Two Green-Collar Jobs Bills Pass the House

Legislation sponsored by two House Democrats aimed at encouraging growth in renewable energy jobs and manufacturing has been approved by the House of Representatives

House Bill 1301, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris, improves an existing program that provides incentives for energy consumers who use renewable sources to meet their electricity needs. It also includes new performance measurement tools to increase accountability and ensure that the tax credits administered under this program are accomplishing what they are meant to – helping to create new jobs in our state.

The state will use metrics, such as how many consumers are receiving credits and where they are buying their renewable energy systems, to measure the success of the program and assess how credits are given out. This will help reward companies that manufacture their products in Washington, expanding our clean energy economy and creating good-paying jobs for Washington families.

The second piece of legislation is House Bill 1663, sponsored by Rep. Steve Tharinger. It extends an existing sales and use tax exemption for a kind of biomass called “hog fuel” which, incidentally, has nothing to do with hogs. Hog fuel is a wood waste product, created from the limbs and branches left behind when timber is harvested. Turning this wood waste into renewable energy eliminates the need for open pile burning at the timber harvesting site, which means fewer emissions into our atmosphere.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, the resulting biomass product is a commodity itself that helps support timber industry jobs.These family-wage jobs tend to be located in areas of our state that suffer from stubborn unemployment, so it’s important to preserve these jobs and help the industry find ways to stay competitive in the global market.

Both pieces of legislation will create or maintain jobs here in Washington while reducing our dependence on outdated fossil fuels – further proof that it doesn’t have to be a choice between growing our economy and protecting our environment.

Read this story in Spanish.

Several legislative tele town halls happening this week

On the heels of last weekend’s live town halls in some districts, several legislators are hosting town halls via phone this week.

There are “tele town halls” slated for tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.  If you live in the 40th, 32nd, or 28th Legislative Districts, here’s what you need to know:

On Tuesday, February 21,Rep. Jeff Morris is hosting a one hour tele town hall beginning around 6:00 p.m. Last month his seatmate, Rep. Kristine Lytton, also hosted a tele town hall that drew almost 9,000 participants. If you missed out on that one, didn’t get an opportunity to ask your question, of if you’d like to hear from your other 40th District legislator, be sure to pick up the phone when it rings around 6:00 o'clock in the evening.

On Wednesday, February 22, Reps. Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu will host a joint tele town hall beginning at about 6:00 p.m.  This is the first joint tele town hall for the two seatmates, although Rep. Kagi hosted one back in 2010.  The two legislators look forward to jointly hosting Wednesday’s event and being able to speak directly with constituents of the 32nd district.

Finally, on Thursday, February 23, Rep. Tami Green will host a tele town hall that will start at 6:00 p.m. Rep. Green previously hosted a tele town hall last May with several thousand participants.

If you are a constituent in any of these districts, and you do not receive a call to join the event, you can still participate by calling toll-free 1-877-229-8493, and entering ID Code 18646 when prompted.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Reps. Morris and Lytton help out a local business

In the flurry of activity earlier this week you may have missed that the House of Representatives unanimously approved House Bill 2179, which will give city councils the responsibility to review liquor license applications.

The measure was introduced by 40th Legislative District Representatives Jeff Morris and Kris Lytton after a small family business in Mount Vernon was denied a liquor license by the city’s then-mayor for no clear reason.

Hearing of the incident, Rep. Morris wrote to our state’s Liquor Control Board and asked them to reverse the mayor’s decision. The mayor eventually changed his mind and Rep. Morris began working with Rep. Lytton to ensure that this wouldn’t happen to another business in Washington. 

“Liquor license applications should always be reviewed at the local level, but there is a huge risk for abuse when your rest this authority with one person,” said Morris. “These changes ensure that the process is democratic and fair.” 

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration, and you can track its progress here.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Energy-banking is an idea whose time must come

Slowly but surely, the science/technology of energy-banking left the realm of pipe dream and made its way into the real-life land of pipeline.

Energy-banking, stowing power away to be used a later day, is an idea whose time very much has come. In fact, according to a recent newspaper item (the [Vancouver] Columbian, "Northwest energy storage concepts explored," 2/5/2012): "… a group of researchers led by the Richland-based Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Bonneville Power Administration are exploring whether that idea can be" restyled into our own Pacific Northwest version of the "natural gas storage facilities that are common across the country." Study participants estimate they'll finish their work later this year.

The idea is to put excess energy in the "bank" -- sock it away "in the form of compressed air and water in the Northwest’s expansive, porous underground basalt formations." It is very important to keep the research ball rolling because our Northwest power grid is under a great deal of pressure. Notes the newspaper item: "Excess energy has been a problem in the past. Just last year, unusually high flows in the Columbia River Basin put the region’s hydroelectric dams at maximum capacity."

