Substitute House Bill 2244 "Mandates that counties, cities and towns may not restrict religious organizations from hosting homeless tent encampments and establishes specific rules local jurisdictions must follow in regard to prospective and existing encampments."

Anybody remember Camp Quixote? Want to do something actually meaningful to lend a direct hands-up to the truly marginalized among us?

Time is running out for SHB 2244, the common-sense House bill that would help faith communities fulfill their God-given right to temporarily host tent encampments for the homeless.

The measure is still sitting in the hands of the House Rules Committee, the gatekeeper that decides which bills go the House Floor for second reading. The Legislature's self-imposed cutoff deadline is Wednesday, March 14 at 5 p.m. That's THIS Wednesday. If the bill is not moved to the House for further consideration by the deadline it is dead for the year. We have one day.

So, how about those citizen journalists, out wasting time shouting at the United States Army or wringing their hands over the fate of SJR 8016, brainchild of a grandstanding freshman State Senator, give it a rest and instead call and write House members NOW on a simple little bill that is the very definition of Act Locally! It takes so little effort to call the Legislature's Hot Line 1-800-562-6000 or write an e-mail to key legislators and make a statement for this bill. Be brief and say in your own words why protection for religious organizations (churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.) who provide the homeless with space for a temporary tent encampment is good for all the people of Washington.

Right now, while we're busy posting links to grainy YouTube offerings, full time, professional lobbyists employed by Washington cities and counties are diligently working to kill this bill. By the way, those lobbyists work at public expense. Yes, your tax dollars at work. So after we bail T.J. out of the Pierce County Jail, maybe some of us should have a word with him about this matter. (What? You didn't know our Favorite Son and City Councilman was arrested over the weekend at the Port of Tacoma?)

Please, PLEASE, let's keep hope alive for our brothers and sisters in poverty and those who serve them. We have one day.

At the very least please write these members of the House Rules CommitteePaul

House Speaker Frank Chopp - Chair (D)
chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov

Rep.Richard DeBolt - Ranking Minority(R)
debolt.richard@leg.wa.gov

Rep. Brendan Williams (D)
williams.brendan@leg.wa.gov

Peace +

Paul