The legislature session is grinding forward only because the calendar and state constitution says it has to! So far, 2,311 Bills have been introduced but few have had hearings. Bills we’ve focused on include:

Pension Governance - HB 2185

Our ongoing efforts to reform the current pension system were boosted by the introduction of HB 2185. Representative Mike Cooper (D – Mukilteo) prime sponsored the Bill along with Jerome Delvin (R - Tri-Cities). This Bill would create a 15-member board consisting of the following:

• 4 Representatives of Active Members
• 2 Representatives of Retired Members
• 1 Director of Retirement System
• 1 Director of Financial Management
• 1 Executive Director of State Investment Board
• 4 Legislators (2 from each party)
• 2 Representatives of Local Government

This board would be responsible for designing and monitoring the pension system and would set the contribution rates. More importantly, the board would hire its own Actuary. Members should call the House Appropriations Committee and ask them to support HB-2185. The Committee members are:

• Barry Sehlin
• Kelly Barlean
• Barbara Lisk
• Brad Benson
• Mark Boldt
• Jim Buck
• Jim Clements
• Don Cox
• Kathy Lambert
• Dave Mastin
• Joyce Mulliken
• Kirk Pearson
• Gigi Talcott
• Helen Sommers
• Mark Doumit
• Eileen Cody
• Hans Dunshee
• Bill Fromhold
• Jeff Gombosky
• Bill Grant
• Ruth Kagi
• Karen Kieser
• Phyllis Kenney
• Lynn Kessler
• Kelli Linville
• Jim McIntire
• Cheryl Pflug
• Dave Schmidt
• Laura Ruderman
• Shay Schual-Berke
• Kip Tokuda
• Gary Alexander
  

Retiree Medical Insurance HB 1799/SB 5777

This Bill would allow all local government employees access to retiree medical insurance. Currently, not all local governments participate in plans that give retirees an option. The Bill has had a hearing in the Senate and is also scheduled for the House. We sought an amendment that would allow employees to pay the premiums and we’ll do the same in the House.

Correction Officers Retirement HB 1714

(Sponsored by Jeff Gombosky D – Spokane and Steve Kirby D – Tacoma)
This Bill would allow Correction Officers the ability to become members of the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters pension plan (LEOFF – 2). Correction Officers work under some of the very same conditions that current LEOFF members do and they deserve the same retirement plan. Correction Officers are an excellent example of the harm the current PERS II age 65 retirement does. Working until age 65 simply is not realistic in some occupations. The Bill is currently before the House Appropriations Committee.

Bid Limits - SB 5873 (City HB 5733 (Rural Counties)

The current dollar limits for contracting out have not been changed since 1987 and become more ridiculous every year. On 2/21 SB 5873 was heard in the State and Local Government Committee. This Bill would raise the current limits by inflation and then reset them again in 2010. The lobbyists for the contractors were there in full force and stated that they believe they have a right to 100% of all government work regardless of how much it costs. This Bill should get out of Committee as the Chair is the sponsor of the Bill (Julia Patterson D - Sea-Tac).

HB 5733 raises the bid limits in rural counties and is prime sponsored by Mary Margaret Haugen (D- Camano Island).

SERS Option for New Employees HB 1082/SB 5204

These Bills would give new school employees the same option of joining Plan III that PERS employees have. School members should call their legislators and demand equal treatment.

Paid Family Medical Leave SB 5420/HB 1520

These Bills would allow up to 12 weeks of paid family medical leave. It is the result of a coalition’s interim work and would be backrolled through a $.01 per hour employer and employee payroll tax.

I-747 – Time Eyman is at it again!

After watching his last two attempts to slash taxes and needed government services be defeated, Mr. Eyman has filed an even harsher initiative. I-747 would cut the current 6% property tax cap to 1%. Currently local governments can increase property taxes by no more than 6% and only if there is a super majority (two thirds) vote of the county or city council. The Department of Revenue estimates that local government will lose over 1 billion dollars in the next 7 years under this initiative.

What this means

Local governments could not keep up with inflation and growth related cost and neither will our paychecks.

We are currently working with other groups to create opposition to this drastic measure. We need your help in asking people not to sign I-747. Growth and inflation cannot be ignored if we want a healthy economy in Washington State. Tell your legislators not to over react to Eyman’s latest tax tantrum. We can defeat this. Eyman is 0 for 3 on enacting initiatives. Let’s keep his record perfect!