WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Moscoso’s e-memo – Feb 14, 2011

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February 14, 2011

We are starting the sixth week of the session, and heading right into the year’s first major milestone – policy committee cut-off.  After February 17th, no further House Bills can be voted out of House policy committees this session. 

Needless to say, things can get a little hectic before each of these deadlines!

As the committee activity slows for a couple weeks, things really pick up on the House floor, as we pass bills over to the Senate. Look for lots of TVW coverage of our floor debates as we move forward.

Speaking of TV, you can always view my legislative updates on my homepage:

https://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/roster/rep-luis-moscoso/

This week’s Legislative Update will give you more background information on the Unemployment Insurance Bill that was signed last week by the Governor.

Historic unemployment reform for One Washington – helping businesses and families

On Wednesday, the House unanimously approved timely tax relief for businesses and much needed help for jobless workers, providing opportunity for businesses to grow and the unemployed to learn new job skills.

The measure passed will reduce unemployment tax for 90% of employers. This amounts to a savings of more than $300 million in 2011 alone.

The bill also brings relief for thousands of Washington families hit hard by this persistent recession:

For those struggling to find work, the bill makes training programs more accessible, allowing more workers to learn new skills and build better resumes for their job search in high-demand fields.
Washington’s unemployed workers will also qualify for the extended benefits passed by Congress last December.
Workers who are laid off during the rest of 2011 will receive a temporary $25 bump in their weekly benefits.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that for every $1 of benefits, $2 of purchasing power is created in the economy. Unemployment benefits are among the best kinds of economic stimulus because recipients immediately spend it, circulating money into local economies. That’s why its economic impact is magnified.

Washington has the healthiest U.I. system in the nation. After a two-year recession and persistent 9%-plus unemployment, it is still so well-funded that we are able to approve this major relief for our businesses. In contrast, 30 other states have U.I. systems that are insolvent and have had to borrow billions from the federal government.

I’m very proud to have sponsored the first House Bill out of the 1st Legislative District: 

There’s a tradition of hazing the freshmen with our first votes, but once the final tally was taken and recorded as unanimous, my good friend and college Rep. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) took the floor on a “point of personal privilege” to emphasize that he wanted “to congratulate our friend, the new representative from the 1st District, on passing his first bill – so it’s the first from the 1st this session!”

You can watch the floor action here (go to minute 29): https://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2011020116&TYPE=V&CFID=1623420&CFTOKEN=32375669&bhcp=1

HB 1229 Concerning the certification of commercial driver’s license holders and applicants.  This measure is necessary to maintain important federal highway funds for our state.  Next year all 50 states will have to comply with revised federal requirements, including new rules for driver’s certifications, medical examiner’s certificates, and other recordkeeping.

My bill writes changes in existing law to make sure our commercial drivers are in compliance with these new rules so that we don’t lose these funds.  I am honored to have been asked by the Department of Licensing to Prime Sponsor this bill.

Other bills in the pipeline are:

HB 1234 Addressing law enforcement crime prevention efforts regarding security alarm systems and crime watch programs for residential and commercial locations.  I take seriously my role on the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee.  This bill exempts from public disclosure information collected by law enforcement agencies regarding local security alarm systems and vacation crime watch programs. This bill passed out of committee on February 9th  and in currently in the Rules Committee.

HB 1384 Concerning public improvement contracts involving certain federally funded transportation projects.  The Department of Transportation requested this legislation to help keep in compliance with Federal regulations.  Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) regulations require prime contractors to pay subcontractors in full by no later than 30 days after the contractor’s work is satisfactorily completed.

This bill will help local contractors on transportation projects to be paid in a timely manner.  It is schedule for Executive Session of the Transportation Committee on Tuesday, February 15th.

HB 1710 Creating a strategic plan for career and technical education.  In Washington State we are blessed to have a strong technical and manufacturing economy.  This is one segment of the economy that requires an highly educated workforce.  This bill had huge support from students when it was heard on Friday and we are looking for this important piece of legislative to be passed out of the Education committee this week prior to cut off. 

Some of the organizations that benefit are: National FFA Organization; Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America; SkillsUSA; Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA); Future Business Leaders of America; and Technology Student Association

HB 1885 Providing streamlining improvements in the administration of programs affecting the natural environment.  This is one of many bills offered this session to make government more effective and will be heard in the Environment Committee on Tuesday. 

We have also spent a lot of time working to improve HB 1126 Concerning criminal gangs. Please feel free to contact our office with your feedback on this bill.

Advanced Placement scores and participation rate increases

A recent report shows we’ve taken a step forward in preparing Washington students with the skills needed to participate successfully in the global marketplace.

According to the College Board’s sixth annual “AP Report to the Nation,” nearly 30 percent of Washington students in the class of 2010 took at least one AP exam. The number of students scoring a three or greater increased by 4.2 percent over the past five years. Overall, Washington ranked 17th in the nation with the greatest number of 12th graders scoring three or greater on AP exams, which is a score that generally qualifies for college credit.

Not only does earning college credit in high school save Washington students and their families thousands of dollars in tuition costs, but it also better prepares students for college-level work.

Highly Capable / Gifted Students visit Olympia

Many thanks to the 100+ Gifted Students from the Edmonds and Northshore School Districts who came on Friday to ask for continued funding of this important program.  Funding has been protected in both the 1st Supplemental and 2nd Supplemental Budgets. 

My seatmate Rep. Derek Stanford and I met with them in the Democratic Caucus room in the Legislative building.  We hope to continue to protect funding for this educational program in the 2011-2012 Budget later this session.

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Sincerely,

Luis S. Moscoso

Representative for the 1st Legislative District

In This Issue
MY YOUTUBE VIDEO

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL

THE 1st HOUSE BILL

for the 1st LD!

MY PRIME SPONSORED BILLS make Progress

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

HIGHLY CAPABLE STUDENTS

visit Olympia!
Contact
LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT

Michele Meaker Pin

MAIL
MOD B 202
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
PHONE
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EMAIL
luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov
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