Every year, WashingtonVotes releases a "missed votes" report on lawmakers, compiling how many floor votes each lawmaker missed during the legislative session. Before the report is released, those with the most votes missed are asked for comment or explanation so that their missed votes can be read within context. For example, often votes are missed due to personal or family illness.
Below is the link for the full 2020 Missed Votes Report as well as explanations from lawmakers providing context to the report. Lawmaker comments are provided verbatim.
2020 WashingtonVotes Missed Votes Report
Legislators’ Comments on Missed Votes Record - 2020 Regular Session
Below are the responses of the following lawmakers:
Senator Phil Fortunato
Rep. Jared Mead
Rep. Kelly Chambers
Senator Randi Becker
Rep. Dan Griffey
Rep. David M. Paul
Senator McCoy
Rep. Drew MacEwen
Senator Fortunato was unfortunately in the hospital and recovering from a serious illness during floor action resulting in missed votes.
Senator Phil
Senator Phil Fortunato
31st Legislative District
P: (360) 786-7660 │ C: 253-680-9545 │ E: phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov
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Thank you so much for checking in with me on this. I appreciate the work you do in tracking these numbers each session.
The votes I missed are all from the same two days- March 4th and March 5th. On those days I was at home with my wife as she suffered through the miscarriage of our second child.
Thanks again for providing me the opportunity to provide context to these missed votes.
Take care,
Jared Mead
State Representative | 44th Legislative District
360-786-7892
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Thank you for sharing with me the information you collect regarding Legislators’ vote records. I missed 24 votes on Sunday, February 16th because I left for about 2 hours to attend the funeral for my Pastor, Art Hunt, in Puyallup.
Warmest regards,
Kelly Chambers
State Representative – LD 25
Washington House Republicans
Transportation | Healthcare & Wellness | Commerce & Gaming
426 John L. O’Brien Bldg.
(360) 786-7948 | kelly.chambers@leg.wa.gov
Visit our website: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
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I missed one day of votes as I was home sick. Not something I wanted but sick enough I could not leave my house.
Sen. Randi Becker (LD 2)
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I missed votes this year due to cascading events arising from my mother’s sudden illness and death.
Thank you,
Rep. Dan Griffey (LD 35)
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Thank you for reaching out to Rep. Paul’s office. Here’s a statement on his absence: “I had a personal medical emergency on March 6, 2020 (Unrelated to COVID-19/Coronavirus) that caused me to miss some votes in the last seven days of session. I did not miss any votes prior to that, including voting in favor of SB 6404 on 3/5.“
Thank you,
Sara
Sara Develle
Legislative Assistant to Representative David M. Paul
Washington State House of Representatives | 10th Legislative District
309 John L. O'Brien Building | Olympia, WA 98504 | 360.786.7914
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I’m Sen. McCoy’s communications specialist. Yesterday his office passed along your invitation for him to offer a statement about his missed votes. Hopefully this is making it to you in time for your deadline. The senator would like to say that the votes he missed were due to bouts of illness and were all excused.
Thank you!
Hannah M. Sabio Howell
Communications Specialist
Senate Democratic Caucus
Office: 360.786.7326
Email: Hannah.
(** WashingtonVotes received this response after our deadline, but we recognize legislative staff is very busy and the current crisis has only added to that, and the purpose of this report is to provide full context, so we unreservedly include Rep. Drew MacEwen's response below)
I was not given an opportunity to respond to the missed votes issue. I missed a number of votes due to a death in the family that took me away from the capitol.I would appreciate it if that would be added to your record.
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Kindest Regards,
Drew MacEwen
Representative
WA State House of Representatives
35th Dist. Pos 2