This Washington
Extra Fizz: Olympia Jobs Bill Would Need 60 Percent Vote
Earlier this week, I wrote about a business-labor combo lobbying effort to pass Paul Krugman-style legislation—a $2 billion bond to fund construction projects and 30,000 jobs, according to advocates from the Washington State Labor Council and Associated General Contractors of Washington who are pushing the bill.
The bonds would be backed by millions of dollars that usually go to the capital budget for ongoing projects, redirecting it as collateral for $2 billion in bonds for bigger construction jobs at community colleges, government buildings, and hatcheries, for example.
Given the business-labor alliance that's pushing the idea, there was hope for bipartisan support and quick passage during the special session. "The construction season is right around the corner in the Spring," AGCW lobbyist Rick Slunaker says. "We don't want to miss that. So, the sooner we do something the better."
However, support for the big jobs bill would have to be overwhelming. Legal staff in Olympia shared an opinion with legislators yesterday informing them they'd need a 60 percent vote to pass the bond plan. "It's hard to see that happening in the special session," says Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), chair of the state senate ways and means committee. "You need to find Republican votes."
And Republicans aren't the only ones who may be a problem for a Krugman-style investment.
Democratic leaders such as powerful house ways and means chair Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina) has already told PubliCola he's skeptical about the idea because he's afraid the capital budget commitment will eventually creep into the general fund. "You have to stop paying for something else," Hunter said.
The bonds would be backed by millions of dollars that usually go to the capital budget for ongoing projects, redirecting it as collateral for $2 billion in bonds for bigger construction jobs at community colleges, government buildings, and hatcheries, for example.
Given the business-labor alliance that's pushing the idea, there was hope for bipartisan support and quick passage during the special session. "The construction season is right around the corner in the Spring," AGCW lobbyist Rick Slunaker says. "We don't want to miss that. So, the sooner we do something the better."
However, support for the big jobs bill would have to be overwhelming. Legal staff in Olympia shared an opinion with legislators yesterday informing them they'd need a 60 percent vote to pass the bond plan. "It's hard to see that happening in the special session," says Sen. Ed Murray (D-43), chair of the state senate ways and means committee. "You need to find Republican votes."
And Republicans aren't the only ones who may be a problem for a Krugman-style investment.
Democratic leaders such as powerful house ways and means chair Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina) has already told PubliCola he's skeptical about the idea because he's afraid the capital budget commitment will eventually creep into the general fund. "You have to stop paying for something else," Hunter said.
