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Legislative Update Report - March 24, 2008
Legislature Adjourns After Passing Supplemental Budgets
The 2008 Legislative Session came to a close on Thurs., March 13 after reaching agreement on a 2008 Supplemental General Fund Budget, which called for spending an additional $308 million for 2009.
The additional spending was tempered by the February state economic forecast made by the retiring state chief economist ChangMook Sohn, which projected a drop in state revenue of $423 million through June 30, 2009. The democratic budget writers left $836 million in reserves.
In the final days, the compromise agreement reached between the 2008 Legislature and the Governor called for additional spending in education by securing continued funding for all day kindergarten and by providing a half of a percent additional wage increase for teachers and school employees (meeting half-way).
Other highlights of the General Fund budget include an appropriation of a 2-percent salary increase for state employees, effective July1, 2008 and an appropriation to pay 88 percent of the health care premiums. Finally, the budget includes $6.2 million to continue the implementation of the Family Leave Insurance Program. The legislature has yet to identify a funding source for the program. When implemented, the program will provide a $250 weekly payment for six weeks for qualifying parents of newborns and adoptees.
The Supplemental Capital Budget included revenue to deal with flood mitigation in south counties of Western Washington. Additionally, it included a $50 million bond authorization to build flood control projects. Up to $2.5 million of the $50 million in bonds would go to local Lewis County groups “to develop or participate in the development of flood-hazard –mitigation measures throughout the basin.” Another $10 million was provided for housing assistance to lowers and middle-income property owners with flood damaged property.
The 2008 Supplemental Transportation Budget keeps all Nickel and Transportation Partnership projects on schedule. Due to increased construction costs, declining state and federal gas tax dollars, and the increases in energy costs, budget writers were forced to rearrange spending to balance their 16-year spending plan. Within the budget is an appropriation of $100 million for the procurement of three new ferry vessels to carry less than 100 cars. These vessels will replace the three 80-year-old steel electric ferries that were taken out of service by the Sectary of Transportation in November 2007. The first of these vessels will be delivered within 14 months.
Legislative Update Report - March 4, 2008
The General Fund-State revenue forecast was reduced by $423.4 million for the 2007-09 biennium. This projected revenue shortfall provided the backdrop for the 2008 Supplemental General Fund Budgets, which were passed by the House and Senate.
Supplemental Budgets
Governor Gregoire’s 2008 Supplemental Budget was sent to the legislature in December 2007 (prior to the February revenue forecast) and called for spending $234 million and maintaining $1.2 billion in reserves.
The House 2008 Supplemental Budget called for spending an additional $287 million over the last year’s spending plan. The House proposed to leave $750 million in reserves. The Senate 2008 Supplemental Budget that was passed last week proposed to spend $310 million, leaving $755 million in reserves. The major differences in these three budgets are how they allocate spending. The House’s proposed budget differs from both the Senate and Governor’s budget in that they include a 1 percent increase in K-12 teachers’ salaries, allocate a lesser amount to health care and delay by one year the funding for free, full-day kindergarten.
All budgets have proposed to appropriate $6.2 million for the implementation of the Family Leave Insurance Plan. Over the next 10 days, the parties will meet in conference committee to resolve their differences prior to the March 13, 2008 adjournment date.
The 2008 Supplemental Capital Budgets of the House and Senate are very similar to the Governor’s proposed budget. All three budgets set aside $76 million to provide mitigation for the flood-damaged areas in the south counties.
Transportation Budget
The 2008 Supplemental Transportation Budgets, proposed by the Governor, the House and the Senate, attempt to balance the 16-year transportation-spending plan by back filling nearly $1.8 billion. This spending deficit was created due to the reduced state and federal gas taxes that were received by the state, spiraling increases in construction costs, and increased costs for snow removal this winter of about $4.6 million. Included in the budgets is an appropriation of $100 million for the procurement of three, new ferry vessels. These vessels will replace the 80-year old steel, electric ferries taken out of service in the fall of 2007 for safety reasons.
