House committee vote on furlough bill postponed -UPDATE 8:30 AM

Thanks to your thousands of hotline calls and e-mails and in-person visits to legislators, many questions have been raised about the state employee furlough bill, SSB 6503.
 

As a result, the House Ways and Means Committee has postponed its vote on SSB 6503. It was set for a committee vote Wednesday. It was clear in Tuesday’s hearing that many on the committee had concerns and questions. So stay tuned for further developments.

• UPDATE 8:30 AM:  SSB 6503 was added to Executive Session, House Ways & Means, today at 3:30 PM.
  

But we can’t let our guard down. Continue to call the Legislature’s Hotline Message Center at 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to oppose SSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill. Its unintended consequences will cost more, not less.

CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU NEED TO KNOW
 

Nugget No. 1: Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing on Wednesday commended legislation (SB 6515) focusing the mission of the Department of Commerce for language on collective bargaining transfer rights. The union is neutral on program transfer issues. “Our concern would be around any gaps in services that are created or lost in jobs or collective bargaining rights as those transfers are made,” Griffing told the Senate Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Committee. “We believe this bill avoids those pitfalls. We appreciate the inclusion of the transfer language contained in this bill.”
 

Nugget No. 2: Also before the same committee, Griffing urged an amendment to SB 6579 to include a classified state employee representative on a proposed Information Systems Improvement Committee. “We believe that our frontline workers have great ideas and perspectives that might not otherwise be brought forward if that seat is taken by a management position,” Griffing testified.

REGISTER NOW FOR FEB. 15 RALLY

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. 

Register  here.