay special taxes for the North-South Corridor. It’s not asking Vancouver residents to pay special taxes to pay for the Vancouver-Portland Bridge. Our ferries are no less a part of the state highway system than these projects.

“We need to prioritize the dollars we have. We need to continue working on the efficiencies that we’ve started in the ferry system. And we need a transportation package to meet the needs of our entire highway system as a whole, including ferries, roads, rail and transit.”

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch