Delay of Washington’s long-term-care program signed into law
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday signed into law an 18-month delay of the state’s new long-term-care program, which creates a defined benefit to help offset the costs of such care. His signature comes a day after lawmakers gave final approval to the move amid concerns about the program’s solvency and criticism about elements of the underlying law, including the fact people close to retirement would pay in but not receive the benefit. “We do have to get this right because this is so important to so many people,” Inslee said at a news conference. Continue reading at The Associated Press. (Ted S. Warren)
With fares depressed, Sound Transit grapples with ‘financially unsustainable’ trajectory
Revenue from fares on Sound Transit buses and trains has cratered in recent years as operating costs climb, creating a “financially unsustainable” trajectory for the regional transit agency, CEO Peter Rogoff told board members Thursday. Depressed ridership because of COVID-19 underpins much of the drop in revenue. But Rogoff also blamed an increase in passengers who ride without paying, which comes as Sound Transit’s enforcement presence is significantly scaled back. “When you’ve got a situation with a 98% chance of being out on the system and not being contacted by anybody to have any conversation, that just lends itself to further noncompliance,” he said. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)
Washington State Patrol, criticized for lack of diversity, removes psychologist from hiring decision
The Washington State Patrol permanently stripped its staff psychologist of his power to approve or reject trooper candidates, a role that for nearly 30 years shaped the agency’s ranks. Under criticism for a lack of progress to diversify the force, WSP Chief John Batiste recently made the long-term shift to an outside contractor for psychological evaluations of candidates. Lawmakers, frustrated at the lack of progress, are considering legislation, released last week, that would step up oversight of the WSP’s diversity efforts. Today, 86% of troopers are white, a number that has barely budged in two decades even as the state has become more diverse. Continue reading at KUOW. (Washington State Patrol)
Associated Press
Delay of Washington’s long-term-care program signed into law
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