04/06/2001 11:58 AM Senate RLS

CHAIRWOMAN PEARCE announced  that a committee substitute was adopted                                                            
by the Senate Finance Committee  to HB 103-APPROP: OPERATING BUDGET.                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS moved to adopt Amendment 1 to CSHB 103(FIN).                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT objected.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS explained  that Amendment 1 would change the source of                                                            
funding for the Department  of Health of Social Services (DHSS) from                                                            
the constitutional  budget reserve  fund to the general fund,  which                                                            
is  the normal  funding  source.   Senator Ellis  said  the idea  of                                                            
making the DHSS  budget contingent on the actions  of the court puts                                                            
a large number  of people at risk;  the mentally ill, disabled,  and                                                            
other recipients  of DHSS  services.  Regarding  the argument  about                                                            
the appropriations  process, he believes  the legislature  is ceding                                                            
appropriations powers by  making contingent arrangements affected by                                                            
the  outcome  of a  court decision.    He  repeated that  using  the                                                            
constitutional  budget reserve fund sets a bad precedent  and puts a                                                            
lot of innocent people at risk.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The motion  to adopt Amendment  1 failed  with Senator Ellis  voting                                                            
"yea," and Senators  Phillips, Therriault, and Pearce  voting "nay."                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT  moved  to calendar all  Senate versions  of CSHB
(FIN).                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELLIS objected.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
The motion  carried with  Senators Phillips,  Therriault and  Pearce                                                            
voting "yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay."