Is the Legislature Listening?
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The State Legislature is halfway through the 2008 session, and we thought it would be a good time to give you an update on how we're doing so far.
One of our founding principles at Fuse is that by making it easier for real people to engage in the legislative process, we can achieve more progressive solutions to the challenges we're facing as a state.
In the past six weeks, you and thousands of other Fuse members have weighed in on important progressive bills - fighting global warming pollution, tackling rising health care costs, improving consumer protections, and strengthening civil rights protections.
With your help and the leadership of the progressive organizations we're partnering with, the Legislature is on track to pass some important progressive bills this year. Here's a rundown of where the bills we've been focusing on stand:
Health Care
SB 5261 would restore Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's authority to review and limit rate increases for individual health plans and hold insurance companies accountable.
Over the last 8 years, the price of individual health plans has skyrocketed 16% a year. At the same time, benefits are being slashed. It's getting harder and harder for individuals to afford quality health insurance in Washington State
Working with the Healthy Washington Coalition, more than 2,000 Fuse members signed our petition to the legislature before this bill passed in the Senate. It's now in the House, and we'll continue working to ensure it's enacted this year.
Global Warming
Global Warming has been a priority issue for Fuse, and our members have stepped up to the plate this session. Working with organizations like 1Sky Washington, almost 3,000 of you have taken action on the climate bills we've been working on, and both of them are making steady progress.
The Local Solutions to Global Warming bill tackles the global warming pollution created by irresponsible development and traffic and will protect farm and forest land, encourage energy efficient building, and promote livable, family friendly communities.
We are happy to report that this bill passed out of the Senate early this week by a vote of 31-18. Unfortunately, it didn't get out unscathed. An amendment stripped the provision that made reducing global warming pollution a goal of the Growth Management Act, one of the keys to making the requirements mandatory. It's still an important step, however, and we believe it has an excellent chance of passing in the House.
The Climate Action and Green Jobs bill, proposed by Governor Gregoire, creates a structure and timeline for cutting the state's global warming pollution to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050, while also creating a program to train Washington State workers for jobs in the clean energy industry.
This bill is moving along steadily -- it passed out of the House on Tuesday by a vote of 64-31, maintaining all its key requirements and initiatives. A public hearing on the bill will be held in a Senate Committee tomorrow.
Toxic Toys
The Children's Safe Product Act bans the sale of children's products containing high levels of lead, cadmium, or phthalates and requires manufacturers to report what chemicals are in their products to the Department of Ecology, which will publish the information on their website.
The Washington Toxics Coalition has led the charge on this bill, and Fuse members sent more than 1,000 emails to their legislators. We're thrilled to report that the Children's Safe Product Act passed out of the House unanimously and seems to be in great shape as it awaits a committee hearing in the Senate.
Equal Rights
The Domestic Partnership Expansion Act would extend many important rights and responsibilities provided by marriage to registered domestic partners, including nursing home visitation, veterans' benefits, community property, and testimonial privileges.
Fuse worked with Equal Rights Washington on this bill, and our members sent more than 2,000 emails to their legislators. It passed out of the House late last week by a vote of 62-32, and it's now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate.
Consumer Protection
Washington is one of the only states in the country that doesn't allow homeowners to hold contractors accountable for poorly constructed homes. The Homeowner's Bill of Rights, introduced by Senator Brian Weinstein, makes contractors responsible for fixing problems that result from negligence and shoddy construction.
This bill has faced serious opposition from the beginning and the powerful building industry is pulling out all the stops to kill it. It passed in the Senate by a vote of 27-20. Fuse members lobbied the Judiciary Committee to give the bill a hearing in the Senate, and it's now scheduled for next week.
Clean Elections
The Local Choice bill will allow local governments to establish public financing programs for elections by a vote of their citizens. It's an important first step towards restoring sanity to our campaign finance system.
Washington Public Campaigns has been working hard on this bill, and Fuse members helped wth more than 1,300 emails to their legislators. We're happy to report that it's now passed in both the House and Senate. Both chambers must now concur on final language, but it should be approved.
Economic Justice
The Working Families Credit will cut taxes for more than 350,000 Washington residents by adding a boost to their Federal Earned Income Tax Credit refund.
Unfortunately the Working Families Credit bill has faced challenges from the beginning and was not funded in the House's budget for 2008. The Senate is in the process of drafting their budget now and still have the opportunity to fund the bill. The Washington Tax Fairness Coalition is leading the fight to make this happen, so stay tuned for more information on how you can help.
