Morning Fizz
Another Republican Demand
1. State Sen. Joseph Zarelli
(R-18, Ridgefield), the ranking Republican on the senate ways and means committee (and the Republicans' top budget negotiator), introduced a bill yesterday calling on the legislature to reject Gov. Chris Gregoire's deal with state workers. Zarelli, who has one Democratic cosponsor—Sen. Rodney Tom (D-48, Bellevue), thinks state workers should give more ground.
In the Gregoire deal, state employees agreed to a three percent pay cut through furloughs and agreed to cover a greater percentage of their health care coverage—15 percent of premiums as opposed to 12 percent.
Zarelli says a 25 percent employee contribution would be more in line with the private sector saying it would pay for 34,000 Basic Health Plan slots. Cuts to the BHP have already kicked 15,000 people off the plan, mostly undocumented immigrants.
Zarelli issued a statement about his proposal:
2. Another Republican demand as we move into the second half of the legislative session—and this "must have" also challenges a Gregoire agreement: An amendment to her TransAlta deal (the company agreed to phase out coal at its Centralia plant by 2025) that would exempt the company's replacement natural gas plant from greenhouse gas mitigation requirements.
3. Just making this week's cutoff, freshman state house Republican Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-47, Covington) passed his first bill out of the house on Monday.
Referred to as "charter lite," Rep. Hargorve's bill makes it easier for school districts to set up "innovative schools" that offer alternatives to standard public schools.
The bill initially came with a merit pay provision, but that was taken out. The bill, which the Superintendent of Public Schools opposed because there is potential, they said, to "allow employees in some schools to opt out of collective bargaining," passed 92-2.
4. Speaking of the second half of the legislative session, state house environment committee chair Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-33, Des Moines) says one bill that "isn't likely" to make it out of his committee is legislation the senate passed that changes voter-approved renewable energy requirements to allow wood products to count.
5. Okay, and did you read Erica's report on Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz's raucous quotes at the Seattle Metropolitan Democratic Club yesterday? We've definitely got a call in to Washington State Republican Party Chair Kirby Wilbur for a response.
In the Gregoire deal, state employees agreed to a three percent pay cut through furloughs and agreed to cover a greater percentage of their health care coverage—15 percent of premiums as opposed to 12 percent.
Zarelli says a 25 percent employee contribution would be more in line with the private sector saying it would pay for 34,000 Basic Health Plan slots. Cuts to the BHP have already kicked 15,000 people off the plan, mostly undocumented immigrants.
Zarelli issued a statement about his proposal:
Let me be clear: This is not about scapegoating our fine public employees, or in any way impugning those who on a day-in/day-out basis work hard for the citizens of this state. Nor is it in any way an attempt to limit their right to negotiate wages and benefits.
This is about giving the Legislature – in a time of crisis – maximum flexibility to allocate state government’s anticipated revenue so that the areas of greatest need – such as K-12 education, the safety net”and natural-resource protection – are addressed in a way that Washington taxpayers and service recipients expect.
2. Another Republican demand as we move into the second half of the legislative session—and this "must have" also challenges a Gregoire agreement: An amendment to her TransAlta deal (the company agreed to phase out coal at its Centralia plant by 2025) that would exempt the company's replacement natural gas plant from greenhouse gas mitigation requirements.
3. Just making this week's cutoff, freshman state house Republican Rep. Mark Hargrove (R-47, Covington) passed his first bill out of the house on Monday.
Referred to as "charter lite," Rep. Hargorve's bill makes it easier for school districts to set up "innovative schools" that offer alternatives to standard public schools.
The bill initially came with a merit pay provision, but that was taken out. The bill, which the Superintendent of Public Schools opposed because there is potential, they said, to "allow employees in some schools to opt out of collective bargaining," passed 92-2.
4. Speaking of the second half of the legislative session, state house environment committee chair Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-33, Des Moines) says one bill that "isn't likely" to make it out of his committee is legislation the senate passed that changes voter-approved renewable energy requirements to allow wood products to count.
5. Okay, and did you read Erica's report on Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz's raucous quotes at the Seattle Metropolitan Democratic Club yesterday? We've definitely got a call in to Washington State Republican Party Chair Kirby Wilbur for a response.
