A Day in the Legislature – Potato Day!

Baked PotatoToday was “Potato Day.” The Potato Farmers of Washington hand out baked potatoes larded with condiments. The line stretches down the stairs of the rotunda and almost out the door. I passed on this opportunity and had a sandwich in my office. I’ll stand in line for the BBQ beef sandwich on “beef day” but not a baked potato, despite how tasty they are.

Tomorrow (2/13/13) is “Gun Day,” with several bills being heard in the Judiciary committee at 8:00 AM. We’re expecting to have, again, random people with assault rifles slung over their back wandering the halls of the capitol. There was a protest last week with several hundred people. This is larger than some protests, but not really all that big. We typically have more people here for PTA focus day, or any of the large lobby days. I’m not involved in these bills in detail, but am a co-sponsor of the bill (HB 1588) requiring background checks for all sales of guns in Washington, including private sales and those at gun shows. This is a pretty rational requirement that is supported by large majorities (over 80%) of the American public and that I’ve supported since my initial run over a decade ago, when only 75% of the people in my district supported it. For more thoughts on gun safety you can read my post from a few weeks ago.

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