One of our founding principles at Fuse is that by making it easier for real people to engage in the legislative process, we can achieve more progressive solutions to the challenges we're facing as a state.
In the past six weeks, you and thousands of other Fuse members have weighed in on important progressive bills - fighting global warming pollution, tackling rising health care costs, improving consumer protections, and strengthening civil rights protections.
With your help and the leadership of the progressive organizations we're partnering with, the Legislature is on track to pass some important progressive bills this year. Here's a rundown of where the bills we've been focusing on stand:
Health Care
SB 5261 would restore Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's authority to review and limit rate increases for individual health plans and hold insurance companies accountable.
Over the last 8 years, the price of individual health plans has skyrocketed 16% a year. At the same time, benefits are being slashed. It's getting harder and harder for individuals to afford quality health insurance in Washington State
Working with the Healthy Washington Coalition, more than 2,000 Fuse members signed our petition to the legislature before this bill passed in the Senate. It's now in the House, and we'll continue working to ensure it's enacted this year.
Global Warming
Global Warming has been a priority issue for Fuse, and our members have stepped up to the plate this session. Working with organizations like 1Sky Washington, almost 3,000 of you have taken action on the climate bills we've been working on, and both of them are making steady progress.
The Local Solutions to Global Warming bill tackles the global warming pollution created by irresponsible development and traffic and will protect farm and forest land, encourage energy efficient building, and promote livable, family friendly communities.
We are happy to report that this bill passed out of the Senate early this week by a vote of 31-18. Unfortunately, it didn't get out unscathed. An amendment stripped the provision that made reducing global warming pollution a goal of the Growth Management Act, one of the keys to making the requirements mandatory. It's still an important step, however, and we believe it has an excellent chance of passing in the House.
The Climate Action and Green Jobs bill, proposed by Governor Gregoire, creates a structure and timeline for cutting the state's global warming pollution to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050, while also creating a program to train Washington State workers for jobs in the clean energy industry.
This bill is moving along steadily -- it passed out of the House on Tuesday by a vote of 64-31, maintaining all its key requirements and initiatives. A public hearing on the bill will be held in a Senate Committee tomorrow.
Toxic Toys
The Children's Safe Product Act bans the sale of children's products containing high levels of lead, cadmium, or phthalates and requires manufacturers to report what chemicals are in their products to the Department of Ecology, which will publish the information on their website.
The Washington Toxics Coalition has led the charge on this bill, and Fuse members sent more than 1,000 emails to their legislators. We're thrilled to report that the Children's Safe Product Act passed out of the House unanimously and seems to be in great shape as it awaits a committee hearing in the Senate.
Equal Rights
The Domestic Partnership Expansion Act would extend many important rights and responsibilities provided by marriage to registered domestic partners, including nursing home visitation, veterans' benefits, community property, and testimonial privileges.
Fuse worked with Equal Rights Washington on this bill, and our members sent more than 2,000 emails to their legislators. It passed out of the House late last week by a vote of 62-32, and it's now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate.
Consumer Protection
Washington is one of the only states in the country that doesn't allow homeowners to hold contractors accountable for poorly constructed homes. The Homeowner's Bill of Rights, introduced by Senator Brian Weinstein, makes contractors responsible for fixing problems that result from negligence and shoddy construction.
This bill has faced serious opposition from the beginning and the powerful building industry is pulling out all the stops to kill it. It passed in the Senate by a vote of 27-20. Fuse members lobbied the Judiciary Committee to give the bill a hearing in the Senate, and it's now scheduled for next week.
Clean Elections
The Local Choice bill will allow local governments to establish public financing programs for elections by a vote of their citizens. It's an important first step towards restoring sanity to our campaign finance system.
Washington Public Campaigns has been working hard on this bill, and Fuse members helped wth more than 1,300 emails to their legislators. We're happy to report that it's now passed in both the House and Senate. Both chambers must now concur on final language, but it should be approved.
Economic Justice
The Working Families Credit will cut taxes for more than 350,000 Washington residents by adding a boost to their Federal Earned Income Tax Credit refund.
Unfortunately the Working Families Credit bill has faced challenges from the beginning and was not funded in the House's budget for 2008. The Senate is in the process of drafting their budget now and still have the opportunity to fund the bill. The Washington Tax Fairness Coalition is leading the fight to make this happen, so stay tuned for more information on how you can help.
