WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Lytton’s Legislative Update: Week 10

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We’re now in Week 10 and a lot has happened over the past few weeks. The House of Origin cutoff deadline officially passed on Wednesday, March 11 at 5pm. With some exceptions – namely, bills that are necessary to implement the budget – the House will now turn its attention to legislation our Senate colleagues have passed to us. Senate bills are being referred to House committees, and the next few weeks will be busy with more public hearings. Over in the Senate, they’ll be doing the same thing- holding hearings on bills we have passed to them. I encourage you to monitor the progress of bills that interest you.

Leading up to the cutoff deadline, my colleagues and I worked long hours passing bills on the House floor. I am pleased to say that we were able to pass the following notable bills:

The Equal Pay Opportunity Act/HB 1646 – More than 70 years after our state banned paying women less for similar work, women’s pay still falls behind men’s. The typical Washington woman who worked full-time in 2013 took home only 80 cents for every $1 made by a man. Women deserve to be paid fairly and this bill is an important step towards ensuring equal pay. It improves upon existing laws and bans employers from punishing their employees for discussing what they are paid. The intention of this bill is to add some transparency to the process and let employees know when they’re being paid unfairly based solely on their gender.

Raising the Minimum Wage/HB 1355 – No one who works full-time should live in poverty. With income inequality at a historic high, the middle-class is out of reach for many Washington workers. It’s time to reward an honest day’s work with a fair wage to create an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few. This bill will increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2016, $10.50 in 2017, $11 in 2018 and $12 in 2019. Then in 2020, and every year thereafter, the minimum wage will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index.

Oil Trains/HB 1449 –There is more oil carried through our state via oil trains than ever before and a significant number of oil train accidents often causing spills, fires, and catastrophic explosions have occurred. HB 1449 funds safety and contingency planning and gives first responders the information they need to keep our communities safe in the event of an accident.

I am also very proud to report that my Professional Learning Bill, HB 1345, passed out of the House. A lot is being asked of educators at this time, but the structures and support systems available to them vary. This bill creates a definition that clarifies that professional development is for closing achievement gaps. It also communicates a strong vision, and sets its sights on more targeted investments. Ultimately, it will help to improve teacher practice and increase student achievement.

Surplus or deficit: Which is it?

Although the state operating budget is nearly 500 pages long, it’s not a very complex document. We make future spending decisions based on the amount of revenue we expect to collect over the next few years. If projected revenues are more than planned expenses, we have a budget surplus. If revenues are less than expenses, we have a budget deficit. We always have one or the other. It’s impossible to have both, and disagreement exists as to which one exists. However, data has consistently shown that the state does not have “a sizeable surplus.”

My colleagues and I in the House are working hard on a fiscally responsible solution to solving our budget problems. Our plan, which will likely have a mix of cuts and revenue, will roll out in a few weeks.

As we continue through this session, I encourage you to continue to share your thoughts and concerns. Feel free to email me (Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov), call my office (360.786.7800). I truly appreciate the input that I receive.

All the best,