WSU Spokane
An outdated state law from 1917 dictates that Washington is only allowed to have one medical school, but in recent months, momentum has been building to change that law and allow WSU to establish a second medical school.
Last week, Senator Baumgartner and I testified to support of SB 5487, which allows the creation of a WSU medical school in Spokane. It is unusual for two senators to testify together on the same bill, but the fact that we appeared together demonstrates the strong, bipartisan support for this bill. The House version of the bill, HB 1559 has similar bipartisan support. It is prime-sponsored by Rep. Marcus Riccelli and has an astounding 65 co-sponsors.
WSU Spokane’s recently constructed health science building on the Riverpoint Campus near downtown Spokane.
This initiative is important for the Spokane community. The WSU Medical School, along with expansion of the University of Washington-sponsored WWAMI program (which I also support), provides more opportunities for young people who want to practice medicine in their home state. It also opens the door for better access to healthcare in our region, and generates economic development in Spokane. Both the House and Senate versions of this bill are scheduled to be voted out of their respective committees this week.
Hearings, Hearings, Hearings
The first few weeks of each session are packed with public hearings on a wide variety of bills. Last week we had a public hearing on one of my prime-sponsored bills, SB 5140. This bill would extend a pre-registration option to motor voter (registering to vote when you get your driver’s license). This change would allow 16 and 17 year olds to have equal access to motor voter, which is the easiest and most effective way to register to vote.
Public hearings are a particularly important step in the lawmaking process, because they give interested parties, including individual citizens, a chance to voice their opinion about a bill to the Legislature. This is how we put a human face on a bill.
Among the faces testifying on Monday was one very familiar to me—my daughter, Bella, who asked to speak on behalf of SB 5140! Click HERE to watch the a media report on the hearing.
We also heard supportive testimony from the Washington Student Association and the League of Women Voters. The next step will be for the Senate Government Operations Committee to vote the bill on to the Rules Committee.
Spokane Telephone Town Hall
Join your 3rd District Legislators for a Telephone Town Hall:
Wednesday
February 11, 2015
6:00-7:00PM
If you have a landline, you should get a call at 6PM!
Don’t have a landline? Dial in at 1-877-229-8439. When prompted, dial the access code: 18646. We hope you can join us!
Keeping In Touch
If you have a comment, idea, question, please let me know. I would love to hear from you!
You can reach me by e-mail (andy.billig@leg.wa.gov) or by phone at 360-786-7604.
And if you know someone who would like to get their own copy of my weekly e-newsletter, tell them they can go to my website athttp://www.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/senators/billig/ and click on the link to “Sign up for my e-newsletter.”
Onward!
-Andy
