The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) is up in arms, campaigning against free trade agreements, including the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA, or “Fast Track”) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership … [Read more...]
What do Democrats value more than education funding?
If Democrats in the state House are serious about passing the 2015-17 budget in a timely manner, they will introduce their version on Monday, according to press reports. As Shift reported, it is vital … [Read more...]
Why are state agencies preparing for partial government shutdown?
Jay Inslee does not appear to have a lot of faith in the Democrats in the State House managing to move a budget out next week, so negotiations can start with the Senate and allow the state … [Read more...]
Democrat lawmaker reveals who is really running Olympia
Yesterday, Democrat Sen. Brian Hatfield testified before the House Technology and Economic Development Committee on Senate Bill 5442—a rather low profile, bi-partisan bill (Hatfield co-sponsors the … [Read more...]
Democrats engage “tiresome excuse” to shield political activities from public
This week is Sunshine Week, the American Society of News Editor’s national initiative to educate the public of the importance of open government and the dangers of excessive government secrecy. … [Read more...]
Top GOP state Senator: “Unbalanced budgets don’t count.”
By tradition, it is the Democrat-controlled state House’s turn to write the state budget. House Democrats are expected to release their budget, ideally, on March 23—certainly, by that date, they would … [Read more...]
Three absurd claims the WSLC made this week
This week, the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) AFL-CIO sent supporters its weekly legislative update. As could be expected, the big labor organization filled its update with praise for … [Read more...]
Workplace choice and transparency: 5 bills GOP lawmakers are pushing
Republicans have made noteworthy attempts to rein in the power of big labor in our state during this legislative session through various bills. They’ve faced fierce opposition from union executives … [Read more...]
GOP lawmakers seek open collective bargaining sessions
Republicans have introduced Senate Bill 5329, a bill that seeks to require state public employee collective bargaining sessions to be open meetings. The push for government transparency would curb the … [Read more...]
Friday Funny: A mad lib courtesy of a state employee union
Yesterday, Shift reported on the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU, AFL-CIO) Local 8’s messaging tips for activists speaking to state legislators. The union’s messaging tips … [Read more...]
Union leaders urge activists not to talk about waste, fraud or abuse
Shift recently obtained a copy of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 8’s (OPEIU, AFL-CIO) 2015 messaging tips—a guide for activists when meeting with state legislators. … [Read more...]
Pay hikes for state employees and elected officials?
Jay Inslee and his fellow Democrats justify spending a whopping $867 million (the result of Inslee’s secret negotiations with the top union executives who supported his campaign) for Washington state … [Read more...]