S-2231.4  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8412

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Morton and McCaslin

Read first time 03/15/2001.  Referred to Committee on State & Local Government.

Establishing a select committee on state boundaries.

    WHEREAS, Since statehood, the lifestyles, culture, and economies of Eastern and Western Washington have been very distinct; and

    WHEREAS, A similar distinction is also true of Eastern and Western Oregon; and

    WHEREAS, The similarities between Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho and Western Washington and Western Oregon are dramatic; and

    WHEREAS, Urbanization and rapid growth in the western portions of Washington and Oregon has progressively heightened this divergence of cultural and economic values from that of the eastern portions of the states; and

    WHEREAS, A reconsideration of the state boundary lines of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho in light of these divergences and similarities is in order;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That a select committee on state boundaries be established to study the feasibility of boundary line changes and the process to accomplish such changes; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consist of four members:  Two from the Washington State House of Representatives, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the Co-Speakers of the House of Representatives; and two from the Washington State Senate, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Senate Committee Services and the Office of Program Research shall provide staff for the committee; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings and recommendations to the Washington State Legislature by December 28, 2001; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That if the states of Idaho or Oregon have committees created for a similar purpose, the Washington state select committee on state boundaries is authorized to meet with the Idaho and Oregon committees.

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