The still-bad furlough bill comes up for a hearing this afternoon in the House Ways and Means Committee, 3:30 p.m., Hearing Room A in the John L. O'Brien Building on the Capitol campus.
SSB 6503 is still a bad bill that does not save jobs. It may be sold to you as saving jobs, but in fact any of the questionable savings would be diverted to other areas of the budget.
So, call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to vote NO! on SSB 6503. Its unintended consequences will cost more, not less.
They need to hear from you.
- Call 1-800-562-6000.
MEMBERS PUSH FOR STRICTER WMS LIMITS
Ecology members who have studied the growth of the Washington Management Service in depth used a hearing Monday on a bill limiting special pay for WMS employees to push for further reforms.
Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-26th Dist., called the special pay freeze for WMS and exempt employees a "common sense temporary pause."
Local 443 Ecology member and Federation Executive Board member Kerry Graber applauded the bill, but said more could be done.
She presented charts showing that pay for WMS in Ecology is out of whack with national averages for executive pay. She also presented data about how the state could save tens of millions of dollars by trimming the size of WMS, including just not replacing WMS employees who leave state service.
"We're seeing an inequity and we'd like to see more reform in this area," Graber told the House Ways and Means Committee.
Stan Leja, an Ecology hydrogeologist and member of Local 443, said the current fiscal crisis presents an opportunity for action.
"It think it's (HB 2998) something that's needed but doesn't go far enough," Leja said. "I think it needs to be permanent."
Seaquist said further legislation getting at the WMS problem is coming.
REGISTER NOW FOR FEB. 15 RALLY
In just two weeks, the legislative session has turned brutal against state employees. The passage of the furlough bill is the latest example.
The problem is we need new revenue and closing or suspending some of the $14.8 billion in easily accessible tax loopholes.
You can help bring that message directly to legislators in a big way. Mark your calendars for the Public Employee/Revenue Rally and Lobby Day on the Presidents' Day Holiday, Monday, Feb. 15. The rally will be at noon on the Capitol steps. But you can get a pre-rally briefing, lunch and lobbying appointments.
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