Washblog

Why should you care? Depends on who you are and what you do.

You've got to love it when reporters perfectly frame the debate on a particular issue.  Today we take up the infinitely exciting issue of Unemployment Insurance (UI), specifically the hub-bub about two quarter vs. four quarter averaging to determine unemployement benefits.  I.E. whether unemployment benefits are calculated based on  the two economic quarters in which you had the most income last year, or whether it is based on the total average for the year. 

This News Tribune article on the main issues of contention between the labor community and the business lobby (oooh...Lakoff would be proud) accurately sets up the opponents on this issue when it asks the question "Why should you care? Depends on who you are and what you do."

If you care about making sure workers whose jobs are seasonal or affected by the weather (construction, agriculture) have access to the same decent unemployment benefits that the rest of the workers in the state have, you support two-quarter averaging.  If what you care about is "ultimately the cost to business," you support four-quarter averaging.  Or to phrase it a little closer to the language in the article, if what you do is work night and day fighting for regular working people (the state labor council), you support two-quarter averaging.  If you are the president of Association of Washington Business, you support four-quarter averaging. 

Lucky for you all I'm going out and don't have time to get into the nitty-gritty of the fight over this issue.  Long-story short, we've had two-quarter averaging in this state for a long time.  For a variety of reasons the state's tax to fund UI insurance unfairly privileged industries like Homebuilders who had a high-level of unemployment (and used the insurance relatively more often).  This created an incentive for the other business interests to lobby for UI changes.  A labor / business partnership crafted a compromise which significantly addressed these issues.  The business lobby stabbed the labor lobby in the back and negotiated legislation in the overtime session of 2003 that preserved all of labors concessions and none of businesses - including a switch to four-quarter averaging.   Last year we went back to two-quarter averaging for two years to study the issue.   This session, one of the major fights is over making permanent the switch back to two-quarter averaging. 

It is exactly these sort of issues that show us why we need to pay attention to every legislative session, even ones the traditional media would like to tell us are likely to accomplish little.  This issue may not make the front page, but the unemployed construction worker looking at a difference of several hundred dollars in her unemployment check sure cares about it.

PortDork

Musing about

Today at 10am in the O'Brien building (hearing room D), the State Government Operations & Accountability Committee will have public hearings on SHB 1226 - Adjusting application of campaign contribution limits to $675.00 for a candidate running for a state legislative office, and $1350.00 for a candidate running for say, the Supreme Court. Currently Supreme Court races have no campaign donation limit. Also, SOS Sam Reed will appear in the Senate Cmte. regarding moving the primary date.

Later on today at 4:30pm, Governor Gregoire will give her State of the State address. Afterwords, Senator Pam Roach will scream about her missing flowers (or some other nonsensical tirade) in the Republican response.

Senator McCaslin's joke of the day

Interesting exchange during today's Senate opening ceremonies - LT. Gov Brad Owen read a letter from Senator Alex Deccio (R-Yakima) to Senator Bob Oke announcing that he has prostate cancer and will be undergoing treatment (Oke is dealing with cancer as well) and an admonishment to his colleagues to "keep Senator McCaslin in line" in his absence.

In response (at the 33:50 mark), McCaslin stood up and said "I want to let the body know that I have no responsibility for giving that to Alex (Senator Deccio)", and started laughing.....

Uh, not funny Senator.

In session

Governor Gregiore did a great job in TVW's inagural Olympia-On-Call segment with David Postman of the Seattle Times, John Hughes of the Aberdeen Daily World, and one from the Yakima and Vancouver, WA dailys. They tried to go down the list of the State Repubs contract on Washington, and she had her goalie pads on and blocked every cheap shot.

It's now opening ceremonies in the House, and getting back to doing the people's work on some great legislation this session.

On the move to scoop front - I'm working with the developers on some last minute tweaks and am hoping to switch over to the new site some time today. Most everything is done, just need to do some back-end work to fix a problem that cropped up after the developers let me have admin access.

Electronic Recycling, good for business and our environment

Sustainable business practices like recycling old electronic equipment can provide a dual benefit for the citizens of Washington - keep toxins from getting into our ground water, and provide jobs in a burgeoning industry.

