OLYMPIA – Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, joined her Democratic colleagues in an attempt to revive a crucial bill that would provide basic assistance to homeless families in Washington.

“I find it appalling the Senate Republicans killed a bill that would provide necessary help to families without a roof over their head,” Kohl-Welles said. “A number of Republicans helped to develop this bill, and yet today they took a unanimous vote to deprive struggling families of the best hope they have at getting help.”

The previous evening, the Senate Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance Committee was abruptly adjourned by chair Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, before an agreed-upon bill (HB 2368) could be voted on. Audio of the premature end to the committee reveals protests by both Republicans and Democrats, and can be found by clicking here.

“The parliamentary strategy we tried today, called the Ninth Order, is only exercised in extreme cases,” Kohl-Welles added. “But without the funding this bill provides, programs to help eliminate homelessness in Washington will be cut off next fall – just as we head into the coldest months of the year. If fighting to keep Washingtonians out of the cold isn’t an extreme need, then I don’t know what is.”

The Senate companion bill is SB 6313.