Enter the Legislature. Just recently the House Technology, Energy & Communications Committee conducted a fact-finding work session on energy-storage issues. The committee has already passed to the House Rules Committee an energy-storage bill, House Bill 2198, which is prime-sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Morris. The measure directs that electric utilities must do an assessment of energy-storage systems in the integrated resource plan that already must be done by the utilities. Energy-banking backers emphasize that energy-storage has huge potential, especially as it relates to renewable portfolio standards requirements.

What's more, federal Energy Secretary Steven Chu maintained in a February 2010 statement: "Without technological breakthroughs in efficient, large-scale energy storage, it will be difficult to rely on intermittent renewables for much more than 20 to 30 percent of our electricity."

A good example of the "intermittent renewables" to which the secretary refers would be a wind farm that generates power only when it’s windy. It's very difficult to count on these energy sources for consistent power, unlike a natural-gas plant.

Ferry system changes to fund new boat, reform management

"Old reliable" can apply to a lot of things, but the state would rather not go there with their ferry-boat fleet. Currently nine of the 22 auto-passenger ferries are between 40 and 65 years old. While these older ferries continue to be workhorses, all nine need to be replaced in the next 20 years.

On Tuesday the governor signed legislation to fund the final ferry in a five-boat replacement plan. A 144-car and three 64-car ferries were already funded, and with this legislation, funding is secured for a second 144-car ferry.

The funding for the ferry system comes from reducing costs and increasing revenue. Beginning in July 2013, the state retail and use tax will no longer be charged on fuel used in ferries, and a new 25-cent charged to fund ferry construction.

"Our aging ferry boats are an ongoing liability to reliable service and safety,” said Rep. Jeff Morris. “This is a good balance to get new boats in the pipeline while also reducing costs.”

The bill also redefines the roles of captains to increase their responsibility for management of the boats and crews.

Read more: Washington State Ferry Projects

Rep. Morris ferry accountability bill passes key hurdle in the House

After weeks of negotiations, the House Transportation committee moved out a proposal by Rep. Jeff Morris that shakes up the Washington Ferry System.

Morris worked with stakeholders, ferry management, and his fellow lawmakers to craft an amended version of his original bill, requiring WSF to meet certain performance targets or find themselves under new private management.

“It’s time to try something new,” Morris said. “We can either push management to realize some cost-savings, we can raise prices, or we can reduce service. Those are our choices.”

Morris’ bill sets timelines for meeting performance goals. If those aren’t met, then the public management team will be replaced with a private contractor. However, the bill, HB 1516, would not affect any collective bargaining rights or agreements for ferry workers serving on the vessels or ports.

The proposal still has a few hurdles to clear before becoming law but Morris is hopeful. “My colleagues in the Legislature are beginning to see what I’ve known for a long time,” added Morris. “Administrations at WSF have come and gone, but the culture of poor oversight and accountability has remained the same. Until they get a handle on it, we’ll continue to struggle with new vessel purchases and workforce issues.”

For more information on HB 1516, click here.

Mr. Speaker, Point of Personal Cuteness

Today is Children's Day at the state capital. So enjoy some photos of our caucus members getting a dose of their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and those they miss back home as they toil away in Olympia.

Ferries: Package of bills to reform bargaining, management practices

Building upon the workforce reforms passed at the end of the 2010 session, transportation leaders are intensifying efforts to turn around the budget-challenged Washington State Ferries (WSF). Today a bipartisan group of transportation leaders in both the House and Senate announced a package of bills designed to improve efficiency, reduce waste and establish parity with other state employee contracts.

A bill sponsored by Reps. Judy Clibborn and Mike Armstrong deals with fairness in bargaining, preventing certain collective bargaining provisions for ferry employees from being greater than those provided to other general government employees. Examples include overtime pay, length of workday, use of compensatory time and free passage on ferries, among other things.

Rep. Jeff Morris is introducing a bill to promote better performance and accountability among certain managers at WSF. If certain performance measures are not met, the management may be contracted out to a private operator.

Armstrong and Clibborn have also teamed up on a bill that would find operational efficiencies by acting on recommendations put forth by the Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee’s recent studies.

To read more, click here for the press release.

Join Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris' Virtual Town Hall Tonight @ 6:20pm

We're liveblogging Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris' tele-town hall tonight at 6:20pm. Take part, listen in, ask questions, post comments, and find out what he has to say about the 2010 state budget and legislative session. Rep. Morris will discuss the state of the Washington Ferry System, creating jobs, his priorities for the 2010 state budget and its impact on local communities.

