Senate passes furlough bill - still a bad idea; Register now for Feb. 15 rally; Save Rainier School rally on Sunday; more Capitol nuggets

The state Senate at 12:35 p.m. Friday passed the state employee furlough bill on a vote of 27-17, with five excused. SSB 6503 now goes to the House.

The bill has been somewhat mitigated--a few more exemptions, flexibility for agencies to craft an alternative compensation savings plan--but it still asks state employees to take what will amount to a 9 percent pay cut. So it is still a bad bill. Its unintended consequences will cost more, not less.

In your calls to the legislative hotline, now turn your attention to the House. Call 1-800-562-6000 and urge your two House members to vote NO! on SSB 6503.

Read the bill report here.

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 a pre-rally briefing, lunch and lobbying appointments. Register here now.

DON’T FORGET: SAVE RAINIER SCHOOL/SAVE RHCS RALLY THIS SUNDAY

Rainier School Local 491 members will rally this Sunday, Jan. 24, to save their facility from the chopping block. You’re invited. The “Save Rainier School” rally will be 12-4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 24, at Buckley Park, at the corner of Highway 410 and Ryan Road in Buckley.

CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Nugget No. 1: The Federation’s Ton Johnson testified Thursday against the closures of Ahtanum View Corrections Center in Yakima and Pine Lodge Corrections Center in Medical Lake before the House General Government Appropriations Committee. Joining him: John Higgins, mayor of Medical Lake, who said Pine Lodge’s inmates are an asset to the community, running the recycling center, growing produce donated to local food banks and making quilts for local charities. The Yakima City Council previously voted to urge legislators to save Ahtanum View.

Nugget No. 2: Michele Fukawa, a social worker 3 and member of Local 313 in Vancouver, urged the House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee on Thursday to save vital programs, like secured crisis residential centers, from the budget ax. “Our jobs are pretty difficult as they are” without further cutting such resources, Fukawa said.

Nugget No. 3: Bills to give DSHS interpreters collective bargaining rights have been introduced: Senate Bill 6726, assigned to the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee; and House Bill 3062, which has a hearing next Tuesday in the House Commerce and Labor Committee. The interpreters are some of the most underappreciated and poorly treated workers in the state. They came to the Federation for help winning them a fair helping of decency and respect. As you recall, hundreds of Federation members this past Monday joined with them to bring that message to legislators. The Federation initiated HB 3062 and SB 6726.

Nugget No 4: Another Federation-initiated bill would help longtime employees facing the need for more than the current limit of 261 total shared leave days. Under HB 3063 and SB 6695, employees with between 10 and 20 years of service could receive 522 days of shared leave. Those with more than 20 years of service, 788 shared leave days.

Nugget No. 5: Finally, your message about repealing or suspending some of the $14.8 billion in tax loopholes is getting through, and there is some small movement. The Senate Ways and Means Committee discussed information provided to them by Federation members yesterday, so they are aware of the facts. And with our use of the gold bullion dealers’ tax break example, the Senate on Friday introduced SB 6713 to roll back a few preferential tax breaks. First on the list: gold bullion dealers. But, sadly, no mention of the tax breaks for the Seattle sports stadiums, condominium maintenance fees and hundreds of others.