Senate takes routine votes to re-send bad budget and furlough bill back to the House

Special session means some legislation needs to be re-passed to get it back to where it was at the end of regular session. The Senate did just that Monday be re-passing the supplemental budget (ESSB 6444) and Tuesday re-passing the furlough bill (ESSB 6503). Both are now back in the House.

There’s not much to tell. The furlough bill is still a bad bill. The call to action remains the same to oppose it.

TELL LEGISLATORS IN PERSON YOUR HEALTHCARE STORY AT WEDENSDAY’S CAPITOL CAMPUS JOB ACTION

The WFSE/AFSCME-M*A*S*H-style tent will be up near the Tivoli Fountain on the Capitol lawn, just off Capitol Way, tomorrow, Wednesday, March 17, from 9 a.m. until about dusk.

We’ve invited all 147 legislators to stop by for coffee and a pastry to learn more from you about why the health insurance funding issue is so important. We’ll have materials on hand you can use to hand to legislators. It’ll also be an opportunity to argue for funding to save the Basic Health Plan and other health-related programs that are on the budget chopping block.

If you can make it, please do!

SPECIAL SESSION CALLS TO ACTION:

Because of the health care job action on the Capitol campus, the call to action is focused on that issue.

• HEALTH INSURANCE CALL TO ACTION:  Call 1-800-562-6000. Tell legislators to fund state worker health insurance with at least $65 million in General Fund-State funds in the final budget (ESSB 6444) for state employee health care. And no mandate to bargain over premiums!

• CALL TO ACTION ON FURLOUGHS: The Senate has re-passed the furlough bill, so it’s back in the House. And there’s still the proposed House amendment to take away your personal holiday.  Call 1-800-562-6000. Tell your legislators: OPPOSE ESSB 6503, the state employee furlough bill.

REVISED HOURS FOR LEGISLATIVE MESSAGE HOTLINE - 1-800-562-6000.

During special session, the Legislative Message Hotline will be open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. It is closed weekends.