You can also phone in directly between 6:20-7:20 p.m. by dialing toll-free (877) 229-8493 code: 15559

Washington to reap rewards of nearby Olympic Games

On the eve of the 2010 Winter Olympics just a ski run away in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, the entire Pacific Northwest stands to gain from the influx of visitors to the Games.

And thanks to some foresight and long-term strategic thinking, the Legislature began laying the groundwork to reap those rewards even before Vancouver was announced as the host city.

“The Games not only represent the truest form of peaceful sportsmanship and unity amongst the international community, but a chance to reinforce our commitment to work with our neighbors to the North in order to showcase the Pacific Northwest’s unique economic and cultural gifts to the world,” said Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris, who led the legislative efforts in 2003 and beyond.

In that sense, the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. have already been a great success if for no other reason than strengthening our place as one of the world’s greatest and most vibrant regions, both economically and culturally.

Now let’s go win some gold!


Read more about the Legislature's plan here.

#hdcblueride: Lawmakers to join Law Enforcement on the front lines this weekend

It was an emotional week in the Legislature as we honored the law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty this past year. As the families and colleagues of the slain officers bore witness, lawmakers passed new measures in order to protect them and their families, as well as increase public safety.

In order to show their gratitude another way, several House Democrats will participate in ride-alongs with their local law enforcement and State Patrol this weekend.

Ride-alongs are one of the best ways to fully grasp what those on the frontline of our security deal with day in and day out. Those participating will see the best - and sometimes the worst - of humanity on display. They’ll see and confront firsthand for a few hours what the people behind the badge see and confront 24-7.

Those joining their local law enforcement are:

• Rep. Jim Moeller: Vancouver PD – Saturday, 9am to Noon
• Rep. Marko Liias: WA State Patrol – Saturday, 6pm-10pm
• Rep. John McCoy: Snohomish Co.Sheriff Dept.– Friday, 6pm-8pm (Legislative action permitting)
• Rep. Jeff Morris: Skagit Co. Sheriff Dept. – Saturday, 9am to Noon
  

Here’s Jim Moeller on the impetus behind the idea:

“We talk very often in the Legislature about the importance of public safety. I want to acquire a concrete feeling for what life is like for the people who are willing to put their lives on the line for me every day. Some of us were talking the other morning about the specific, real-world ways that the budget crisis is manifesting itself in the lives of every single citizen. Public safety came up as a very good, and certainly a very concrete example of the money we invest in public programs and services."

Moeller and the other legislators will post regular updates from their ride-alongs. Follow along as the legislators provide updates from their beats via Twitter with the hashtags: #hdcblueride and #waleg

Speaker Pro Tem comments on Oregon election results

Oregon voters approved two measures yesterday -- one that raises income tax on the state's wealthiest residents and another that increases the minimum corporate tax for the first time in decades.

House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris (Mount Vernon) had this to say about the outcome:

"Almost every state in the nation is facing a budget deficit. The results of the Oregon election show that voters recognize filling these deficits by just cutting safety nets will have a long-term negative effect on people individually having a good job and putting food on the table.

"Investments in public education, economic development, worker training and safety nets are critical to assuring a fair shake to the people nad businesses walking on a high wire to economic growth."

Morris wants aerospace manufacturing jobs in our state - or our money back

“Boeing has changed the nature of our relationship with the South Carolina decision,” said Rep. Morris. “They made a business decision. This is a business decision we need to make to protect Washington State taxpayer’s interest.”

His bill, HB 3107, simply states that the tax exemptions will be canceled if any 787 assembly line in Washington fall below 50 percent of its total production.

Read the full release here.

For more information on the House Democrats’ aerospace tax exemptions and government streamlining package click here.

"We want to lead the state out of recession...

...and they want to lead the state out of the country."

At a time when legislators should be focused on creating jobs, some are choosing to focus on, well, other things (like making gold and silver the only acceptable forms of payment in our state).

Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris has something to say about it.

Rep. Jeff Morris on Boeing's 787 announcement

Rep. Jeff Morris serves on the Legislature's Aerospace Task Force. Read here for his take on Boeing's announcement to locate the second 787 assembly line in South Carolina.

His statement includes a review of what the Legislature has done to support our aerospace industry during the past six years.

