From SeaTac to Chattanooga, tracing the links between the minimum wage and union organizing in the South
Small elections have big consequences. We know that in Washington. Consider the SeaTac Prop. 1 vote for a $15 minimum wage (and a host of other labor-protection measures) and the Boeing Machinists vote that secured the Boeing 777X work here. A similarly consequential vote took place at the Volkswagon plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, last week. […]
February 19 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
State revenues up slightly: $30 million more for 2013-15; an additional $82 million in 2015-17
The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council has released its quarterly revenue forecast. The headline on the press release says it well: Revenue forecast reflects minimal changes to economic forecast This is pretty much what everyone expected. As Kriss wrote earlier this month when the ERFC released its collection report, There is little in this collections report to […]
February 18 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
New CBO report on federal minimum wage: 500,000 jobs lost if wage goes to $10.10; most increased earnings go to families not in poverty
Today’s minimum wage report from the Congressional Budget Office recasts the national minimum wage debate. Though couched in the carefully nuanced phrasing of the famously staid nonpartisan research office, it makes clear that hiking the minimum wage has employment consequences, contrary to the claims of proponents. The 40-page report, half of it a methodological appendix, […]
February 18 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Lawsuits pending in 11 states over adequacy of education funding
Washington is not alone in facing court troubles over school funding. Stateline.org reports today on just how frequently litigation and education funding have become entwined. Across the country, litigation is pending against 11 states over inadequate or inequitable school funding. That is nothing new: Over the years, all but five states have been the subjects […]
February 18 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Campaign for higher minimum wage inspired by the Occupy movement?
That’s one conclusion that could be drawn from this excellent NW News Network story by Austin Jenkins. But David Rolf of the Service Employees International Union says there was something missing: “Occupy didn’t have a long term theory of how to make change and it didn’t have very crisp demands.” Rolf says that started to […]
February 17 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Minimum wage muddle: Part 2 – Dueling Washington Post columnists; Samuelson gets it right
One thing nearly everyone who follows politics understands intuitively is that it’s rarely a good idea to take advice from someone who wants to see you lose. So it’s unlikely that many conservatives will pay much attention to E. J. Dionne’s column telling them that “raising the minimum wage is the right idea for the […]
February 17 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Minimum wage muddle: Part 1 – the evolving SeaTac story and a border tale
The Seattle Times takes a look at the effects of SeaTac Proposition 1 and finds, well, not much yet. Six weeks after the new hourly minimum standard took effect at some hotels and parking lots in SeaTac, proponents and opponents alike say any evidence to gauge its impact is still anecdotal. At the Clarion Hotel […]
February 13 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Transportation plan released in Senate today – next steps uncertain
Senate Transportation Committee co-chair Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, today released a $12.4 billion transportation plan. Video coverage of the press conference here. King writes in his cover letter to the governor and legislative transportation leaders that he wants to “restart negotiations,” a theme echoed at the press conference by Majority Leader Rodney Tom and others. As […]
February 12 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
State announces expanded environmental review of Longview commodity export terminal, continuing uncertainty and threatening investment
Today’s announcement that the Department of Ecology will undertake an expanded review of the Millenium Bulk Terminals near Longview confirms expectations that the state would subject the trade terminals – it’s more than coal – to a costly, lengthy, and uncertain permitting process. The announcement prompted swift reaction from the Alliance for NW Jobs and […]
February 12 , 2014 - Richard S. Davis
Washington House committee votes to make it harder to outsource
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee passed (14-13) HB 2473, a labor-initiated bill that would make it more difficult for state agencies to outsource work. From the bill report, here’s a bit of what it requires: Requires agencies to prepare a written record of the basis of the decision and a comprehensive impact assessment when contracting out […]