WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Sells’ e-memo – Feb 18, 2011

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February 18, 2011
Message from Rep. Sells

Thursday, February 17, was the last day a bill that originated in the House of Representatives could be passed out of a House policy committee for further consideration.  Hundreds of bills did not make that deadline, but that doesn’t mean they are completely “dead” – they will remain in their respective committees until next session when they have the chance to be heard again.  Bills that remain in committee at the end of the second year of the biennium (the even-numbered year) are officially dead, however.

Budget update

The vast majority of calls, e-mails and letters I receive are related to the state budget.  Everything in the budget has support from somebody in the community and no one wants to see their service reduced or eliminated. Education, public safety, care for our elderly and sick, children’s services, job training and college financial aid – all of these are services constituents have contacted me about saving.

Unfortunately, the deep recession that has plagued our entire nation still has Washington tight in its grip. And, unlike the federal government, the state must produce a balanced budget every year.  Just since the end of the last legislative session, state revenues have dropped almost $2 billion, wiping out our reserves and forcing even deeper cuts in services and programs. 

Although we are not required to have the budget in balance until June 30, the earlier we take some action, the more savings we’ll see.  To that end, the House and Senate both approved a supplemental budget bill on Friday that closes the majority of the current shortfall. 

In addition to the cuts made to the current budget last spring and again last December, this budget:

· Cuts $22.9 million from K-12 education programs and $25 million from higher ed.

· Reduces the salaries of all state employees not represented by a union.

· Limits enrollment in the state Basic Health Plan to those eligible for federal matching funds.

· Continues the Apple Health for Kids plan for all children with family incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level, and allows families with incomes between 200-300% of the FPL who are not eligible for federal matching funds to purchase the coverage, but at an increased cost.

· Maintains the Disability Lifeline for those unable to work because of a disability with a reduced grant

There are lots more details available here.  This is not the end of the fiscal work for this session, however.  Budget writers are already at work on the 2011-13 biennial budget.  I’ll keep you updated on that as we move forward.

The “Brian Walsh Act” advances out of committee

When is a duty-related death not a duty-related death?  For the family of Officer Brian Walsh, the answer turned out to be when you die of a heart attack while securing a crime scene.  Walsh, a Federal Way police officer, died last year in the midst of responding to a call.  Although the federal government found that Walsh – who was a 34-year-old healthy non-smoker – died a duty-related death, the state of Washington did not see it that way. 

In order to help Officer Walsh’s widow and three children, as well as spare other families from being denied survivor benefits in these situations, the “Brian Walsh Act” was introduced.  It clearly establishes a nexus between the onset of a heart attack or stroke, and the duty that an officer or firefighter was performing for his or her job at the time.  At the recent public hearing for the bill, Officer Walsh’s widow’s  testimony moved many committee members to tears.  The Brian Walsh Act passed the Labor and Workforce Development Committee and is now awaiting action in the House Ways and Means committee.

Unemployment Benefit Extension and Business Rate Relief

  Governor Gregoire signed into law on Friday last week House Bill 1091 that I prime sponsored. The bill provided over $300 million in rate relief to businesses and provided for the extended unemployment benefits that were set to run out for many. In addition, there will be a temporary bump in new unemployment benefits. The bill’s final draft passed out of the House on a 98-0 vote—something unheard of for bills dealing with the issue of unemployment benefits. Working with the Ranking Minority Member Rep. Condotta from Wenatchee and Rep. Larry Springer, D, Kirkland, we were able to put together a bipartisan bill that garnered unanimous support.

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In This Issue
Budget Update
Brian Walsh Act
Unemployment
Contact
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