April 1, 2009 -- Justice Works! (WA) WA State: Historic Opportunity For Felony Disenfranchisement

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House Bill 1517 would restore voting rights to people after they finish serving their terms for felonies in prison and complete all their community supervision requirements.

This is an historic bill -- we are in a critical window of opportunity to pass it -- tremendous effort and work has been put into this bill.... and it is right now teetering on the edge of passage or failure.

Every call to legislators makes a difference.

It should be noted that Secretary of State Sam Reed supports this legislation -- as does the state auditor. Prominent law enforcement officers have come out in support of it. Victim's rights groups are not opposing it. Research indicates that people are less likely to commit more crimes if they have the right to vote.

At a time when incarceration rates are at an all-time high, we are linking the right to vote with the ability to pay an incarceration related fine. This is further stratifying our society.

1517 passed with a fairly close vote in the House (53 to 43), and it's bound to be very close in the Senate. Any assistance you can offer in encouraging your friends and colleagues in other districts to contact the unconvinced legislators is very welcome. The prime sponsor of the House bill is Rep. Jeannie Darneille; the Senate version's prime sponsor was Sen. Kohl-Welles; Sen. Kline also was a co-sponsor.

You can find more info on the bill here:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1517&year=2009

Below, please find district and contact info for each Senator. (All can be reached at area code 360) Folks can also call the legislative hotline: 800-562-6000.

Democrats:

• Tracey Eide, 30th . 786-7658, eide.tracey@leg.wa.gov
• Rosa Franklin, 29th. 786-7656, franklin.rosa@leg.wa.gov
• Chris Marr, 6th. 786-7610, marr.chris@leg.wa.gov
• Steve Hobbs, 44th. 786-7686, hobbs.steve@leg.wa.gov
• Jean Berkey, 38th. 786-7674, berkey.jean@leg.wa.gov
• Brian Hatfield, 19th. 786-7636, hatfield.brian@leg.wa.gov
• Fred Jarrett, 41st. 786-7641, jarrett.fred@leg.wa.gov
• Derek Kilmer, 26th. 786-7650, kilmer.derek@leg.wa.gov
• Kevin Ranker, 40th. 786-7678, ranker.kevin@leg.wa.gov
• Phil Rockefeller, 23rd. 786-7644, rockefeller.phil@leg.wa.gov
• Tim Sheldon, 35th. 786-7668, sheldon.tim@leg.wa.gov

Republicans

• Dale Brandland, 42nd. 786-7682, Brandland.dale@leg.wa.gov
• Jerome Delvin, 8th. 786-7614, delvin.jerome@leg.wa.gov
• Curtis King, 14th. 786-7626, king.curtis@leg.wa.gov
• Bob McCaslin, 4th. 786-7606, mccaslin.bob@leg.wa.gov
• Cheryl Pflug, 5th. 786-7608, pflug.cheryl@leg.wa.gov
• Dan Swecker, 20th. 786-7860, swecker.dan@leg.wa.gov

Visit Justice Works! at www.justiceworks.info

Also visit our "WA State News & Activism" section.

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