09.15.08
Don Benton fights for… whom?
Senator Don Benton’s campaign literature proudly proclaims that “He fights for us!” We wonder: who was Don Benton fighting for when he opposed SB 5930 providing affordable health care to all Washington residents; SB 5659 establishing family and medical leave insurance; HB 1359 creating an affordable housing program; SB 5841 enhancing early childhood education opportunities and achievement; and SB 6809 providing a tax exemption for working families?
Don Benton also routinely boasts of being the most prolific fundraiser in the State Senate. His list of donors includes Wal-Mart, the Pawnbrokers Association, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco. Do you suppose that campaign contributions of over $6,000 from various insurance companies had anything to do with Senator Benton’s opposition to HB 2572, providing health insurance to small businesses? With over $20,000 coming from the banking and mortgage industry, is it any wonder why he voted “NO” on SB 6381, a bill aimed at requiring mortgage brokers act in the borrower’s best interest?
The Senator also routinely misses votes on legislation he doesn’t like. For example, he missed the vote on a 2005 House Bill establishing a homeless housing program; a 2006 House Bill expanding apprenticeship opportunities for high school graduates; a 2008 House Bill addressing the achievement gap for African-American students; a 2007 House Bill authorizing utilities to engage in environmental mitigation efforts; and a 2005 Senate Bill providing tax incentives for clean and alternative fuel vehicles.
Whom was Senator Benton fighting for when he missed a 2005-07 appropriations bill that contributed to public employees and teachers’ retirement funds, and a 2005-07 appropriations to allocate additional funds to homecare agencies to provide dental, vision and vacation benefits for their employees? Did Senator Benton’s support from the tobacco industry have anything to do with missing the vote on a Senate Bill enhancing enforcement of liquor and tobacco laws?
Whom was Don Benton fighting for when he launched his subscription-only legislative news website for registered lobbyists (which ultimately failed)? When state legislative ethics counsel Mike O’Connell warned Benton to “erect firewalls” between his legislative duties and business dealings, Benton refused to acknowledge the obvious conflict of interest. He signed the solicitation himself and referenced his legislative experience as reasons to subscribe to his service.
Whom was Don Benton fighting for when he accepted donations well over the $2,500 contribution limit as head of the GOP state party? Even members of his own party were embarrassed by his actions. King County GOP chairman Reed Davis said Benton left the party in “near chaos.”
It appears that while the senator was busy raising money for his perpetual re-election, the people of this state were left to fight for themselves.
Partial list of Senator Benton’s votes: Education
Supported 2003 Senate Bill 6059 suspending COLA salary increases for teachers
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 6059 restoring COLA salary increases for teachers
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 5841 enhancing early childhood education
Opposed 2007 House Bill 1051 expanding high school completion programs at community colleges
Did not vote on 2006 House Bill expanding apprenticeship opportunities for high school graduates.
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill tuition waivers for families of fallen veterans and national guard members
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 1128 operating budget, which included:
$1 million for construction of new K-12 schools
$15 million for opportunity grants for low-income students to pursue training in high-demand fields.
$60 million in special education funding
$1.1 billion for additional classroom space including Clark College and WSU-V
$22 million to expand the Early Childhood Education program to reach an additional 2,250 children
$25 million to provide health coverage to an additional 38,000 children
$1 million to Evergreen Schools for construction of a Health and BioSciences Academy.
Health Care
Opposed 2006 House Bill 2572 establishing small employer health insurance partnership program
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 5930 providing affordable health care to Washingtonians
Opposed 2008 Senate Bill 6333 establishing a citizens’ work group on health care
Opposed 2008 House Bill 2687 providing mental health treatment and services
Opposed 2007 Senate Bill 5659 establishing family and medical leave insurance
Environment
Opposed 2008 House Bill 2815 cutting greenhouse gas emissions and creating 25,000 green collar jobs
Opposed 2008 Senate Bill 6580 addressing the impacts of climate change
Opposed 2006 Senate Bill 6508 incentives to increase local production of biofuels
Opposed 2005 House Bill 1397 to adopt stricter California emissions standards for cars and trucks
Did not vote on 2007 House Bill authorizing utilities to engage in environmental mitigation efforts.
Did not vote on 2005 Senate Bill providing tax incentives for clean and alternative fuel vehicles.
Did not vote on 2006 Senate Bill on oil spill regulations.
Housing & other
Opposed 2007 House Bill 1359 creating an affordable housing program
Opposed 2008 House Bill 2687 providing affordable housing, housing for the homeless, and weatherization
Opposed 2008 House Bill 1128 providing adult day care and services to families, children and disabled
Opposed 2008 Senate Bill 6809 providing a sales tax exemption for working families
Opposed 2008 Senate Bill 6381 requiring mortgage brokers to act in the best interest of borrowers
Opposed 2008 Senate Bill 6452 requiring full disclosure of yield spread premiums
Don Benton’s other missed votes:
Did not vote on 2005 Senate Bill amendment for public employees and teachers’ retirement funds.
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill enhancing enforcement of liquor and tobacco laws.
Did not vote on 2008 House Bill addressing the achievement gap for African-American students.
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill providing for privacy protection for voter registration information.
Did not vote on 2005 Senate Bill providing dental, vision and vacation benefits for homecare workers.
Did not vote on 2007 Senate Bill regarding health insurance information for students.
