ATU Local 587
2815 Second Avenue
Suite 230
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 448-8588

As the largest transit worker political action committee (PAC) in the United States, the Amalgamated Transit Union Committee on Political Education (ATU-COPE) is the voice of transit workers, school bus employees and over-the-road bus workers at all levels of government.

Since by law union dues cannot be used to fund political campaigns, voluntary contributions from ATU members* to ATU-COPE are used to help elect pro-labor, pro-transit candidates for local, state and federal office. Once the election is over, ATU-COPE works closely with the officials we helped elect to make sure that our members’ interests are well represented.

Special Session

Update

It is two weeks in to a special session, and there is no easy end in sight.  Hopes for a timely final report of all of this year’s legislative activity have faded, and so we present this wrap-up of the 2010 regular session, along with a brief progress report on relevant issues currently being debated in Olympia. In addition, a brief report on the special session will be forthcoming once it is over.  

The November election will reconstitute the legislature.  In the House, all Representatives stand for re-election in even numbered years.  We also know that Representatives Dave Quall (D-40), Dennis Flannigan (D-27), Deb Wallace (D-17), Al O'Brien (D-1), and Mark Ericks (D-1) will not be back. Representative Doug Ericksen (R-42) is running for the seat Senator Dale Brandland (R-42) is vacating, and Representative Sharon Nelson (D-34) will run for the seat Senator Joe McDermott (D-34) is leaving to run for King County Council.  The following state Senators are also up for re-election this fall: Jean Berkey (D-38), Jerome Delvin (R-8), Tracey Eide (D-30), Darlene Fairley (D-32), Rosa Franklin (D-29), Steve Hobbs (D-44), Janéa Holmquist (R-13), Jim Honeyford (R-15), Ken Jacobsen (D-46), Claudia Kauffman (D-47), Karen Keiser (D-33), Derek Kilmer (D-26), Adam Kline (D-37), Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36), Chris Marr (D-6), Bob Morton (R-7), Ed Murray (D-43), Eric Oemig (D-45), Pam Roach (R-31), Tim Sheldon (D-35), Paull Shin (D-21), Rodney Tom (D-48), and Randy Gordon (D-41). 

The following bills of interest which passed the Legislature this session are summarized in detail:

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2464&year=2009" \o "Bill

 summary" \t "_blank" ESHB 2464 Implementing rules and penalties for drivers when approaching certain emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles in emergency zones.  The final bill defines an emergency zone as the adjacent lanes of the roadway 200 feet before and after a stationary emergency vehicle, police vehicle, tow truck or other vehicle using warning lights.  Fines for speeding double in an emergency zone, and driving which may endanger a worker in the emergency zone is defined as reckless endangerment, punishable by sixty day suspended drivers license.  The bill takes effect on January 1, 2011.  

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2986&year=2009" \o "Bill

 summary" \t "_blank" ESHB 2986 Requiring the appointment of nonvoting labor members to public transportation governing bodies.  The final bill requires that a non-voting member recommended by a vote of all unionized transit workers under the governing body be included on metropolitan transit commissions and public transportation benefit area authorities.  The non-voting member must be excluded by the board chairs from executive sessions where contract negotiations will be discussed, and may be excluded from any other executive session.  

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6209&year=2009" \o "Bill

 summary" \t "_blank" SB 6209  Allowing money paid to county road funds to be used for park and ride lots (signed into law by the Governor on March 12th, with a 6/10/10 effective date).  The bill specifies that county road purposes which can be funded by county roads funds include the construction, maintenance or improvement of park and ride lots.

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6213&year=2009" \o "Bill

 summary" \t "_blank" SSB 6213 Concerning vehicles at railroad grade crossings (signed into law by the Governor on March 10th, with a 6/10/10 effective date).  Requires the driver of a commercial vehicle (with eight seats or more including the driver), as well as other specified vehicles, to stop before the stopline (if present and if not less than 50 but more than 15 feet away) when approaching a railroad grade crossing UNLESS a police officer or flagger is controlling traffic, a working signal displays a green light, the tracks are only for streetcar or industrial switching use, there is a sign marking the crossing as “exempt” or “out of service,” or state patrol rule-making has exempted the crossing from stopping regulations.  The legislation requires the driver to look both ways and proceed with the crossing when it is safe without changing gears during the crossing.  

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6345&year=2009" \o "Bill

 summary" \t "_blank" SSB 6345 Addressing the use of wireless communications devices while driving.  The final bill includes exemptions for transit operators communicating time-sensitive information to dispatchers with hand-held devices which are part of the vehicle and for use of voice-activated GPS systems which can be used without hands or taking eyes off the road.  Otherwise, the bill expands on last session’s wireless communications wile driving bill by removing language which makes using a hand-held wireless communications device while driving a primary offense, and requires drivers with only a permit or intermediate license to use wireless devices only in case of emergency.  

But the special session continues…  In spite of a compromise tax package passed by the Senate, reducing their temporary sales tax increase proposal, the House continues to object to using sales tax to plug the budget gap.  Publicola provides  HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/03/25/senate-says-no-to-house-revenue-amendments-requests-a-special-conference/" a run-down of outstanding differences in the two houses’ proposals as of Thursday the 25th.  As always, stay tuned…

Legislative Update

Week 8

Next week is the final week of session. If budget and revenue accord is reached sine die will be March 11. 

In the most exciting news for ATU all session, our local transit boards bill passed the Senate on Wednesday 28 to 19! There were 14 amendments. Amendments are usually intended to kill a bill and eat valuable time on the floor. Sen. Brown and Sen. Marr were heroic. Senator Brown valued the bill so much that she gave it floor time and Sen. Marr valiantly fought off all of the bad amendments. You all should be very proud of your work and tenacity getting this bill done. Please send thanks to Sen. Brown, Sen. Marr, Sen. McDermott and Rep. Simpson. Thank the Labor Council for its support and hard work on the bill. Jeff Johnson and Rebecca Johnson and Randy Loomans helped Cody and I vote count. Jeff wrote letters to all the key Senate Democrats asking for their votes.  After a disappointing defeat last year, we brought this bill out of the ashes to ensure that your wise voices will be heard in the transit planning process.  This victory is sweet indeed!

A proposal to allow King, Pierce and Snohomish counties to increase vehicle license fees to close transit funding shortfalls reappeared as an amendment to  HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=6774" SB6774 this week.  The proposal had been contained in a stand-alone bill which failed to make a cut-off deadline earlier this session, and because of this the passage of the amendment seems like a long-shot, according to  HYPERLINK "http://www.publicola.net/2010/03/03/amendments-would-save-some-transit-service/" Publicola.  LATE  BREAKING NEWS: the amendment hung.

Bills of Interest

The following bills have passed both houses and are moving through the process of collecting signatures from House Speaker, Senate President and Governor:

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2464&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" ESHB 2464 creating emergency zones

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2986&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" ESHB 2986 including a labor member on public transit governing bodies

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6209&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SB 6209 allowing roads funds to be used for park and ride lots

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6345&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SSB 6345 prohibiting texting while driving (bill as passed leaves talking on the phone as a secondary offense)

The Week Ahead

Most committee meetings are cancelled next week as the session winds down, but the following meeting is of interest to ATU members:

Transportation, Joint Committee -  03/10/10  8:00 am

Agenda:  

Potential interim JTC projects.

2010 interim schedule and topics.

JLARC audit of WSF capital cost accounting practices.

Adjourn

Staying Involved

                  These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators.  You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at  HYPERLINK "http://www.leg.wa.gov" www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well.  TVW,  HYPERLINK "http://www.twv.org" www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”

Legialative Update:

Week 7

ALERT: HB 2986 is in Rules. We are now on the last mile of the marathon. The last mile can be the toughest! So stand prepared to do some last minute advocacy if called upon. The Senate must pass the bill by March 5th or it is dead. Then it will go back to the House for concurrence. Representative Simpson and Senators Marr and McDermott have been great!! We have come a long, long way. We will do everything we can to go the distance and deliver a bill to the Governor for her signature.

This week saw significantly more details released on how the House and Senate plan to deal with the budget; HB 2824 and SB 6444 were both heard on Tuesday and are scheduled to be voted out of their respective Ways & Means committees today.  While the Senate released a package of cuts and taxes, the House released a smaller cuts package with a promise of tax plans to come along with significantly more federal money estimated into the equation and a smaller “ending fund balance” to provide a cushion if federal dollars don’t come through.  The House is hoping that the feds will come through to help preserve the GAU program as well as the Basic Health Plan, and the Senate pencils in smaller amounts to fund children’s health and food benefits that the House doesn’t count on.

The Senate’s tax plan includes fewer “sin” or “targeted” taxes than the Governor has proposed, with only an increased cigarette tax directed to the Basic Health Program where the House makes the continued existence of BHP conditional upon the federal money they assume.  The centerpiece of the Senate budget is a sun-setting increase in the sales tax coupled with a Working Families Tax Rebate which would return a portion of the regressive sales tax to families already eligible for federal Earned Income Tax Credits.  A good visual comparison of the two budgets can be found at TVW’s Capitol Record blog. All this budget talk (and whatever tax talk comes out of the House today) is possible thanks to the suspension of I-960 which the Governor signed into law on Wednesday, allowing legislators to pass the tax increases required to balance the budget by a simple majority.  The suspension is only lasts through July, and is thus only applicable to this legislative session. 

In addition to the general fund budget proposals, this week both the House and Senate released their Supplemental Transportation Budgets, SB 6381  and HB 2838 were also heard this week.  Both bills focus on putting in place an influx of federal transportation money, and were touted as strong job creation bills. Both bills were quickly passed out of committee this week.  Find more details on the Senate budget here, and the House budget, which unlike the Senate bill proposes no new cuts to current transportation funding, here.  Cuts in transit service are being seriously considered on the local level. Transportation Choice Coalition provides information on proposed cuts and an easy action to advocate against the cuts here. 

Bills of Interest

The following bills have already cleared today’s policy committee deadline:

• SHB 2441 and its companion bill SSB 6213, dealing with railroad crossing procedures, are both awaiting action in respective Rules committees.
• ESHB 2464, creating “emergency zones,” was passed to Rules on Tuesday.
• ESHB 2986, requiring labor participation on transit boards, was passed to Rules on Wednesday. 
• ESHB 2986, allowing roads funds to be used for park & ride lots, was also passed to Rules on Wednesday
• SSB 6345, making cell phone use while driving a primary offense, was also passed to Rules on Wednesday. 

The following bill is still awaiting action in policy committee:

• SHB 2721, dealing with commute-trip reduction planning by businesses.

The Week Ahead

The cutoffs scheduled for the days ahead mean that we will see a flurry of activity in Ways & Means committees on Monday of next week followed by lots of activity on the floor of both chambers ahead of next Friday’s deadline.  Other committees may meet next week to discuss their plans for the interim (the period between legislative sessions), but the focus of next week will be passing bills, dealing with the budget, and getting ready for the looming end of the session on March 11th. 

Staying Involved

                These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators.  You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well.  TVW, www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”

Legislative Update

February 14, 2010

This week saw the Legislature take on bills to suspend provisions of I-960.  The Senate passed two different versions of the bill, one on Tuesday and another one on Wednesday.   2ESB6843 will be heard in the House Finance Committee on Saturday at 9:00 am.  The full House is expected to take up the bill immediately after the conclusion of the committee hearing. This bill needs to be signed in to law before any revenue package can pass, which his why it is moving quickly through the various steps of the legislative process.  Supporters of increased revenue are hoping to turn out large crowds for tomorrow’s hearing (which will also include a hearing of Rep. Hunter’s revenue measure  HB3176 discussed last week) and for the pro-tax rally on Monday at noon on the capitol steps.  

                  Brad Shannon of the Olympian  reports this week that Rep. Flannigan of Poulsbo has introduced the most robust tax measure to date this session, HB3183:  a $.01 sales tax increase which would decrease along with the unemployment rate.  This is an exciting bill for transit advocates, given that 17% of the estimated $1billion which would be generated by the proposal would go to transportation construction, with another 3% directly dedicated to public transportation.  Erica C. Barnett of Publicola also reports week on a national study of women’s safety on public transportation, which shows that as a rule, transit agencies need to do more for the safety of women riders.

Bills of Interest

Since last week, the following bills have passed out of their house of origin:

SB6209, allowing roads funds to be used for park and ride lots.

The following bills have been placed on second reading by Rules committees, meaning that they are close to coming up for a vote on the floor:  

SHB2986, requiring non-voting labor members on transit governing boards. 

SHB2855, allowing temporary increases in vehicle license fees to fund public transportation.

The Week Ahead

Once bills passed by the House or Senate, they go through the same committee process in the opposite house.  Tuesday’s deadline for bills to be passed out of their houses of origin means that there are very few committee meetings scheduled before Wednesday next week, and those that are scheduled have agendas which are mostly “to be announced.”  Committees will hear bills that are passed by the opposite house, but what those bills are will be determined by floor sessions going on today, through the weekend, Monday and Tuesday.  The following committee meetings will deal with issues of interest to ATU members:

Senate Transportation -  02/17/10  1:30 pm

Public Hearing:

 EHB 1139 - Increasing the authority membership of certain single county public transportation benefit areas.

House Transportation -  02/17/10  3:30 pm

Public Hearing:  

SSB 6231 - Implementing rules and penalties for drivers when approaching certain emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles in emergency zones.

SSB 6213 - Concerning vehicles at railroad grade crossings

SSB 6345 - Addressing the use of wireless communications devices while driving.

Senate Transportation -  02/18/10  1:30 pm

Public Hearing:  To be announced.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee.

House Transportation -  02/18/10  3:30 pm

Public Hearing:  Bills referred to committee.
Executive Session:  Bills previously heard in committee.

Staying Involved

                  These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators.  You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well.  TVW, www.tvw.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”

Approval of legislature-passed tax increases by Oregon voters was watched closely in Olympia this week.  Brad Shannon  HYPERLINK "http://www.theolympian.com/politicsblog/story/1116862.html" quotes the Governor as saying, "Oregon voters met the challenge of these difficult times and clearly said that schools, healthcare, public safety and other essential services cannot be forsaken. It is gratifying to see that the public understands the importance of preserving services to the most needy and providing education to the next generation — especially now when those efforts are most needed." With deadlines for bills to be voted out of all but the fiscal or transportation committees approaching next week, we still have not seen any specifics on how the legislature will plug our states budget gap.

House bills must be approved by policy committees no later than February 2nd and Senate policy bills by February 5th.  Once a bill is passed out of policy committee, it must go through the committee process again in a fiscal committee if it costs money to implement.  Both houses have set slightly longer deadlines for bills to be considered by fiscal and transportation committees.  When it has cleared all necessary committees, a bill is passed to “Rules,” from which it can be “pulled” for second or third reading.  When a bill is placed on third reading, it will be voted upon by the full House or Senate.  Any bills that make it through committee must be passed by their house of origin no later than February 16th.  

This week we had a great ATU presence in Olympia.  Lobby day attendees made important contacts with their legislators to discuss priority issues, and three ATU members testified before the House Local Government & Housing committee for  HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2986&year=2009" HB2986 about the need for voices of on-the-ground transit operators when transit plans are being made.  The bill’s sponsor and chair of the committee, Rep. Simpson, has been a great champion and made clear at the hearing his intention to pass the bill out of committee. The bill passed out of committee with all Democrats and two Republicans voting for it. Thank you Chair Simpson and the Local Government committee!

Cody Arledge also testified on our behalf in support of transit funding on HB 2855 in House Transportation on Thursday. Please note the bill having to do with meal breaks and rest periods is limited to the healthcare sector.

