Debt Reform Bills

It is a challenging time in America with vast economic disparities between the wealthiest and the poorest, and a serious lack of resources for many families. Forty percent of Americans cannot afford an unexpected expense of $400 or more and another 11 percent live at or below the federal poverty level.

On top of these problems, Washington also has some of the harshest debt collection practices in the country. House Democrats are addressing post-judgment interest rates, wage garnishment limits, medical debt, statute of limitations on debt collection, and pocket service. Democrats propose lowering the maximum allowed post-judgment interest rate from 12 to 9 percent and exempting more of a person’s earnings from wage garnishment so they won’t be forced into poverty or even homelessness over a debt. The proposals also include a response to medical debt, the top cause of bankruptcy in the United States, by ensuring debt collectors cannot report medical debt to credit agencies for 120 days. This would give people the necessary time to make arrangements without damaging their credit. Other parts of the Democratic proposals end unfair practices around extending the statute of limitations on debt collection and using a process called “pocket service” to trick people into default judgments against them. House Bills 1602, 1531, 1730, and 1066 address those issues. All four bills have passed both, House and Senate, with strong bipartisan support and are now waiting for the governor’s signature.

April 2nd was Equal Pay Day

On average, women earn 80 cents for every dollar paid to men. Equal Pay Day represents the additional three months women have to work into the new year to earn the same as men earned in the previous year.

Those extra months are just the average. For black women, who earn 61 cents to a white man’s dollar, Equal Pay Day is on August 22. It’s September 23 for Native American women, who make 58 cents for every male dollar, and November 20 for Latinas, who at 53 cents, make barely half of what white men earn.

Women are losing out on about $500 billion in income each year because of the gender pay gap. You’d think by now everyone would be seriously working to fight this injustice. Yet progress toward narrowing the gap has stalled.

So how do we fix this?

We continue raising awareness and we pass legislation. 

In 2017, Washington became the fifth state in the nation to set up a paid family and medical leave program that lowers the wage gap by providing structural support to balance work and family.

Then last year we updated our state’s Equal Pay Law for the first time in 75 years by passing the Equal Pay Opportunity Act. This new law reaffirms Washington’s pursuit of equality in the workplace by, among other things, prohibiting pay secrecy policies, allowing discussion of wages, and preventing gender discrimination in work opportunities.

And this session, with House Bill 1696, we are promoting equity and economic equality by prohibiting using salary history in the hiring process. This unfair practice perpetuates inequality between genders and races, and can keep wages low over a lifetime. This measure is a fresh slate for workers, making sure past discrimination doesn’t carry into new jobs. And it is a proactive way to help empower women to negotiate a fair salary, thereby narrowing the pay gap in Washington.

The bill passed the House on March 9, and I’m happy to report that it has also passed the Senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk.

Count everyone in for Census 2020!

With less than a year until Census Day, communities all over Washington are mobilizing for the 2020 Census. For the first time ever, you can submit your information online, by mail or phone.

It’s crucial EVERYONE in Washington is counted. Data collected during the census shapes the future of our communities, which is why House Democrats have proposed a budget that includes $12 million to count everyone.

The information gathered by the census guides how all levels of government fund vital services, including schools and health care facilities, over the next ten years. The census also determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Visit www.census.gov  for more information.

TVW Online

This legislative session will adjourn on April 28, that’s just in a couple of weeks, and this is when things move really quickly between chambers.

Remember you can keep up with everything we’re doing in Olympia through TVW, not only on your TV, but also online. Click on the image or scan the code for more information on how to access this great resource.

Thank you for reading my newsletter.  If you need more information on any of the issues discussed here, or on any other legislative matter, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,