UI Tax Relief, Vaccines, Fair Start for Kids, Police Accountability, and Virtual Town Hall
We've just concluded the third of this 15-week legislative session. I've been running hearings, meeting with constituents, stakeholders and colleagues and, of course, debating and voting on bills, all from my desk at home. Sure, there have been some glitches but, overall, this really is working better than anybody expected, so I am confident we will get done on time.
SAVE THE DATE:
On Thursday, February 11, from 6 to 7 pm, my seatmates, Sen. June Robinson, Rep. Emily Wicks and I will host a virtual town hall. We'll send you an invite as soon as we have all the information.
Unemployment Insurance tax relief for businesses and workers
As you may imagine, my office receives emails and calls on many different issues daily but this year the coronavirus and its consequences have taken center stage. We have heard from many business-owners who are facing unprecedented hikes (up to 500 percent in some cases!) in their Unemployment Insurance premium tax bills, and from struggling workers whose unemployment benefits are just not enough to support their families.
The urgency of this matter could not be overstated. We had to do something, and we had to do it right away. So the first week of session, Sen. Karen Keiser and I, as chairs of our respective chambers' labor committees, introduced bipartisan identical bills (SB 5061 / HB 1098) to bring relief for both businesses and workers.
The Senate passed its bill on Wednesday evening on a 42-7 vote and we passed it off the House Floor yesterday on an 89-8 vote. It’s now on the governor’s desk who is expected to enact it into law soon.
Employers will see a reduction in their UI tax bills due in April, and the state’s hardest-hit, lowest-wage workers will see a 5 percent raise in their unemployment benefits. This means people who make between $21,000 and $27,800 annually will receive a larger share of their weekly wages in benefits.
For all the details and information on how the bill will better prepare our state for the next health emergency, as well as rebuild Washington’s Unemployment Insurance trust fund, please read the press release my office sent out last night.
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The latest on the COVID-19 vaccine
Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled an updated COVID-19 vaccine plan earlier this week that aims to vaccinate 45,000 Washingtonians a day. Here's the latest on what to expect:
- Vaccines are being distributed in phases. You can use the Phase Finder online tool to find out if you’re currently eligible for the vaccine , or to sign up to get an alert when you are.
- We’re in Phase 1B-Tier 1. That means anyone 65 and older, and 50 and older living in a multigenerational household, can get the vaccine. The vaccine is also still available to those who are eligible in Phase 1A, including high-risk health care workers, high-risk first-responders and long-term care facility residents. This timeline lays out the phases and estimated start dates.
- The state DOH and Microsoft launched a COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard.
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A Fair Start for Kids
The childcare crisis costs Washington businesses $2.08 billion a year. Working parents in our state forgo $14 billion annually in lost wages due to the lack of access to childcare services.
In the wake of the pandemic the problem has worsened, forcing many parents to reduce work hours or leave the workforce entirely in order to care for their kids. These stories provide a glimpse of the urgency with which this issue must be addressed.
I am supporting the Fair Start for Kids Act, a multi-faceted approach to solving the childcare crisis, addressing racial equity, and helping the economy. The bill aims to make childcare more affordable for families, stabilize and expand the diverse childcare workforce, support the expansion of services, and strengthen prevention and intervention services.
Learn more about the Fair Start for Kids Act.
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Restore community trust in law enforcement through independent investigations
When someone is shot or killed by police and the law doesn’t offer pathways to justice for the victim, it damages the community, the reputation of law enforcement, and the notion of justice.
Last summer we saw historic protests against police violence and the lack of accountability for that violence. It is clear that many communities have lost their trust in law enforcement. When entire communities do not trust those with the state sanctioned power of life and death over them, public safety is imperiled.
Gov. Inslee formed a task force on independent investigations after it was revealed that the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office had continued to investigate the killing of Manuel Ellis, even after it was revealed that one of their deputies was at the scene of his death, in clear contradiction of I-940. The Governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force brought together 23 stakeholders from communities of color and law enforcement who met over the course of six months.
I’m supporting HB 1267 based on their recommendations. This legislation will establish an independent agency under the office of the Governor to investigate police uses of deadly force. The new agency would have regional teams capable of taking over the scene of a deadly use of force within one hour. After a period of transition, current or former law enforcement would be prohibited from serving with the agency in order to keep it free from bias.
We can only begin to rebuild trust in law enforcement by ensuring that there is accountability for unnecessary police violence. By creating this new independent agency to investigate police killings, we can begin to restore the community’s trust in law enforcement agencies.
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Find me on Facebook!
Thank you for reading my newsletter. If you need more information on any of the issues discussed here, or on any other legislative matter, please don't hesitate to contact my office. And be sure to follow and like my Official Facebook page.
Sincerely,
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