Margarita Prentice

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Sen. Margarita Prentice
Member of the Washington State Senate from the 11th district
In office 1993 – present
Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 11th district
In office 1989 – 1992
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Bill
Residence	Skyway, Washington
Website	margaritaprentice.com

Margarita Prentice is a Washington State Senator. A Democrat, she represents the 11th District, which includes Seattle's Beacon Hill, South Park and portions of Renton, Kent, Tukwila, Burien, and SeaTac.

Contents 1 Public service 2 Positions 2.1 Farm workers' rights 2.1.1 Collective bargaining 2.1.2 Temporary housing 2.1.3 Extension of tax exemption laws 2.2 Anti-discrimination 2.3 Veterans' rights 2.4 Sports arena in the 11th district 2.5 Finanial institutions committee 2.5.1 Interstate bank branching 2.5.2 Federal share insurance for credit unions 2.5.3 Payday lending 3 Campaign contributions 4 Recognition 5 Civic memberships and activities 6 Personal 7 References 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] Public service

Prentice was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1988, taking office the following January. She served until 1992, when she was elected to the Washington State Senate, taking office in January 1993. Her current term ends January 2009. Prentice is the current Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. She is also the former chair and current member of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee and serves on the Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee.^[1] Prentice also serves as an ex-officio member of the Washington State Gambling Commission.

[edit] Positions

[edit] Farm workers' rights

[edit] Collective bargaining

In 1993, Prentice was a sponsor of SB 5347 to permit farm and agricultural workers to “self-organize, to join employee organizations, to bargain collectively and to engage in other lawful concerted activities for mutual aid and protection, or to refrain from such activities. . . .” ^[2]

[edit] Temporary housing

In 1995, Prentice was a sponsor of SB 5503 which directed the Washington Department of Housing to begin reporting on the status of temporary worker housing conditions and to develop livable and decent temporary worker housing in Washington State. ^[3] In 1998, she was a co-sponsor of SB 6168 which made "it easier and cheaper for farmers and others to construct seasonal housing for temporary workers." ^[4] It also allocated $2 million to develop housing for low-income farm workers.

[edit] Extension of tax exemption laws

In 1997, Prentice was a sponsor of SB 5193. ^[5] At the time, sales and use tax exemptions were only available to workers for housing provided by an employer. This legislation extended that exemption to agricultural employee housing provided by housing authorities, government agencies and non-profit agencies, provided that at least 80% of the occupants were agricultural employees with incomes less than 50% of the median income level. That legislation was passed by the Washington Legislature in a 138 to 4 vote. It became effective on May 20, 1997.

[edit] Anti-discrimination

In addition, Prentice has worked to prohibit discrimination in housing, employment and insurance based on sexual orientation. In 2007, she prime sponsored a bill extending retirement benefits to domestic partners.^[6]

[edit] Veterans' rights

In 2007, Prentice prime sponsored bills asking that the federal government to provide veterans' benefits owed to Filipino veterans. She was also the prime sponsor of a bill providing for the exclusion of veterans benefits from the income calculation for the retired person property tax relief program.^[7]

[edit] Sports arena in the 11th district

Prentice has supported funding a new sports complex that would accommodate, among others, the Seattle Sonics. ^[8] Prentice explained her support of a proposal to locate a new arena in her district in a February 9, 2007 op-ed in the Seattle Times for "the economic activity the new center will bring to the region . . . [and as a] valuable community asset that will create jobs and promote the development of new hotels and great restaurants." ^[9] Prentice went on to contend that funding the new center would "have almost no impact on King County taxpayers, and no new general taxes [were] are even being considered to pay for the arena."

[edit] Finanial institutions committee

[edit] Interstate bank branching

While the chair of the Senate Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee, Prentice sponsored the first bills in Interstate Bank Branching.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Federal share insurance for credit unions

Prentice also sponsored and legislation transitioning credit unions to federal share insurance while serving as the chair of the Senate Financial Institutions Committee.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Payday lending

In 1995, Prentice and eight other members of the Senate Financial Institutions and Housing Committee were the first to sponsor legislation (SB 5279) regulating payday lending in Washington.^{[10] [11]} According to the Washington State Legislature Final Bill Report on SB 5279, it was introduced because: “Short-term small loans serve a credit need in the community. . . . It is better to regulate the activity than to simply ignore it or prohibit it.” ^[12] This legislation was approved by the Washington Legislature in a 144 to 1 vote and became effective July 23, 1995. When the $15 fee per $100 borrowed on a two week term is converted into an APR (annualized percentage rate)it is approximately 390%.^[13] News sources have reported on Prentice's opposition to attempts to cap the allowable fees on these loans to 36% APR. ^[14]

[edit] Campaign contributions

Prentice is a fund raising heavy hitter for herself and for the State Democratic party. February 2008 Washington Public Disclosure Commission records show that Prentice has raised more than $101,000 in the 2008 election year reporting period.^[15]

In a series of articles attacking Prentice, the Seattle Stranger dubbed her "Senator MoneyTree" because of her acceptance of contributions from Moneytree, a financial services company founded and headquartered in her district.^{[16] [17]} Washington State Public Disclosure Commission records as of February, 2008 indicate that there have been no Moneytree-related contributions to the Senator since 2004 and that in the past combined 10 years, Prentice has accepted a total of $1,050 from Moneytree and/or its principals - approximately 1% of the contributions the Senator has raised in the 2008 reporting period alone.^[18]

[edit] Recognition

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Throughout her legislative career, Prentice has received recognition for her political and civic work. In 2006, she received the following honors:^[19]

• Outstanding Legislator by the Children's Alliance
• Legislator of the Year, Retail Association and Mortgage Brokers Association
• Legislator of the Year, Washington Health Care Association
• Legislator of the Year, Washington State Labor Council
• Legislator of the Year, Washington State Nurses Association
• Legislator of the Year, Home Health Care Association
• King County Nurse of the Year
• Champion of Health Care, Valley Medical Center
• Distinguished Service Award, Washington Association of Homes for the Aging
• Legislator of the Year, Washington State Dental Hygienists' Association

[edit] Civic memberships and activities

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Prentice is a member of various civic and political organizations including:^[20]

• American Civil Liberties Union
• Amnesty International
• Democratic National Committee
• First Vice President, Washington State Nurses Association, 1968-1972
• Labor Officer, Washington State Nurses Association, 1974-1978
• Sierra Club
• Renton Historical Society
• Audubon Society
• Humane Society of United States

[edit] Personal

Prentice attended Phoenix College; Youngstown State University, St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Phoenix and the University of Washington. A nurse for more than 20 years, she worked in various capacities, including hospital administrator and various assignments as a registered nurse. She also served as a member of the Renton school board.

She has three children and five grandchildren.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Washington State Legislature

[edit] External links

• More info
• Washington State Nurses Association - Hall of Fame Inductee Biography