It may not look like it, but this was a moment of high drama on the Senate floor Wednesday as six Democratic senators peeled off and voted with Republicans.
By Erik Smith
Staff writer/ Washington State Wire
OLYMPIA, Feb. 3.—For approximately 10 minutes Wednesday Republicans controlled the Senate, as six Democrats revolted against their own party on a high-stakes unemployment insurance bill.
The meltdown on the Senate floor demonstrates that a major breakdown may be coming later this session when it comes time to pass a budget bill. Democrats hold the majority in the Senate by a slim 27-22 margin. But when the party’s leaders attempted to execute a squeeze play on behalf of the state’s labor unions, they couldn’t keep their own members in line.
Six Democrats peeled off and voted with Republicans, and stunned Democratic party leaders immediately adjourned the session for the day. It was a major blow for Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, who attempted to exhort her own members with a line that brought chuckles from across the chamber:
“We should not be playing politics,” she said.
Bill Must Pass Quickly
The bill at issue, SB 5135, is one that everyone agrees must pass quickly. It slashes tax rates for unemployment insurance this year, cutting a back-breaking tax increase for business from 36 percent to about 5 percent. The tax break is worth about $300 million for business. Unless a bill is delivered to the governor’s desk by next Tuesday, it will be too late for the Employment Security Department to send out new tax notices to thousands of businesses for the first quarter of 2011.
The tax-rate reduction has wide support in the Legislature. The trouble is that there are other big issues swirling around unemployment insurance this year. The biggest one has to do with an expansion of unemployment benefits – a tricky issue that Gov. Christine Gregoire argues ought to be dealt with in a separate bill. If the state picks from a list of ideas from the feds, it qualifies for a sorely needed $98 million in cash. The governor and the state’s business community favor one of the least expensive options – unemployment benefits for workers who are in retraining programs.
But the state’s labor unions want a benefit expansion that costs twice as much – a $15-a-week benefit for workers with dependent children, up to $50 a week depending on the number of children in the household. That idea faces stiff opposition from Republicans and moderate Democrats.
Holding Benefits Hostage
The Legislature’s Democratic leadership gets reasonably strong support from labor and its allies in its political campaigns, and so it attempted to execute a strategy to ensure that moderate Democrats voted with the team. There was another key element of SB 5135 that enjoys wide support – a tweak to state law that will allow the state to collect federal money for extended unemployment benefits. Unless that passes by March, unemployment benefits will end this spring for 35,000 workers, and another 34,000 who will qualify will not receive them.
But that part isn’t quite so urgent. And so the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee this week voted to strip out the extended-benefits portion of the bill. That would have allowed the unions to demand the dependent-child benefit in return for the extended benefits later in the session.
If it all sounds a bit obscure, it’s the kind of horsetrading that is a matter of routine in the state Legislature. When the bill came to the Senate floor Wednesday, it was clear that everyone understood the game. And the rank-and-file would have none of it.
Gasps Are Heard
When the bill came up for a vote, Republican floor leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, moved to reconsider. It was the first step toward stripping off the amendment.
“I know of no one who is opposed to the extension of these benefits,” he said.
Brown pleaded with her members to remain in line. “There is no way that we should be playing a game by modifying the bill at this point and slowing it down,” she said.
And then came the vote. Gasps were heard when the count was announced. It is rare for the majority party to lose on a procedural motion. But it did this time, 26-21.
The six Democrats who voted with the Republicans were Brian Hatfield of Raymond, Steve Hobbs of Lake Stevens, Jim Kastama of Puyallup, Craig A. Pridemore of Vancouver, Tim Sheldon of Hoodsport and Rodney Tom of Bellevue.
Shuts Down the Session
The revolt may be interpreted as a symbolic vote of no confidence, because it didn’t have a practical effect. The moment the Democratic leadership lost and Republicans were poised to run the floor, Democratic floor leader Tracy Eide immediately moved to adjourn. Four of the rebels voted again with their party, while Sheldon and Kastama voted with Republicans. The Democrats won 25-22. That was it for the day.
The unemployment bill is expected to come up again Thursday – but there’s no telling what will happen now. Meanwhile, the state Labor Council is cranking up its activist base, urging union members to flood the six senators’ offices with phone calls. In its email blast, it says, “This maneuver to force through an unbalanced corporate giveaway is being aided by a small group of Democratic state senators in defiance of their own Senate caucus leadership.”
Republicans Have Great Sport
“Aren’t you glad we aren’t playing politics?” asked state Sen. Cheryl Pflug, R-Maple Valley. “You know we never do that.”
State Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, said there was plenty of support for the governor’s original bill, and if the Democrats allow a vote on it, the measure will certainly pass. Republicans of course will say yes, Ericksen said. “I’m just here to support Chris,” he said.
And with a wicked grin, he added, “—when she’s right.”
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