Legislation sponsored by Sen. Steve Conway targets the billions of dollars in surpluses held by the state's three major health insurers in an effort to help put consumers ahead of profits and stabilize insurance premiums. Senate Bill 5247 would cap insurance company reserves to provide for three months...
Senate Democrats Blog
Archive
Archives for Saturday, February 11, 2012
Bill will provide consumers with protection from rising insurance rates
Saturday, February 11 2012 - Steve Conway
Senate passes economic development package
Saturday, February 11 2012 - The Hopper
Following on a long-term economic development strategy of investing in workforce, infrastructure and entrepreneurship , the Senate today passed several bills aimed at helping small businesses and training the workers Washington needs to compete in the 21st Century economy. The bills passed so far Saturday...
Financial aid counseling bill passes Senate
Saturday, February 11 2012 - David Frockt
OLYMPIA - Colleges and universities will have to do more to inform students about the realities and responsibilities of financial aid under a bill approved Saturday by the Washington State Senate. Senate Bill 6121 will require colleges and universities to provide financial aid counseling to assist students...
Senate passes legislation to sunset tax break bills
Saturday, February 11 2012 - The Hopper
Bills to create or expand tax breaks in Washington would be required to define the nature of the expected benefits and include an expiration date, under legislation passed today by the Senate. “When the Legislature passes a tax break without defining its benefits, it makes it difficult to determine...
Senate passes Pridemore bill to sunset tax breaks
Saturday, February 11 2012 - Craig Pridemore
Bills to create or expand tax breaks in Washington would be required to define the nature of the expected benefits and include an expiration date, under legislation passed today by the Senate. “When the Legislature passes a tax break without defining its benefits, it makes it difficult to determine...
State needs strategic investment in infrastructure
Saturday, February 11 2012 - Derek Kilmer
Sen. Kilmer wrote the following editorial, which appeared in The Columbian : A few years ago in Gig Harbor, where I live, there was a building moratorium due to inadequate sewer capacity. Our options were limited: stop new development, stop flushing (which is gross), or expand capacity. During a tenuous...
Caseload forecast lowers costs
Saturday, February 11 2012 - The Hopper
The most recent report from the Washington State Caseload Forecast Council lowered expected costs in this budget by $200 million -- helping to alleviate what was a roughly $1.5 billion shortfall in the budget. Although the news was welcome , reports from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council typically...
Jobs, human trafficking and Medicaid fraud on In the Loop – 2012, episode 5
Saturday, February 11 2012 - Podcast
Halfway through the 2012 session, the Senate Democrats introduce a three pronged approach to job growth, while the Washington State Senate approves bills targeting human trafficking, battles Medicaid fraud and welcomes a close friend from the north. To download the In the Loop podcast, click HERE...