School bullying has been a focus of Rep. Marko Liias for awhile, as we've covered on The Advance before.
Liias has legislation this session to strengthen anti-harassment policies in schools, as well as to establish an on-going group to find ways to stop bullying. The House passed Liias' proposal, House Bill 1163, with a vote of 76 to 21.
His efforts don't stop in the captiol -- Liias taped a segment with Comcast Newsmakers that will be on the airwaves soon:
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Been waiting for Town Hall Saturday? March 12 is the day!
It's almost here. Town Hall Saturday. That time of mid-session when legislators leave the hallowed halls of our state's capitol to reconnect with constituents in more humbly adorned rooms at community centers, libraries, and schools.This year, Town Hall Saturday is March 12. Take a look at the schedule below to see who, when and where your closest town hall meeting is taking place. We'll see you there!
District 1 - Senator McAuliffe, Reps. Stanford and Moscoso
10 a.m. at Northshore Senior Center (10201 East Riverside Dr, Bothell)
12:30 at Cathcart Elementary School (8201 188th St SE, Snohomish)
3:00 at Mountlake Terrace Library (23300 58th Ave West)
District 3 - Senator Brown, Reps. Ormsby and Billig
10:00 at Northeast Community Center (4001 N Cook St, Spokane)
2:00 at Museum of Arts and Culture (2316 W First Ave, Spokane)
District 11 - Rep. Hasegawa
10:00 (coffee and donuts) 10:30 (town hall) at the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle Community College, meeting rooms C110/C111 (6737 Corson Ave South)
District 17 - Reps. Probst and Harris
9:00 at Mountain View High School, Auditorium (1500 SE Blairmont Dr, Vancouver)
District 21 - Senator Shin, Reps. Roberts and Liias
10:30 at Rosehill Community Center (304 Lincoln Ave, Mukilteo)
District 23 - Senator Rockefeller, Reps. Appleton and Rolfes
9:30 at Manette Community Church (1137 Hayward Ave, Bremerton)
1:30 at Poulsbo Community Library (700 NE Lincoln Road)
District 26 - Senator Kilmer and Rep. Seaquist
12:00 at Norm Dicks Government Center (346 6th St, Bremerton)
2:00 at Givens Community Center, Kitsap Room (1026 Sidney Ave, Port Orchard)
4:00 at Peninsula High School, Auditorium (14105 Purdy Drive NW, Gig Harbor)
District 27 - Senator Regala, Reps. Darneille and Jinkins
10:00 at Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus, Lyceum Hall (1210 6th Ave, Tacoma)
District 32 - Senator Chase, Reps. Kagi and Ryu
10:00 at Third Place Commons (17171 Bothell Way NW, Lake Forest Park)
District 34 - Senator Nelson, Reps. Cody and Fitzgibbon
10:00 at High Point Community Center (6920 34th Ave SW, Seattle)
District 37 - Senator Kline, Reps. Santos and Pettigrew
10:00 (coffee hour) 10:30 (town hall) at Garfield Community Center (2323 East Cherry Street, Seattle)
District 41 - Senator Litzow, Reps. Clibborn and Maxwell
10:00 at Hazelwood Elementary School (7100 116th Ave SE, Newcastle)
1:30 at Mercer Island High School (9100 SE 42nd St)
District 43 - Senator Murray, Speaker Chopp and Rep. Pedersen
2:00 at Seattle First Baptist Church (1111 Harvard Ave)
District 45 - Senator Hill, Reps. Springer, Goodman
10:30 at Woodinville City Hall (17301 133rd Avenue NE)
District 46 - Senator White, Reps. Kenney and Frockt
Noon at Meadowbrook Community Center, Multi-Purpose Room (10517 35th Ave NE, Seattle)
District 47 - Senator Fain, Reps. Sullivan and Hargrove
11:00 at Cutter's Point Coffee (Next to Fred Meyer - 16739 SE 272nd St, Covington)
2:00 (education-focused meeting) at Auburn School District Administration Office (915 4th St NE)
District 48 - Senator Tom, Reps. Hunter and Eddy
10:30 at Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85th St)
District 49 - Senator Pridemore, Reps. Moeller and Jacks
10:00 at the Public Service Center, 6th floor (1300 Franklin, Vancouver)
There are a few town halls happening on other days as well:
March 11: District 24 - Reps. Van De Wege and Tharinger
3:00 at Port Townsend Community Center (620 Tyler St)
March 19: District 38 - Rep. McCoy
1:00 (energy discussion only) at Qualco Bio-Digester Facility (18117 SE 203rd St, Monroe)
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Washington gains thousands of jobs
Despite losing jobs in some fields like government (-600) and construction (-1500), January was the strongest month of job growth in Washington since before the recession began, adding 11,000 new jobs. Over the past year, in fact, we've added an estimated 20,500 jobs.
Industries that added jobs in January were professional and business services, up 5,600; education and health services, up 4,500; retail trade, up 1,500; leisure and hospitality, up 1,300; financial activities, up 1,200; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 800; and mining and logging, up 100.
“It’s unusual to have job gains in the middle of winter, so this is another positive sign that the recovery is under way,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause.
