Author Archives: kenf

16 Feb
0

SeaTac Blog: Senate passes legislation that would improve trails, infrastructure

Residents of the 33rd Legislative District – which includes SeaTac – would see major improvements to transportation infrastructure under legislation passed Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 by the state Senate. “Move Ahead Washington makes the strongest investments in our communities in ...

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16 Feb
0

Seattle Medium: Senate Passes Legislation To Expand And Strengthen Apprenticeships

OLYMPIA — Workers in Washington state would benefit from new apprenticeship programs in growing fields, reinvigorated support for existing apprenticeships, and significantly increased state funding for apprentices at public colleges, under two bills passed recently by the Senate. “The ‘earn-while-you-learn’ ...

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15 Feb
0

Senate passes transportation package that would improve trails, aviation

OLYMPIA – Residents of the 33rd Legislative District would see major improvements to transportation infrastructure under legislation passed today by the Senate. “Move Ahead Washington makes the strongest investments in our communities in memory,” said Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines). ...

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12 Feb
0

Senate passes legislation to expand and strengthen apprenticeships

OLYMPIA — Workers in Washington state would benefit from new apprenticeship programs in growing fields, reinvigorated support for existing apprenticeships, and significantly increased state funding for apprentices at public colleges, under two bills passed recently by the Senate. “The ‘earn-while-you-learn’ approach, with both classroom ...

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09 Feb
1

Keiser: Unemployment insurance tax relief will help small businesses

Update March 1: The House of Representatives has passed SB 5873 unanimously. OLYMPIA — Washington businesses would see $214 million in unemployment insurance tax relief this year, with no use of state funds, under a bill passed by the Senate ...

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09 Feb
0

Senate passes Keiser bill to cap insulin costs at $35 per month

OLYMPIA — Washingtonians with diabetes would pay no more than $35 a month for insulin under SB 5546, passed yesterday by the Senate. “Insulin is a lifesaving medication,” said Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), the sponsor of the legislation. “It ...

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05 Feb
0

Edmonds Beacon: Employment test for marijuana use questioned

Washington marijuana users won’t face losing their job over a positive drug test if a proposal under consideration in the state Legislature wins approval. SB 5517 would update the Washington law that currently allows employers to turn-away job applicants and ...

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04 Feb
0

Halftime report

Dear neighbors, Sometimes during short legislative sessions, lawmakers will limit their goals to passing a couple of uncontroversial bills and getting finished on time. That’s not what I’m doing this year. There is too much that needs to be done. ...

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02 Feb
0

Protocol: Amazon warehouses have notorious injury rates. States are finally doing something about it.

In DuPont, Washington, an Amazon fulfillment center has been fined twice in the last year for, among other issues, setting grueling expectations that increase workplace injuries. When Washington State Senator Steve Conway heard about the citations from the state’s labor ...

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01 Feb
0

MyNorthwest: Washington’s Unemployment Trust Fund starting to bounce back in 2022

Having hit its lowest point in the pandemic last year, the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund is now on the up-and-up in 2022. Barring any other economic recessions, it appears the fund will stay that way. “We’re looking at forecasts from ...

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