This week on “The Impact”:
A Special Session begins with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate blaming each other for the logjam that led to the unfinished business of passing a final Operating Budget & Capital Budget. We talk to leaders from both parties in both chambers as well as Governor Jay Inslee. You’ll hear their views on the major points of contention & the likely areas for compromise on a “go-home budget” as well as other priority bills.
“I think the point is if there is no support for revenue in the Senate why are we even negotiating?”- Sen. Mark Schoesler-R, Senate Majority Coalition Caucus Leader.
“It’s going to take four corners sitting down together and being willing to do the give-and-take it can’t just be senate Republicans saying we have a proposal now it’s done.” – Sen. Sharon Nelson-D, Senate Democratic Leader.
“Holding bills hostage for another bill or for a budget just, I don’t think it’s appropriate,” – Rep. Pat Sullivan-D, House Democratic Majority Leader.
“We’re going to hold our ground on this we’ve got to fix this his problem,” – Rep. Dan Kristiansen-R, House Republican Leader.
Later we sit down Captain Monica Alexander of the Washington State Patrol for Q & A on a distracted driving bill known as the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act which recently passed the state legislature. It’s an effort to close loopholes in existing law that allow drivers who get pulled over on suspicion of texting to say they were on Facebook, Instagram, or typing an address into a GPS- all of which aren’t covered. It would prohibit drivers from holding a phone or any other electronic device behind the wheel and specifically ban watching movies, which is also not covered by the existing law.
Alexander says it will make the state’s distracted driving laws much easier to enforce and increase public safety.
Opponents of the bill have criticized it for various reasons and made a number of arguments such as:
- some people can multi-task better than others;
- there are all sorts of distractions people engage in (eating, the radio, etc.);
- and law enforcement should focus on how people are driving, not what they are doing with their phones.
Capt. Alexander responds to those criticisms during the interview.
Here’s a small preview:
“I don’t see people every day with a bowl of cereal or a hamburger in their hand or shaving. I see that periodically. I see cell phones every day.” – Captain Monica Alexander, Washington State Patrol. “Everybody thinks they’re a great driver right? We wouldn’t see as many collisions on the road if everyone was a great driver.”
Other topics include a ceremony at the State Capitol to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the U.S. entry into WWI and a change in command at the Washington Department of Corrections.
Click here to watch “The Impact” – April 26, 2017: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2017041152