Town Hall meetings this Saturday (WSLC Reports

February 18, 2010

Feb. 17: Obama on NLRB appointments

Feb. 16: 6,000 rally to "Stop the Cuts!"

Feb. 12: WSLC Legis. Conference coverage

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Town Hall meetings this Saturday

Supporters of job creation, public services and the employees who provide them overwhelmed Tim Eyman at last Saturday's revenue hearing in Olympia. They swamped the teabaggers at Monday's rally. Now it's time to take that momentum into this weekend's legislative town hall meetings around the state. Make plans to attend the meeting in your area. See the list.

► In the NW labor Press -- Unions tracking several jobs bills in Washington Legislature -- Jobs, jobs, and jobs are labor’s top three priorities. The Jobs Act of 2010 would ask voters to approve $850 million in bonds to pay for energy efficiency retrofits at schools and other public facilities. Another jobs bill -- the Working for Clean Water bill -- would pay for storm water pollution cleanup in every county. Stopping further job losses in the public sector is also a priority.

Legislative news:

► From AP -- House approves suspension of I-960 -- It passed the House on a 51-47 vote late last night after extended debate and strong protest from Republicans in the minority. The state Senate must vote again on the measure before sending it to Gregoire.

► In today's Olympian -- Gregoire unveils tax plan -- She outlines a plan to raise $759 million by closing tax loopholes, raising taxes on bottled water, carbonated beverages, cigarettes, candy and gum, and taxing some out-of-state firms that do business here. The single biggest source of proposed new revenue -- $148 million for the general fund and millions more for local stormwater projects -- comes from her request to triple the state’s toxic-substances tax.

► In today's (Everett) Herald -- Gregoire seeks taxes on soda, candy, cigarettes to plug budget hole -- Gov. Gregoire said she looked at an array of possible taxes before settling on ones she viewed as least harmful to the economy and affected items residents could choose to give up.

► See more coverage of Gov. Gregoire's plan in today's Seattle Times and Spokesman-Review.

► At SeattlePI.com -- Tax wars: Democrats will fight amongst themselves -- Gov. Gregoire's revenue package is not good enough, say some members of Gregoire's own party and advocates for the needy. "This isn't just 'a day late and a dollar short,' it's a year late and several hundred million dollars short," said Rep. Brendan Williams (D-Olympia).

► In today's Olympian -- Tax plan finds opposition from business -- A tax increase on hazardous materials to pay for construction projects addressing stormwater pollution cleanup and help bail out the state budget drew a divisive, partisan response. Environmental groups, local governments, unions and Democrats hailed the Clean Water Act of 2010 as a first and important step in tackling the No. 1 pollution source in Puget Sound. But it drew stiff opposition from anti-tax Republicans, big-business interests and oil refinery workers.

► At SeattlePI.com -- Bill to help pay for buses dies in Olympia -- HB 2855 to help pay for bus service through additional vehicle fees has died in the House, the apparent victim of election-year tax jitters among House democratic leaders.

► In today's Columbian -- Senior services threatened -- If proposed state cuts stand, 290 clients of a local agency would lose rides to medical services, meal sites and other appointments; 40 would lose in-home personal care; and 45 would lose critical case management services.

► In today's Yakima H-R -- Ahtanum View moves with the times -- The state is closing the 130-bed facility as part of a larger restructuring by the Washington Department of Corrections to make more efficient use of surplus beds in light of a declining inmate population statewide.

► In today's News Tribune -- Consider human factor at Rainier School (column by Rainier employee David Griffin) -- State employees are proud of the job we are doing, fed up with the negative hits we are taking from people who don't take the time to find out what our jobs involve, and sad that money is put before quality of life for people who often cannot speak or fend for themselves.

► In today's (Everett) Herald -- Bring tuition bill to a vote (editorial) -- The opposition of House Higher Education Committee Chair Deb Wallace (D-Vancouver), who opposes the bill, could kill the Senate-approved SB 6562. The bill allows universities to set their own tuition rates, capping increases at 14% in any given year and the 15-year average can’t exceed 9%.

Local news:

► At SeattlePI.com -- Boeing, Machinists reach layoff deal -- Some union Machinists will be able to volunteer to be laid off with benefits, under a new agreement between Boeing and IAM District 751. Boeing is expected to reduce its Puget Sound workforce by about 2,000 people this year, although executives have not told Machinists leaders of any plans, the IAM said. "This is especially appealing for those members who were planning to retire anyway," District 751 President Tom Wroblewski said on the union's Web site. "It is a win-win situation, and it allows those who want to leave another option, along with some additional benefits."

► In today's Yakima H-R -- Cantwell aims to energize green jobs creation -- Sen. Maria Cantwell says that she's aiming to include more generous energy tax credits in jobs legislation under discussion in Congress, saying that green energy is a multitrillion-dollar market waiting to explode.

► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Utility to delay wind farm project -- Avista will delay construction of a 50-turbine wind farm near Reardan until at least 2014, citing the high costs associated with harnessing energy from the wind.

► In today's (Everett) Herald -- Reardon's office scrutinizes council member after criticism -- County Executive Aaron Reardon's right-hand man directed county staff to dig into a Councilman Brian Sullivan's past after he was quoted in a newspaper questioning leadership at a county agency.

► In the (Aberdeen) Daily World -- Deadline passes again for Bassett -- The clock has run out for Richard Bassett to get his financing together and acquire the Cosmopolis Pulp Mill from Weyerhaeuser, but the company says it is still hoping Bassett will find investors.

Stimulus redux:

► At AFL-CIO Now -- One year later, Recovery Act is working -- The AFL-CIO is pushing for much greater investment to create the millions more jobs we need to get us out of our current hole, but the fact is that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is still working, generating more than 2 million jobs and laying the foundation for future economic growth.

► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Stimulus to spur work on corridor -- Spokane’s long-sought North Side freeway got a boost with the announcement of a $35 million federal economic stimulus grant to pay for a 3.7-mile extension of the southbound lanes between Francis Avenue and Farwell Road. U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-5th) endorsed the project even though she was among Republicans in the House who voted against the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that authorized the spending.

► In today's NY Times -- One year later. Obama and Republicans clash over stimulus bill -- The president defends his year-old economic stimulus package, as Republicans and Democrats take to the Internet and the airwaves to wage a furious partisan battle over whether the bill was a monumental waste of taxpayer money or had rescued the economy from catastrophe.

► In today's Bellingham Herald -- Rep. Larsen tours Ferndale project, touts jobs -- The project to extend Second Avenue and build a roundabout at the Interstate 5 southbound ramps at Portal Way has created a total of 84 jobs, city officials reported. Larsen has traveled to 28 such stimulus-funded projects in his district to highlight how they have created jobs.

► In today's Washington Post -- Criticizing economic stimulus can be lucrative -- Those who say the federal stimulus program didn't create jobs have ignored a crucial sector of the economy: critics of the package, who right now are enjoying record production levels and full employment.

Health care news:

► In today's Huffington Post -- Medicare buy-in, public option could see Senate floor fights -- Real health care reform is threatening to emerge from the ashes of the Massachusetts special election that exploded the effort in January. A growing movement in the Senate to urge Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to reinsert the public option into a health care reform package that would move through the chamber under majority-only rules depends on just how many votes backers can muster.

► At Huffington Post -- More Senators back public option fight -- At least 11 U.S. senators have signed on to a new effort by Democrats to press Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass a public option for insurance coverage using reconciliation. (Sens. Murray and Cantwell have yet to sign on to the effort.)

► From AP -- HHS warns of double-digit spike in health premiums -- Eye-popping increases of 39% are not an exception but a worrisome sign of the times, says a new report.

► In today's Wash. Post -- Study: Tax on high-cost health plans would have nonunion impact -- To mitigate the impact of the proposed tax, the White House and union leaders negotiated revisions. Republicans attacked the deal as a carve-out for labor, but a new analysis shows the the revisions would also benefit many nonunion workers, upon whom the tax would fall equally.

National news:

► In today's Wash. Post -- State retirement benefit promises exceeded pension funds, study finds -- Even before financial markets crashed in 2008, state governments nationwide had promised to deliver $1 trillion more in retirement benefits than they had in their pension funds, according to a new study. The problem got worse as funds dwindled in value during the downturn, yet amid their current budget crises many states are still not setting aside enough money to cover the cost of the retirement promises. Eventually, the study says, states will have to choose between continuing to pay out and sink deeper into the red or significantly cut back the packages offered to retirees.

► In today's Wash. Post -- Poll: Both parties oppose unlimited corporate spending on elections -- Eight in 10 respondents said they opposed a Supreme Court ruling that allows unfettered political spending by corporations, with 65% "strongly" opposed. Nearly as many backed congressional action to curb the ruling, with 72% in favor of reinstating limits.

► In the NY Times -- U.S. cracks down on "contractors" as a tax dodge -- Federal and state officials, many facing record budget deficits, are starting to aggressively pursue companies that try to pass off regular employees as independent contractors. One federal study concluded that employers illegally passed off 3.4 million regular workers as contractors, while the Labor Department estimates that up to 30% of companies misclassify employees.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2010
Attend Town Hall meetings Saturday

Supporters of job creation, public services and the employees who provide them overwhelmed Tim Eyman at last Saturday's revenue hearing in Olympia. They swamped the teabaggers at Monday's rally.

Now it's time to take that momentum into this weekend's legislative town hall meetings around the state. If you live in one of the following districts, make plans to attend. Ask your elected officials whether they support:

Creating jobs by investing in retrofitting buildings and stormwater pollution cleanup;
Raising revenue by closing tax loopholes rather than closing caring institutions, slashing public safety and cutting jobs;
Sustaining our state liquor system, which is generating revenue and protecting the public, as opposed to privatizing it, which does NOTHING to help resolve the current budget crisis and won't save money over the long term unless we sell dramatically more liquor in this state; and
See our Legislative Update newsletters for more issues to ask about.

