QV Webspinner Please call your state senator today (and members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee) to express your support for increasing state revenue to reduce the magnitude of the cuts our state will be forced to make to cover the projected deficit (currently $2.8 billion). Forcing those who benefit from state sponsored schools, health care, … Read more
Review of the book Beyond Prisons: A New Interfaith Paradigm for Our Failed Prison System Our criminal justice system fails to promote rehabilitation, healing, and reconciliation. Does it need as radical a paradigm shift now as the one over 200 years ago that led to penitentiaries instead of gaels, public hangings, mutilations, deportations and other harsh … Read more
Washington State legislators will hold Town Meetings this Saturday, February 20, to get citizen input about revenue issues and the state services for which they are needed. Legislators from across the state are taking time off from the session to hold these meetings in their home districts. For the town hall meeting in your district, … Read more
When we visited our legislators during Quaker Lobby Day last Monday, we learned that they are getting bombarded with mean-spirited and angry emails and phone calls from groups demanding “No new taxes!” So they need to hear from the other side.When we visited our legislators during Quaker Lobby Day last Monday, we learned that they … Read more
Approved by Steering/Legislative Committee, 1-09-2010 PRIMARY PRIORITIES 1. Criminal Justice: Sentencing Reform. The long-term goal is to reform both the nature of sentencing and sentencing review, reducing the prison population. Specific efforts will include advocacy of a sentencing review board, reductions in sentence lengths, continuation and/or expansion of earned release, ending the sentence of … Read more
Greetings, Activists! We’re expecting an amazing turnout for Quaker Lobby Day 2010–around 60 people have registered so far. We’ve got a full and exciting agenda (attached), focusing this year on criminal justice and revenue issues. Our keynote speaker, Rep. Mary Helen Roberts, will challenge Quakers to take the lead in organizing to significantly reducing the prison population over the next … Read more
Those who’ve worked hard to move health care reform forward on the federal level want people in Washington State to know how federal legislation will benefit you. Please come to South Seattle this Sunday, January 17th 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at UFCW 21, 5030 1st Ave S, Seattle to hear Congressman Jim McDermott, State Senator Karen Keiser, and … Read more
Listed below is a proposed agenda for the FCWPP Steering and Legislative Committee meeting to which you are invited. The meeting is on Saturday, January 9, at the Tacoma Friends Meetinghouse from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Directions to the Tacoma Friends Meetinghouse are also given below. A draft of the Legislative Priorities to be … Read more
The Friends Committee on Washington State Public Policy (FCWPP) recommends approval of Referendum 71, affirming the adoption of SB 5688 by the Washington State Legislature in 2009 to extend to domestic partners all of the legal benefits afforded to married persons. Background: SB 5688 was adopted by the 2009 Washington State Legislature with the intent that … Read more
Friends, With the House concurrence today, both the Senate and the House have now passed the Voting Rights Restoration bill HB 1517 in the same form, so it goes to the Governor. Please contact Governor Chris Gregoire to say that she has your support for signing this bill into law. You can leave her a message through … Read more