SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5398

    AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 8, 1993

Brief Description:  Implementing a primary voters' pamphlet.

SPONSORS: Senators Quigley, Haugen, A. Smith, Prince, Fraser, Skratek, McAuliffe, Bauer, Drew, Deccio, Talmadge, Sutherland, Gaspard, Snyder, Jesernig, von Reichbauer, Winsley, Niemi, Prentice, Vognild, Sheldon and Erwin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5398 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Oke, and Winsley.

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: February 12, 1993; February 26, 1993

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5398 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Rinehart, Chairman; Spanel, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Gaspard, Hargrove, Jesernig, Niemi, Pelz, Quigley, Snyder, Sutherland, Talmadge, and Wojahn.

Staff:  Steve Jones (786-7440)

Hearing Dates: March 5, 1993; March 8, 1993

BACKGROUND:

For many years, the Secretary of State has published a comprehensive voters' pamphlet for each general election.  It includes information on candidates for all federal, statewide and legislative offices, as well as state ballot measures.

There is no comparable voters' pamphlet for the state primary election.

SUMMARY:

The Secretary of State must publish a candidates' pamphlet as soon as possible before each state primary election.  The pamphlet contains photographs and campaign statements of candidates who wish to be included, together with a campaign mailing address and telephone number.  The pamphlet is mailed to all residences.  No pamphlet is necessary in odd-numbered years unless a special election must be held in case of a vacancy in a state or federal office.

The Secretary of State determines the deadline by which candidates must provide information for inclusion in the pamphlet.  Special requirements concerning rejection of statements, and tape and braille transcripts that apply to the general election pamphlet also apply to the primary election pamphlet.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The reference to "election" is deleted for the primary.  Provisions relating to rejection of candidates' statements, providing tape and braille transcripts, and requiring additional information from a candidate are deleted.

Use of the same photograph and candidate's statement for both pamphlets is clarified, as is the provision for rotating offices in the ballot.  The requirement that each candidate pay a fee for inclusion in the pamphlet is repealed, as is the statute requiring tape and braille transcripts.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The retail sales tax is extended to apply to political campaign consulting services.  Revenue from the tax is placed in a dedicated account to fund the costs of preparing and distributing the primary candidates' pamphlet.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR (Government Operations):

A primary pamphlet can be very useful for voters, especially for those offices where the primary decides a race.  The time line for preparing the pamphlet is short.  Wherever possible, we are amending the Code to use the term "primary" alone, since the election is really the general.  The Americans with Disabilities Act has superseded the requirement for the tape and braille transcripts.  The cost of collecting the fee from the candidate far exceeds the revenue, which in itself provides little support for the cost of publication.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Government Operations):  None

TESTIFIED (Government Operations):  PRO: Senator Quigley, prime sponsor; John Pearson, Elections Division; Tom Casey, Washington State Grange

TESTIMONY FOR (Ways & Means):

Because primaries get less attention from the news media than general elections, a primary candidates' pamphlet serves as an important source of information for voters.

TESTIMONY AGAINST (Ways & Means):  None

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  Gary McIntosh, Secretary of State's Office