Reports & Articles
Timing: Washington is the second state after California to adopt paid family leave. Washington’s family leave insurance program was signed into law in May, 2007. Benefit payments begin October 1, 2009. Who’s Eligible: All parents of newborn or newly adopted children who have worked at least 680 hours in the previous year (same requirement as […]
How much will family leave insurance cost taxpayers? Will family leave insurance hurt employers? How can we afford family leave insurance given the state of our economy? Why cover only babies for family leave insurance ? What about taking care of a parent care or spouse? Will family make Washington less competitive? Will family leave […]
Washington has enjoyed three years of strong job growth, but the effects of recession continue to linger for many families. While we are much further along the path of recovery than the country as a whole, population growth since 2000 has outstripped the supply of newly created jobs. Moreover, the benefits of recent growth are […]
Social Security is a great American success story: In 2006 Social Security provided $546 billion in benefits to 49 million people. With lifetime retirement benefits, annual cost of living increases, and family benefits, Social Security has come close to eliminating poverty among the elderly. While we often think of Social Security as a retirement program, […]
Welcome to the briefing book for the Economic Opportunity Institute & World Forum Foundation 2007 Early Learning Study Tour to England and Finland. This book sought to provide study tour participants with a basic factual grounding in the early learning systems of these two nations. It draws comparisons between related public policies of the US […]
All children deserve the best chance to succeed. It is their right and it is our responsibility. The Washington State Constitution enshrines “ample provision for the education of all children” as the primary duty of the state, and the people and their representatives bear this responsibility because it is critical to the welfare of our community. Quality education lays the foundations for a thriving society: […]
Testimony from Meena Rishi, Economics professor, Seattle University For HB 5659 – Family Leave Insurance Bill In most western countries parental leave is available for those who have worked for their current employer for a certain period of time. In the UK, for instance, working mothers are given the right to 26 weeks of paid […]
Testimony from Justin For SSB 5659 – Family Leave Insurance Hi, my name is Justin. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my family’s experiences so the committee can better understand why Family Leave Insurance is so important. When my wife Nicole was pregnant with our son Kirby, she was working full time […]
Testimony from Sean For 2SSB 5659 – Family Leave Insurance My name is Sean O. I am 54 years old. I grew up in Mukilteo, WA and have lived in the area since 1962. My father worked for the Department of the Army Office of Civil Defense, which later became FEMA. My mother was a […]
Written testimony of Selena Allen For SSB 5659 Family Leave is a very personal issue to me. When I discovered I was pregnant with my first child I had just moved to Seattle to escape a bad relationship. Since I had only been with my employer for a few months, I did not qualify for […]
A poll of Washington state voters found 73% support the family and medical leave insurance proposal now moving through the state legislature. Only 23% opposed. The poll was conducted February 12-14, 2007 of 600 voters in Washington state by Lake Research Partners. Responses were to the question: “There is a proposal in the Washington State Legislature […]
AARP Washington American Association of University Women, Washington Chapter A. Philip Randolph Institute, Seattle Amalgamated Transit Union Legislative Council American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 2 American Federation of Teachers, Washington Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers Children’s Alliance Child Care Resources (CCR) Children’s Home Society Church Council of Greater Seattle […]
Bainbridge Gardens, Bainbridge Island Beads and Beyond, Bellevue Bellevue Nursery, Bellevue Bike Works, Seattle Bridges Restaurant, Aberdeen Dalton Electric, Joseph Spezialy (owner), Lynnwood De Laurenti’s Florist and Gifts, Bellevue Eagle Harbor Dental, Bainbridge Island Espresso Splendido, Seattle First Year’s Children’s Center, Bainbridge Island Hallmark Services, Inc. Seattle Go To Your Room, Bellevue Greenwood Hardware, Seattle […]
Testimony from Nicole February 6, 2007 For HB 1658, Family and Medical Leave Insurance, Commerce and Labor Committee Hearing I just wanted to share my story with you about why I feel Family and Medical Leave Insurance is so necessary. I just had my baby the day before Halloween, and I knew I’d be out […]
Testimony from L.W. For HB 1658, Family and Medical Leave Insurance Commerce and Labor Committee Thank you for this opportunity to share with you my experiences with the California Paid Family Leave program. In January 2006 I lived and worked in California. Until then, my husband was able to take care of himself. One night […]
Compares California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Hawaii’s state temporary disability programs. It pays particular attention to maternity benefits.
