Category Archives: News Release

OLYMPIA — Frontline workers who are infected with COVID-19 would receive medical coverage and partial wage replacement for lost work hours under the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), passed today by the Senate on a vote of 48-1. “HELSA ...

OLYMPIA — After the State Auditor’s Office announced that sensitive information about 1.6 million unemployment insurance claimants had been stolen from a private-sector, third-party contractor in a data breach, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), released this statement: “I am shocked ...

OLYMPIA — After SB 5061 passed the House today on a vote of 89-8, reflecting the similarly overwhelming bipartisan margin by which it passed the Senate on Wednesday, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), the bill’s sponsor, released this statement: “Tonight, ...

All businesses in Washington would see significant relief from unemployment taxes, including reductions in bills due in April, if SB 5061 is passed by the Legislature by mid-February. The bill, which passed on the Senate floor today with an overwhelming ...

DES MOINES — Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), chair of the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, released the following statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee released his proposed 2021 COVID response proposal: “In a crisis like this awful pandemic, we have ...

OLYMPIA — In the wake of a deadly crane collapse in Seattle in April, the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee is considering stronger enforcement and higher fines in cases of serious safety violations. “The 3,000 cranes being used in construction ...

Businesses and workers are hurting right now, and we need federal assistance to get them the help they need. Legislative leaders from both chambers co-signed a bipartisan letter that lays out detailed requests for unemployment insurance provisions and funding that ...

DES MOINES — Today Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), the President Pro Tempore of the Washington State Senate, released the following statement in response to news reports that the Lieutenant Governor is attending seminary in California: “The Washington State Senate ...

DES MOINES — Upon the publication of the 2021 premium rate for the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which will stay the same as the 2020 rate, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) released the following statement: “With the Paid ...

From the Kent Reporter State Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, announced her support of Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation to strengthen and extend the state Employment Security Department’s SharedWork program for small businesses, nonprofits and local governments. SharedWork is a voluntary ...