State lawmakers push own stimulus plan
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OLYMPIA, Wash. - While the U.S. House and Senate are working on a stimulus plan, Washington state's House and Senate are working to do the same.
Both houses took steps Friday to cut the size of government and to put extra dollars into the hands of those who need it the most.
On the unemployment front, the House passed a bill to boost benefits by a 93-2 vote, and Gov. Chris Gregoire said she plans to sign the measure on Monday.
The bill would boost the minimum weekly benefit amount, and add $45 a week for all jobless workers. That makes the minimum payment $200 per week, and the maximum $586.
The temporary increases would take effect May 3, as record numbers of applications are filed for unemployment benefits and the state jobless rate tops 7 percent.
"This is an historic bill in historic economic circumstances," said Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma.
Added Gregoire, "They're going to go out and spend it. They're going to spend it at that local small business. They're going to spend it on a cup of coffee at Starbucks that could save a job. They're going to buy a personal computer that might save a job at Microsoft."
The governor says it's the first part of the state stimulus plan.
Democratic leaders have worked out a deal to immediately cut about $300 million in state spending, the first major budget savings that will come out of the 2009 Legislature.
It's a combination of administrative savings and cutbacks in state programs. The plan is almost finished working its way through the state House and Senate, with Gov. Chris Gregoire expected to sign the package into law early next week.
The early savings plan includes freezes on hiring and travel, and cutbacks in the rates paid to hospitals, for example.
Overall, the roughly $300 million in state spending cuts is a drop in the bucket, compared with a state deficit that will probably surpass $6 billion through 2011.
Rep. Kelli Linville, chair of the budget committee, said, "This is an important bill because it sends the message to the public that we know this is going to be a tough legislative session and that we are starting the cuts here with ourselves."
The state Senate is passing a companion bill cutting $600 million in state programs - though Republicans wanted even deeper cuts.
Meanwhile, plans for highway construction and other building jobs will be finalized as soon as the federal stimulus dollars are figured out.
Both houses took steps Friday to cut the size of government and to put extra dollars into the hands of those who need it the most.
On the unemployment front, the House passed a bill to boost benefits by a 93-2 vote, and Gov. Chris Gregoire said she plans to sign the measure on Monday.
The bill would boost the minimum weekly benefit amount, and add $45 a week for all jobless workers. That makes the minimum payment $200 per week, and the maximum $586.
The temporary increases would take effect May 3, as record numbers of applications are filed for unemployment benefits and the state jobless rate tops 7 percent.
"This is an historic bill in historic economic circumstances," said Rep. Steve Kirby, D-Tacoma.
Added Gregoire, "They're going to go out and spend it. They're going to spend it at that local small business. They're going to spend it on a cup of coffee at Starbucks that could save a job. They're going to buy a personal computer that might save a job at Microsoft."
The governor says it's the first part of the state stimulus plan.
Democratic leaders have worked out a deal to immediately cut about $300 million in state spending, the first major budget savings that will come out of the 2009 Legislature.
It's a combination of administrative savings and cutbacks in state programs. The plan is almost finished working its way through the state House and Senate, with Gov. Chris Gregoire expected to sign the package into law early next week.
The early savings plan includes freezes on hiring and travel, and cutbacks in the rates paid to hospitals, for example.
Overall, the roughly $300 million in state spending cuts is a drop in the bucket, compared with a state deficit that will probably surpass $6 billion through 2011.
Rep. Kelli Linville, chair of the budget committee, said, "This is an important bill because it sends the message to the public that we know this is going to be a tough legislative session and that we are starting the cuts here with ourselves."
The state Senate is passing a companion bill cutting $600 million in state programs - though Republicans wanted even deeper cuts.
Meanwhile, plans for highway construction and other building jobs will be finalized as soon as the federal stimulus dollars are figured out.
