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Today is Thursday, Feb. 28, the 46th day of the 105-day legislative session.
NOTEWORTHY
Four House Democrats apparently will introduce snarky legislation this week that hits back at Republicans trying to poke holes in Washington’s state minimum wage law, which at $9.19 per hour is the highest in the country.
Liberal advocacy group Fuse announced that Democratic Reps. Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma, Mike Sells of Everett, Sherri Appleton of Poulsbo and Timm Ormsby of Spokane will hold a news conference at noon today in the O’Brien House Hearing Room D to announce a “training wage” for new legislators that is 25 percent less than what is paid to lawmakers today.
The bill would mimic Senate Bill 5275 and House Bill 1150, which are backed by small business and restaurant groups, allowing a temporary lower minimum wage for teens.
Rank-and-file state lawmakers earn $42,106 a year, plus expense allowances, and their pay is set by a citizens commission and cannot actually be changed by the Legislature.
TODAY IN THE LEGISLATURE
The Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications committee will receive a briefing on leaking underground storage tanks at Hanford. The meeting is at 8 a.m. in Hearing Room 4 of the J.A. Cherberg Building.
A bill that would require the Department of Corrections to decide which housing providers can receive state housing vouchers for newly released offenders will be heard at 1:30 p.m. before the Senate Ways & Means committee. In addition to Senate Bill 5105, the panel will also have a hearing on legislation regarding mental health training for teachers and improved child support collections. The committee meets in Hearing Room 4 of the J.A. Cherberg Building.
The House Appropriations committee has scheduled public hearings on 25 bills, including House Bill 1777 that would move up the effective date for making it easier to detain potentially dangerous people for treatment of mental illnesses to July 2014. The committee meets at 1:30 p.m. in Hearing Room A in the John L. O’Brien Building.
ELSEWHERE AT THE CAPITOL
The Washington State Auto Dealers Association is bringing about 125 people for Dealership Day from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Rotunda and Columbia Room.
Service Employees International Union 775NW plans a Purple Presence event on the Capitol’s fourth floor from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday.
Olympian staff
