By Senators Hill, Braun, Hewitt, Hargrove, Conway, Fraser, Hobbs, and Dammeier

WHEREAS, It has been the tradition of the Washington State Senate to honor significant and important contributions made by employees; and

WHEREAS, Steve Jones began his illustrious and lengthy career with the Washington State Legislature in 1976 when he started with the Code Reviser's Office; and

WHEREAS, One of the very first pieces of legislation Steve worked on as a member of the Code Reviser's staff was the bill to close the PERS 1 pension system, and despite repeated investigations there is no evidence that he conspired to set the termination date for PERS 1 after his initial date of employment with the state of Washington; and

WHEREAS, Having secured a plan 1 retirement Steve turned his attention to the state budgets and retained his grip on the state's omnibus operating appropriations act for 37 years; and

WHEREAS, In addition to being recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and accomplished institutional historians of the Senate, Steve also happily serves as a conduit of the latest juicy gossip traveling through the marbled halls of the state capitol; and

WHEREAS, Steve from his days as an undergraduate student at Occidental College has a surprising and almost obsessive knowledge of Original Tommy's chiliburgers in Los Angeles as well as the collected works of avant garde jazz composer and bandleader Don Ellis; and

WHEREAS, Steve has remained on the cutting edge of fashion by wearing a bow tie more than any Senate staffer (including the late Sid Snyder) since the 1940's; and

WHEREAS, Steve for four decades has mastered the rare art of telling lawmakers in the most polite and humorous way possible "Yes, Senator, that is an excellent and innovative idea apart from the slight problem that it is blatantly unconstitutional"; and

WHEREAS, Steve owns the distinction of the shortest kayaking trip to Glacier Bay in Alaska where on just the second day a grizzly bear destroyed their campsite and even the illegal firearm his friend illegally brought into the National Park was not able to distract the bear from ransacking their supplies; and

WHEREAS, Steve is an avid cyclist and regular spectator at the annual Tour de France and was able to finance college educations for both of his children by smuggling cycling memorabilia and souvenirs out of the country and reselling the items on Ebay; and

WHEREAS, Despite being an accomplished hiker and mountain climber as well as a friend of famed mountaineer Fred Beckey, Steve managed to become lost on a backpacking and climbing trip in the North Cascades, spending the night in a creek bed and worrying family and friends until he was rescued somewhere near Stehekin on the north end of Lake Chelan; and

WHEREAS, Over his career Steve has worked with the following Ways and Means Chairs -- Senators McDonald, Rinehart, West, Loveland, Brown, Rossi, Zarelli, Prentice, Murray, and Hill; any of whom could truly serve as the answer to the Sesame Street song "One of these things is not like the others"; and

WHEREAS, During his 28 years working for the Washington State Senate, Steve is recognized as one of the highest respected legal minds, helping countless Senators achieve their public policy goals; and

WHEREAS, The many, many friends he has made during these years in public service will miss him mightily as he is often referred to as the "glue which holds the Senate together," but wish him all the best on his well-deserved retirement;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate give Steve a heartfelt thanks for his years of service and wish him and Kris many days of travel, family, and friends; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Steve Jones.