Washington State’s House of Representatives has enthusiastically given its backing to a landmark paid family and medical leave bill that will bolster the economic security and well-being of Washington families. The House took action within an hour of having received the bill from the state Senate, which is extremely fast.
Monthly Archives: June 2017
Posted inEconomic Security, Policy Topics
Washington State Senate passes landmark paid family and medical leave bill
By a vote of thirty-seven to twelve (a three-to-one margin), the Washington State Senate has passed a landmark paid family and medical leave bill that will strengthen the economic security and well-being of families across the Evergreen State.
Posted inBreaking News
Washingtonians strongly support Medicare For All and oppose Trumpcuts, NPI poll finds
A new poll commissioned by NPI has found that voters in Washington State are overwhelmingly opposed to the U.S. House’s version of Trumpcuts while resoundingly supportive of the idea of expanding Medicare to cover everyone
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
State budget analysis roundup: NPI partners offer critiques based on what we know so far
Today is the final day of Washington State’s current fiscal year. State lawmakers must either pass an operating budget by the end of the day or find a way to buy themselves more time to continue hammering out a budget (which most are loathe to do), or else state government will have to shut down. With […]
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
End of Washington’s fiscal year looms as lawmakers disclose details of budget deal
While those watching out for the release of the Washington State Legislature’s final state budget were sorely disappointed this afternoon, details were bubbling out about the Legislature’s plans to address McCleary. Legislative staff, however, are still scrambling to actually produce a budget that negotiators have agreed to in order avoid a state government shutdown. Then […]
Posted inElections
Christy Clark resigns; NDP’s John Horgan to form new government in British Columbia
British Columbia will soon have a new Premier heading up a more progressive government following today’s decision by the province’s Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon to ask New Democratic Party Leader John Horgan to form a government.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Budgets need scrutiny: State Legislature’s lack of fiscal transparency is unacceptable
Yesterday, without fanfare, Governor Jay Inslee’s office announced that the majority caucuses of the House of Representatives and the Senate had reached agreement (“in principle”, at least) on a go-home budget deal that would avert a state government shutdown following the end of the day on Friday, June 30th, the last day of the current […]
Posted inOur Environment, Policy Topics
Five ways Seattle Pride can become more environmentally responsible in 2018
Pride currently generates a lot of trash and air pollution, and we’d like to see organizers pursue strategies that would reduce emissions and the volume of material being sent to landfills.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy, Party Politics
Tim Eyman, Republican lobbyist
Eyman has always had a relationship with the Republican Party, but it’s never been this tight before.
Posted inBreaking News, Elections
Neck and neck in Georgia: Jon Ossoff, Karen Handel trading the lead in early counting
A short time ago, voting in the special election to select a successor to departed U.S. Representative Tom Price in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District ended, and the three counties in the district began releasing early results.
Posted inHealthcare, Policy Topics
Seattle Times article on state’s rising health insurance rates relies heavily on the perspective of a national right wing think tank
The Seattle Times’ newsroom is capable of putting out higher quality reporting than this. Here’s hoping their next article on this subject is more reasonable.
Posted inPolicy Topics, World Commmunity
Ecommerce giant Amazon to buy Whole Foods grocery chain in blockbuster deal
If this deal goes through, Amazon will — almost overnight — become a major player in the brick and mortar retail industry. It already dominates ecommerce.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy, Party Politics
Congratulations to Representative Javier Valdez, Washington State’s newest legislator!
As a result of Javier’s appointment, the House Democratic caucus is now back at full strength and has enough members (fifty) to pass legislation again.
Posted inParty Politics
LIVE from Seattle: Who will succeed Jessyn Farrell? Democratic PCOs selecting nominees
Good morning from Lake City. I’m here at the Seattle Mennonite Church, where the Democratic precinct committee officers of the 46th Legislative District are gathered to draw up a list of candidates to succeed Jessyn Farrell, who recently resigned from the state House to run for Mayor of Seattle. Because Jessyn has quit the legislature […]