Senate swears in Hatfield, other Dems
Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:52 AM PST
By Don Jenkins
Printable version
E-mail this articleOLYMPIA --- New senators Monday walked individually to the rostrum to be sworn-in, and the notably enthusiastic cheer for Democrat Brian Hatfield prompted someone to ask in jest whether half of Raymond was in the gallery.
"I got one of the rowdier families," Hatfield joked.
The 15-week legislative session began with scripted ceremonies, a rally in support of nursing homes and other opening-day festivities in the Rotunda.
"This is all the pomp and circumstance," said Hatfield, returning to the Legislature after a two-year hiatus. "Tomorrow, we have to get to business."
About 20 of Hatfield's relatives witnessed Chief Justice Gerry Alexander administer the oath of office to Hatfield, who represented the 19th District in the House for 10 years and resigned two years ago to work for Lt. Gov. Brad Owen.
Hatfield quit Owen's staff after being appointed in November to replace Cathlamet Democrat Mark Doumit, who gave up the seat to head the timber industry's state trade association.
After being sworn-in, Hatfield got a pat on the back from his old boss, Owen, who presides over the Senate.
"I actually got some butterflies," Hatfield said. "I didn't expect that."
Hatfield is one of 10 new senators in the 49-member Senate, where Democrats hold a 32-17 majority. With 16 Senate committees, Republicans will be stretched thin.
"I think, obviously, it will affect the debate at the committee level, but we can only ask our members to do so much," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield.
Democrats picked up six Senate seats in the last election. On Monday, that translated into Democrats taking over the two back rows of the Republican side of the aisle.
Zarelli summed up being in a small minority: "Ultimately, you're not a decider of anything," he said.
Still, Zarelli said Senate Republicans will present their ideas and Democrats will have a reason to listen. "They don't want to (pass) everything with their 32 votes. How does that look?" he asked.
Also on the first day of the session, about 150 people from around the state rallied on the Capital Campus for more financial support for nursing homes.
"We're so short-staffed," said Angela Wood, a nurse at the Evergreen Americana in Longview. "I would like to give my patients a hug, and I don't have that time."
Nursing home operators and the Service Employees International Union Local 775 have formed a coalition, Washington United for Quality Nursing Home Care, to lobby lawmakers.
The coalition advocates increasing funding by $60 million over two years to improve wages, benefits and working conditions at nursing homes. Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed $15 million.
"We think there's a real problem with inadequate funding," SEIU spokesman Adam Glickman said.
Dena Taylor of Kelso said she came to Olympia because her 96-year-old mother, Lowell Dixon, is in a nursing home where workers are "overworked, underpaid and understaffed, tremendously."
Dixon shares a room with two other residents, and the care costs more than $3,500 a month, Taylor said. About $900 comes from Dixon's Social Security check and the unpaid balance goes as a lien on the house Dixon lived in for 60 years, Taylor said. "The value of her home will be eaten up in no time."
In the Rotunda, Washington-made products were displayed on tables. Southwest Washington wares included wood, agricultural and seafood products.
"Almost everything here represents a sustainable resource," said Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce President LeRoy Tipton, who held up a cedar "grilling plank" cut in Cosmopolis that promised on the label to "add the essence of cedar to anything you grill!!!"
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