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2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/22/2013

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/22/2013

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above. Library Tracker 3-22-2012 Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills Operating budget 2013-2015 Hunter H Approps 1/14/2013…

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2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/15/2013

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 03/15/2013

Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog. For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above. Library Tracker 3-15-2013 Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills HB 1057 Operating budget 2013-2015 Hunter…

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WA voters: Yes to gay marriage, Obama & Democrats …

WA voters: Yes to gay marriage, Obama & Democrats …

But the governor’s race, the marquee state contest in the General Election, remains very close.  Democrat Jay Inslee, who gave up a safe congressional seat to run for the office being vacated by two-term Gov. Chris Gregoire, led Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna 51.32 percent to 48.68 percent, or about 50,000 votes out of nearly 1.9 million counted.  Inslee told cheering supporters it looked like victory, but didn’t declare himself the winner in so many words.  McKenna, still seeing a…

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Secretary Reed’s `robust’ turnout prediction? 81 percent

Secretary Reed’s `robust’ turnout prediction? 81 percent

Secretary of State Sam Reed, Washington’s chief elections official, is predicting a robust voter turnout of 81 percent in the General Election that is currently underway. Reed figures that Washington voters will be attracted by highly competitive races for president and governor, hot races for Legislature and Congress, and some of the most compelling ballot measures in the country. Washington has nearly 3.9 million registered voters – an all-time high – and more are expected to be added, since new…

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And they’re off and running!

And they’re off and running!

Washington’s campaign season is officially under way. Filing Week opened with a bang Monday with hundreds of candidates statewide filing for office.  There are 344 state offices open this year, along with potentially thousands of party precinct committee officer slots. Besides the presidential election and a U.S. Senate race, the state has an unusually rich assortment of open offices this year that are sure to attract heavy attention this week, says Secretary of State Sam Reed.  Reed himself is an…

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More budgetary gloom: Revenue forecast drops again

More budgetary gloom: Revenue forecast drops again

Less than 24 hours after Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a budget that fixed a $5 billion spending gap by cutting salaries and the budgets of nearly every state agency, a new revenue update brought more bad news. A new projection of a $183 million downturn in the next two years, combined with the Legislature’s reliance on one-time fixes like a tax-amnesty windfall and fund grabs, leaves the state roughly $572 million lower than previously expected, state budget Director Marty Brown…

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Gregoire: Prepare for budget cuts and more cuts

Gregoire: Prepare for budget cuts and more cuts

Governor Gregoire is directing state agencies to make plans for possible spending cuts in the 4-to-7 percent range, beginning Oct. 1. Gregoire, sounding very sober despite a recent infusion of over a half-billion dollars in federal aid, told a Capitol news conference Thursday the cupboard is nearly bare, with this fiscal year’s projected ending fund balance now down to just $72 million (out of a $31 billion two-year budget).  As noted a day earlier, state tax receipts are lagging below…

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Your 2-minute review of 2010 session

Your 2-minute review of 2010 session

The legislative session is officially over, now that Governor Gregoire has signed the last bill. For a once over lightly, you can see all of the bills that made it to the governor’s desk – and what she did with each measure.   For the record, the House passed 170 bills and the Senate 167 – 337 total. To drill down to info on any particular bills you care to know more about, skip over to the Legislature’s most excellent website, fill…

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State employee furloughs still in the mix

State employee furloughs still in the mix

Furloughs – or “temporary layoffs” – are still being considered as one way to help close a big state government budget gap.  It’s still not clear whether the final budget plans will actually lead to agencies shutting for a day a month, as some states have done. The Senate voted 30-11 on Tuesday to keep the money-saving idea alive.  The revised legislation, Senate Bill 6503, envisions saving roughly $50 million by imposing 10 days-off-without-pay during the upcoming fiscal year – or…

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Y’all come back now, ya hear?

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

They’re gone, but not forgotten.  Weary Washington lawmakers are getting a long weekend off, after wrapping up their 60-day regular legislative session Thursday evening.  But their toughest, and most politically unpopular, tasks remain undone.  They’ll be back at noon on Monday for overtime session. Governor Gregoire’s proclamation says they’ll be here “no longer than seven days.”  The Constitution says special sessions are limited to “not more than 30 consecutive days.” Likewise, the governor has no authority to limit the subject…

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