Washington will receive a $128-million federal grant to develop the state's Health Benefit Exchange, which will help residents find, compare, and enroll in health insurance when national reforms go into effect in 2014. Washington is only the second state in the nation to qualify for the Level II Exchange...
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The Hopper
Unemployment rate falls
Wednesday, May 16 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
The unemployment rate continued to fall in April, down to 8.1 percent in Washington, the lowest it's been since January 2009. But the numbers behind the drop are contradictory, the state Employment Security Department reported today. Notably, while the unemployment rate survey showed a gain of jobs in...
Revenue hits targets, economy gives mixed signals
Monday, May 14 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Revenue collections are meeting expectations, but the economic outlook is mixed in Washington and gets murkier from there, according to the latest update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. According to the report, tax collections from April were $7.6 million below expectations, but overall...
President Obama supports marriage equality
Wednesday, May 09 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Today President Barack Obama said he supports the right of gay and lesbian Americans to marry, a position in line with the Legislature's work this year in Washington state. "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think...
More WA babies born at full term, improving their health
Wednesday, May 09 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Washington agencies, hospitals, physicians and expectant mothers have teamed up to deliver a dramatic increase in the number of babies born at full term -- 39 weeks -- instead of earlier in their pregnancies. Driven by new research demonstrating the short and long term hazards of early delivery, the...
Majority Leader Brown will not seek re-election
Thursday, May 03 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, issued the following statement today: "I have decided not to seek re-election to the 3 rd District Senate seat this fall. Returning home two weeks ago, I began taking stock of my 20 years in the Legislature, reflecting on what I have been able to achieve...
SDC reform agenda implemented, saving $70M
Thursday, May 03 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
At the beginning of the 2012 Legislative session, Washington State Senate Democrats set a goal of reshaping the way Washington funds and delivers services. At the end of the session, the Legislature has passed a majority of their priority bills that move the state toward that goal. Out of 35 bills on...
Governor signs state budget
Wednesday, May 02 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
The governor has signed the operating budget passed by the Legislature, re-balancing the state's finances while protecting K12 and higher education from cuts – a stance first adopted by Senate Democrats. Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle , the chair of the budget-writing Senate Ways & Means Committee...
School employee insurance reforms signed into law
Wednesday, May 02 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Legislation designed to bring equity and transparency to insurance programs for K-12 employees such as teachers, classroom assistants, bus drivers and special education teachers was signed Wednesday by the governor. Senate Bill 5940 , sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens , provides an incentive...
Capital budget work addresses state debt
Wednesday, May 02 2012 - The Hopper | Permalink
Sens. Derek Kilmer and Linda Evans Parlette, the Senate's lead capital budget writers, have a column in The News Tribune, noting that in addition to creating 18,000 jobs, this year's capital budget was linked to addressing the long-term costs of construction bonds: "It is also important to note that...