Despite the legislature’s mad rush to pass such critical bills as the bat bill that Becki described, there’s absolutely no movement on annexation reform before crossover. The only real annexation reform bills (HB 645, SB 494) are just being ignored.
Legislator aren’t providing any clear answers whether the annexation bills are affected by crossover, like most other bills. I’d assume they would be, but some legislators (including “leaders”) have said that annexation bills are treated differently–for example, in the Senate rules, if a bill affects local taxing power, then it allegedly isn’t affected by crossover.
I don’t want to get into an analysis of whether an annexation bill really affects local taxing power or get bogged down in the crossover rules, but everything I have seen regarding whether crossover applies is very questionable.
My personal guess: Crossover will apply if a real annexation reform bill is moving that the oligarchy doesn’t like. Crossover won’t apply if a watered down annexation reform bill is moving and it is acceptable to the League and the oligarchy.
Remember, this is the same oligarchy that tried to shoot down the annexation moratorium bill by ignoring the absolutely clear language of the rules. Imagine what the oligarchy can do when things are a bit vague.
When the clock strikes midnight on Thursday night, it may be the end of real annexation reform until at least 2011.
I’m hoping that those legislators that have said crossover doesn’t apply will make sure the crossover excuse isn’t used to stop real annexation reform this year. Don’t count on it though.
Anyone interested in annexation reform should be in full-court press mode right now. Unfortunately, legislators from both parties are like the Harlem Globetrotters playing jokes on the citizens (from the perspective of the legislators: we are the Washington Generals).
