8:00 HHR A Joint Finance and Health Care Committee
Public Hearing: HB 2493 - Concerning the taxation of cigarettes and other tobacco products
1:30 HHR B Health & Human Services Appropriations
Continuation of public hearing on Governor’s proposed 2010 supplemental budget with focus on health and human services items
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Dunshee's JOBS Act = 38,000 jobs
At a hearing today, the Jobs Act got support from former Republican Secretary of State Ralph Munro, the state Labor Council, the state teachers union, community colleges, private businesses, public universities, the superintendent of public schools and others.
Rep. Hans Dunshee said he intends the bill to be in the spirit of the jobs created by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression and Republican Gov. Dan Evans during the recession in the early 1970s, when Evans passed a similar package of bond bills to create construction jobs.
Dunshee said 38,000 jobs would be created by the bill, which is funded partly by bonds and partly by the energy savings created by the projects to make public schools, public universities and other public buildings more energy efficient.
Munro worked as an aide to Evans back then, and he testified in the Capital Budget Committee that he searched the state archives before testifying. “I saw piles and piles of letters from people who were out of work and got a job through these programs, and how happy they were to be back at work. … We were a Republican administration that had the strong support of labor and business on our proposal, and I hope you have the same, because the benefits and jobs are really great.”
Lucinda Young of the Washington Education Association said, “This will put people back to work … and help our K-12 system and our higher education system.”
Rep. Hans Dunshee said he intends the bill to be in the spirit of the jobs created by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Great Depression and Republican Gov. Dan Evans during the recession in the early 1970s, when Evans passed a similar package of bond bills to create construction jobs.
Dunshee said 38,000 jobs would be created by the bill, which is funded partly by bonds and partly by the energy savings created by the projects to make public schools, public universities and other public buildings more energy efficient.
Munro worked as an aide to Evans back then, and he testified in the Capital Budget Committee that he searched the state archives before testifying. “I saw piles and piles of letters from people who were out of work and got a job through these programs, and how happy they were to be back at work. … We were a Republican administration that had the strong support of labor and business on our proposal, and I hope you have the same, because the benefits and jobs are really great.”
Lucinda Young of the Washington Education Association said, “This will put people back to work … and help our K-12 system and our higher education system.”
Billions from state government bolstering families and businesses across Washington
The House Commerce and Labor Committee got an update this week from the state Employment Security Department. As you can expect, the unemployment rate is too high, but there are some important details to point out about our state’s system. Namely, its health and the boost to families and businesses the UI system provides us.
ESD reports they paid out a record $3.967 billion in unemployment benefits in our state last year.
Even with the lowest tax rates in 40 years (an average of 1.55%), the number receiving unemployment benefits is about 264,000 a week currently.
Due to our well-managed system, Washington will not trigger solvency surcharge, even at lowest forecasted balance: 10.2 months of benefits in 2011. Our UI system is still solvent and, at $2.6 billion, it has the ability to pay out 13.2 months of benefits.
This system is arguably the envy of the nation – the Washington Post reports: “According to federal projections, 40 state programs will go broke within two years and need $90 billion in loans to keep issuing the benefit checks.”
“Currently, 26 states have run out of unemployment money and have borrowed $24 billion from the federal government to cover the gaps. By 2011, according to Department of Labor estimates, 40 state funds will have been emptied by the jobless tsunami.”
We wish all those states the sincerest best of luck in getting out of that mess, and consider ourselves fortunate to live in Washington, the first and only state in the nation to reduce unemployment insurance rates for employers during this economic downturn.
It’s important to note here that the ability to provide this economic security not only benefits families, it benefits the businesses that rely on those families to stay open. Even conservative analysts agree, the quickest, most effective subsidized shot in the arm to the economy comes from putting money directly into the pockets of consumers through programs like unemployment insurance.
As our own Rep. Steve Conway wrote in a News Tribune op-ed last year:
ESD reports they paid out a record $3.967 billion in unemployment benefits in our state last year.
Even with the lowest tax rates in 40 years (an average of 1.55%), the number receiving unemployment benefits is about 264,000 a week currently.
Due to our well-managed system, Washington will not trigger solvency surcharge, even at lowest forecasted balance: 10.2 months of benefits in 2011. Our UI system is still solvent and, at $2.6 billion, it has the ability to pay out 13.2 months of benefits.
This system is arguably the envy of the nation – the Washington Post reports: “According to federal projections, 40 state programs will go broke within two years and need $90 billion in loans to keep issuing the benefit checks.”
“Currently, 26 states have run out of unemployment money and have borrowed $24 billion from the federal government to cover the gaps. By 2011, according to Department of Labor estimates, 40 state funds will have been emptied by the jobless tsunami.”
We wish all those states the sincerest best of luck in getting out of that mess, and consider ourselves fortunate to live in Washington, the first and only state in the nation to reduce unemployment insurance rates for employers during this economic downturn.
It’s important to note here that the ability to provide this economic security not only benefits families, it benefits the businesses that rely on those families to stay open. Even conservative analysts agree, the quickest, most effective subsidized shot in the arm to the economy comes from putting money directly into the pockets of consumers through programs like unemployment insurance.
As our own Rep. Steve Conway wrote in a News Tribune op-ed last year:
“Let’s remember that the greatest stimulus to our economy is one that puts money directly into the pockets of our consumers. A business can’t survive and keep employees without customers, who seem absent from your formula for economic stability. In reality, the direct assistance to families on the brink … will provide a much-needed shot in the arm to our economy.”That said, up to 277,210 will reach the maximum allowable amount of benefits by December 1 here in Washington. Those folks, and their families, will thus rely on other state services to provide for them. And, unless something is done, the businesses that relied on them will struggle even more.
