OLYMPIA – Citizen participation is an important element of democracy.
This year, the opportunity to be an active part of the process or even observe it in action has a few more barriers than usual when it comes to the state legislature.
In the wake of the Nisqually earthquake in February 2001, a major remodeling and retrofitting of the state capital was begun this past year. To accomplish the work, all offices and other facilities in the building were moved to other locations in Olympia until November 2004.
This has forced the Senate to meet in the state library while the House meets in a temporary building erected in the library parking lot. There will be no public gallery to observe the proceedings, though all will be broadcast on TVW, the state government cable television channel.
The move has also meant that legislator offices, along with those of the governor, secretary of state, auditor and assessor have been moved to a variety of locations on the Capitol campus.
For those wanting to meet with a legislator or testify at a hearing, it would be wise to double check the location of the office or the hearing room for this session.
Also, those going to Olympia should remember that an already impossible parking situation is compounded by the loss of parking to the temporary structures.
For driving directions, instructions on parking and the use of the free shuttle service can be found on-line at www.wa.ga.gov, the web site of the Department of General Administration.
To contact legislators without making the trip to Olympia, phone, fax and e-mail are all available.
To voice an opinion on a bill, locate the phone number, office address or mailing address of a particular legislator, call the Legislative Hotline, a toll free service during the session, at 1-800-562-6000. They also can send copies of bills or legislative guides and information and even help find out who represents which areas.
The most comprehensive resource is the Internet. The Legislature’s web site is www.leg.wa.gov. Each member has a page with their picture, committee assignments, bill sponsorship, voting records and contact information, including a direct link for e-mail.
The web site also contains information on the legislative process, the schedule for the session and committee schedules.
The main State of Washington site is www.access.wa.gov
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