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Home / Washington Business - July/August 2006 / Points of View: Democrats |
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Points of View: Democrats |
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Written On: July/August 2006 |
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Written By: by Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane - Senate Majority Leader |
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2006 session win-win
When Democrats took control of both chambers of the Legislature and the governor’s office last year, I imagine some business leaders wondered if they were about to experience 1993 all over again.
Instead, since last session, Democrats have sought win-win outcomes, inviting all sides of each issue to be at the table as we carved out solutions.
During the 2006 session, two significant pieces of legislation in particular reflect that inclusive process with the business community.
In the area of unemployment insurance, employees will find their benefits increasing while employers will see their UI taxes reduced. Laid-off workers are no longer at risk of drastic reductions of their benefits, and businesses are projected to save $300 million during the next eight years.
The Legislature also responded to court rulings regarding the so-called "Costco Bill," which gives out-of-state wineries and breweries the same options for getting their products to retailers that in-state producers have.
These could have been bills with real winners and real losers. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, who is chair of the Labor, Commerce, Research and Development Committee, worked hard to assure that there was something in each of these bills that worked for all the players involved.
Our philosophies were also in sync with the business community on several economic development bills, the biofuels legislation, and the capital budget—all of which will result in jobs and economic activity throughout the entire state.
We focused on investing in our people and our infrastructure, without raising general taxes—top priorities voiced by major business leaders in our state. As a result, more people will have access to health care, children will have better tools to compete in our increasingly diverse global economy, our roads will be safer, and our environment will be more pristine.
We accomplished all of this while leaving almost a billion dollars in the reserves to pay for the costs we see coming in the next budget cycle.
Next session, I look forward to that same partnership with the business community as we hammer out solutions to workers’ compensation and expand access to and increase the affordability of health care.
The 59-day miracle
by Rep. Frank Chopp, D-Seattle
Speaker of the House
Newspaper editorials have called the 2006 Legislative session a "59-day miracle" and a session of breakthroughs. I believe we made some outstanding strides toward improving the lives and prosperity of Washingtonians, as well as the climate for Washington businesses.
The Washington Roundtable reminds us that education must be a priority if our state is to remain globally competitive. We increased per-student funding in 2005-07 by about $1,700, maintaining high standards in our schools, and offering assistance for students to achieve those standards. Math and science need special attention, and we began that work with more incentives for future science and math teachers.
As fuel and energy prices continue to rise, we stepped up with incentives for clean, Washington-grown energy. Those investments are already changing the renewable fuels landscape in our state, creating jobs and promoting businesses in a burgeoning industry.
The 2006 budget dealt responsibly with the revenue surplus with significant savings accounts for future education, pension and health care costs. This year we saved almost two dollars for every new dollar invested.
Among those investments were tax incentives for key industries: semiconductor manufacturing, bio-technology, aluminum smelters, timber, aerospace and food processing. We also helped communities spur economic development with a Local Infrastructure Financing Tool. Small businesses received higher personal property exemptions, relief from late-payment tax penalties and more health insurance options.
Transportation remains a key to our state’s prosperity and an excellent investment for jobs and infrastructure. Building on the 2005 Transportation Partnership, we reached a compromise on a regional transportation plan to address Puget Sound’s most congested areas.
We enacted a significant "ag agenda," including critical tax relief, regulatory reform, innovative water policies and targeted investments to help farm owners and farm workers.
Working with business and labor, we developed unemployment insurance reform that restores balance. Business owners will save and their employees will get help if they become unemployed.
A common thread through all these achievements is my belief in One Washington. Folks from Asotin to Zillah will benefit from the 2006 Legislature.
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