You can make a difference in just a matter of minutes - calls needed on revenue, loopholes, furoughs, RHCs and Interpreters

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday voted out SB 6843 to allow a simple majority vote for revenue increases to deal with the deficit. A good bill. It is set for a vote of the full Senate Tuesday.

So keep the calls coming:

Call 1-800-562-6000.

Tell your legislators:

• RAISE REVENUE! SUPPORT SB 6843 to amend I-960 and allow majority rule on revenue issues. 

• CLOSE TAX LOOPHOLES! SUPPORT HB 3176 to close tax loopholes to recoup hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue.

• OPPOSE FURLOUGHS! OPPOSE SSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill. Its unintended consequences will cost more, not less.

You can also take online action at www.wfse.org > Action Center.

INTERPRETERS BILL BOOSTED IN HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE

HB 3062, the bill to give state interpreters collective bargaining rights and save the program came before the House Ways and Means Committee Monday.

“We are here united in our request,” AFSCME Interpreters United’s Narscisa Hodges, herself an interpreter, told the committee.

“Please restore the funding for DSHS interpreter services and cut overhead costs in this program to save the state money.

“And give us the collective bargaining rights so that we can be a part of the solution.”

“This bill points to savings by removing expensive overhead and administration,” interpreter Luis De Jesus said.

CALL TO ACTION ON INTERPRETERS BILL: Call 1-800-562-6000. Tell legislators: SUPPORT HB 3062 (the interpreters' collective bargaining bill). It saves money, it promotes efficiency, it makes interpreters part of the solution.

ALSO GET CALLS IN ON:

A.    OPPOSE SB 6780 (the RHC closure bill). It cleared one committee Friday and is now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.


CAPITOL NUGGETS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

Nugget No. 1: The bill to split up DSHS into four smaller agencies got a polite hearing before the House Ways and Means Committee Monday, but it’s not expected to go very far. The administration said it’s making progress in addressing concerns about the agency. Breaking it up would also mean added costs by having four separate administrations.

LEGISLATIVE TOWN HALL MEETINGS SET FOR FEB. 20

Legislators will come home in several districts Feb. 20 to hold town hall meetings. This is your chance to turn out to fight back against program cuts and attacks on state employees.

Town Hall meetings are set for Saturday, Feb. 20, in the following districts: 6, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26, 37, 45 and 48. For details and a full schedule, to the Federation Website at www.wfse.org > Action Center.