OLYMPIA – Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, D-Seattle, released this statement after voting against Senate Bill 5620, which passed the state Senate today and would create a statewide regulatory program for transportation network companies, including Uber and Lyft:

“Workers in non-traditional employment and paid as independent contractors, like drivers for Uber and Lyft, are increasingly in demand in our economy. Without careful regulation though, these workers’ economic security is going to be continuously at risk.

“Unless drivers in a shared economy have parity with other for-hire drivers, employment standards are lowered for everyone. This bill undermines the ability for drivers to have a voice when it comes to their working conditions and rights.

“While I appreciate the work done so far by my colleagues, this bill has not been worked over in a way that engages enough consumers and stakeholders that will be impacted by this legislation. It also pre-empts local governments seeking to protect the workers in their cities.

“It is critical to acknowledge and address the changing needs of workers and businesses in the new economy. But central to that discussion must be ensuring we don’t set a lower standard in the process.”