The Washington State
Labor Council's annual report on the legislative session
2010 Senate Voting
Record
2010 House Voting Record
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Also see our archive
of weekly 2010 WSLC
Legislative Updates from the session,
plus previous years' editions of the WSLC Legislative Report and Voting
Record:
2009 -- 2008 -- 2007
-- 2006 -- 2005 -- 2004 -- 2003 -- 2002 -- 2001 -- 2000 -- 1999
It’s about the jobs
Democrats hear labor's message
The Washington State Labor Council’s 2010 legislative agenda focused on jobs, jobs, jobs. Creating jobs. Retaining jobs. Strengthening jobs.
Working families know there is no such thing as a "jobless recovery" from this recession, the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. The restoration of quality jobs is what will signal an end to this recession, not the return of corporate profits or stock market gains.
This year, that meant investing in our public infrastructure to put workers in the decimated construction industry back to work. It also meant raising new revenue to avoid more layoffs of teachers, college faculty and staff, nurses and other health-care professionals, public safety workers, and other state employees who provide critically needed public services at the time we need them most.
Unfortunately, in 2010 it also meant defending against attacks from those who would exploit a difficult budget and economy to try to demonize state employees and extract punitive job, wage and benefit cuts.
The Democratic legislative majority heard organized labor’s message on jobs loud and clear. After Gov. Chris Gregoire called a special session dedicated to resolving budget issues and approving jobs legislation, here are some of the bills that were approved:
The Jobs Act of 2010 -- Sponsored by Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish), HB 2561 will let voters decide this fall whether to issue $505 million in bonds to create some 30,000 jobs doing energy repair and retrofitting work at public schools, state colleges and universities. This investment will create desperately needed jobs and energy cost savings for the state over the long term.
HB 2561 passed the House 54-39 in the special session and, after being scaled back from its original investment of $850 million, it passed the Senate 28-18 (see Senate Vote #7).
Convention Center Expansion -- SB 6889, sponsored by Sen. Joe McDermott (D-West Seattle), creates the public facilities district needed to finance expansion of the State Convention and Trade Center. This will give Seattle the capability to host large, revenue-generating conventions it currently can’t. This project will create 3,000 construction jobs and thousands of permanent jobs at the expanded facility. The entire cost is funded through existing hotel/motel taxes.
With some strong support from Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina), it passed on a bipartisan vote during the special session -- 91-6 in the House and 39-2 in the Senate.
Low-Income Housing Program -- Rep. Tina Orwall's (D-Normandy Park) HB 2753 creates $1 billion of housing for the working poor within proximity of transit for easy access to employment. This housing will create thousands of prevailing-wage construction jobs and housing equity for low-income workers. It passed the Senate 29-11 and the House 71-22.
Server Farms -- Sen. Margarita Prentice's (D-Renton) SB 6789 provides a temporary tax exemption for companies building server farms in the state’s rural counties. It passed the Senate 39-4 and the House 91-2.
Supplemental Capital Budget -- Lawmakers approved a supplemental capital construction budget that will create an estimated 13,000 jobs. It includes a $100 million "mini-Jobs Act" investment in energy efficiency work on public school buildings ($400 million in total projects after including local and federal matching dollars); $30 million for affordable housing; $50 million for stormwater retrofitting; $41 million to clean up toxic sites in Puget Sound; and more. This governor-requested budget, HB 2836 sponsored by Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish), passed the House 61-36 and the Senate 33-13.
WHAT DIDN’T PASS were HB 3181/SB 6851, sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) and Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle). The Working for Clean Water bills would have increased the hazardous substances tax to fund stormwater pollution cleanup. Concerns raised by the oil refineries and members of the United Steelworkers union stymied this legislation.
The WSLC supports efforts in the interim to address USW concerns about protecting jobs, while also supporting the creation of thousands of desperately needed construction jobs protecting the Puget Sound and our lakes and rivers from pollutants.
There are many, many more stories included in the print version of the WSLC's 2010 Legislative Report. See the Table of Contents at the top of this page. Also, members of WSLC-affiliated unions can request a free copy of the printed version of the report.
