Eshannon

When people who want more government regulations argue in favor of a new mandate on employers, one of the most used arguments the new rule won’t break the bank.  Taken in isolation, that is often true.  However, as Washington Policy Center has pointed out to lawmakers, these seemingly harmless regulations have a cumulative effect that eventually become so burdensome they cripple employers and prevent entrepreneurs from creating th

On February 22 I was asked to testify before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee on SB 5292 (companion bill is HB 1457), a bill that would significantly expand the paid family leave law that was passed in 2007 but never implemented because a funding source was never agreed upon.

Just hours before Governor Jay Inslee holds a press conference to unveil his “Washington Jobs Agenda,” his “legislative proposals to create and sustain a thriving economic climate,” the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee this morning passed two bills that would do more to kill jobs and strangle the economy than any legislation in recent history.

Despite Executive Order 11-03 from Governor Christine Gregoire implementing a moratorium on “non-critical” agency rulemaking in 2012, state agencies still imposed more regulations than the previous year.  Under the Executive Order, agencies weren’t supposed to adopt new regulations unless they, “protect Washingtonians from significant risks to public health, safety or welfare, or by request of local governments, businesses or entities the state regulates.”

It does not appear agencies paid much heed to Gregoire’s directive.

Throughout his campaign and even in the days leading up to his inauguration, Governor Inslee has repeatedly said he is, “focused like a laser beam on jobs.” 

In yesterday’s final State of the State speech, Governor Gregoire spent 44 minutes summarizing her struggles and accomplishments leading the state of Washington for during the last tumultuous eight years.

When she finally got to the state’s business climate, Gregoire bragged that, “…over the past eight years, we had little or no increases in workers’ comp premiums.” 

This simply isn't true.