Industries that added jobs in January were professional and business services, up 5,600; education and health services, up 4,500; retail trade, up 1,500; leisure and hospitality, up 1,300; financial activities, up 1,200; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 800; and mining and logging, up 100.
If you're still looking for a job, the statewide WorkSource system offers a variety of employment and training services for job seekers, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés and job referrals. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.
Visit their website to peruse job listings here. Or phone at 877-872-5627.
Here's ESD's full report on Washington's latest job growth.
Industries that added jobs in January were professional and business services, up 5,600; education and health services, up 4,500; retail trade, up 1,500; leisure and hospitality, up 1,300; financial activities, up 1,200; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 800; and mining and logging, up 100.
“It’s unusual to have job gains in the middle of winter, so this is another positive sign that the recovery is under way,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause.
Industries that added jobs in January were professional and business services, up 5,600; education and health services, up 4,500; retail trade, up 1,500; leisure and hospitality, up 1,300; financial activities, up 1,200; transportation, warehousing and utilities, up 800; and mining and logging, up 100.
If you're still looking for a job, the statewide WorkSource system offers a variety of employment and training services for job seekers, including free help with interviewing skills, résumés and job referrals. WorkSource also can help employers recruit and screen for qualified workers, apply for employment tax breaks and qualify for subsidized employee training.
Visit their website to peruse job listings here. Or phone at 877-872-5627.
Here's ESD's full report on Washington's latest job growth.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Protecting the future
Three major bills to protect Washington's waterways from pollution headlined a package of environmental legislation that passed the House today.HB 1721 makes Washington the first state in the nation to ban coal-tar sealant for pavement, which contains high concentrations of toxics called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
HB 1186 incorporates lessons learned from last year's BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico so that we can avoid a similar disaster from happening in Puget Sound.
And HB 1489 limits the sale of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorous in order to help prevent toxic algae blooms in lakes and streams.
Read more about the bills and how they will help protect Washington's 'Evergreen Legacy' here.
Workers’ Comp reform = better care, less costly system
2011 marks the centennial of Washington's Workers' Compensation program, also known as Industrial Insurance. It is a no-fault insurance program that pays medical costs and partially reimburses the lost wages of workers who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses.
Some big changes to the program are slated for the session, to help bring down costs and better protect injured workers. The first reform came Saturday night, when the House of Representatives passed a bill to provide better medical care to injured workers and reduce costs through a new health care provider network. It also expands the number of Centers for Occupational Health and Education - a proven method of getting workers back to work sooner.
"This will lower the cost both to workers and businesses by getting people back to work much quicker so that Washington's workforce and businesses are stronger as we move out of this recession," said the bill's sponsor and Chair of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, Rep. Mike Sells.
The measure will save about $160 million over the next four years.
To get the details on this legislation, read the press release here.
Some big changes to the program are slated for the session, to help bring down costs and better protect injured workers. The first reform came Saturday night, when the House of Representatives passed a bill to provide better medical care to injured workers and reduce costs through a new health care provider network. It also expands the number of Centers for Occupational Health and Education - a proven method of getting workers back to work sooner.
"This will lower the cost both to workers and businesses by getting people back to work much quicker so that Washington's workforce and businesses are stronger as we move out of this recession," said the bill's sponsor and Chair of the Labor and Workforce Development Committee, Rep. Mike Sells.
The measure will save about $160 million over the next four years.
To get the details on this legislation, read the press release here.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Online impersonators and other public-safety issues the focus of today’s floor action
Safety improvements on roadways, in homes and neighborhoods, and even in cyberspace were the focus of today’s floor action in the House. Lawmakers advanced several public-safety bills to the Senate, most of which received strong bipartisan approval.
“Protecting our people and our neighborhoods is a fundamental part of our work as lawmakers. It also strikes us all on a personal level. During our public hearings, we heard deeply moving stories from Washingtonians who came forward to seek changes to our laws,” said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which initially recommended some of today’s bills. “Helping our people to feel and be safe provides the foundation for opportunity and success.”
The bills would allow people to sue e-personators (online impersonators/identity thieves), incentivize the use of residential fire sprinklers, help localities share resources in emergencies, enable social-service providers better assist homeless individuals, and more. Click here for a full roundup.
“Protecting our people and our neighborhoods is a fundamental part of our work as lawmakers. It also strikes us all on a personal level. During our public hearings, we heard deeply moving stories from Washingtonians who came forward to seek changes to our laws,” said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, which initially recommended some of today’s bills. “Helping our people to feel and be safe provides the foundation for opportunity and success.”
The bills would allow people to sue e-personators (online impersonators/identity thieves), incentivize the use of residential fire sprinklers, help localities share resources in emergencies, enable social-service providers better assist homeless individuals, and more. Click here for a full roundup.
Chaining up to chair up.
Before he could chair his committee in Olympia, Rep. Zack Hudgins was forced to chain his truck. Here he is bravely unchaining before heading back to Tukwila late last night.If you know anything about pickups, you know that pickups + icy roads = driving adventures. Zack plans to sponsor a resolution next year banning snowstorms during session. We're sure it'll garner great bi-partisan support.
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