The failure to pass Proposition 1, the roads and transit-funding plan for projects in the three county region of Puget Sound, has perplexed legislators as to how they will finance the mega projects in Puget Sound. Legislation passed in the House and Senate that would provide guidelines for tolling of future transportation projects. Three are funding proposals currently on the table for a new bridge over lake Washington, State Route 520 that may eventually lead to early tooling of the present bridge and possibly other existing transportation facilities.
Bills that Survived the Cut-off
March 3, 2008 was the cut-off for all bills to be out of their respective committees. These are the bills Local 17 is following that remain in play:
SB 6500 - Increasing the safety of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking by insuring leave from employment.
ESSB 6776 - Modifying current state whistleblower laws to add more protections for whistleblowers.
SB 6447 - Allowing unpaid leaves of absence for military personnel needs.
SB 6295 - Creating workplace-based electronically distributed learning opportunities.
SB 6261 - Requiring the workforce training and education coordinating board to research and evaluate work and learning programs for young adults and youth.
SB 5261 - Gives the Insurance Commissioner rate oversight in the individual health plans.
SB 6333 - Establishing a citizens’ work group on health care
SB 6241- Prohibiting the sale or use of prescriber-identifiable prescription data for commercial or marketing purposes.
Legislative Hotline Message February 13, 2008
On Mon., Feb. 11, 2008 the House Appropriations Committee passed out of Committee to House Rules, HB 3193 the whistleblower protection bill. The legislation is intended to add more protections for whistleblowers.
On Tues., Feb. 12, 2008, the full House passed SSB 6794. The legislation clears the way for the procurement of three ferry vessels carrying no more than 100 vehicles. These new vessels will replace the 80-year old steel electric ferries, which were taken out of service in fall of 2007 for safety reasons. The bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law. The delivery of the first vessels is scheduled in 14 months.
On Tues., Feb. 12, 2008 the Senate Transportation in executive session voted out of committee SSB 6771, which places a one-year moratorium on any activity by Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID). The bill now goes to Senate Rules for further action.
Finally, HB 2142 failed to meet the February 12 cut-off when the House Appropriations Committee failed to take action. The legislation would have provided legal redress for targets of workplace bullying, abuse, and harassment. Granting an aggrieved employee a private right of action and various remedies. It is unlikely the bill will get further consideration this legislative session.
Tuesday, February 19 was the final cut-off date for bills to be move out of their legislative body of origin.
Legislative Hotline Message, February 9, 2008
Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, marked the first cut-off date of the 2008 Legislative Session. This was the date that all policy bills were to be acted upon and be passed out of their committee of origin.
The following are bills made the Feb. 8 cut-off and Local 17 is supporting them.
HB 2142 - Provides legal redress for targets of workplace bullying, abuse, and harassment. Grants an aggrieved employee a private right of action and various remedies. The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee were it must be acted upon prior to the Feb. 12, 2008 cut-off date.
HB 2946 - Allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking to participate in the state leave sharing program. This legislation is currently in House rules for further action.
SB 6645 - Provides interruptive military service credit for members of PERS, Plans 2 and 3, who provide proof to the director that their interruptive military service was during a period of war defined in RCW 41.04.005. The qualified employee would be required to buy back the years of service credit for which they qualified. This legislation is currently in House Rules for further action.
SB 6280 - Implements the recommendations of the joint legislative task force on family leave insurance. The task force recommends that the Employment Security Department administer the program and the Department of Labor and Industries provide enforcement.
The task force made no recommendations on how the program is to be funded. Several proposals have surfaced including having the program funded out of the General Fund until a suitable funding source is identified. A second proposal calls for the program to be funded by a statewide employee payroll tax of one cent per hour worked. It is unlikely funding for the program will be agreed on in the 2008 Session. The Governor included in her 2008 Supplemental Budget $6.2 million to continue the work on implementing the program. The legislation now goes to the Senate Ways and Means Committee where action is required prior to the February 12, cut-off.
