Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, today said employers and working people need to cry ‘foul’ regarding the bad business bills introduced this session.
“I am outraged,” Morton said. “Here we are in the midst of a deep recession, and people don’t have money to spend, so businesses are closing and workers are losing their jobs; yet bills that make it harder to do business in Washington keep coming.
“These bills increase unemployment insurance costs, tell Boeing its business is not appreciated, and call employers clinging to life because of tax incentives ‘exploitive.’ All of this comes in the wake of a proposed $117 million workers’ compensation tax increase.”
Senate Bill 6714 would eliminate incentives and increase business and occupation tax revenues by $3 million in 2011 and $8 million in 2012. The revenue gain by 2019 would be more than $21 million.
House Bill 3107 threatens Boeing with eliminating aerospace tax incentives if more than half of the final assembly of the 787 occurs outside Washington.
“This bill is just plain stupid,” Morton said. “There are two and one-half spinoff jobs for every one Boeing job. Large and small employers alike – and the people who hold the jobs they provide – need Boeing to keep them viable, especially in this tough economy. The loss of Boeing would reach across the Cascades.”
Senate Bill 6334 and Senate Bill 6526 would expand eligibility for unemployment insurance for voluntary quits and people seeking only part-time employment. Unemployment insurance taxes for Washington’s employers increased by $352 million this year, and will increase by $690 million next year.
Senate Bill 6775 would delay any action on reforming the worker’s compensation system by creating another study.
“We know what needs to be done,” Morton said. “We need to allow private insurers to offer workers’ compensation coverage to create competition in the market place.”
© Copyright 2006 by North Cascades Broadcasting, Inc
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