A couple dozen Federation members descended on legislators’ offices on the first day of session Monday to deliver messages calling for new revenue and closing tax loopholes to avoid devastating cuts.
They put a human face on the fight to save quality services. Their AFSCME Green shirts had a special message on the back: “WE ARE THE SAFETY NET.”
Their efforts let lawmakers know that state employees have already sacrificed more than $1 billion in pay, benefits, pension funding and layoffs and are part of the solution to rebuilding our economic future.
Budget hearings start today. We should get a better idea on what revenue increases the governor may propose.
CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Nugget No. 1: For the first time in the debate over the future of juvenile rehabilitation facilities, Echo Glen Children’s Center in Snoqualmie has been targeted for closure by some key decision makers. A consultant’s report reluctantly recommended closing Maple Lane School in south Thurston County. The governor recommended no JRA closures, but some reductions in all JRA institutions. Now the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Gary Alexander, R-20th Dist., has proposed closing Echo Glen instead of the across-the-board reductions called for by the governor, according to the Centralia Chronicle.
Nugget No. 2: For the first time this recession, revenue collections are slightly better than what was predicted. That doesn’t mean there still isn’t a budget problem, but, according to TVW, “the state is collecting more money in revenues than they expected in the past two months.” We won’t know if this trend continues until the next revenue forecast comes out in February.
Nugget No. 3: Eleven bills responding to the recent cold-blooded murders or police officers—which is of prime interest to our public safety members in Community Corrections and elsewhere—were introduced today in the Senate. The package of bills (SB 6308 to SB 6318) include Senate Bill 6317, which would increase penalties for assaults on law enforcement employees with a deadly weapon.
Nugget No. 4: The Federation this morning reminded the House General Government Appropriations Committee that -- as it looks at the governor’s plan to move services in and out of the new Department of Commerce -- they need to be “mindful” that as programs move, workers’ contract protections go with them. Federation Lobbyist Alia Griffing said the union will be reaching out to the state to work together on any of those transition issues.
MEMBERS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT IT SHARED SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONS
The state Auditor’s Office is recommending consolidating information technology services in the departments of Corrections, Information Services, Revenue and Transportation and the Office of Financial Management. The Auditor’s Office told the House General Government Appropriations Committee Tuesday morning that such a move would save between $6.6 million and $9.7 million.
But a member of the Federation’s shared services task force told the committee that might require an investment of $70 million to $90 million, based on the experience in other states.
“We have major concerns over the costs of implementing the recommendations,” said Tim Young, a geographic information systems manager for the Department of Fish and Wildlife and a member of Local 443.
“This is not a short-term proposition. And undertaking it now may be a significant risk given the current state of our budget.
“To ask for $70 million to $90 million of new money…at a time when our vital state programs are already on the chopping block would negatively impact the ability of services the state could provide and further erode existing programs.”
Young said many of the Auditor’s Office recommendations are flawed because in many places they are based on assumptions that were then matched with the private sector.
“So now we have a guestimate compared with something somewhat similar but not quite the same and then they go on to make recommendations from that mismatched data,” Young said.
KEEP SENDING YOUR HOTLINE MESSAGES
Call your legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and remind them: It’s time for shared sacrifices on the budget.
State employees have already sacrificed more than $1 billion in pay, pension contributions, health care funding and layoffs. Now is the time to raise revenue and close tax loopholes. (Feel free to add the impact of cuts on your specific program.)
HOTLINE HOURS
The legislative message Hotline is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
REGISTER ONLINE TO ATTEND A LOBBY DAY
Meet face-to-face with your legislators and deliver the message. Register today online here.
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