News … the other Washington


ONE YEAR INTO MANDATORY PAID SICK TIME, A LOOK AT IMPACT ON BUSINESS

On Tuesday, the Main Street Alliance of Washington released a report stating that the new paid sick time ordinance has not hindered the SeattleKing County economy. In fact, the number of businesses in Seattle has continued to grow in services and retail, and the volume of sales has continued to grow, according to the Alliance’s Marilyn Watkins. Three small business owners championed the paid sick time law as they gathered on Tuesday at the unveiling of the report’s results. Makini Howell of Plum Bistro, Jody Hall of Cupcake Royale, and Joe Fugere of Tutta Bella all said the law hasn’t stopped them from expanding.  They acknowledged an increase in business expense but said it’s very minimal.

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New SPD oversight director outlines a way forward

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Walleye pollock show some behavioral problems when exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide. That raises concern about the North Pacific's $1 billion-a-year pollock fishery, which accounts for half the nation's catch of fish.  Click on Photo for complete storyPDF of today's Seattle Times front page

STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIMES

 Walleye pollock show some behavioral problems when exposed to high levels of carbon dioxide.
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PARTICIPATE

Keeping track in Olympia
Find your lawmakers and track bills in the state Legislature. Legislative Guide

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On Tuesday, Progressive Radio Northwest is launching the first in a series of monthly get-togethers to meet each other, mingle and discuss issues central to our mission of bringing progressive radio back to the region. We hope to have a speaker at each session and look forward to engaging in a wide variety of lively topics.

First session:  Tuesday, September 24

7:00 to 9:00 pm

Topic:  “Corporate Media and the Demise of Progressive Talk:

Lack of Listeners or Political Suppression?”

Geov Parrish, Guest Speaker

 

10 Crazy Things the Right Did This Week


By  The summer may be over, but it’s never the end of crazy season when it comes to conservatives–from the silly to the serious.

1. Republicans Threaten To Push Nation Into Default Unless Obama Agrees To Delay Obamacare For One Year: Ironically, the proposition could actually increase the deficit by billions of dollars.
2. Secret Koch Fund Decries ‘Corporate Welfare’ And Stimulus But Funds Their Top Defender: A tax-exempt group claims to fight runaway stimulus spending and “corporate welfare” but gave millions to the Chamber of Commerce, perhaps the top backer of those programs.
3. GOP Tries To Sink Uncontroversial Energy Bill With An Obamacare Amendment: An energy efficiency bill would be the first major energy legislation passed in the Senate since 2007, but Republican amendments aiming to repeal Obamacare threaten to sink a long-awaited bill that has broad bipartisan support.
4. Heritage Puts Anti-Obamacare Billboard In Times Square After State Announces Huge Premium Drop: The message is just the latest political stunt from the organization that first developed the individual health care mandate and later touted Obamacare-like reforms in Massachusetts.
5. The Origins Of An Epidemic: How Right-Wing Religious Communities Give Measles A Chance To Spread: A recent measles outbreak in Texas was traced to an evangelical church that preached against vaccines. That’s not an isolated incident.
6. Five Reasons Congress Can’t Blame The Calendar For Delaying Immigration Reform: House Republicans are telling the media they simply don’t have time to pass immigration reform this year. They’re wrong.
7. Benghazi Conspiracy Rally On Capitol Hill Attracts Dozens Of People: It was meant to be a rallying moment for thousands of conservatives to demand the truth about Benghazi. Less than a hundred bothered to show up.
8. Conservatives Pressure Textbook Publishers To Downplay Existence Of Climate Change, Evolution: Prominent creationists with little scientific background or training are asking publishers include disclaimers about existing scientific theories.
9. Meet The Maryland Republicans Who Want To Secede:  The group, which calls itself the Western Maryland Initiative, is dissatisfied with the fact that, in a democracy, people with minority views are frequently outvoted by people with more common views.
10. Mitch McConnell Exploits Syria Conflict For Campaign Fundraising: The letter opened with the claim that Mitch McConnell “does not politicize issues of national security” but went on to argue that the senator’s opposition to the authorization for use of force is “a ringing example of why we need to keep Mitch fighting for us in the United States Senate.”

the Senate S.1392 ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House HR2775


Obama Launches DNC Campaign Tour At Illinois State CapitolThe Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, September 16, 2013.  Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:00pm.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1392, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:

–          Executive Calendar #175, the nomination of Patricia E. Campbell-Smith, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims and

–          Executive Calendar #176, the nomination of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims.

There will be up to 30 minutes of debate in relation to the nominations equally divided and controlled in the usual form.  Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations.

  We expect one roll call vote and one voice vote.

Adjourns until Tuesday

No ROLL CALL VOTES

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Last Floor Action:
1:39:45 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00
p.m. on September 16, 2013.

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