In Washington state alone, about 1.7 million computers, monitors and televisions are taken out of service each year, a number that could grow to 5 million by 2010, according to a 2004 state Department of Ecology study.

In the upcoming legislative session a bill will be introduced that will require manufacturers to include the cost of recycling used computers and televisions at the time of purchase, rather than having consumers pay disposal fees when the equipment is discarded.

This approach can help provide a market for recyclers to become fully green. Currently many local e-waste disposal companies just ship their trash to China or some other low-cost landfill, thus defeating the good intentions of someone bringing in a dead monitor. By internalizing the cost, recyclers will be able to efficiently break down monitors, circuit boards, etc and completely recycle each component of any electronic device.

I have worked with PC Salvage on computer disposals in the past, a local e-cycler that recycles every component of a computer, microwave, TV, you name it. Their owner showed me how they break down a monitor and recycle the entire unit, every part. He has about fifteen employees, and through all the corporate 'out-of-compliance' machinery he gets, is able to refurbish and re-sell lots of computers from disposal. One man's trash is another man's treasure.

How Do These People Sleep at Night?

In news that will come as a surprise to no one reading this, the right-wing assault on common decency continues unabated.  Next up?  Family Medical Leave.  It seems that the business lobby has decided that it is sick of it's constituents having to guarantee workers' jobs when they or a family member is afflicted by a serious medical emergency.  The US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers have declared war on the federal Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and according to some have named gutting this eminently sensible act their #1 priority. 

First some background.  Washington state led the nation with our Family Leave Act in 1989.  This act guaranteed job security and 12 weeks unpaid leave for the birth of a new baby or to care for a terminally ill child.   Our state legislation was superseded by the federal FMLA in 1993.  This extended coverage to more of the workforce and also included coverage for the worker's or a family member's serious illness.

The major changes being proposed include lengthening the time needed to qualify as a serious illness from three days to ten, and worst of all getting rid of incremental leave.  Currently you are able to take a couple hours every Friday, for instance to take your husband to chemotherapy.  This would take 2 hours off your allotted leave time.  In the interests of the almighty dollar, the business lobby would prefer that we be required to take leave a full day at a time.  Not only would this cause our family leave time to be used up much more quickly, it would also require us to use accumulated vacation or sick time to make up for the much bigger loss of paid hours. 

So what does this have to do with Washington?  In a preemptive move, the Family Leave Coalition is pushing legislation (Senate Bill 6185, House Bill 2392) to enshrine and slightly expand the federal FMLA standards in Washington.  Rather than leave Washingtonians to the mercy of the idiots in the other Washington, the proposed legislation would guarantee rights we already enjoy through the current federal act, extend coverage to companies with 25 or more employees (down from 50) - matching Oregon, Vermont and Utah, and include domestic partners as covered family members. 

This sort of incremental action may not be the sexiest issue ever, but since this is a short session the coalition has decided to forgoe the more sweeping changes they have been working on for the past few years.  Namely mandatory paid sick time (currently there is not even a requirement that employers provide any sick leave) and Family Leave Insurance (Paid family leave - which just passed in California).  I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this decision, but I think there is some merit to the recent change in strategy of the Washington environmental movement.  Clifford Traisman, a lobbyist for Washington Conservation Voters, notes: "The environmental community has historically appeared satisfied on walking away from the table if they couldn't get the whole pie as opposed to taking a piece or two. That in itself for some appeared to be a strategy," Traisman said. "That's no longer the case now. We're willing to take whatever pieces we can get, because we can always come back for more later [Link via the excellent Washington State Labor Council - Reports Today]." It certainly must be noted that including domestic partners under this legislation would be a great statement about how we do things in this Washington.

I'll keep ya'll up to date as specific legislative targets become clearer.

PortDork

PS: For those who are interested in this sort of thing, some of the groups backing the Family Leave Coalition include: WSLC, the Economic Opportunity Institute, Washington chapters of the AARP, League of Women Voters and the National Organization of Women, Puget Sound and Washington State Alliance for Retired Americans, Machinists, Teacher and Transit worker unions, Working America, and last but definitely not least..........Greenwood Hardware!!!

