The big battle in this year's legislative session will be over the budget and how to plug a $6 billion-plus hole that threatens to swallow at least one social program whole: the $339 General Assistance-Unemployable checks that go to 21,000 disabled, often homeless individuals.
Rep. Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way, has come up with a unique plan for saving GAU: In House Bill 2103, he proposes raising the program's $156 million budget through an 18.5 percent sales tax on pornography, but the legislation isn't scheduled for a hearing before the Feb. 25 deadline for bills to be voted out of committee. Among the fate of other bills:
* Immigrant Rights. House Bill 1896 seeks to create an "essential worker" pilot program that would allow various industries to import temporary workers. But, "it's a federal issue," says Pramila Jayapal, director of immigrant rights group One America. "We don't believe it's the state's role to institute a guest-worker program."
Jayapal also wants to see protections written into HB 2188, which would allow for deportation of immigrants convicted of crimes -- something that should not happen, she says, if a person still has legal recourse in the U.S.
* Payday Loans. After four years of trying, activists are finally gaining some traction with House Bill 1709, which would give borrowers more time to pay off a loan and its fees. Two other bills that would have capped interest at 36 percent or 25 percent (HB 1073 and HB 1425) appear dead.
* Tent Cities. House Bill 1956, introduced by Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, would allow churches to shelter the homeless outdoors -- a response to a law passed last year in Lacey that makes churches put the homeless inside. The bill is scheduled for committee action Feb. 19.
* Urban Development. The controversial HB 1490, which would increase zoning capacity within a half-mile of transit stations, has been pared back to designated urban hubs such as downtown, the University District and Capitol Hill, exempting the lower-income (and less dense) Rainier Valley. Developers would also be required to replace any low-income units they tore down and provide some affordable units in new buildings.
* Unemployment. On Feb. 16, the governor signed HB 1906, which raises minimum weekly unemployment benefits from $129 to $155 and adds $45 on top for all recipients.
* Voting Restoration. The House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs is set to take action Feb. 19 on HB 1517, a bill proposed by Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, that would automatically restore voting rights to felons freed from prison, even if they are still paying off their legal restitution.