Thu, Mar 28, 2024
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Willapa Harbor Herald
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For Employers Unemployment insurance rate relief on the way

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Last week, both chambers of the Legislature approved governor-requested legislation SB 5061, which would increase minimum unemployment benefits for workers and provide $1.7 billion in unemployment tax relief for businesses. The bill received strong bipartisan support, and the governor expects to sign it next week.

This week, the Legislature is set to take action on a number of other governor-request bills. Today, the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee is scheduled to vote on HB 1097, which would help ensure safer working conditions and better protections for workers.

Thursday, the House Appropriations Committee will hear HB1091, which would establish a clean fuels program in Washington. They're also scheduled to take executive action on HB 1016, which would establish Juneteenth as a Washington state holiday.

HB 1267, governor-request legislation sponsored by Rep. Debra Entenman, is also scheduled for executive action that day in the House Public Safety Committee. The legislation would create an Office of Independent Investigations to conduct investigations into police use of excessive force.

The 105-day legislative session is set to run through the end of April.

Inslee on Biden
Climate Plan

Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement last Wednesday following a series of executive actions on climate change taken by President Joe Biden last Wednesday.

"I applaud President Biden's executive actions today that will once again place the United States at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis here at home and around the world. This broad suite of actions reflects the administration's commitment to full-scale mobilization of the whole federal government -- exactly what is required to meet this moment. President Biden is fulfilling his promise to protect our communities from the consequences of climate change and to seize the opportunity of an equitable clean energy economy that will create good-paying jobs across our country.

"I welcome President Biden's commitment to protecting scientific integrity - a stark departure from years of watching our nation's experts silenced and sidelined by political appointees in the previous administration. Confronting the dangers posed by our changing climate with clear eyes is essential to the safety of our communities, and the president's commitment to eliminating political interference will protect Washingtonians from the ravages of wildfires, flooding, and environmental degradation.

"The benefits to every American of an equitable economy based on net-zero emissions and sustainable infrastructure are unmatched, and Washington state and our partners in the U.S. Climate Alliance are doing our part by continuing to advance bold climate legislative and executive agendas. Now, we once again have a partner in the White House committed to protecting our health and safety from climate threats and delivering on environmental justice."

Vaccine Distribution Hits
500,000 Doses Administered

Gov. Jay Inslee announced last Monday (Jan. 25) progress toward the state's goal of administering 45,000 vaccine doses a day. As of Monday, the state's current seven-day rolling average was 23,960 doses administered.

The governor also announced a record number of COVID-19 vaccines administered in a 24-hour period, with around 40,000 doses reported as of Monday. Washington also officially passed 500,000 vaccine doses administered and reported.

Inslee and Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah issued the vaccination goal last Monday at a press conference. On Thursday, the state reported the previous week's average being 16,000 doses a day. Today's numbers mark an 8,000 increase in the average number of COVID vaccines going into Washington residents' arms across the state every day.

"We have taken action, we expanded our distribution and infrastructure and it is working," Inslee said Monday. "We still have a long way to go, but if Washingtonians have proven anything throughout this pandemic, it is that we are up to the task. We have taken action, and we will continue to improve until we meet and exceed our goals."

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