Veterans to get protection

Fearing that employers are denying jobs to young veterans, the House approved a measure that adds military personnel to a state anti-discrimination law.

The 96-2 vote Tuesday came just a week after the governor signed a similar measure to add gays to the same state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and lending. The measure now heads to the Senate.

Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, the bill’s primary sponsor, said that employers are repeatedly denying jobs to servicemen out of fear that the military personnel would be redeployed, or distracted by postwar stress.

“I was shocked to hear that (military personnel) were having those experiences,” Kilmer said. “Since sponsoring these bills, I’ve had dozens of folks call or e-mail with equally upsetting stories.”

About 15 percent of young veterans nationwide are unemployed — three times the national average.

Sex offenders: A tougher sex-offender registration bill, expected to immediately increase the state’s prison costs by $50 million, sailed through the Senate as lawmakers said they could not put a price on public safety.

The longer prison sentences alone could require the state to devote $49.6 million toward expanding prison capacity this year, said Sen. Karen Fraser, D-Olympia.

Bottoms up: Legislation that would allow out-of-state wineries and breweries to distribute directly to Washington stores cleared the state Senate on Thursday, a move that settles a court ruling but doesn’t necessarily translate into savings at the cash register. The measure was approved 48-0, with one lawmaker excused. It now heads to the House.

Under current law, ruled unconstitutional in December by a U.S. District Court judge, in-state vintners can sell directly to retailers, but out-of-state producers must first sell their products through Washington distributors.