Here is a list of Town Hall meetings. If you know of additional town hall meetings planned by state legislators this weekend, please let us know.

DISTRICT

LOCATION

DATE/TIME

2nd
Rep. Tom Campbell
Rep. Jim McCune

Graham Fire HQ Station, 23014 70th Ave East

Saturday, 2/20
3 – 5 p.m.

6th
Sen. Chris Marr
Rep. John Driscoll

Northwood Middle School
13120 N. Pittsburg, Spokane
Hamblen Elementary
2121 East Thurston Ave , Spokane

Saturday, 2/20
10 a.m. – noon

2 – 4 p.m.

11th
Rep. Bob Hasegawa

Georgetown SCC Campus
6737 Corson Ave S, Seattle

Saturday, 2/20
11 a.m. – noon

18th
Sen. Joseph Zarelli
Rep. Jaime Herrera
Rep. Ed Orcutt

Church of Nazarene
2000 Lewis River Rd, Woodland

Battle Ground City Hall
109 Southwest 1st Street

Saturday, 2/20
10 – 11 a.m.

12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

21st
Sen. Paull Shin

Edmonds Woodway High School
7600 212th St. SW., Edmonds

Mukilteo City Hall

11930 Cyrus Way

Saturday, 2/20
10 – 11:30 a.m.

1:30 – 3 p.m.

23rd
Sen. Phil Rockefeller
Rep. Christine Rolfes
Rep. Sherry Appleton

Bainbridge Island High School
9330 NE High School Road

Eagles Nest, 1195 NW Fairgrounds Rd , Bremerton

Saturday, 2/20
9:30 – 11 a.m.

1 – 2:30 p.m.

25th
Rep. Dawn Morrell

Puyallup City Hall Council Chambers, 333 S. Meridian

Saturday, 2/20
10 a.m. – noon

26th
Rep. Larry Seaquist

Olympic College Student Center 1600 Chester Ave, Bremerton

Givens Community Center
Kitsap Room, 1026 Sidney Ave, Port Orchard

Peninsula High School, 14105 Purdy Drive NW, Gig Harbor

Saturday, 2/20
Noon – 1:30 p.m.

2 – 3:30 p.m.

4 – 5:30 p.m.

32nd
Sen. Darlene Fairley
Rep. Maralyn Chase
Rep. Ruth Kagi

3^rd Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE
Lake Forest Park

Shoreline Historical Museum
749 North 175th St., Shoreline

Saturday, 2/20
10 a.m. – noon

1 – 3 p.m.

34th
Sen. Joe McDermott
Rep. Eileen Cody
Rep. Sharon Nelson

Highpoint Community Center
6920 34th Ave SW , Seattle

Saturday, 2/20
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

37th
Rep. Eric Pettigrew

Zion Prep Academy
4730 32nd Ave S ., Seattle

Saturday, 2/20
10 a.m. – noon

41st
Sen. Randy Gordon
Rep. Judy Clibborn
Rep. Marcie Maxwell

Hazelwood Elementary
7100 116th Ave SE , Newcastle

Eastgate Elementary
4255 153rd Ave SE , Bellevue

Saturday, 2/20
9:30 – 11 a.m.

1:30 – 3 p.m.

43rd
Sen. Ed Murray
Rep. Frank Chopp
Rep. Jamie Pedersen

Seattle First Baptist Church
1111 Harvard Ave , Seattle

Saturday, 2/20
1:30 – 3 p.m.

45th
Sen. Eric Oemig
Rep. Larry Springer
Rep. Roger Goodman

Kirkland City Hall
123 5th Ave

Saturday, 2/20
10:30 a.m. – Noon

46th
Sen. Ken Jacobsen
Rep. Scott White
Rep. Phyllis Kenney

Meadowbrook Community Center 10517 35th Ave NE , Seattle

Saturday, 2/20
10 a.m. – noon

48th
Rep. Ross Hunter

Crossroad Community Center 16000 Northeast 10th St , Bellevue

Saturday, 2/20
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

REVENUE COALITION TOWNHALLS

DISTRICT

LOCATION

DATE/TIME

38th and 44th
Rep. John McCoy
others?

Weyerhaeuser room
Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., Everett

Wednesday, 2/24
6:30 – 8 p.m.

42nd and 40th
TBA

Bellingham Senior Activity Center, 315 Halleck St.

Thursday, 2/25
6:30 – 8 p.m.

49th and 17th
(via video link)
Sen. Craig Pridemore
Rep. Jim Moeller
Rep. Tim Probst

Vancouver Marshall Community Center, 1009 East McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver

Tuesday, 2/23
6:30 – 8 p.m.