House Democrats trot out business plan

GOP has rival plan to bolster business climate in state

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Friday, February 15, 2002

OLYMPIA -- Halfway through the session, House Democrats laid out a case Thursday that they're making progress on improving the state's business climate.

Several of their proposals already cleared the House on strong bipartisan votes, including a bill to create a permit-streamlining task force and others to give towns and local governments more ways to create jobs and spur development.

"This is just the beginning," said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.

More proposals are in the works, according to Chopp and other Democrats, who created their own competitiveness task force to respond to recommendations by Gov. Gary Locke's Competitiveness Council.

Democrats, including Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, said the state's investment in higher education and training of technology workers, nurses and pharmacy workers is also needed to boost the economy.

An overhaul of the unemployment-insurance rates paid by business also is needed, along with a major transportation system investment, Chopp said.

"We believe the Democrats are on the right track," Boeing Commercial Aircraft spokeswoman Cris McHugh said. "There's more that can be done, but they're going in the right direction."

Republican Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis and other GOP leaders were skeptical, saying they have their own package of bills, including the repeal of ergonomics rules that they would like to force to a floor vote today.

Efforts to get a vote Thursday were abandoned late in the evening.

The streamlining task force is considered a token move to Republicans because it doesn't actually reduce regulatory requirements, but instead studies what is needed, DeBolt said, calling it "the biggest piece of hooey we see out here."

Republicans would like the governor to have to sign any rule adopted by a state agency, in effect putting his fingerprints on it and providing another chance to consider if the rule is needed. State ergonomics rules for businesses were drawn up through state agency rule-making and have become lightning rods for the GOP criticism.

DeBolt said other proposals would put the "burden of proof" on state agencies to show that an agency's action is authorized by law. Another bill would delay the effect of significant rules.

Alan Mulally, chief executive and president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, has told state lawmakers that Washington is becoming less competitive with other regions. He has called for passage of many of Locke's Competitiveness Council recommendations, including a statewide transportation tax package.

"Washington's economy won't turn around overnight, but it will happen and our goal is to do everything we can to spur it along," Rep. Aaron Reardon, D-Everett, said in a statement released Thursday.

Reardon is chairman of his caucus' competitiveness task force, which hopes to push other bills that would simplify city taxation and create a permit-assistance center for the Department of Ecology.

Brad Shannon, political editor for The Olympian, can be reached at 360-753-1688 and at shannonbrad@hotmail.com.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Legislature 2002 index