NOON SESSION

Senate Chamber, Olympia, Monday, May 18, 2015

The Senate was called to order at 1:55 p.m. by President Owen. No roll call was taken.

MOTION

On motion of Senator Fain, the reading of the Journal of the previous day was dispensed with and it was approved.

PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

Senator Fraser: “Well thank you Mr. President. This is an historic day and historic week here in the state of Washington. So while it’s very quiet here in the Legislature today and this week. In 1980 is was not quiet. On this very day in 1980 the Mt. St. Helens volcano blew and changed the natural resources and the geology of the state forever and it really impacted the legislature too. I remember that, suddenly, there were many, many committees that started meeting. The impacts of the volcano were very comprehensive. The Transportation Committee met because transportation in western Washington and eastern Washington was so affected. Committees dealing with economic development in jobs met because it was such a big economic impact. Committees on natural resources met and on and on. So, suddenly, there was a frenzy of activity. Employment Security Department was doing a big estimates of employment impacts. So it was a huge day and it set off a whole new situation here in the state of Washington. You might remember that most of the ash blew over to eastern Washington. I remember the ash was so thick in Spokane that the street lights went on. To this day, if you know what you’re looking at, you can see ash still along I-90. And then, of course, the Toutle River, all the damage and the flooding and mud flows there. And then, one day, the prevailing wind blew the ash up to the Olympia area, state capitol. Nobody knew what was in the ash and so people were afraid their cars were going to be damaged and didn’t dare breathe it. There was nobody out on the road. It was sort of like after the bomb. So it was a major, major activity, event in our state’s history. Actually fifty seven people died. It was so explosive and sudden. So, I just wanted to acknowledge that this is an historic day and historic week for the Mt. St. Helens volcano.”

MOTION

At 1:57 p.m., on motion of Senator Fain, the Senate adjourned until 11:55 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2015.

BRAD OWEN, President of the Senate

HUNTER G. GOODMAN, Secretary of the Senate