Bills of Interest:

The following bills have passed out of committee and been placed on second reading in Rules:

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6209&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SB 6209  Park & ride lots receiving road funds 

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6213&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SSB 6213  Railroad grade crossings

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6345&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SSB 6345  Wireless communications while driving

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2464&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB 2464 Creating emergency zones

The following bills are awaiting action in Rules:

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2441&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB 2441  Railroad grade crossings

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2721&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SHB 2721  Commute trip reduction 

The following bills have not yet been acted upon by committee:

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=2635&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" HB 2635 Wireless communications while driving

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?Bill=6431&year=2009" \o "Bill summary" \t "_blank" SB 6431  Video camera data from transit property

The Week Ahead

Senate Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection -  02/01/10  10:00 am
Public Hearing:  

 HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?year=2009&bill=6775" SB6775 - Creating a task force to study and report on the states’ workers’ compensation

House Transportation -  02/01/10  3:30 pm
Public Hearing:  

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2742" HB2742 - Addressing accountability for persons driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs. (If measure is referred to committee.)

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2939" HB2939 - Concerning notations on driver abstracts that a person was not at fault in a motor vehicle accident.

Executive Session:  Bills previously heard in committee.

Senate Transportation -  02/01/10  3:30 pm

Public Hearing:  

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=5493" SB 5493 - Creating a regional transportation corridor authority.

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6650" SB 6650 - Concerning financial viability and impact review of certain transportation projects.

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6651" SB 6651 - Requiring the preparation of an impact plan on the state route number 520 bridge replacement and HOV project.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. 

Senate Transportation -  02/02/10  3:30 pm

Public Hearing:  

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6693" SB 6693 - Concerning vehicle license fraud.

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6774" SB6774 - Addressing transportation benefits district governance

 HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6510" SB 6510 - Extending state route number 166.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

Senate Transportation -  02/03/10  1:30 pm

Public Hearing:   HYPERLINK "http://dlr.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/default.aspx?year=2009&bill=6109" SB6109 - Concerning ferries

House Transportation -  02/03/10  1:30 pm

Executive Session:  Bills previously heard in committee.

Senate Transportation -  02/04/10  1:30 pm

Public Hearing:  To be announced.
Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

House Transportation -  02/06/10  9:00 am

Executive Session:  Bills previously heard in committee.

Staying Involved

These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators.  You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at  HYPERLINK "http://www.leg.wa.gov" www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well.  TVW,  HYPERLINK "http://www.twv.org" www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.”

Session Overview:

Budget Issues Dominate

The 2010 session is a short session, lasting only sixty days, including holidays and weekends.  The session begins on Monday, 1/11, and is scheduled to end on Thursday, 3/11.  Both the House and Senate have committees which deal with specific policy areas and meet regularly to discuss issues and legislation relevant to that committee.  For a bill to be voted on by the full House or Senate, it must first be passed by the appropriate policy committee before the end of the first week of February.  Transportation committees are the exception, having the same later deadlines as fiscal committees.  If bills have any financial impact to the state, they must also be considered and passed out of a fiscal committee after moving out of policy committee.  Bills must be out of all committees by 2/9, with the exception of budget-related bills.    

Although this is not a session where a 2-year budget will be hashed out, the ongoing decrease in state revenue and corresponding increase in state residents’ need for services in this ugly economic climate have left a $2.6 billion hole in the budget which will have to be addressed in the ’09-‘11 supplemental budget to be passed this session.  The initial supplemental budget proposal released by Governor Gregoire must be balanced using only existing revenue. The result was a shocking all-cuts proposal in December. Analysis of education cuts in the supplemental budget from the WA Budget & Policy Center can be found  HYPERLINK "http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/fy09-11-budget-cuts-would-total-14-higher-ed-gets-23-hit" here.  The Governor is expected to release a Book 2 budget, but details of when and how are murky. A Book 2 budget would “buy back” some of the eliminated programs with new sources of revenue along with money from the federal government.

