Tag Archives: Senate Labor Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee

Senators King, Honeyford win “Guardian of Small Business” award

Senator Curtis King Senator Jim Honeyford The National Federation of Independent Business has named state Sens. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, as recipients of its Guardians of Small Business Award for 2012. The award is given to legislators with strong records of sponsoring and supporting legislation vital to the creation, growth and survival of small-business enterprises in Washington state.

“Small businesses are the driving force behind our economy and when they’re successful, we’re all successful,” said King, who represents the 14th Legislative District. “When this economy finally turns around it won’t happen from the top, down…it’ll start with our local businesses, the backbone of our state’s economic engine. I consider it a real honor to be named a guardian of that ilk.”

“I’m very proud to receive this award from the National Federation of Independent Business once again,” added Honeyford, who represents the 15th Legislative District. “In my 18 years as a state lawmaker I’ve always tried to be a champion of small businesses and have worked hard to give them every opportunity to succeed in this often-difficult environment.”

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Labor-committee members say bills violate historic, bipartisan workers’ compensation deal

Today brought the first deadline for policy committees in the Legislature to act on bills, and several measures that survived deal with the contentious issue of workers’ compensation – a move some legislators say violates the spirit of the highly-touted 2011 bipartisan workers’ compensation reform agreement.

At the beginning of the 2011 regular session, after years of conflict, much public debate and hours of intense negotiations among the governor and House and Senate leaders, legislators reached an historic agreement on ways to reform the costly, state-run workers’ compensation system.

Three legislators, all members of labor committees, say committee approval of several bills introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate this session risks undermining last year’s deal before it has even been fully implemented and erodes the trust needed to reach big agreements on solutions moving forward. Continue reading →

Senate Republicans announce 2011-12 committee assignments

The Senate Republican Caucus today announced its committee assignments for the 2011 and 2012 legislative sessions, including ranking (lead) Republicans on the state Senate committees. They will be:

Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Ranking: Sen. Jerome Delvin
Other members: Sens. Mark Schoesler, Jim Honeyford and Randi Becker

Early Learning and K-12 Education Ranking: Sen. Steve Litzow
Other members: Sens. Curtis King and Andy Hill

Economic Development, Trade and Innovation Ranking: Sen. Michael Baumgartner
Other members: Sens. Joseph Zarelli, Janéa Holmquist Newbry and Don Benton

Environment, Water and Energy Ranking: Sen. Jim Honeyford
Other members: Sens. Janéa Holmquist Newbry, Jerome Delvin and Bob Morton

Financial Institutions, Housing and Insurance Ranking: Sen. Don Benton
Other members: Sens. Joe Fain and Steve Litzow

Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections Ranking: Sen. Dan Swecker
Other members: Sens. Pam Roach and Bob McCaslin

Health and Long-Term Care Ranking: Sen. Randi Becker
Other members: Sens. Linda Evans Parlette, Cheryl Pflug and Mike Carrell

Higher Education and Workforce Development Ranking: Sen. Andy Hill
Other members: Sens. Randi Becker, Michael Baumgartner and Doug Ericksen

Human Services and Corrections Ranking: Sen. Val Stevens
Other members: Sens. Mike Carrell and Doug Ericksen

Judiciary Ranking: Sen. Cheryl Pflug
Other members: Sens. Mike Carrell, Bob McCaslin and Pam Roach

Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Ranking: Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry
Other members: Sens. Curtis King and Mike Hewitt

Natural Resources and Marine Waters Ranking: Sen. Bob Morton
Other members: Sens. Val Stevens and Dan Swecker

Rules Ranking: Sen. Mike Hewitt
Other members: Sens. Curtis King, Val Stevens, Mark Schoesler, Linda Evans Parlette, Joseph Zarelli, Cheryl Pflug and Mike Carrell

Transportation Ranking: Sen. Curtis King
Other members: Sens. Joe Fain, Dan Swecker, Steve Litzow, Andy Hill, Doug Ericksen and Jerome Delvin

Ways and Means
Ranking: Sen. Joseph Zarelli
Other members: Sens. Jim Honeyford, Mike Hewitt, Mark Schoesler, Michael Baumgartner, Cheryl Pflug and Linda Evans Parlette

Members of Senate Republican leadership for 2011-12, announced in late November, are:

Leader – Sen. Mike Hewitt, Walla Walla
Caucus Chair – Sen. Linda Evans Partlette, Wenatchee
Floor Leader – Sen. Mark Schoesler, Ritzville
Whip – Sen.-elect Doug Ericksen, Ferndale
Deputy Leader – Sen. Mike Carrell, Lakewood
Caucus Vice Chair – Sen. Dan Swecker, Rochester
Deputy Floor Leader – Sen. Jim Honeyford, Sunnyside
Deputy Whip – Sen. Jerome Delvin, Richland

Holmquist, King say bill to unionize child care centers is unnecessary and likely to mean less money for kids

Legislation purporting to help child care centers by allowing collective bargaining is likely to have the opposite effect, taking money from centers while raising costs for parents, say Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake and Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima. They serve on the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, which heard Senate Bill 5572 today.

If the goal is to increase public subsidies for child care centers and fund a child care wage ladder, you don’t need this bill to accomplish that,” said Holmquist, the committee’s ranking Republican member. “If Democrat supermajorities in the House and Senate all support this idea, what’s stopping them from increasing subsidies and funding the child care wage ladder?” Continue reading →