Legislative Update - Jan. 08
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Read the Legislative Hotline Messages:
Legislative Hotline Message, January 29, 2008
On Fri,, Jan., 25, 2008 the Senate passed SSB 5261 by a vote of 31 “yes” and 18 “no.”
The legislation restores to the Insurance Commissioner oversight of premium increases requested by carriers providing insurance coverage to individuals and families who receive their health care coverage from the individual market. While this legislation will have no immediate effect on Local 17 members, it will begin to bring some accountability to spiraling increase in insurance premiums. The bill now goes to the House for future action.
On Mon., Jan. 28, the House Health and Wellness Committee took executive action and passed out of committee HB 2664. This legislation would prohibit the sale and use prescriber identifiable prescription data for marketing or promotional purposes. Currently, drug companies and other marketers are able to purchase prescriber identifiable prescription data for the purpose of marketing and promotion. HB 2664 now goes to House rules before it can come to the floor of the House for vote.
Finally, on Mon., Jan. 28, the Senate Labor Committee in executive session passed SB 6500. The legislation would authorize state employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to participate in the leave-sharing program.
We request all Local 17 members call their legislators and request their support for the above bills (SSB 5261, HB 2664 and SB 6500).
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Legislative Hotline - January 25, 2008
On Mon., Jan. 21, 2008, the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6221.
SB 6221, sponsored by Senator Keiser, calls for structural reform in the State's current health care system. The bill is modeled after legislation passed in the Wisconsin Legislature. SB 6221 would replace the current employer-provided and individually purchased health insurance with a universal plan financed by a payroll tax.
Several other reform bills have been introduced and will be discussed during the session. For example, SB 6603 would provide catastrophic insurance for the state's uninsured and underinsured. Funding would come from a payroll tax. SB 6574 would allow workers to use employer-provided credits to choose from a variety of insurance providers.
Local 17 Legislative Director Don Briscoe said it is unlikely that either of these bills will pass during this short session. However, it is almost certain each of these bills will begin the debate of structural reform in the way health care is purchased and funded in the 2009 Legislative Session.
The House and Senate Labor Committees held public hearings on the recommendations from the Taskforce on Family Leave Insurance. The legislation passed by the 2007 Legislature created a Family Leave Insurance Program. The program will provide to qualified employees a $250 per week payment for six weeks for the purpose of bonding with a newborn and/or adopted child.
The Taskforce is recommending that the State Department of Labor and Industries administer the program. The Taskforce was unable to agree on a funding source and recommends that the program for three years be funded from the General Fund until a permanent funding source is identified. First payments are to be made in October 2009.
Several important labor bills had public hearings during the week:
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SB 6622/HB 2142 provides legal redress for employees who are targets of workplace bullying, abuse, and harassment.
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SB 6500/HB 2602 authorizes leave sharing for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
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SB 6327/HB 2769 would allow workers to receive unemployment benefits during labor disputes. The legislation would remove from current law the provision that disqualifies workers form receiving unemployment benefits when locked out during a labor dispute.
Local 17 is in support of these bills. Call your legislators ask them to support these important labor bills. Legislative Hotline 1.800.562.6000
Hotline Message - January 22, 2008
On Mon. Jan., 21, 2008, the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee held a Public hearing on SB 6221 calling for structural reform in the health care system in Washington. The legislation sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser is modeled after the legislation passed by the Wisconsin legislature.
The measure would replace employer provided and individually purchased health insurance with a universal plan financed by a payroll tax. Senator Keiser’s proposal is one of several health care reform plans that will be discussed doing this session. It is unlikely legislation will be passed doing the short session. However, it appears the debate is being framed for the 2009 session. The number of Washington citizens without health care plans, the rising cost of health care premium and the failure of the Federal Government to address these issues is driving this reform effort in our state.
