County and City Employee
WASHINGTON STATE COUNCIL OF COUNTY AND CITY EMPLOYEES  -  AFSCME AFL-CIO  - COUNCIL 2
County and City Employees
WASHINGTON STATE COUNCIL OF COUNTY AND CITY EMPLOYEES - COUNCIL 2 - AFSCME AFL-CIO

Legislature News

Banner Year in Legislature
By Council 2 Deputy Director J. Pat Thompson,
May 2, 2019
As this session wrapped up this year, we are happy to report that several measures important to our members are on their way to becoming law. Nearly 100 members went to the Capital this year and our agenda included several priorities. Happily, most will become law upon Governor Inslee’s...Read More
Spring Legislative Report
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
April 3, 2019
A little spring snow storm didn’t stop nearly a hundred Council 2 members from making their way to the Capital March 8th. This year all the action was on the floor in both the House and the Senate so our member/lobbyist sent in notes and asked lawmakers to step out for a moment to discuss issues...Read More
The 2019 Legislative Session is Underway
By Council 2 Deputy Director J. Pat Thompson,
February 13, 2019
This year’s Legislative Session began on Monday, January 14th and a slew of Bills have been introduced that affect public employees. Among the Bills your Union is following include: HB 1575 / SB 5623: Strengthening the Rights of Public Employees. This omnibus bill addresses the rights of public...Read More
April Legislative Report
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
April 10, 2018
The Governor has taken action on most bills that were passed by the Legislature. Among the bills signed into law were: Engrossed Senate Bill 6229. New Employee Orientation: This measure requires all public employers to provide a minimum of 30 minutes for Union Representatives to greet newly...Read More
Lobby Day 2018
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
February 23, 2018
Nearly one hundred Council 2 members took their own time to lobby their Legislators on behalf of your Union. Armed with written material, they met with State Senators and Representatives to advocate for local government employees on the following issues: SB 6079 – Prime Sponsor...Read More
60 Day “Short” Legislative Session
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
January 29, 2018
The 2018 60 day “Short” Legislative Session began on January 8th with a 1 seat Senate Democratic Majority, the first in 5 years. Council 2’s endorsed candidate in the 45th District (Manka Dhingra) captured the seat by a whopping 10 point margin. This was by far the most expensive legislative...Read More
“House of Origin” Cutoff Halfway Point
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
March 15, 2017
The first major cutoff for most bills passed on March 8th. Senate Bills were supposed to be passed by the full Senate and House Bills were supposed to be passed by the full House. There are exceptions of course and any bills deemed “Necessary to Implement the Budget” (NTIB) are exempt from...Read More
Calls and E-Mails Needed
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
February 24, 2017
Two of our Union’s Priority Legislative issues need your help:1% Property Tax Cap & HB 1764 The bi partisan effort to scrap Tim Eyman’s arbitrary 1% cap on property tax had successful hearings but needs to be voted out of their fiscal Committees by this Friday. Please contact the following...Read More
Taking It To “The Hill”
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
February 3, 2017
Nearly 100 Council 2 members took to “The Hill” to advocate for critical funding to address the needs of Local Government in our communities. Topping the list of priority bills is HB 1764 which would scrap the current arbitrary 1% cap on property tax increases in favor of a rate that would be...Read More
Special Session Ends
By Pat Thompson,
April 6, 2016
In yet another Special Session called on account of the House and Senate failing to reach a budget agreement in the Regular Session, a deal was finally reached on Tuesday, March 29th. Governor Inslee vetoed a record 27 Bills in an attempt to spur lawmakers into reaching an...Read More
“House of Origin” Cutoff Leaves 2 Priority Bills Behind
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
February 19, 2016
(Despite Strong Bi Partisan Support) All House Bills needed to be voted out of the House and all Senate Bills need to be voted out of the Senate by 5 pm on Wednesday February 17th. The exception, and there’s always exceptions, are bills deemed to be “Necessary to Implement the...Read More
Regular Session Ends Early (With No Budget)
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
May 1, 2015
The regular session was scheduled to adjourn or “sine die” on Sunday, April 26th. But with no budget agreement in sight, lawmakers closed up shop on Friday with the Governor’s call to bring them back Wednesday, April 22 for a 30 day “Special Session”. House Bill 2156Big Bill, Simple...Read More
Budget Negotiations Begin
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
April 7, 2015
Both the House and the Senate planned on passing their respective budgets on the same day, something that’s never been done before. The Democratic controlled House finished their business and produced a two year spending plan on a party line 51 – 47 vote. The Republican lead Senate started the...Read More
First Major
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
March 23, 2015
The Legislature is designed around various cutoff dates. At a minimum all bills face at least seven hurdles before they become law. Each hurdle has a deadline attached to it. The first major deadline was the “House of Origin” cutoff. If a bill wasn’t voted on by the cutoff, it’s supposed to be...Read More
Legislative Session Off And Running
By Council 2 Deputy Director Pat Thompson,
February 13, 2015
As the fifth week of the Legislative Session comes to a close, over 2,000 Bills have been introduced. Many of these are “Message” Bills and may not even see a hearing, others are moving through the process on a very partisan vote and stand little chance of passing in the opposite chamber given...Read More