OLYMPIA (May 14, 2013) — As was the case with last year’s successful effort to approve the “Jobs Now” bonds package, a strong coalition of labor, business, environmental and local government interests are coming together in the special session to urge the 2013 State Legislature to pass a transportation package that makes a significant investment [...]
OLYMPIA (May 13, 2013) — The federal “sequester” budget cuts are about to kick 41,000 Washington residents and their families while they are down. The Employment Security Department just announced that, due to sequester cuts, unemployment benefits will be reduced by more than 21% for Washington residents receiving federally funded extended benefits. The cuts will [...]
By DAVID GROVES The Stand OLYMPIA (May 6, 2013) — The state just got some good news about the improving post-recession financial outlook of Washington’s workers’ compensation system. And that’s bad news for Republicans’ special-session effort to revive legislation expanding the controversial lump-sum buyouts of injured workers. At last Tuesday’s quarterly Workers’ Compensation Advisory Committee [...]
Following is today’s edition of the Washington State Labor Council’s Legislative Update newsletter (PDF version). OLYMPIA (April 24, 2013) — Amid the debate over economy-stifling job-killing government austerity, one myth continues to ring loudly among the American public: that despite all the budget cuts, government is still growing. It’s not just right-wing politicians and think [...]
OLYMPIA (April 24, 2013) — State Senate Bill 5905, introduced on April 10 by Sens. Andy Hill (R-Redmond) and Jim Hargrove (D-Hoquiam), would essentially eliminate state health coverage for part-time state employees and force them into the Washington Health Benefits Exchange being developed under the federal Affordable Care Act. SB 5905, which is strongly opposed [...]
Following is today’s edition of the WSLC Legislative Update newsletter (PDF version): OLYMPIA (April 12, 2013) — On Wednesday, House Democratic leaders introduced a state budget proposal that, similar to Gov. Jay Inslee’s plan, chooses education over tax loopholes. Those two proposals stand in contrast to that of the Republican-controlled Senate’s all-cuts budget, which doesn’t [...]
Following is today’s edition of the WSLC Legislative Update newsletter (PDF version): OLYMPIA (Mar. 29, 2013) — One of the first legislative priorities of the State Senate’s Republicans-Plus-Two Coalition was to pass bills that undermine Washington State’s safety net for middle-class families: our unique — and popular — workers’ compensation system. SBs 5112, 5127 and [...]
OLYMPIA (Mar. 28, 2013) — Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council President, AFL-CIO, issued the following statement in response to the release of Gov. Jay Inslee’s 2013-15 Budget Priorities for a Working Washington. “With the release of his budget priorities and proposed list of tax exemptions/loopholes that should be closed, Governor Jay [...]
Following is today’s edition of the WSLC Legislative Update newsletter (PDF version): Efforts to undermine prevailing wage standards harm middle-class families OLYMPIA (Mar. 21, 2013) — Do you recall any state legislators running for election last fall by promising to lower your wages? We don’t. And yet, the 2013 state legislative session has brought a [...]
The following is from the Healthy Washington Coalition: SEATTLE (Mar. 15, 2013) — More than tourists flocked to Pike Place Market on Thursday. Dozens of everyday Washingtonians rallied outside the Pike Market Medical Clinic calling for full implementation of Medicaid expansion. “Cover Me!” they chanted, as nearly 100 umbrellas printed with “Cover Me” opened in [...]
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