The Yakima Herald-Republic has good advice for the State Senate .
Now that the House has done half a job while still calling for record spending in its version of the state budget released last week, it behooves the Senate to inject common sense and fiscal prudence into budget deliberations. ...
As the Senate now prepares to trot out its version of the 2007-09 budget that goes into effect July 1, two things must head their list of priorities: 1) Cut the spending levels that are too high and put more in reserve, and 2) apply any and all necessary pressure to ensure the budget is not adopted unless it includes a rainy day account.
Then the session has a good leg up on being a success.
And this Longview Daily News editorial gets at the crux of why proposed family leave legislation is bad for Washington families.
Its mandate is as unnecessary as it would be onerous for small businesses. Moreover, the leave benefits this state-administered insurance program would provide -- $250 per week for up to five weeks -- may not be so generous as those offered by many small businesses. ...
Three out of four small businesses in the state already provide workers benefits to replace lost income. No doubt, many of those workers would prefer not to be forced into this one-size-fits-all program administered by the Department of Labor and Industries. The program would be a net loss for those who work for more generous employers, as well as those who never use medical or family leave.
Many small, struggling businesses also would lose under this law. The legislation allows no exemption for smaller employers, who would find the premiums and additional paperwork particularly burdensome.
Well said.
