Procedural motions to force debate on bills aimed at removing children from drug-abusing homes failed three times late Monday night in the state House, after majority Democrats refused to bring the measures to the floor. John Sattgast reports from Olympia.
Republican Representative Travis Couture made three rare procedural motions to pull stalled child protection bills directly from committee, saying lawmakers must act to save children living in homes where fentanyl and other drugs are being abused.
He told lawmakers Washington is seeing preventable child deaths tied to drug exposure.
“A lot of these parents spend more time loving the drugs that they are consuming instead of loving their kids. Not to say that they don’t love their kids, but they love the drugs more.”
Democrats opposed the motions, saying bills should only move through the committee process. But Couture argued the committee deadline has already passed, meaning the bills are now likely dead this session.
He urged lawmakers to act before more children are harmed.
“We have created a system that escalates risk upon risk… until finally that kid is harmed, nearly dead or dead.”
All three motions failed largely along party-line votes, putting in doubt efforts this session to change state law governing removal of children from homes where parents abuse hard drugs.
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Washington State House Republican Communications