The continuing saga of Washington's aerospace industry

Recent news about Boeing's purchase of a 787 supplier in South Carolina and rumors that the company is considering a second assembly line there for the 787 Dreamliner has sparked worried whispers about the future of the aerospace industry in Washington.
Stop the hand-wringing, say Reps. Jeff Morris and Phyllis Gutierrez in a recent Seattle Times op-ed.
They point out that we've worked hard to make Washington an international hub of the aerospace industry and state leaders are anything but complacent when it comes to ensuring we keep our strong standing.
This year, at the bill signing creating the new Aerospace Council to help bolster our industry, Gov. Gregoire stated:
"Washington is the best place in the world to build airplanes, primarily due to the robust aerospace infrastructure we have in place and our highly skilled, productive work force. Our advantages also include a competitive aerospace tax environment, strong aerospace research and development capacity, and this state's unparalleled quality of life… But in today's challenging times and with our faltering economy, we need to do more to stay ahead. The aerospace council is designed to ensure we are doing all we can in a sustained way to be even more competitive."
Gov. Gregoire also created a subcabinet position in her administration that will help guide us towards a long partnership with our state’s aerospace industry.
On our end at the Legislature, our state has collaborated with aerospace businesses, both big and small, to foster a new generation of highly skilled workers, invest in a state infrastructure that keeps our commerce moving, reduce the tax burden on their products, and streamline the permitting process. House Democrats have pushed for and supported policies that help ensure Washington's aerospace industry remains strong and competitive.

The hard work has paid off. Despite some naysayers and critics, several business publications, academic studies, and public policy organizations have ranked Washington as a one of the best states to open and operate a business for several years now consistently.
Washington state has a proud history of building the world's best airplanes, whether it was the bombers that won World War II, the jetfighters defending America today, or the airplanes moving millions of people from every corner of the planet. Our aerospace workers are the best in the business, without a doubt. But they, and the businesses that depend on these highly skilled workers, rely on our state’s support to remain the best.
And while Boeing is certainly the flagship airplane manufacturer that’s shaped our region, it's not alone. There are myriad other aerospace businesses in Washington that have been attracted to our region, making our state the hub when it comes to parts suppliers, crafts persons, importers, exporters – all of the businesses it takes to keep the industry flying high, as they say.
But anyone in the business will tell you, it’s a tough one. Despite what one might think, studies show that the commercial airline industry is not a big moneymaker. On the contrary, over the history of commercial flight, it’s just barely in the black. That adds a lot of volatility to the market for airplanes, which is a reality our state has had to live with through Boeing’s boom times and busts.
In addition, Boeing and other local manufacturers are facing stiffer competition from foreign manufacturers than ever before, most notably Airbus headquartered in France.
We must remember that fortunes can shift quickly and that sometimes the grass can seem greener elsewhere. That is why we remain steadfastly devoted to ensuring our aerospace industry’s legacy as the world’s best.

(Photo from markjhandel)

Stay cool.

With some scorchers predicted to hit Washington over the next week or so, Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris has a list of tips to help beat the heat without getting beat up by high energy bills.

Check out the list here.

State Rep. Jeff Morris to meet with Sidney mayor, hash out ferry compromise

State Rep. Jeff Morris will head to Sidney, B.C., tomorrow in an effort to implore city officials there to approve a compromise deal with Washington State Ferries (WSF) over current lease rates at their terminal.

The high lease rate at the Sidney ferry terminal is a major factor in WSF’s decision to propose the elimination of the Anacortes-Sidney run. Morris believes an agreement with Sidney officials would go a long way in showing a good faith effort to reach an agreement and save the run. “I know Sidney was frustrated with WSF in getting a lease deal done but the current deal is just not going to work if we want to continue this run.”

In order to save the Anacortes-Sidney run, Morris will be fighting the battle on two fronts: Negotiating a more equitable lease rate with the Sidney city government, and fighting back WSF’s proposal to eliminate the run as a cost-cutting effort.

Added Morris, “I’m hopeful the Mayor and city officials of Sidney will be receptive to revisiting the lease deal and work with us to save a vital link between our two countries. We need actual evidence of a partnership. Talk will not secure a future for this run.”

It's Jeff Morris Day in the TEC Committee

And it's not even his birthday.

It was, however, a day chock full of Morris bills in the committee: four of his proposals were given public hearings. Among them, an interesting bill that would create a new sustainable-energy trust for the state.

The voluntary program would allow the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) to offer low-interest loans to private home and commercial-building owners for energy-efficient or renewable energy improvements. In return, property owners who opt for the loans would pay back the costs for the improvements as part of their property taxes over a 20-year period.

The improvements cover a wide range of materials, devices, and systems, from storm windows and doors, automatic heating or air conditioning systems, to solar panels, wind energy, and even biomass and geothermal energy systems.

Read more about the proposal here.

No offense to our friend, Sam at the Bellingham Herald

But he's right, I did make sure to post our news here before he could go all Woodward & Bernstein on us...