“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a visionary who provided inspiration and meaning to a revolution that transformed this country. A civil rights and social justice revolution that continues to this day.

His challenge was to change the cultural foundation of a nation, the challenges today are just as critical but more subtle and complex. More subtle in that even as we make progress in fighting overt racism, systemic racism continues. More complex in that social justice is too often used today as a banner by commercial, nonprofit, and partisan organizations to seek unwarranted financial or competitive gains in the marketplace, government or electorate.

Indeed, competing ideas of justice will be on display this week as the House of Representatives once again takes up legislation to pass a State Voting Rights Act. One of the early social justice movements focused on saving jobs from unreasonable environmental laws, which will be the subject of a bill in the Senate on Tuesday. And even as a Minimum Wage Initiative to the People was filed last week on the first day of the Session, this week will see action on several other bills including reasonable accommodations for pregnant women and ongoing action on the charter schools legislation.

Democrats are pushing for better voting access for minorities via the Voting Rights Act. Representative Luis Moscoso (D-Mountlake Terrace) and Senator Pramila Jayapal (D-Seattle) authored the legislation, but a closer look reveals that the bill is more complicated than seems. The bill requires voters to take legal action and demonstrate polarized voting in their district, leaving some to wonder how far the act will go and whether the burden of redistricting will fall disproportionately on disenfranchised citizens.

In other news, last week witnessed the media fiasco surrounding the investigation of a grave mistake by the Department of Corrections that resulted in the early release of 3,200 prisoners and consequently two deaths. In back-to-back press conferences last week, State Senate Republicans and Governor Jay Inslee traded jabs over the DOC investigation. This week, Republican Senators are pressing forward with their investigation. We’ll see if there are any skeletons in the DOC’s closet.

Aside from the impending investigation, this week is all about carbon reduction. In the face of I-732, which would implement a carbon tax like the one in British Columbia, several bills have been introduced. In Senate Bill 6306 Senator Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens) proposes charging $8 per metric ton of carbon emissions. Unlike I-732’s “revenue neutral” approach, Hobbs’ proposal would raise an estimated $867 million over two years. Meanwhile the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy is also talking about doing a statewide ballot initiative, revealing discord within the environmental camp. Polling indicates that it would be very difficult to pass with two carbon initiatives on the ballot

In a long shot, Senator Ericksen is challenging Governor Inslee’s proposed Clean Air Rule. Senate Bill 6173 would prohibit any rules and policies limiting carbon emissions. Good luck, Senator. Interestingly, the Governor’s carbon rule seems to have borrowed from a moderate bill on carbon reduction last session, sponsored by Ericksen himself. Like Senator Ericksen’s bill last year, the Clean Air Rule would allow businesses to invest in carbon reduction projects, rather than reducing emissions through their core business.

You may be wondering what happened to education. After losing steam last session, Governor Inslee made it clear that McCleary won’t be resolved until the very last minute. Filling the void, charter schools are receiving a lot of attention. Senate Bill 6194, which would preserve all charter school by funding them through the Opportunity Pathways Account, is scheduled for public hearing and executive action this week.

Last week, Senator Christine Rolfes (D-Kitsap County) hinted that there may be willingness on behalf of Democrats to compromise and preserve existing charters. However, she is also moving forward with a bill to equalize levies and another on data regarding levy usage, which many opponents of charter schools believe takes priority over charters. If Democrats in the House refuse to get on board with charters, Republicans may be forced to settle for a trade that does away with some high school assessments.

Lastly, 2016 won’t allow for much supplemental spending. The fires from last summer will take over $180 million. Needs for mental health will also drain the state’s coffers.

Quotes:

“This equity issue is complicated,”– Representative Chad Magendanz (R-Issaquah) on the issue of teacher compensation and local levies.

Senator Rolfes on whether or not Democrats will go for a charter school fix: “There is sentiment among some for figuring out a solution that is constitutional for those 1,000 students impacted.”

“I want to hear you say ‘In a World.’” That’s Senator Joe Fain (R-South King County) interrupting a man with a movie trailer voice who testified in last week’s charter school hearing. The man was not amused.

“You can’t police it,” said Senator Pam Roach. She and others are crafting legislation to legalize at least some forms of fantasy sports.

Calendar:

The Senate Law & Justice Committee is holding a hearing on Monday at 1:30PM regarding the early release of over 3,000 inmates. Last week, Senators Steve O’Ban and Mike Padden said they are seeking subpoena power in order to conduct their own investigation.

Senate Bill 6183, the bill about levy equalization, is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education at 1:30 PM on Monday. The committee will also hear the Basic Education study bill, Senate Bill 6195.

On Wednesday at 8:30 AM the House Technology & Economic Development Committee will be briefed on the federal Clean Power Plan and then hear public testimony on HB 2506, governing development of the state Power Plan.

In the midst of the mélange of carbon reduction bills, two alternative energy bills are being heard in the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee on Wednesday at 1:30PM. One regarding solar and another regarding nuclear energy. Senator Hobbs’ SB 6306 will get a public hearing in the same committee on Thursday at 1:30PM.

The Voting Rights Act will go to executive session in the House State Government Committee on Wednesday at 8am.

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