Legislators from 7th District enjoyed a successful session

OLYMPIA _ With defeats on sea lions and rabbits but victories on beavers, it was a fairly successful legislative session for state lawmakers from northeastern Washington’s sprawling 7th Legislative District.

Consider:

“After years of being a lonely voice in Olympia calling for water-law reforms, Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, was one of two state lawmakers who negotiated the launch of a $200 million Columbia River water storage project.

“Legislative newcomer Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, got several bills passed, including one to let landowners relocate wild beavers in the hope they’ll build natural dams on streams.

“And veteran Rep. Bob Sump, R-Republic, got the region included in a pilot project to toughen local methamphetamine enforcement.

“All in all, we did all right,” Morton wrote in a letter last week to local business groups.

The 7th is the largest legislative district in the state, including vast swaths of Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille and Lincoln counties, about half of Okanogan County and a small chunk of western Spokane County.

Here’s how the three lawmakers did during this year’s recent 60-day session:

Morton: Morton’s big victory was the water bill, intended to free up “new water” for farms, fish, cities and industry. It is, he and other proponents said, the biggest change in state water law in 30 years.

He didn’t do as well with the bills he proposed this year. Most died in committee.

Among them:

“SJM8027: Would have asked Congress to allow “predator control” for seals, sea lions and other salmon and steelhead predators.

“SB6779: Would have allowed public utility districts in sparsely populated counties to set up their own taxi, van or shuttle bus service for senior citizens or disabled people.

“SB6252: Would have exempted small-scale rabbit farmers from needing commercial slaughter licenses and processing equipment. People raising up to 1,000 rabbits could instead get a $75-a-year permit allowing on-farm sales of the meat.

“SB6251: Would have allowed Eastern Washington residents to warm up their car engines, unattended, while the vehicles are parked curbside, which now is illegal under state law.

Sump: A conservative who sponsors few bills, Sump scored his biggest win this session by ensuring that northeastern counties are home to one of three new rural methamphetamine task forces. The pilot project will add four sheriff’s deputies, two deputy prosecutors and one court clerk to the region.

“Even though it (meth) is a statewide issue, it seems to be really rampant in rural communities like ours,” said Sump.

Sump pushed unsuccessfully for a change in the state calculations for school bus reimbursement. The change would have meant more accurate calculations of road miles traveled, meaning more money for rural districts.

In coming years, Sump says, he’d like to exempt school districts from a truancy law if local courts are too busy to handle truancy cases. He also is interested in finding a way to continue Medicaid and Medicare coverage for prisoners instead of their medical bills being borne by county jails.

“It takes years around here sometimes to get a bill through,” Sump said.

Kretz: The newest 7th District lawmaker had the most success getting his bills passed. Among the bills now waiting for Gov. Chris Gregoire to sign:

“HB2381: Allows landowners, with a free state permit, to relocate beavers onto their property. The beavers presumably will build dams on creeks and streams, Kretz said, creating a “sponge effect” that will preserve water for dry seasons. “Who could be against it?” he said.

“HB2617: Permits cities and counties to let off-road vehicles run on local roads without needing license plates, provided that the roads are designated “off-road-vehicle-friendly.”

“HB2382: Provides liability protection for livestock handling facilities. The bill, Kretz said, is aimed primarily at a small corral facility in Ferry County where animals are weighed, sorted into loads and shipped.

“HB1641: Reduces maximum fines for some boating violations, such as having an unregistered water vessel. These are now criminal misdemeanors; under the change, they would be civil infractions.

“I can’t wait to have them become law,” Kretz said.