On Wed. March 14th, Substitute House Bill 1909 came up for the vote and passed. Many of you must have emailed, because I was told at 11:45 that the bill was going to die in the house. I don’t know what time it was heard, but it was placed on the third reading (what they call the vote) and passed before 2:30. Thank you for all your emails, encouragement, and support. This was a team effort and because we stood together we have a victory.
Now, round 2 starts. We have to get the House Bill through the Senate and the Senate Bill through the House.
SHB1909 has been scheduled for public hearing with the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Monday, March 26th at 1:30 p.m. The rumor is that this committee plans to kill this bill in hopes that only the Senate Bill will be put into law, however, SHB1909 is the bill that has all the meat in it and we really need it to pass. This bill allow us to transport a small amount of cedar without a permit (3 - 8 foot logs). For that purpose, we need as many people as can to attend this meeting and sign-in in favor of the bill. Please check your schedules, and come if at all possible. Remember, each person attending represents about 10,000 voters. With a strong show we may overcome this opposition.
For those who can’t attend, but want to help, please email the members of the Natural Resources Committee. A sample and email addresses are below.
These web pages may help:
Getting to the capitol:
http://www.ga.wa.gov/visitor/direction.htm
State Capitol Parking Information:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/WorkingwithLeg/parking.htm
(The Service Employees International Union has a leadership assembly that day from 10-4, so plan to park at the shuttle lot.)
For information on SHB1909:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1909&year=2007
Our Web site:
http://www.washington-wood-laws.org/
jacobsen.ken@leg.wa.gov; rockefeller.phil@leg.wa.gov; morton.bob@leg.wa.gov; fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov; Hargrove.james@leg.wa.gov; poulsen.erik@leg.wa.gov; spanel.harriet@leg.wa.gov; stevens.val@leg.wa.gov; swecker.dan@leg.wa.gov
To the Honorable Senators on the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean, and Recreation Committee:
As a chain saw sculptor, I am very concerned about the way RCW 76.48 has already been enforced here in our state. This needs to be corrected as much as possible now. There are issues involved that will not wait another year. Currently, any piece of any species of wood that is suitable for making an ornamental box could cause a person to have their vehicle, equipment, tools, and wood confiscated and the person put in jail for one year. Even a single cedar stake for which I don’t have a retail receipt puts me in this jeopardy. The current law is very unclear as to when a permit is needed, and even though the permits are no charge, they are very hard to get in some counties. Often they are only available between 8:30 and 4:30 Monday to Friday, so I would have to take time off work to get a permit each time I want to transport a piece of wood. Yes, we need to protect our forests from theft, but not at the expense of those that legitimately possess and use wood. SHB1909 goes a long way toward correcting the critical issues in RCW 76.48 that just cannot wait another year. Please support SHB1909: send it on to the Executive Committee and vote, “Yes!”
Sincerely,
Your Name
Your Address
Your phone number