|
||
|
|
||
|
Friends Committee on Washington Public Policy
Criminal Justice Alert April 12, 2005
Rising prison populations and high recidivism (re-offense) rates
affect all of us in terms of public safety and diversion of limited
public funds. A bill before the legislature, developed by the
Friends Committee and key allies, will help ex-offenders become
successful citizens once they are released.
Ex-offenders usually leave prison with several thousand dollars in
financial obligations imposed by their sentence. Currently these
obligations draw a 12% interest rate. This high rate demoralizes
ex-offenders and often sees them going deeper in debt even while they
make payments. SB 5611 now in the House will reduce the interest
rate on monetary obligations from the current 12% to 2% points over
the T-bill rate, currently about 4.5%. This will lessen the
demoralizing burden of ex-offender debt, and make resources available
for critical housing, treatment, and family support needs.
Action Needed:
SB 5611 is currently in the House Rules committee. We need
people to make phone calls or send emails to Rules Committee members
to urge them to pull this bill and send it to the floor for a vote.
The final day for bills to be voted on and passed is Friday, April 15.
House Rules Members:
Democrats: Speaker Frank Chopp, Chair, 43rd Dist; Brian Blake,
19th Dist; Judy Clibborn, 41st Dist; Dennis Flannigan, 27th Dist; Bill
Grant, 16th Dist; Zack Hudgins, 11th Dist; Sam Hunt, 22nd Dist; Lynn
Kessler, 24th Dist; John Lovick, 44th Dist; Dawn Morrell, 25th Dist;
Alex Woods, 3rd Dist.
Republicans: Glenn Anderson, 20th Dist; Mike Armstrong, 12th
Dist; Doug Ericksen, 42nd Dist; Joyce McDonald, 34th Dist, Rodney Tom,
48th Dist.
You can call members through the legislative hotline at 800-562-6000.
E-mail addresses for the above members can be can be found at: http://www.leg.wa.gov/email/members/Default.aspx?Chamber=H
We also need people to call and e-mail the Democratic
Leadership to tell them there is support for this bill.
They have been hesitant to put it forward because they fear being
labeled as soft on crime in the next election. They need
to be told this is an important bill to a lot of people and that
reducing recidivism is certainly not being soft on crime. This
bill is important to reduce recidivism, meaning less crime victims,
and immense savings in the prison budget.
Democratic Leadership
Frank Chopp Speaker [email protected] 360.786.7920 John Lovick Spkr Pro Tem [email protected] 360.786.7892 Lynn Kessler Maj. Leader [email protected] 360.786.7904 Bill Grant Cuacus Chair [email protected] 360.786.7828 Sharon Santos Whip [email protected] 360.786.7944 Sam Hunt Flr. Leader [email protected] 360.786.7992 Jeannie Darneille Caucus VC [email protected] 360.786.7974 Zack Hudgins Asst. Flr. Ldr. [email protected] 360.786.7956 Sherry Appleton Asst. Whip [email protected] 360.786.7934 Tami Green Asst. Whip [email protected] 360.786.7958 Larry Springer Asst. Whip [email protected] 360.786.7822
Please send me a copy of any emails you send on these issues.
Thanks.
Roger Kluck
FCWPP Lobbyist
To contact your FCWPP Lobbyist, Roger Kluck, email [email protected]
or call him at 206-856-4444.
How to Contact Your Legislators:
During business hours, you can leave a message for all three of your legislators and the Governor at the toll free hotline (the operators can even tell you who your legislators are!) 1-800-562-6000
Use http://dfind.leg.wa.gov/dfinder.cfm
to identify your legislators. Contact information for your senators
can then be found at http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/members/default.htm
, and for representatives is at http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/default.htm.
|