Achievement gap issues still on education agenda
Last January, the House Education Committee heard reports and recommendations from five work groups charged with outlining specific strategies to address the educational struggles facing many minority student groups. The work groups looked at specific issues within African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander American, Native American and Hispanic American communities.
As a result of their work, the Legislature passed SB 5973, which among other activities, created the Achievement Gap Accountability and Oversight Committee.
Now, some of the strategies outlined by those work groups may become law. The AGAOC has submitted eight recommendations for the Legislature to consider in the 2010 session.
Among their recommendations?
As a result of their work, the Legislature passed SB 5973, which among other activities, created the Achievement Gap Accountability and Oversight Committee.
Now, some of the strategies outlined by those work groups may become law. The AGAOC has submitted eight recommendations for the Legislature to consider in the 2010 session.
Among their recommendations?
- An accountability system which ranks schools based on student achievement, with particular focus on the elimination of racial/ethnic achievement gaps
- Authority for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to ensure school districts comply with state and federal civil rights laws.
- Implementation of research-based statewide initiatives that would better identify and support disadvantaged students, and boost efforts to help them prepare for college.
Kelley bill provides tuition help for families of fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters
Rep. Troy Kelley says he’s “deeply concerned” for the families and community members impacted by recent tragedies in the law enforcement community.
As a 28th District legislator, Kelley’s district includes the southwest part of Pierce County, not far from where four Lakewood law enforcement officers were slain in November.
“My community is still reeling from the deaths of four officers just within the last couple of months, and some families are never going to be able to fully recover from that,” Kelley said while testifying on his House Bill 2479 at a House Higher Education committee hearing on Tuesday. “I think this bill goes a long way in helping them recover. It’s the least we can do.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire echoed a similar stance on the issue during her annual State of the State address. “Let’s get to work for our fallen officers, their families and our entire law enforcement community,” said Gregoire. “…and for their children, it is our duty to make available a college education.”
Kelley’s HB 2479 makes it mandatory for state institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for children of any law enforcement officer or firefighter who lost his or her life or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
In 2007, Washington recognized its first mandatory tuition waiver, which required institutions to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for the children and spouses of veterans or National Guard members who died or became totally disabled as a result of serving or who are missing in action or prisoners of war. HB 2479 adds a second mandatory tuition waiver for a significantly smaller group of eligible recipients.
Kelley’s seatmate, Rep. Tami Green, is also sponsoring legislation to support the law enforcement community and firefighters by introducing HB 2519. Green’s bill includes a mandatory tuition waiver for children, as well as spouses of law enforcement officers and firefighters who lost his or her life or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
Here's Kelley's testimony to the Higher Education Committee
As a 28th District legislator, Kelley’s district includes the southwest part of Pierce County, not far from where four Lakewood law enforcement officers were slain in November.
“My community is still reeling from the deaths of four officers just within the last couple of months, and some families are never going to be able to fully recover from that,” Kelley said while testifying on his House Bill 2479 at a House Higher Education committee hearing on Tuesday. “I think this bill goes a long way in helping them recover. It’s the least we can do.”
Gov. Chris Gregoire echoed a similar stance on the issue during her annual State of the State address. “Let’s get to work for our fallen officers, their families and our entire law enforcement community,” said Gregoire. “…and for their children, it is our duty to make available a college education.”
Kelley’s HB 2479 makes it mandatory for state institutions of higher education to waive tuition and fees for children of any law enforcement officer or firefighter who lost his or her life or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
In 2007, Washington recognized its first mandatory tuition waiver, which required institutions to waive all undergraduate tuition and fees for the children and spouses of veterans or National Guard members who died or became totally disabled as a result of serving or who are missing in action or prisoners of war. HB 2479 adds a second mandatory tuition waiver for a significantly smaller group of eligible recipients.
Kelley’s seatmate, Rep. Tami Green, is also sponsoring legislation to support the law enforcement community and firefighters by introducing HB 2519. Green’s bill includes a mandatory tuition waiver for children, as well as spouses of law enforcement officers and firefighters who lost his or her life or became totally disabled in the line of duty.
Here's Kelley's testimony to the Higher Education Committee
The Gov's "Book II" budget
Yesterday, Governor Gregoire delivered a new budget proposal to legislators, a proposal that buys back some of the cuts she outlined in her all-cuts "Book I" budget last month.
Gregoire's "Book I" budget outlined $2.6 billion worth of cuts including the elimination of Basic Health, the State Need Grant to help low-income students go to college, early learning for three-year-olds, and more.
She called her "Book I" budget balanced, but unjust.
So now, we have "Book II." As outlined in her letter to legislators, Gregoire's new proposal restores funding for the following:
Gregoire's "Book I" budget outlined $2.6 billion worth of cuts including the elimination of Basic Health, the State Need Grant to help low-income students go to college, early learning for three-year-olds, and more.
She called her "Book I" budget balanced, but unjust.
So now, we have "Book II." As outlined in her letter to legislators, Gregoire's new proposal restores funding for the following:
- Basic Health and Apple Health plans
- General assistance program for the most needy
- Levy equalization funds for our public schools
- State financial aid
- Early childhood education and kindergarten
- Adult medical, dental, vision and hospice programs
- Developmental disability and long-term care services
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