Emily Makings

House Releases 2011-13 (and 2011 Supplemental) Budget

The House proposal for the 2011-13 budget (including a final 2011 supplemental to close out the 2009-11 biennium) is now public. In Near General Fund-State plus Opportunity Pathways (NGF-P) terms, the 2011 supplemental would reduce spending in the current biennium by $93 million (on top of reductions made in the early action supplementals), to bring […]

Outdated Data in U.S. Chamber Employment Policy Study

AWB’s Olympia Business Watch notes that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has released a study on state employment policies and job growth.  In considering the states’ employment policies, the Chamber looked at employment relationships/costs of separation, minimum wage and living wage laws, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation, wage and hour policies, collective bargaining, and litigation/enforcement […]

Washington's Union Membership Rates

Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sent out a press release on union membership in Washington in 2010.  BLS notes, “Since 1990, Washington has had union membership rates above the U.S. average.” In fact, in 2010, Washington’s union membership as a percent of total employment was the fourth highest in the country, behind […]

Comparing Savings from Governor's New Workers' Comp Proposal to ESB 5566

Unfortunately, after the good news earlier this week about how much money ESB 5566 (passed by the Senate, but so far stalled in the House) would save the workers’ compensation system, the governor decided to put forward a different set of reform proposals that do not include the full option for voluntary settlement agreements.  (For […]

Big Savings From Workers' Comp Reform

As we have reported numerous times, including in a recent policy brief, the Washington workers’ compensation system must be reformed.  At the beginning of March, the Senate passed a bill (ESB 5566) that would do just that. Yesterday the fiscal note for the bill was released, and it confirms what we already knew: the provisions […]

The Transportation Budget and the Gas Tax

Today the House released its 2011-13 transportation budget proposal. It would appropriate $8.924 billion for transportation operations and capital needs.  That’s $1.8 million more than the governor proposed spending. Of note, from the summary: Transportation revenue sources have continued to grow more slowly than expected, with projected revenues for the 2011-13  biennium $100 million less […]

Charting Stadium Funding

Earlier this month, SHB 1997 was passed by the House.  Under the bill, instead of ending stadium taxes when the debt is paid off, they would be used for arts and heritage programs, affordable housing, community development, and the Washington State Convention Center. Via Politics Northwest, here is a very useful chart from the Office […]

Budget Trickery Ahead?

As Kriss said, Thursday’s revenue forecast will likely bring yet another downward revision of revenues.  Worries about the magnitude of the drop have led to discussion of possibly using a number of budget tricks that would push the problem forward.  See the Times, the Olympian, and Washington State Wire. I think Erik Smith is a […]

Workers' Comp Reform: Part 1 Down, Part 2 To Go

Yesterday Governor Gregoire signed SB 5801 into law: “We know we need to help more workers return to good health and back on the job after an injury, as well as reduce costs for our taxpayers and businesses,” Gregoire said. “This bill does both. It improves outcomes for our employees, while saving more than $200 […]

Workers' Compensation Needs Fixing

The News Tribune has a good editorial today on workers’ compensation.  It questions opposition to the reform bill (ESB 5566) that passed the Senate.  Specifically, it questions opposition to the provision that would allow injured workers to choose a voluntary settlement instead of a pension. There’s not much controversy over the subsidy part of the […]