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Dear Friends,
The 2010 legislative session began earlier this week, Jan. 11, in Olympia. We have some major issues facing us during this scheduled 60-day session, including a budget shortfall of $2.6 billion, and addressing economic recovery and the creation of jobs, among other things. I am also personally working on legislation that would reassert state sovereignty and restore the integrity of the voters' ability in our state to choose a president. I will be communicating more on these and other issues in the coming weeks.
Please feel free to contact my office any time you have questions, comments or suggestions about state government. It is my highest honor to serve you!
Election year restrictions for e-mail updates
The 2010 legislative session began earlier this week, Jan. 11 in Olympia. We had hoped to provide an e-mail update to you on the first day of session, but attorneys in the House and Senate have been working to try to interpret application of a new law that allows us to provide these updates during election years. In fact, this is the first year since 1992 (with the passage of campaign reform Initiative 134) that legislators have been allowed by law to send regular e-mail updates during an election year. So with it being uncharted territory, we wanted to make sure we are complying with the new law.
Earlier today, I sent an e-mail advised by our House attorneys to make sure you wish to receive this e-mail update. To continue receiving updates, you do not need to do anything. I will continue sending them to you periodically throughout the 2010 legislative session and up to 30 days after adjournment. As always, you are welcome to contact my office anytime you have questions or comments.
Important state sovereignty rally this Thursday at the state Capitol
I hope you can join us at noon tomorrow, Jan. 14, for the Sovereignty Winter Fest rally on the steps of the state Capitol. It's expected we could see thousands of people from across Washington at the event, in which they will ask lawmakers to pass legislation that reasserts state sovereignty.
The rally is part of the “10th Amendment movement” in which lawmakers in a growing number of states, including Washington, are telling the federal government to back off and quit meddling in the states' business. The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
You may remember that last year, I introduced House Joint Memorial 4009, a measure that asserted Washington's sovereignty under the 10th Amendment and served notice to the federal government to immediately cease and desist “any and all mandates that are beyond the scope of its constitutionally-delegated powers.” This year, I have authored and introduced eight bills to reassert state sovereignty and erect barriers against federal encroachment.
I'll bring you more information about those bills in future e-mail updates.
Please join us if you can for this very important rally.
WHAT: Sovereignty Winter Fest Rally
WHY: To support state sovereignty legislation
WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 14, noon
WHERE: State Capitol steps, Olympia
Sincerely,
Matt Shea