Latest news with #JeremieDufault
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outburst by Washington lawmaker earns him temporary ban from House floor
Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, protests the closure of the Yakima Valley School, a facility for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, April 9, 2025 at the Washington state Capitol, in Olympia. Dufault was blocked from participating in-person in floor proceedings during the final few days of the 2025 session after an outburst in the House chamber on Thursday, April 24. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard) A Republican state lawmaker in Washington won't be allowed back in the House chamber this session following his latest outburst during a legislative debate. Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah, will be participating remotely in the last three days after his latest verbal disruption proved to be 'the last straw' for House leaders. 'What I did was a breach of decorum. I accept the consequences of my action,' Dufault said in a statement Friday. 'But I will also continue to fight for my constituents and stand up to the tyranny of the majority when needed.' Dufault, who represents the 15th Legislative District in central Washington, has been rebuked several times in the course of the 105-day session for making comments in floor debates that run afoul of House decorum. On Thursday, at the outset of debate on a highly controversial bill concerning the rights of public school students and their parents, Democrats denied a Republican lawmaker's motion to reject the version passed by the Senate for not comporting with House rules. When the presiding speaker, Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Bremerton, issued the ruling, Dufault leapt up and angrily shouted his disagreement. 'It was the last straw. It was more intense,' House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle said Friday. 'A lot of members were anxious about his mental state and whether that could be a physical threat.' Lawmakers in both parties said privately that at that moment, they feared Dufault might be armed and something worse might occur. Dufault said in an interview Thursday, he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon but had no weapons on the floor. Following the episode, floor proceedings in the House paused for about two to three hours, and Washington State Patrol officers increased their presence in the chamber. In the House, the Speaker can remove any person creating a disturbance or engaging in disorderly conduct in the chamber. Fitzgibbon said barring Dufault for the rest of the session was a mutual decision with leaders of the House Republican caucus. Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, declined requests for comment Thursday. On Friday, a spokesperson sent an email saying Stokesbary 'is not going to comment on internal caucus discussions.' Dufault said Thursday night he learned of the ban in a text from his caucus leader. He said he was working virtually from an office in the legislative building. 'I will always speak passionately. I will always speak directly,' he said. 'I believe that my tone is appropriate and measured.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA House OKs unemployment benefits for striking workers, but adds four-week limit
A strike sign is seen on display as Boeing workers gather on a picket line near the entrance to a Boeing facility during an ongoing strike on October 24, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by) Organized labor secured a major win Saturday as Democrats in the state House pushed through legislation to provide striking workers in Washington with unemployment benefits. But union leaders were not all smiles afterward. The bill was amended on the floor to impose a four-week limit on receiving benefits, eight weeks less than the version approved in the Senate. Senate Bill 5041 passed the House on a 52-43 vote with seven Democrats joining Republicans in voting against the measure. The Senate must now decide if it will agree with the revisions or insist on its position. When the bill came up for a vote last month, Senate Democrats narrowly defeated an amendment for a four-week limit before passing the bill 28-21. New Jersey and New York are the only states with such provisions for striking workers. Oregon lawmakers are debating legislation this year that would offer unemployment benefits to striking workers there. On Saturday, Democratic lawmakers said the bill ensures workers who choose to walk off the job will be less stressed about going without pay and seeing their finances erode in a lengthy dispute. With the threat of economic hardship eased, workers will be in a better position to endure lengthy negotiations. 'Fundamentally, this takes a step to level the playing field for striking workers,' said Rep. Beth Doglio, D-Olympia. Republicans argued that providing benefits would be an incentive for union workers to strike. They tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill to exclude public school teachers and hospital workers. 'If you are paying people to strike, you will have more strikes,' said Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah. The policy only assures a level of benefits is available 'for workers when they do go on strike,' said Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek. 'The state is not paying workers to strike.' Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said the bill is unfair because taxpayers and businesses with no involvement in a labor disagreement will have their contributions to the unemployment insurance fund go to striking workers. 'People who are not a party to the disagreement will pay for it,' he said. As written, a striking worker would become eligible for benefits on the second Sunday following the first day of a strike, provided that the strike is not found to be prohibited by federal or state law. Workers would be subject to a one-week waiting period after they become eligible for benefits. If a strike is determined to be prohibited by state or federal law, any benefits paid are liable for repayment. Employees would also qualify for unemployment insurance during employer-initiated labor lockouts. Lockouts are one way management can pressure a striking workforce during contract negotiations. Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, authored the amendment for the four-week limit on receiving benefits. It passed on a voice vote. Normally, unemployment insurance is available for up to 26 weeks in a one-year period. If the bill becomes law, the changes would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and last through Dec. 31, 2035.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Want to save $19.5 million? Republican lawmaker says cut the Office of Equity
This story was originally published on Republicans in the Washington State Legislature have an idea to close the budget gap. They say they could save taxpayers $19.5 million with legislation eliminating the Office of Equity. Democrats are not on board. House Bill 1959 is sponsored by Rep. Jeremie Dufault (R-Selah). The bill says this move would help ensure proper funding for 'safe streets, excellent schools, protection of the most vulnerable, and reliable, high quality infrastructure, while allowing individuals, families, and businesses to thrive.' 'If the office of equity has strong public support, it could be reconstituted to operate as a nonprofit organization but will no longer be serviced at taxpayer expense,' the bill reads. Related from MyNorthwest: Rally held at UW to protest Trump's funding cuts: 'We're seeing graduate programs actually freezing' Democrats unlikely to cut the Office of Equity The Washington State Legislative Black Caucus (WSLBC) strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it undermines efforts to address racial and social justice issues for marginalized groups. They insist the Office of Equity plays a vital role in addressing systemic inequities faced by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) within state agencies and public policy. 'This attempt to strip away resources dedicated to dismantling racial disparities is not only shortsighted but also deeply harmful,' the WSLBC said in a statement. 'It sends a message that the state is abandoning its commitment to equity, undermining the work that has been done to lift up marginalized communities, and failing to acknowledge the ongoing struggles that many people of color experience in education, health care, employment, and criminal justice.' The bill has been referred to the Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations for further review.