2010 Senate Voting Record -- 2010 House Voting Record
Archive of weekly WSLC Legislative Updates from the 2010 session
Jan. 8 -- There's blood in the water in Olympia -- Some consider the budget crisis and lousy economy to be the perfect opportunity to attack state government and undermine important safety nets for working families. Plus, the WSLC 2010 Legislative Agenda, the Unemployment Insurance system saving jobs and businesses, the insurance industry sharks are circling our workers' compensation system, and more.
Jan. 15 -- Decisive perhaps, but not compassionate -- The governor has called for "decisive, compassionate leadership," but her supplemental budget would close institutions for developmentally disabled children and adults, essentially kicking some of our most vulnerable people out of the state's house. Plus: Privatized liquor stores: Enough said — Privatized workers' comp: What's that smell? — and more.
Jan. 22 -- Unemployment benefits ARE SAVING JOBS -- Our unemployment system is a lifeline. It not only helps desperate families keep food on the table, gas in the car and a roof over their heads, it is saving jobs by pumping $6.5 billion worth of economic activity into our state in 2009. But all business groups can do is complain about its tax structure... which THEY created. Plus: Labor-backed green jobs bill passes House; Fact sheet counters workers' comp falsehoods; GOP still supports lowering state minimum wage; Resolution supports federal AgJOBS legislation; and more.
Jan. 29 -- What about injured workers?! -- Our public workers' compensation system is not a tax established for the sole purpose of convincing employers to leave Washington, nor is it some kind of get-out-of-work-for-life lottery. It's actually a cost-effective and critically important safety net protecting all of us in case we suddenly become unable to provide for our family because of a work injury. Plus, State employee furlough bill is unfair, extreme; Transit employees: Just another "special interest;" Help college academic employees help themselves; and more.
Feb. 5 -- Balanced approach needed on U.I. -- It's difficult to swallow the idea of another major cut in unemployment insurance tax rates for business, while last year's temporary $45-a-week stimulus benefit increase has already expired. But labor has sympathy for businesses paying higher taxes this year because they had to lay off workers last year. Labor supports a balanced approach to U.I. that would necessarily couple any additional tax cuts for business with stronger benefits. Plus, Two bills to create jobs, jobs and more jobs (HB 2561 andHB3181/SB 6851); End the anti-democratic minority rule of I-960; and more.
Feb. 12 -- Reduce 'corporate footprint' in Olympia -- House Democratic leaders have quietly revived a bill to deregulate and privatize the state liquor store system, not because it will save money -- it won't -- but because they want to "reduce the footprint of state government." Elected officials should stop wasting precious time and money with this ideologically driven anti-government legislation. Plus, Most Senate Democrats do the right thing on I-960; Unemployment Insurance: Not just a tax, a lifeline; and more.
Feb. 19 -- House, Senate have taken the first step -- The legislative momentum continues for protecting schools, health care, public safety and other essential services from another devastating all-cuts budget. Plus, more on the governor's revenue proposal, business extremists, giving nurses a break, liquor deregulation / privatization, and what bills are alive and dead.
Feb. 26 -- The economic harm of privatization -- Legislators should focus not only on the quality and value of the services provided by hard-working state employees, but also the negative economic ripple effects when good public-sector jobs are eliminated for no reason other than to achieve "smaller government" -- not cheaper, just smaller. Plus, surprise House proviso would close Cascadia Community College.
Mar. 4 -- Washington needs bold action on jobs! -- The Washington State Labor Council urges legislators to pass a strong version of HB 3181/SB 6851, the Working for Clean Water legislation. This will create thousands of desperately needed construction jobs in every corner of the state. Plus, Blood is still in the water at State Printer; Protect public safety, pass "Safe Breaks" bill; More labor-supported bills that need a vote; Labor-supported bills that got a vote; and Did a shady deal kill child care collective bargaining.
Mar. 18 -- Did Olympia hear the call for "Jobs NOW"? -- "We need jobs NOW!" That message from more than 600 construction workers who rallied Wednesday in Seattle is resonating throughout Washington as new reports this week indicate that job losses continued in February, particularly in the construction sector. As the special legislative session that began Monday continues, there's evidence that this important message is being heard in the halls of the State Capitol. See a summary and status report on the jobs bills that remain alive, plus get the latest on budget talks.
Copyright © 2010 Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO