WA State Rep Eileen Cody: "cut $150 million in corporate tax breaks"

Morning Fizz (publicola):

Speaking of lefties from the 34th Legislative District—state Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34) is getting some love from the revenue coalition, the ad hoc group of labor, social services, education, and environmental groups that is pushing the legislature to balance budget cuts with taxes.

Cody introduced a bill last week that would cut $150 million in corporate tax breaks (including a break for big banks on mortgage loans and break for TransAlta’s Centralia coal plant).

Members of the coalition have begun wearing these yellow buttons around the capitol.

While 23 reps have signed on—including Seattle reps Reuven Carlyle, Mary Lou Dickerson, Joe Fitzgibbon, David Frockt, Phyllis Kenney, and Jamie Pedersen—Cody acknowledged to PubliCola that the bill didn’t have much of a chance because, she said, it would have to get a two-thirds vote.

Howie P.S.: I am so pleased with my state rep for doing this.

KUOW: "What Role Should Unions Play In A Bad Economy?" (with audio)

KUOW with audio (54:00):

While state budgets are tightening across the country, a lot of attention is being focused on union power. Is an economic downturn the right time to limit the power of unions? State, county and city employees in our region have already made salary and benefits adjustments, and they're facing pressure to slash further. In other states, however, the anti–union forces are far stronger. States are considering banning teacher strikes and prohibiting unions from charging fees. How much power should unions have in challenging economic times?

Guest(s)

Reginald Fields is the statehouse bureau chief for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. His state of Ohio has an incumbent Republican governor seeking to change collective bargaining law and prevailing wage rules. Ohio faces an $8 billion budget deficit.

Jeff Johnson is president of the Washington State Labor Council.

Paul Guppy is vice president for research at the Washington Policy Center, a conservative Seattle–based think tank.

Tim Welch is a spokesman for the Washington Federation of State Employees.

David Rolf is the president of SEIU 775, which primarily represents health care workers. The union recently tentatively agreed to give up overtime pay and to take a cut in benefits.

Howie P.S.: I was pleased to hear about the $3 billion in tax breaks given out to "special interests" by the Washington state legislature in the last few years.