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Washington House of Representatives
| Washington House of Representatives | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Type: | Lower house |
| Term limits: | None |
| 2012 session start: | January 9, 2012 |
| Website: | Official House Page |
| Leadership | |
| House Speaker: | Frank Chopp, (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Pat Sullivan, (D) |
| Minority leader: | Richard DeBolt, (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 98 |
| Democratic Party (56) Republican Party (42) Vacancy (1) | |
| Length of term: | 2 years |
| Authority: | Art II, Washington Constitution |
| Salary: | $42,106/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last Election: | November 2, 2010 (98 seats) |
| Next election: | November 6, 2012 (98 seats) |
| Redistricting: | Washington State Redistricting Commission |
Contents |
The legislature is a part-time citizen legislature that meets annually on the second Monday. In odd-numbered years, the budget year the Legislature meets for 105 days, and in even-numbered years for 60 days. If necessary, the Governor can call legislators in for a special session for a 30-day period. Legislators can call themselves into special session with a two-thirds vote of the two bodies[3].
Sessions
Article II of the Washington Constitution establishes when the Washington State Legislature, of which the House is a part, is to be in session. Section 12 of Article II allows the dates of regular sessions to be determined by statute. Section 12 limits the length of regular sessions to 105 days in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even-numbered years.
Section 12 also establishes rules for convening special sessions of the Legislature. It states that special sessions can be called by the Governor of Washington or by resolution of two-thirds of the members of each legislative house. Special sessions are not to exceed 30 days in length.
2012
- See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions
In 2012, the House will be in session from January 9 through March 8.
Major issues
Heading into the session the state faces a $1.5 billion budget gap. Additionally, Governor Chris Gregoire is pushing for a half-cent sales tax, while the legislature is considering a gas-tax increase to pay for roads and transportation related needs.[4]
The legislature passed a bill allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. Gov. Gregoire signed it into law in February but opponents immediately filed a Referendum to try and put the law on hold.[5]
2011
- See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions
In 2011, the House was in session from January 10 through April 24. [6]
2010
- See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions
In 2010, the House was in regular session from January 11 to March 11. Additionally, the Legislature was in special session from March 15 to April 12 to deal with issues related to the economy and the state budget.[7][8]
Elections
2012
Elections for the office of Washington House of Representatives will be held in Washington on November 6, 2012. All 98 seats will be up for election.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in the elections is June 8, 2012. The primary election day is August 7, 2012.
2010
The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was June 11, 2010. The primary election day was August 17, 2010. The enactment of Initiative 872 in 2004 means that in the August 17 primary, the top two vote-getting candidates in each primary contest, regardless of party, moved on to the final November 2 vote.
Washington State Representatives serve a two-year term and are not subject to term limits. All members are up for election on even years. Of the 98 seats up for re-election, incumbents ran in 81 of them.
The partisan breakdown of the House before and after the election was as follows:
| Washington House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 61 | 57 | |
| Republican Party | 37 | 41 | |
| Total | 98 | 98 | |
In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $15,999,632 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [9]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| House Democratic Campaign Cmte | $552,413 |
| House Republican Organizational Cmte of Washington | $488,004 |
| Washington State Democratic Party | $294,579 |
| Washington State Republican Party | $141,785 |
| Frockt, David S | $117,764 |
| Washington State Dental Association | $109,600 |
| Washington Health Care Association | $106,500 |
| Premera Blue Cross | $96,350 |
| House Democratic Campaign Cmte of Washington | $90,243 |
| Washington Restaurant Association | $87,600 |
Qualifications
Section 7 of Article 2 of the Washington State Constitution states, "No person shall be eligible to the legislature who shall not be a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter in the district for which he is chosen."
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the House, the Board of County Commissioners where the vacant seat is located has the responsibility to select a replacement. The state central committee of the political party that last held the seat must submit a list of three candidates to the Board of County Commissioners representing the vacant district. A selection must be made within 60 days after the vacancy happened[10].
Representatives
Partisan composition
- See also: Partisan composition of state houses
| Party | As of May 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 56 | |
| Republican Party | 42 | |
| Total | 98 | |
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
As of 2010, members of the Washington House of Representatives are paid $42,106/year. Legislators receive $90/day per diem.[11]
The $42,106/year that Washington representatives are paid as of 2010 is an increase over the $36,311/year they were paid during legislative sessions in 2007. Per diem is the same.[12]
When sworn in
Washington legislators assume office the first day of session.
Leadership
The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. [13][14]
Current leadership
Current members
Standing committees
The Washington State House has 21 standing committees:
- Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Business and Financial Services Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Capital Budget Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Community Development and Housing Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Early Learning and Human Services Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Education Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Environment Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Health and Human Services Appropriations and Oversight Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Health Care and Wellness Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Higher Education Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Judiciary Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Labor and Workforce Development Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Local Government Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Rules Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Transportation Committee, Washington House of Representatives
- Ways & Means Committee, Washington House of Representatives
External links
- Official website of the Washington House of Representatives
- Official list of the current members of the Washington House of Representatives
- Project Vote Smart on the Washington House of Representatives
References
- ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
- ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
- ↑ "Washington House of Representatives" About the Assembly, March 13, 2009
- ↑ The Olympian, "A big factor in state legislative session: Fall, spring elections," January 7, 2012
- ↑ New York Times, "Washington Governor Signs Gay Marriage Bill," February 13, 2012
- ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
- ↑ 2010 session convening dates for Washington legislature
- ↑ 2010 session adjourning dates for Washington legislature
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Washington House 2010 Campaign Contribution"
- ↑ Washington Legislature "Washington Constitution"(Referenced Section Article II, Section XV)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
- ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
- ↑ Democratic Leadership of the Washington House
- ↑ Republican Leadership of the Washington House
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