WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Moscoso’s e-memo – Jan 28, 2011

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January 28, 2011

Dear Neighbor,

Drinking water from the fire hydrant is often the analogy that is given to new freshmen legislators.  After just a couple of weeks we’ve started to settle in and we are doing the people’s work.

I was honored to sponsor this year’s Martin Luther King Resolution, and delivered my first speech on the House Floor; it was an exciting and moving experience.

We just taped my first Legislative Update watch it here

Another very exciting thing that happened recently was my appointment as Assistant House of Representatives Majority Whip. My duties will entail keeping track of my peers to ensure that members are in attendance for votes taken on the House Floor. I am deeply grateful that I’ve been given this responsibility. I look forward to working with my colleagues and encouraging an honest debate, ensuring that good policy is enacted as we work on core issues like fixing our economy, creating jobs and protecting our most vulnerable citizens.

Before I get into other topics, I want to tell you about a bill I am working on (HB 1520), that would modify State Route 527, which is the freeway between Canyon Park and Bothell. The Department of Transportation and the City of Bothell are looking at making improvements to SR 527 by turning it into a suburban boulevard with pedestrian walkways and bikeways. My bill would allow the Department of Transportation and the state to turn over the responsibility of SR 527 to the City of Bothell, which would then take control of it.

As you may imagine, things are happening very quickly in Olympia; there’s always something going on and time is scarce.  Serving in four committees (Environment, General Government Appropriations & Oversight, Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, and Transportation) makes the need for time even more pressing. But I am getting literally mounds of information, which will enable me to make informed decisions when it’s time to vote on issues that matter to folks in my district as well as in the rest of the state.

The House General Government Appropriations & Oversight committee looks at the budgets of 85 agencies, and I’ve been assigned to oversee seven of them. My job essentially consists of checking out their budgets, verifying that they have the resources they need to operate, and that there is transparency in what they do and how they use those resources. The agencies under my watch are:

· Public Employment Relations Commission

· Economic & Revenue Forecast Council

· State Lottery Commission

· Horse Racing Commission

· Salaries for Elected Officials

· State Board of Accountancy

· Washington State Gambling Commission

On the topic of committees, I want to make sure you know that all committee work sessions and hearings are public. People travel to the Capitol each day of the session to testify on legislation, or to demonstrate, or just to sightsee.  It’s wonderful to watch so many people actively engaged in their government! If you are planning a trip here, please let my office know.  We’d love to see you!

Now I’d like to give you an update on an issue that has gotten lots of media attention lately and I think you should get the facts from an insider. 

Unemployment Insurance Reform: Good for businesses, good for workers

There are few places where we’ll have the ability to bolster our state’s social safety net in this biennial budget. One of the only bright spots is the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system and trust fund, which supports the thousands of unemployed workers – and the local businesses that rely on their patronage – in Washington.

As part of her plan to revitalize the economy and create jobs, Governor Gregoire has called for massive tax relief for businesses contributing to the UI trust fund.  It’s estimated the proposal would save employers in Washington around $300 million. We fully support this plan to provide some relief, especially to our small businesses.

But let’s not forget about the families also hit hard by this recession. The UI program’s paramount duty is to assist workers displaced by a poor economy. It’s there to help them and their families get by until they can get back to work.       

It’s also a shot in the arm to our economy like no other. Let’s face it, what businesses need now more than anything is business. They need consumers shopping in their stores and buying their wares. It is well-established economic fact that the quickest and most effective way to funnel money back to businesses is to put it in the pockets of those who need it most – the families who’ve lost their employment. These families struggling to buy food or clothes or school supplies take that money and head to the nearest grocery and clothing stores to buy the necessities. They, in turn, help keep that store afloat.  

Currently, the proposals before us are still in flux as we weigh the merits and find some balance between tax cuts for businesses and benefits for the unemployed. No matter what the outcome of this legislation, I want to make sure employers receive the tax relief they want and the consumers they need to spur new economic growth right here in our community.

More importantly, I want the struggling families in our neighborhoods to have some peace of mind knowing they can remain in their homes and afford the necessities until the economy recovers and they can get back to work. That is the essence of the unemployment-insurance safety net, and that is our charge.   

And a bit of good news: Health insurance – with no waiting period

The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan-Washington State (PCIP-WA) is the temporary federal high risk pool created as part of the new federal health reform law, the Affordable Care Act.

PCIP-WA provides a new health insurance option to eligible individuals with pre-existing conditions who have been uninsured for at least six months – with no waiting period.

In order to receive insurance through the temporary high risk pool program, an individual must meet the following criteria established by law. Eligible individuals must:

• Be a citizen – an enrollee must be a resident of Washington, a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully present in the United States;

• Be uninsured – an enrollee must have not been covered under creditable coverage for the previous 6 months before applying for coverage; and

• Have a pre-existing condition – an individual must have a qualifying pre-existing condition or a denial letter from an insurance carrier or a letter of acceptance with a reduction or exclusion of coverage for the pre-existing condition.  

For more information, click here:

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In This Issue

Martin Luther King Jr.

Deputy Majority Whip

HB 1520

Committee

Assignments

GGOA Commission

Unemployment Insurance

PCIP-WA

Contact

LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT

Michele Meaker Pin

MAIL
MOD B 202
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
PHONE
(360) 786-7900
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
1 (800) 635-9993 TTY-TDD (hearing impaired)
EMAIL
luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov
WEBSITE
My home page