Roll Call

- Today at 5:00 pm marks the last day to consider bills in their house of origin unless they are deemed necessary to implement the budget.

- Last week's updated Revenue Forecast now puts the State Budget Deficit at $2.8 billion. Lawmakers must now cut services, find new tax revenue or do a combination of both to balance the budget. Proposals from both the Governor and the Legislature are expected this week. The Coalition has insisted that finding cost savings throughout the budget is the best way to help local businesses create new jobs.

- The Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy wrote recently that "without a significant midcourse correction, lawmakers will have made a bad situation worse for Washington workers and their employers." For our legislators, putting people back to work must be the top priority.

-SB 6130 would suspend Initiative 960's requirement that any tax raise garner a two-thirds vote of the Senate and House. The bill has already passed through the Senate and cleared the House Finance committee on Saturday by a party-line vote. It is awaiting a final vote by the entire House of Representatives.

- The Association of Washington Business is asking that you contact your legislator today about possible increases in Unemployment Insurance taxes. The Chamber Coalition opposes tax hikes in such a difficult economic climate as it makes it difficult for employers to make new hires.

- According to WashACE, Washington already ranks 2nd in the nation for unemployment insurance taxes per full-time employee $563 (US Average = $246). Our state is also 10th in business taxes as a share of all state/local taxes, 51.3%.

- Meanwhile, a King County judge recently ruled that Washington state is violating a constitutional duty by not fully paying for basic public education. Washington's Constitution says the state has a "paramount duty" to make "ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders."

Support the Effort for the SR 520 Bridge Replacement!

The Eastside Chamber Coalition supports both SB 6392/HB 2929 which will allow construction on Eastside components of the SR 520 bridge replacement and HOV Program to move forward as soon as possible.

Contact your local legislators today and tell them to support these important bills.

Concerns Regarding High Occupancy/ Toll Lanes

Concerns have been raised and conflicting information is aplenty in the debate on whether or not High Occupancy Toll Lanes should be used on the State's 2nd most congested corridor, Interstate 405.

This past summer, WSDOT was directed by the Legislature to conduct a traffic and revenue study including potential funding for future improvements and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) or express toll lanes on I-405.

A presentation of the report was given to the House Transportation Committee on January 25th and a bill to authorize managed lanes on the corridor (HB 2941) was heard on the same day.

Since that time, conflicting information about the bill have arisen from both the Washington Policy Center and the State Department of Transportation.

At this time the Coalition has expressed concerns to the legislature and to the Department of Transportation about the haste at which the legislation seems to be moving. There is also a great deal of concern regarding whether the legislation will convert planned additions to general purpose (non-HOV) capacity between the Bellevue and Bothell stretch of I-405. The Coalition explicitly opposes such action.

We are currently working with legislative leadership and representatives from the Department of Transportation to get more information.

In the meantime, tell us what you think.

Status: Bill currently up for vote by the whole House, the Coalition is monitoring and has raised concerns.