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UPDATE - March 5, 2010

Furloughs, Personal Holidays and YOU!

Rumors are running rampant through worksites this week as the legislature is racing to complete its work by March 11th with their main chore of resolving the state’s $2.7 billion deficit. Proposals regarding state employee furloughs and other bills, such as the elimination of Personal Holidays, are of deep concern to many members and are causing anxious decisions by members regarding their leave.

Read more...

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UPDATE - March 3, 2010

On Tues., March 2, the Senate passed HB2861, the legislation adds certified Court Reporters to the list of those eligible to administer oaths and affirmations. The bill will be sign by the President of the Senate and forwarded to the Governor for signing.

Also, the President of the Senate signed SB 6540, requiring the Department of Licensing to establish continuing education courses for certified Court Reporters. The bill goes to Governor Gregoire for signature. Thanks to all Local 17 members who took action with their legislators to get these two important bills passed on behalf of Local 17 Court Reporters.

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UPDATE - March 2, 2010

 This afternoon the House released their proposal for new revenue (HB 3204).The House proposes to raise $760million in new revenue as follows:

-   $385 million by closing tax exemptions
- $163 million raised from a variety of sales tax on bottle water ,
custom software, candy, gum, etc.
 - $112 million from a $1 per pack increase in the cigarette tax.
 - $99 million raised from taxing professional services.
    The final piece is a $100 million transfer from the state construction budget and proceeds from llottery games, pushing the total to $860 million.

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UPDATE - March 1, 2010

         On Wed., Feb. 24, 2010, Governor Gregoire signed into law SB 6130.

The legislation suspends all provisions of Initiative 960 until July 1, 2011. With the signing of this legislation the legislature needs only a simple majority to raise new revenue during the 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget deliberations

On Saturday, the Senate narrowly passed its proposed 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget by a vote of 25 “yes” and 19 “no” votes (with five excused). The budget as passed contains $800 million in cuts, $918 million in new revenue and the balance of the $2.7 billion budget shortfall is made up from fund transfers and anticipated federal funds The Senate's $918 million in new revenue proposal will be debated by the Senate later this week.The Senate’s 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget now goes to the House.

Also on Saturday, the Senate passed its proposed 2010 Supplemental Transportation Budget. The Senate bill keeps all Nickel and Transportation partnership projects on schedule. The supplemental budget adds another $1 billion coming from stimulus dollars and competitive grants received by WSDOT form the federal government

On Sun., Feb. 28, 2010, the full House by unanimously to passed SB 6450. When signed by the Governor, this legislation will require the Department of Licensing to establish continuing education courses for Court Reporters. Local 17 supported and lobbied for the passage of this bill.

We are in the final 10 days of this legislative session, continue to call your legislators ask them to oppose SB 6503, the furlough bill. Also request that they appropriate revenue sufficient to provide the same level of service for state employee medical insurance during the 2011 coverage year.

Click here to take action against this bill.

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UPDATE - Feb. 23, 2010

SENATE BUDGET 
Senate Democrats released their version which is aimed at closing the $2.8 billion budget gap. It combines fund shifts, including the Rainy Day account, federal funds, cuts services, reduces public sector compensation and raises $918 million in new revenue to balance the budget. 

The budget assumes the elimination of 4,300 public sector jobs, assumes $70 million in administrative reductions throughout state government. The Senate proposal includes implementation of the furlough bill for assume savings of $49 million. 

For state employee health care premiums, the Senate budget increases the employer share for 2011 from $768 per employee to $795. This increase is not enough to cover the projected increase in premium for the current benefit plan. 

It appears that public health funding is maintained at the 2010 levels of appropriations. 

Proposal for new revenue would be generated by closing $518 million in tax loopholes, $86 million would come from increasing by one dollar per pack the state’s tax on cigarettes, finally $309 million would be generated by the implementation of a three-tenths percent increase in the state’s sales tax begin June 1, 2010 and ending June 1, 2013.  

Working families would be eligible to receive an earned income tax credit to off-set the increase in sales tax and to address the regressive nature of the sales tax. A similar tax credit would be available to small businesses creating new jobs.   

HOUSE BUDGET 
The House budget writers similar to the senate fill what they say is a $2.7 billion gap by:

- Budget cuts and efficiencies totaling      $653 million
- Anticipated Federal funds equaling        $641 million
- Fund transfer totaling -                         $465 million
- New revenue equaling -                         $857 million 

The house budget includes implementation of SB 6503 for assumed savings of $48.2 million. It also includes savings of $3.1 million by conversion of some state liquor stores to private ownership.

It is unclear how the house budget writers have dealt with state employee health premiums. 

Fund levels for Public Health have been maintained. 

The House is schedule to release its plans for raising $857million in new revenue over the net several days. 

SENATE & HOUSE 2010 SUPPLIMENTAL TRANSPORTATION BUDGETS 

Both the Senate and House budgets show almost a billion dollar increase over the $7.5 billion appropriated in April 2009. This additional funding comes from a combination of federal stimulus funds and federal grants competed for and won by the state of Washington. This infusion of additional revenue is estimated to create 3,000 new jobs to our state’s economy.

Good news for our WSDOT members: The Transportation Department was awarded a $35 million grant for the North-South Spokane highway. 
 
Local 17 members contact your legislators ask them to oppose SB6503 (the furlough bill). Request that they appropriate funds sufficient to cover the increase in employee health care premiums.

Click here to take action against this bill.