S-0295.1  _______________________________________________

                 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8409

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Morton and McCaslin

Read first time 01/23/2001.  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 and Eastern Oregon and Western Washington and Western Oregon are dramatic; and

    WHEREAS, Urbanization and rapid growth in the western portions of both states 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 and Oregon 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 ten members:  Two from the Washington State House of Representatives, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; two from the Washington State Senate, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate; two from the Oregon State House of Representatives, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; two from the Oregon State Senate, one from each major political caucus, appointed by the President of the Senate; and one member from each state representing the governor and appointed by the governor of each state.  The legislative membership from each state shall include an equal number of representatives from the western portion of the state and the eastern portion; 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 the committee be jointly staffed by committee staff from each state.

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