The Legislature is not doing much in this second week of the
emergency special session. Today and Friday, lawmakers will pretty much
be on the floor or in caucus. Some important hearings take place this
week, but the pace we expected hasn’t materialized.
Legislation has already surfaced on revenue alternative ideas
different than the governor’s. Rep. Chris Reykdal will shortly introduce
legislation to close some 160 tax breaks and giveaways. Sen. Paull Shin
of the 21st District introduced SB 5972 to tie a sales tax increase to
the unemployment rate. There’s lots of debate on different revenue ideas
and it’s clearly too early to have a fix on what will come out of
special session or the regular session starting in January.
At this
point, we applaud all efforts to actually debate revenue alternatives to
the governor’s all-cuts budget. But it’s way too early to get bogged
down in details – because there are no details at this point. But know
you are shaping the debate with your longtime efforts to push to close
billions in tax giveaways. Remember, the governor actually addressed
closing tax breaks in her budget package – something she might not have
undertaken had it not been for you. And legislators have the tax
giveaways report from the Federation that they got when members visited
them in Olympia last week.
Progress to stop the cuts and find revenue to avoid the all-cuts
budget is being made. Just not as quickly as most would like.
So it’s time to take the campaign to your hometown – to the legislative districts of lawmakers.
Many of these have already taken place. More are planned. We need to do more.
If you’re interested in doing a local job action in your legislative
district, contact April Sims at 1-800-562-6002 or aprils@wfse.org. We
can help with logistics, signs, buttons and recruitment.
THIS WEEK IN THE LEGISLATURE:
• On Tuesday, the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee
holds a work session on community supervision alternatives – we believe
this is the proposal to shift Community Corrections duties to the
counties. 10 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1, Cherberg Building.
• On Wednesday, the same committee looks at evidence-based options
to improve statewide outcomes – a report from the Washington Institute
for Public Policy. 1:30 p.m., Senate Hearing Room 1, Cherberg Building.
• The Senate Ways and Means Committee holds important budget
hearings on parts of the all-cuts budget: Tuesday, Dec. 6 on health
care, long-term care and developmental disabilities; and Wednesday, Dec.
7, on natural resources and general government. The original Thursday,
Dec. 8 on criminal justice has been changed to another topic. We’ll keep
you updated. The Ways and Means hearings are all at 3:30 p.m. in Senate
Hearing Room 4 in the Cherberg Building.
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT JOB ACTIONS COMING UP:
Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 3:30pm - 19th Legislative District Job Action
In front of WorkSource office, 511 W. Heron, Aberdeen to support jobs package and revenue.
Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4-6pm - 30th Legislative District Job Action
Peaceful picketing in Federal Way on the corner of 348th and Pacific Highway S., near the Chevron station.
Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 11:30am-12:30pm - 44th Legislative District Job Action
Sidewalk at 12906 Bothell-Everett Highway, Everett to call on Sen. Steve Hobbs to stand with the 99%
Thursday, Dec. 15 at 3:30pm -41st Legislative District Job Action
Sign-waving and leafleting at Chase Bank; delegation will then deliver a
holiday card to Sen. Steve Litzow’s district office nearby. Meet at Chase Bank, 10550 N.E. 8th St., Bellevue, WA 98004 (corner of Northeast 8th Street and 106th Avenue Northeast).
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