The big six
Election reform
In the wake of Washington State’s closest-ever governor’s race, Secretary of State Sam Reed and several lawmakers proposed a bevy of procedural changes to the state’s election system.
Where things stand: The House of Representatives last week approved a package of election reforms, including a controversial proposal that would require elections to be done entirely by mail by 2008. Proponents called it a money-saver, since well over half the state’s voters already vote by mail. Some critics – mostly Republicans – said that mail voting lends itself to fraud. The Senate passed a bill that makes all-mail voting easier, but doesn’t mandate it for all counties.
Education
Teachers and other school staff are hoping that lawmakers will reinstate Initiatives 728 and 732, which were suspended two years ago as a money-saver. The measures were supposed to steer hundreds of millions of dollars more into teacher salaries and shrinking class sizes. School districts are also hoping for more construction money.
Where things stand: Gregoire has said she backs raises for teachers, although some lawmakers say that this year’s increase in class-size money should be put before voters, along with a tax hike to pay for it. Class-size money is now $254 per student per year, but is slated to rise to $300 in July and $375 next year. That’s a $140 million bite out of the state budget.
Liability reforms
Everyone seems to agree that liability insurance costs more than it used to, and that something should be done. Agreement ends there. There are dueling initiatives to the Legislature this year, one favoring doctors’ solution – a cap on jury awards for pain and suffering in liability cases – and the other leaning toward lawyers’ proposal, which includes better discipline of bad docs.
Where things stand: Democrats – and at least one Republican – last week unveiled their “Plan B” alternative to help reduce malpractice claims and insurance costs. Among the proposals: allowing cases involving $1 million or less to go through quick arbitration, revoking medical licenses after repeated acts of unprofessional conduct, and forcing insurers to get the state insurance commissioner’s OK for malpractice rate hikes. If lawmakers approve Plan B, voters will face three competing malpractice proposals in November.
Business
Business groups want an overhaul of the state’s workers’ compensation program for injured employees. They say it’s too expensive and biased toward employees’ versions of what happened. Some industries will also likely seek tax breaks – or try to stave off lawmakers’ efforts to toss out old tax breaks.
Where things stand: Businesses – like many in Olympia – are waiting to see what the budget looks like. Business lobbyists have been working hard over the past two weeks to shoot down tax proposals, such as taxing service industries.
Health care
Democrats want to expand the state’s low-cost insurance program for children. They’re also considering proposals designed to increase Medicaid reimbursements to doctors who treat the poor and to help small businesses afford to offer health insurance to their employees.
Where things stand: Stay tuned for Monday’s budget proposal. But Gov. Gregoire – once a social services caseworker – has repeatedly said that health care, particularly for children, is a top priority.
Taxes and fees
New taxes are critical to avoid lasting damage to the state’s schools, colleges and social services, lame-duck Gov. Gary Locke said shortly before he left Olympia in January. No way, say Republicans, who say new taxes would hurt the economy. Walking a political tightrope in the middle, new Gov. Christine Gregoire says she wants to see what a no-new-taxes budget would look like before she’ll consider tax hikes.
Where things stand: Good news came last Thursday, when the state’s fiscal forecaster predicted more than $700 million more revenue than expected over the next two years. Republicans pounced on the news, saying it means that the state can write a no-new-taxes budget. Democrats predicted a mix of budget cuts and some tax hikes. But Gregoire says she won’t sign a hike in sales, property or business-and-occupation taxes.