Last year, no new taxes were passed to offset the $9 billion budget gap we faced for the biennium.  This year, it is widely assumed that some form of tax increases will be proposed and considered in the Legislature. Programs on the buy back list include Basic Health, Apple Health (healthcare for poor children), General Assistance-Unemployable, state financial aid programs, K-4 class size reductions, early childhood education programs, school district levy equalization (to provide more equitable funding for poorer school districts), and state provided care for people with developmental disabilities and long-term care needs.  Some of the revenue-increase ideas being discussed include closing tax loopholes, especially for out-of-state businesses; an increased sales tax (possibly coupled with a tax rebate for poor families who are disproportionately affected by regressive sales tax); increased “sin” taxes (e.g. cigarettes, tobacco, candy/junk food); increased business and occupational (B&O) taxes paid by employers; and increased taxes on polluters. Tax votes are tough and even tougher in bad economic times and an election year. 

State conservative organizations are already joining the state Republican Party in arguing for cuts-only budget solutions, specifically targeting legally-mandated benefits to unionized state workers as a place to look for cuts.  We are encouraged to hear Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown saying publicly that state workers have already sacrificed enough, but we will need to remain vigilant.  The shortfall is the $2.6 billion question of the legislative session!  According the WA Budget & Policy Center, states often increase taxes during economic downturns. In the recession of the early 1990s, some 44 states raised taxes; in the early 2000s, some 30 states did so. This is also consistent with balanced approaches to economic recessions from Washington’s past in 1981, 1993 and 2001.  Thirty states have raised taxes in the last year. It is very important that those of us who support increased taxes of some kind to allow the state to continue providing vital jobs and services make our voices heard in Olympia this year. 

The Week Ahead

The following committee meetings will address budget and transit issues of interest to ATU:  

Senate Transportation -  01/11/10  3:30 pm

 HYPERLINK "http://www.tvw.org" \t "_blank" Work Session:  Governor's Proposed 2010 Supplemental Transportation Budget.

House Transportation -  01/11/10  3:30 pm

Work Session:  State of Transportation.

Public Hearing:   HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2441" HB 2441 – Implementing rules and penalties for vehicles at railroad grade crossings.  HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=2464" HB 2464 - Implementing rules and penalties for drivers when approaching certain emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles in emergency zones. 

Senate Transportation -  01/12/10  3:30 pm

Work Session:  Joint Transportation Committee - 2009 interim work updates.

Public hearing:  HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6213" SB 6213 - Concerning vehicles at railroad grade crossings.

Senate Ways & Means -  01/12/10  3:30 pm

 HYPERLINK "http://www.tvw.org" \t "_blank" Work Session:  Governor Gregoire's 2010 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget proposals

Senate Transportation -  01/13/10  1:30 pm

Public hearing:  HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6231" SB 6231 - Implementing rules and penalties for drivers when approaching certain emergency, roadside assistance, or police vehicles in emergency zones. 

House Transportation -  01/13/10  3:30 pm

 HYPERLINK "http://www.tvw.org" \t "_blank" Work Session:  Governor's Supplemental Transportation Budget.

House Ways & Means -  01/13/10  3:30 pm

Work Session:  Presentation of the Governor’s 2010 supplemental operating budget proposal.

House Community & Economic Development & Trade -  01/14/10  10:00 am

 HYPERLINK "http://www.tvw.org" \t "_blank" Work Session:  Governor's Office update on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Senate Transportation -  01/14/10  1:30 pm

Public hearing  HYPERLINK "http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2010&bill=6209" SB 6209 - Allowing moneys paid to county road funds to be used for park and ride lots.

House Transportation -  01/14/10  3:30 pm

Work Session:  Joint Transportation Committee update.

Staying Involved

These reports will be keeping you updated on relevant issues throughout the session, and we encourage you to stay in touch with your legislators.  You can find your legislators and a wealth of information about bills, committees and the legislative process at  HYPERLINK "http://www.leg.wa.gov" www.leg.wa.gov, or call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000.  Legislators are always accessible to their constituents, and you will find them glad to meet with you in person as well.  TVW,  HYPERLINK "http://www.twv.org" www.twv.org, while by no means comprehensive, is another way to stay informed about activities “under the dome.” In addition, please consider attending one or more of the lobby days being organized around issues of interest to you.  The ATU lobby day is scheduled for Monday, 1/29.