Testimony from Marilyn Watkins, Ph.D, Policy Director, EOI For HB 5659, to the House Commerce and Labor Committee Washington’s Good Economic News Jobs grew rapidly in 2005 and 2006 Jobs grew in most sectors Jobs grew in most regions of the state Washington’s job growth rate (3.2% Nov. ‘05-Nov. ‘06) is well above the national […]
Testimony from Sharon Ness, RN, Union Representative/Lobbyist- UFCW, Local 141 For HB 5659, House Commerce and Labor Committee Work Session Good Morning Representative Conway and Committee members. Thank you for this time. My name is Sharon Ness. I am a Registered Nurse for 38 years. I currently work in a Tacoma Hospital on weekends. Over the […]
Testimony from Ellen Bravo, Professor, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee For HB 5659 The problem: There’s a lot of talk about family values and personal responsibility. Yet, being a good family member can cost you: your job or career opportunity or health or wellbeing or security or peace of mind Paid family and medical leave insurance is […]
An overview of public revenue and expenses in the 2005-2007 biennial budget.
In the summer and fall of 2006, EOI conducted 47 interviews with small business owners and managers in western Washington about a proposed Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. Small businesses were located in Aberdeen, Bainbridge Island, Bellevue, Clinton, Edmonds, La Conner, Langley, Lynnwood, Mt. Vernon, Mukilteo, Poulsbo, and Seattle. Washington’s Family and Medical Leave […]
Initiative 933 enables corporations and individuals to demand payment from the public to abide by land use and zoning regulations. If state or local governments are unable or unwilling to make these payments, then Initiative 933 allows the grievants to violate land use and zoning regulations. Waivers or compensation under Initiative 933 will be claimed […]
Our legal system protects private property rights through the state constitution, state statutes, law enforcement, and the courts. The legal system also helps ensure the value of property through environmental laws and land use and zoning regulations. Initiative 933 undermines these foundations for property ownership and individual and mutual prosperity by creating financial incentives for […]
Washington state experienced strong job growth in 2005 and 2006, but the benefits of the booming economy have been unequally distributed. Because the job market has been so slack for so long, the typical family income has not kept up with inflation. Men from their mid- 20s to their mid-40s in particular are earning less […]
During the summer of 2006 EOI conducted a series of 24 interviews with small business owners and managers in diverse communities in Washington State to better understand their views on Washington Voluntary Accounts (WVAs). Businesses ranged from a single owner operated teashop to a 170+ employee research institute. They included a sheet metal manufacturer, a […]
As a nation, we are consuming our nation’s resources and the world’s resources at an unsustainable rate. Our reliance on and promotion of a petroleum-based economy threatens our environment and our way of life. Our dependence on foreign oil has almost tripled in volume in the past 35 years, with imports growing from one-third of […]
Washington has had an inheritance or estate tax since 1901. From 1982 to 2001, Washington’s estate tax was fully deductible from the amount owed in federal estate taxes. In 2001, Congress voted to lower the federal tax and phase out the state estate tax credit. In 2005, Washington adopted a new estate tax law that […]
The federal minimum wage increase passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, July 29, 2006 will lower wages for many workers in Washington state. The bill nullifies state minimum wage provisions for any workers earning $30 or more in tips a month. Restaurant workers, hotel maids, hairdressers, coffee shop workers with a tip jar […]
California’s short-term disability insurance program began in 1946 and covers almost all workers in the state. The disability program expanded to include family leave in July 2004. Family Leave • Allows workers time off to bond with a newborn or newly placed adoptive or foster child. Birth mothers can take bonding leave in addition to pregnancy-related disability […]
BARGAINING FOR TAX BREAKS has become a routine part of doing business. Across the United States, state and local governments are providing an estimated $50 billion in tax subsidies to businesses. Fearful of losing jobs, Washington, like other states, is giving away public revenue while underfunding the services necessary for a vibrant economy and a […]
Reviews availability and use of retirement security options by Washington workers.
HB 2977 recognizes that the major oil companies are reaping windfall profits through the high price of gasoline. This has resulted in $20 million a day exported out of the Washington state economy. HB 2977 would create an incentive for the major oil companies to keep gasoline prices at an appropriate reasonable level and recapture […]