Plan B: The Alternative to Air Service

The recent discussion about expanded air service at Boeing Field and Paine Field in Snohomish County has created quite a stir in the communities surrounding these airports. I live less than one mile from the main runway at Paine Field, so I can attest to the fear that these sorts of proposals inspire. But, as someone with an interest in good public policy, I also know that pure opposition is rarely an effective strategy.

That is why I am so pleased to support the so-called "Plan B" proposed by our hometown state representative from Mukilteo, Brian Sullivan. This legislation aims to study the industrial and manufacturing potential of Paine Field, rather than assume that air service is the only option. As the primary airport for the largest factory in the world, located in a highly-educated community, with the potential for educational partnerships, this seems like a more logical and appropriate use for the facility.

In the original bill, the findings section clearly outlines the purpose of the proposed study, and how relates to economic development and the health of the state economy:

The legislature finds that the aerospace sector, as the state's largest manufacturing and exporting industry, has made a significant contribution to local, regional, state, and national economies. The legislature further finds that airports of regional significance in both eastern and western Washington have underutilized property and facilities that could become substantial tools for economic development. The legislature intends to examine and determine how untapped capacity at airports of regional significance can be used to expand manufacturing, research and development, education, and training for the aerospace industry.

The bill has been prefiled in the House as HB 2383, and a companion Senate bill is expected shortly. I will post updates on this legislation, and any opportunities for public input on the subject. This is not only a sensible alternative to air service, but a good idea on its own.

The GOP 2006 legislature: Attack the Governor

David Ammons article regarding the GOP's strategery for '06 does indeed sound like a party in need of a vision. However their vision seems purely political in nature, and not of a republican party that has the people's interests at heart.

Republicans in both the House and Senate have new leaders as they head into a battleground legislative session next month, hoping to score points that will translate into election gains in November.

In the liberal '05 session, Republicans took pride in blocking legislation they didn't like, including gay rights, measures opposed by business and Democratic bills to end abstinence-only sex education and to require employers to provide health coverage or pay into a state fund.

In other words, wingnuts can hang their hat knowing that Republicans in the legislature obstructed with the progress of the State of Washington toward equal rights in the workplace, advancing research on Alzheimer's, but allows the corporate welfare of big retailers like Wal-Mart to continue at the taxpayer's expense.

This tack may provide the red meat to their crazies in the base to come out and vote in 2006, but it will likely turn off any moderates - and open up possibilities for further Dem gains in the legislature.

Governor Gregoire is already under fire by republicans lining up to sling mud on her budget. Senator Joe Zarelli of the 18th LD goes into near spin-sanity, making up numbers on funding the pension system. Senator Mulliken also whines about funding the pension program. The fact is the Governor proposes fully funding a system that since 1998 has been gutted by republicans too scared to raise taxes to pay for revenue shortfalls, or too greedy to let the pension money sit untouched.

More Pending Legislation

Noemie's post reminded me that I hadn't gotten around to writing about an important piece of legislation making it's way through the process this session.  It doesn't appear on the pre-file list, but the latest version I saw is Bill Req #:3415.1/06 "Establishing minimum labor standards for certain large employers as related to health care services expenditures." 

**Beware, this may be boring to many people, please skip to the bottom for an important action item if you begin to feel drowsy!**

This legislation aims to establish a floor for employer based coverage that will stop the further erosion of employer-based coverage, a critical part of our health care system. 

The legislature is set to hear arguments on the Fair Share Health Care bill on January 19th.  Fair Share Health Care is a union backed initiative that is being pushed all across the country.  The basic gist is that large employers must provide a bare minimum health care coverage, if they do not, they must reimburse the state for that difference.  This is largely in response to Wal-Mart who is notorious for leeching off state health care systems.  Here in Washington alone we paid $1.6 million last year to insure 341 Wal-Mart employees through the Basic Health Plan.  Similar legislation was passed in Maine last year, but was vetoed by the Governor with an executive from Wal-Mart standing beside him. 

