Senators vote to change regent appointment date

[b]State Senate approves changing student regent appointment date[/b]

A bill mandating the move of the date the UW student regent starts office passed the Senate yesterday with unanimous support.

"It made a lot of sense," said State Rep. Phyllis Kenney, who sponsored the bill.

With the start date moved from June 1 to July 1, the regent will no longer vote on the UW's budget -- the most important vote of the year -- at the beginning of the term. With each student regent starting a month later, the June budget vote will come at the end of the term, when the student regent has almost a year of experience.

"[At] your first meeting, the budget meeting, you don't really have the knowledge," said Will Rasmussen, the 2006 student regent.

UW student lobbyist Ben Golden was pleased with the bill's passage and echoed Kenney in describing the measure as making "good sense."

The bill enjoyed support from students, the UW administration, legislators and the Governor's office. It breezed through the House earlier in the session.

Golden now hopes Gov. Christine Gregoire will sign the bill before session is over.

[b]Bill inspired by UW researcher's death clears Senate[/b]

William Steele, a former colleague of deceased UW researcher Anthony Qamar, was thrilled that a measure inspired by Qamar's death cleared the Senate last night.

"I feel relieved," Steele said. "I'm really happy. I know [the Legislature] has had a busy session, but still crafted legislation that will make Washington's roads safer."

House Bill 2987 calls for a suspending trucking licenses for drivers that repeatedly violate weight standards. State Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-Lake Forest Park), who was a friend of Qamar, sponsored the bill due to the circumstances surrounding the researcher's accident.

Qamar died when a logging truck lost its load and released logs onto the road as he and a colleague were driving behind the truck. The men tried to swerve out of the way, but the car was still hit. The logging truck was overweight.

"We'll always miss Tony [Qamar]," Steele said.

[b]Bestiality ban clears House[/b]

Sex with animals is one step closer to being illegal in Washington State -- the House of Representatives voted unanimously to ban any sexual conduct with animals late Tuesday.

Though there was no opposition, the measure was met with a barrage of quiet jokes by legislators on the House floor.

Sen. Pam Roach (R-Auburn) brought the bill forward after the infamous death of a Seattle man by a horse that made national headlines. The man died of a perforated colon after having sex with the horse.