On Tues., Jan. 22, 2008 the House Appropriations committee held a work session on the recommendations of the Taskforce on The Family Leave Insurance Program. The taskforce is recommending the program be financed for three years out of the General Fund Budget while the legislature identifies a permanent funding source. The first payments are scheduled to be made in October 2009.
Several labor bills where heard on Tuesday. In the House commerce & Labor Committee HB 2769 provides for unemployment compensation during labor disputes. The legislation if passed would delete a current law provision that disqualifies employees in a multi-employer bargaining unit from unemployment compensation benefits when the employees have been locked out following a strike against one of the employers in the bargaining unit. Local 17 supports this legislation.
SB 6622 received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce. Research & Development. This legislation provides legal redress for targets of workplace bullying, abuse, and harassment. According to a 2007 U.S. Workplace Bullying Survey 37 percent of workers have experienced bullying in the workplace. Local 17 supports this legislation.
Hotline Message - January 19, 2008
The following is a summary of legislative activity for the first week of the 2008 Legislative Session:
The 2008 legislative session got underway at noon, Mon., Jan. 14, 2008. The primary responsibility of legislators will be to agree on and pass 2008 supplemental Budgets to the 2007-09 General Fund, Capital and Transportation Budgets. Democrats hold majorities in both bodies have cautioned legislators on pursuing legislation that would call for additional spending.
Governor Gregiore, in her State of the State address on Tues., Jan. 15, 2008, sent a similar message to the legislature when she referred to her supplemental budgets for 2008 as frugal.
On Wednesday, the Healthy Washington coalition, which Local 17 is a part of, held a rally in Olympia to highlight for legislators the need for comprehensive health care reform that will provide quality, affordable health care for all Washington citizens.
On Thursday, both the House and Senate Transportation Committees held public hearings on legislation that would put into place a statewide tolling policy for transportation facilities. This policy if adopted by the legislature would provide guidelines for any future implementation of tolls.
Finally on Friday, Jan., 18, 2008, the House Labor and Commerce Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would provide funding for Family Medical Leave Insurance. If passed, this legislation would provide to those who qualify, a six week payment of $250 per week for parents on leave to bond with newborn and/or adopted children.
Hotline Message One January 15, 2008
The 2008 Legislative Session started on Jan. 14, 2008. Democrats hold majorities in both the House and Senate. The primary responsibility of legislators will be to agree on and pass 2008 supplemental budgets to the 2007-08 biennial General Fund, Capital and Transportation budgets.
Local 17’s 2008 Legislative Agenda:
- Continue to lobby for additional funding of Public Health consistent with the recommendations made to the legislature by the 4410 commission on Public Health funding.
- Seek legislators support for identifying a stable revenue source to fund Public Health into the future.
- Transportation: advocate for funding of major projects in the Puget Sound Region, namely the 520 bridge and the Alaska Way viaduct. Seek legislators' support for funding other safety related projects around the state. Lobby legislators as well as WSDOT to ensure design, preliminary engineering and inspection worker is accomplished in the most cost effective manor and when practicable preform by Local 17 members.
- Local 17 will join other public sector unions in supporting legislation that strengthens current whistleblower laws by adding more protections for whistleblowers.
- Support legislation that grants service credit to participants in the PERS, SERS, and TERS plan II members who leave their employment to fullfill their military obligation.
- Local 17 will join others in the labor movement in our support for health care reform that makes quality, affordable health care available to all Washingtonians.
- Additional funding for public health and a stable reliable revenue source to fund public health into the future.
- Funding for major projects in the Puget Sound region and for other safety projects around the state.
- Strengthen current whistleblower laws to add more protections for whistleblowers.
- Service credit for PERS, SERS, and TERS Plan II participants who are required to leave their employment to fulfill their military obligations.
- Support for comprehensive health care reform that makes quality, affordable health care available to all Washingtonians.
Remember to contact your legislators and let them know you would like their support of the Local 17 legislative agenda.
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