The legislation to be discussed this session only affects employers with 5000+ employees and sets the rate for private businesses at 9%, and non-profits at 7%.  So if a large company only pays 6% of their payroll towards healthcare for their employees, they must reimburse the state 3% of their payroll - which will go towards the Health Services Account (to fund BHP).   There are exemptions for high wage employees so that high-wage employers aren't hurt by their relatively low expenditure on healthcare.

There was apparently quite a bit of debate on where to set these percentages so as to not unduly harm good employees in the state, like Costco.  My understanding is that Costco has been convinced to stay neutral on this bill, and possibly even be supportive.  The hospitals are ok because they are up over the threshold even before high-wage deductions, the restauraunt association has no members over 5,000 employees so they are ok.  In reality this doesn't affect a whole helluva-lot of employers in the state, but the standards are so low that those it does affect really ought to be ashamed of themselves.

There is a pretty impressive set of groups lined up behind this legislation, including: Washington State Labor Council, Washington Community Action (formerly Washington Citizen Action), UFCW International, SEIU State Council, WA State Nurses Association, WFSE, WA State Hospital Assoc, Community Health Network of Washington, WA State National Organization of Women, Planned Parenthood affiliates of WA, WA for Healthcare, WA Alliance for Retired Americans, and lots more.

However, as always, this won't be easy.  One really important part of getting this legislation passed is naming the companies that are leaching off our public health care system.  18 other states name the employers of people who are enrolled in basic health plans.  Just recently Governor Gregoire announced that she still will not release that information in Washington State.  EVEN THOUGH WE ALREADY COLLECT IT.  There was initially some concern that if the Employment Security Division provided this data, they may be in violation of Dept. of Labor regulations.  However it has been discovered the DSHS and the Health Care Authority have been tracking this information and providing to to legislators on condition of a pledge not to divulge that information. 

There is no law against DSHS or HCA making this information public, they have just declined to do so.  The Fair Share Coalition fears that this may signal efforts to derail this legislation.  So we all need to make our voices heard.

Please send an email to Governor Gregoire's health care point-person, Christina Hulet -  Christina.Hulet@ofm.wa.gov, and call Governor Gregoire at 360-902-4111.  Tell them that Washington State taxpayers deserve to know which large employers are using taxpayer dollars to subsidize healthcare for their employees and their dependents.

PortDork

Prefiled legislation -- Who's watching?

Washington state's legislature will reconvene on Monday, January 9.  This will be a 60-day session.  Short -- but extremely important.

Governor Gregoire's proposed budget and priorities are available.  And so is the growing list of prefiled legislation

There are some interesting bills here, indeed -- a number dealing with energy issues. Several by Democrat Jeff Morris from the 40th legislative district have caught my eye:

HB 2347: Promoting the growth of research in the science and technology fields

HB 2348: Extending tax relief for aluminum smelters.

HB 2349: Providing new renewable energy standards.

HB 2350: Limiting the disclosure of energy infrastructure information.

HB 2351: Concerning energy resource planning and renewable energy standards.

Representative Morris is Chair of the Technology, Energy, and Communications committee.  At first glance, some of this legislation looks worthy. But some looks fishy.

HB 2350 contains a mix of new privacy protections, some of which would seem to encourage secrecy in an industry known for repeatedly cheating the public. This bill contains an odd mix of privacy protections that seem wholesome (for library patrons and students, for example) -- and others that go outside energy infrastructure to limit disclosure requirements in a number of sectors.  

HB 2348, which provides "tax relief" for our state's aluminum smelters, also raises suspicions. Perhaps there is a solid public policy reason for this law. If so, I'd like to hear what it is.   Aluminum smelters that I know about in Washington State are associated with the underregulated release of toxics  into our environment -- not only aluminum, but also cyanide and other chemicals.

Kaiser Aluminim in Spokane County is a Superfund site.  Clearly, it is the public that needs relief -- from taxes we pay to subsidize this corporate irresponsibility, and from the poison these corporations force into our bodies and the bodies of our children.  Let's not forget that both these substances are suspected neurotoxicants and reproductive toxicants.

Who's watching Rep. Morris and our other legislators, I wonder? These dense, technical public policy proposals can't be judged quickly. They need serious, in-depth legislative analysis by public interest groups that have the capacity to keep up with them as they are generated.