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 to ...
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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 should be included in further COVID-19 relief legislation that is badly needed before the end of the ...
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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 rules provide that, in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall preside. “If called upon, ...Read More
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 Family and Medical Leave program, the Employment Security Department was given a tall order: stand up an unprecedented program from scratch ...Read More
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 business sustainability program with the state that provides flexibility to retain employees at reduced hours. “The governor’s action to strengthen our state’s ...
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Upon the announcement of proclamation 20-58 by Governor Inslee, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) released the following statement:
The governor’s action today to strengthen our state’s SharedWork program will remove barriers to partial employment for many workers who have been furloughed and will help keep small businesses, non-profits, and local governments solvent during this crisis. Washington’s SharedWork is a proven win-win program ...Read More
April 30, 2020 WHO: Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), Reps. Tina Orwall (D-Des Moines) and Mia Gregerson (D-Seatac) of the 33rd Legislative District will be joined by Dr. Charissa Fotinos, deputy chief medical officer for the Washington State Health Care Authority. WHAT: A Facebook Live Community Conversation. WHEN: 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 WHERE: On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1213781995492392/. You can sign up there ahead of time ...
Read MoreA new law signed today by Gov. Inslee will create groundbreaking new options for people with developmental disabilities, including community care close to home, nursing home care, and state centers of excellence. “This is a major turning point in the long debate about our state’s RHCs, rehabilitation centers for people with developmental disabilities,” said Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), the sponsor ...
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The Senate and House Democratic caucuses have requested that the federal government unlock disaster unemployment assistance for thousands of independent contractors in Washington who are losing work during the coronavirus pandemic. Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), who authored the letter, said: "The American workplace has changed and thousands of workers who are independent contractors—from hairdressers to high tech coders—do not qualify ...
Read MoreWith final Senate votes today, two bills sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) to curb sharply rising prescription drug prices have now passed the Legislature with broad bipartisan support and will go to the governor for his signature. “Prescription drug costs are out of control,” said Keiser. “Our constituents can’t wait. The taxpayers can’t wait. This is a major step ...
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