Published in The Rebel on January 20, 2017
By JD Rossetti
Control of the Washington State Legislature will remain split in 2017. Democrats are retaining their hold on the state House and Republicans are retaining their conservative majority in the state Senate. Continued division of the Legislature is shaping up for another contentious year in 2017.
In recent years, split control at the Capitol has hindered Demo- cratic proposals to impose new taxes on capital gains and carbon emissions, while blocking Republican “Right to Work” proposals and prolonging budget debates in which Republicans have sought to increase public-school funding without new revenue.
There is no doubt that the top priority for the legislature this session will again be providing a plan to solve school-funding problems outlined in the McCleary case which has a mandate from the state Supreme Court to finish the job by 2018.
Other important priorities to watch will be the further de- velopment of carbon emission legislation with specific attention focusing on Energy Intensive Trade Exposed (EITE) standards, opposing new “Right to Work” proposals, and monitoring the in- coming Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz, Legislative priorities and public policy proposals related to timber sales and management.
Involvement in the legislative process has been an important aspect of the AWPPW since the organization’s inception. The pri- mary legislative objective continues to be promoting the collective interest of a higher income, better working conditions, workers’ rights and defending labor laws.
If you are interested in following what’s going on in the legislative session visit www.leg.wa.gov. If you want to find and contact your legislators go to http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder.
I am grateful for the opportunity to provide legislative sup- port and updates in the weeks and months ahead regarding the progression of the Legislative session and how AWPPW is being affected and making an impact along the way.
Sincerely,
— J.D. Rossetti
Washington Legislative Director Washington Area Council, AWPPW