OLYMPIA...Senator Don Benton, R-Vancouver, this afternoon will hold a news conference to discuss the seemingly successful bipartisan negotiations on Senate Bill 5677 and the insincere actions that subsequently killed the important child safety legislation. 

“What is more important than protecting our school children from predatory teachers?” said Benton.  “The Democrat leadership has the power to remedy this situation and I call upon them to act.” 

Senate Bill 5677 permanently revokes certificates of teachers found viewing sexually explicit material on school grounds.  The bill has received widespread support from the editorial boards of several major newspapers. 

Jim Hines of Friends and Neighbors of Theresa Gibbs, affiliated with the Tennis Shoe Brigade, will be participating in the news conference with Benton. 

When:  Thursday (today), March 3 at 1:15 p.m.

Where:  Senate Hearing Room 4 in the Cherberg Building. on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. 

Attached is the letter Benton sent to the chairwoman of the Senate Early Learning, K-12 and Higher Education Committee, Rosemary McAuliffe, detailing their negotiations on the bill and expressing his frustration over her backhanded tactics to kill the bill. 

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For more information contact Tami Davis (360) 786-7519 or davis.tami@leg.wa.gov