Emily Makings

Report on paid sick leave in Seattle focuses on benefits offered prior to implementation, awareness of law

Seattle’s paid sick leave ordinance requires a written evaluation of the impacts this ordinance has had on employees and employers. This evaluation will include an assessment of patterns and practices relating to shift swapping, the potential abuse of leave by employees who take time for other than the intended purposes, use of explicit waivers of […]

New Brief: 2013-15 Operating Budget Mostly Avoids New Taxes, Prioritizes Education

In a new policy brief, we take a detailed look at the enacted 2013-15 state operating budget. Appropriations are about $2 billion higher than in 2011-13, as are total resources. The budget leaves $630 million in reserves.

Due to average wage increase, workers' comp COLA is 3.4 percent for FY 2014

As I noted last month, the state average annual wage increased to $51,595 in 2012, which affects both the unemployment insurance weekly benefit amount and the taxable wage base. And, as the Department of Labor and Industries announced yesterday, it also affects workers’ compensation benefits. Time-loss and pension benefits will increase by 3.4 percent for […]

Affordable Care Act's employer mandate delayed by a year

The Department of the Treasury announced today that it will delay implementation of the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act: First, it will allow us to consider ways to simplify the new reporting requirements consistent with the law.  Second, it will provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers are moving […]

Happy Fiscal New Year!

Today is the first day of fiscal year 2014 for Washington state, and it’s also the first day of the 2013-15 biennium. The legislature finally adjourned over the weekend, and Gov. Inslee signed the 2013-15 operating budget (with some vetoes) yesterday.

2013-15 budget compromise increases spending by $2.4 billion, avoids many of the proposed tax increases

The details of the 2013-15 budget compromise have been released. As proposed, near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+) spending would increase by $2.378 billion over 2011-13, to $33.627 billion. Reserves (including the budget stabilization account) would total $630 million. Importantly, the proposal would largely not make the tax increases proposed by the House Finance […]

DC audit of paid sick leave doesn't tell much about effects on business

Last week, the Economic Opportunity Institute and PubliCola linked to an audit of the DC Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Act of 2008. Both posts say that the audit shows the “sky isn’t falling,” but it doesn’t actually show much at all. The audit’s look at paid sick leave’s effect on business is secondary to […]

Increase in state average wage will impact unemployment insurance and workers' comp

Today the Employment Security Department announced that Washington’s average annual wage was $51,595 in 2012. That’s up from $49,894 in 2011. Both unemployment insurance (UI) and workers’ compensation benefits are calculated using the average annual wage. As the announcement notes, The minimum weekly unemployment benefit, calculated at 15 percent of the average weekly wage, will […]

Washington may be agreed on Medicaid expansion, but not all states see the light

One area of agreement in the 2013-15 budget proposals is Medicaid expansion under the federal Affordable Care Act. Both the House and Senate assume state savings of about $318 million from expansion. Despite the promise of such savings, many states have rejected expansion or are still wrestling with the decision. According to the Kaiser Family […]

Senate increases spending in 2013-15 budget passed Saturday

On Thursday, the House passed a 2013-15 budget (ESHB 1057), and over the weekend, the Senate passed one as well (ESSB 5034). The House version would spend $322.2 million more than the Senate in terms of near general fund-state plus opportunity pathways (NGFS+). The House would leave $593.7 million in total reserves, and the Senate […]