State Dems promise to show restraint

OLYMPIA — Washington's top Democrats, from the governor to the speaker of the House, are rushing to reassure voters they won't use their new mega-majorities in the Legislature to launch expensive programs and raise taxes to pay for them.

But interest groups that helped sweep Democrats into office say they want bold moves from those politicians, starting when the Legislature convenes in January.

"If Democrats are actually the party that believes government can make peoples' lives better, then now is the time for them to show that is possible," said David Rolf, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 775.

For too long, he said, Democrats have tabled proposals, arguing they didn't have the votes. Now, Rolf said, "No excuses."

The party has emerged from Tuesday's elections with its strongest legislative majorities in decades. Ballots are still being counted, but Democrats expect at least a 31-18 seat majority in the state Senate and a 62-36 split in the House.

The wish list that interest groups want Democrats to deliver next year includes salary increases for teachers and state workers, better access to health care, a boost in funding for public schools, paid family leave and a ban on a toxic flame retardant present in televisions, computers and other consumer products.

Democratic leaders say their party will act on top issues, including education and health care, but in measured steps. Tax increases, they say, aren't very realistic in a time of budget surpluses.

Plus there's the danger of going too far, said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam. She was around for the 1994 election when Democrats lost 28 seats in the House and had two members switch parties. A $1 billion tax increase passed by Democrats to fix a big budget shortfall was largely blamed for the upheaval.

"All of us have talked about how our agenda will be thoughtful and not overly ambitious," Kessler said. "We don't want to get tossed out in two years."

Gov. Christine Gregoire said she's confident Democrats won't stray too far from a "pragmatic, fiscally prudent" agenda. But, she added, "I'm prepared to do everything I can to discipline."

For Gregoire, there's an added incentive to rein in her party — she'll be up for re-election in 2008 and faces a possible rematch against Republican Dino Rossi, the man she beat by just 129 votes two years ago.

Still, business leaders are nervous. Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business, said businesses were hit hard with new taxes the last time Democrats held strong majorities, in the early 1990s.

"There's an awful lot of money that flowed in these campaigns and there's going to be some expectations," Brunell said. "So, yeah, we're concerned."

Deputy House Republican Leader Mike Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, said he doesn't believe Democrats will be able to restrain themselves from creating programs and increasing taxes.

"I think they'll try to please the people who got them there," he said. The Democrats' supporters, he added, "have a large appetite for taxpayer dollars."

Labor's hopes

The Washington Education Association (WEA), the state's largest teachers union and one of the Democratic Party's most ardent supporters, sees opportunities ahead.

"We think it's time to get serious about investing in students and schools," said Charles Hasse, WEA president.

Hasse expects the Legislature to finally send a constitutional amendment to the ballot that would allow school levies to be approved by a simple majority of voters instead of a 60 percent supermajority. Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked the legislation in the past.

He also plans to push for increases in school funding, all-day kindergarten, demonstration projects for smaller class sizes in public schools, and a significant increase in teacher pay.

Rick Bender, president of the Washington State Labor Council, said labor will push lawmakers to require paid family leave for workers, give pay increases to state workers and pass health-care legislation, such as a so-called "fair-share" bill that would require large companies to spend a certain amount of their payroll on health-care benefits.

SEIU wants the Legislature to increase access to health care. "Can we really insure every child in the state by 2010?" Rolf said. "What are we going to do about the fact that the employer-based health-care system is shrinking every single year?"

Cliff Traisman, lobbyist for Washington Conservation Voters, said environmentalists plan to continue pushing an ambitious agenda.

A top priority next year will be to ban PBDEs — a toxic flame retardant used in televisions, computers and other consumer products, he said.

Environmentalists also will push for increased funding to clean up pollution in Puget Sound, tougher fuel-emission restrictions and more money for a state outdoor-recreation and wildlife-habitat program.

Democratic lawmakers have their own agenda as well, set in part by expert panels created by Gregoire to study education and health care.

The governor's Washington Learns education proposal is due out Monday. Gregoire said it will include demonstration projects and "phased in" spending.

"I think you're going to see a whole different way of investing in education," Gregoire said. "Not just more money."

Handling expectations

All the Democratic leaders have the same message: They plan to make progress on multiple fronts and do it without dramatic increases in spending.

Gregoire said she understands that Democrats will face high expectations from their supporters. But she said the Democrats have done a good job of sticking to a pragmatic agenda. They've also made sure to include the Republicans in major legislative deals, she said.

Last spring, for instance, Democrats reached out to Republicans to pass landmark legislation that is expected to resolve water disputes in Eastern Washington. The two parties also worked together to end a yearslong war between business and labor over unemployment insurance.

Tom McCabe, head of the Building Industry Association of Washington, a group that has long supported Republicans and their causes, said he's convinced House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, won't do anything to jeopardize the support he's won in recent years from business.

Republicans used to get the bulk of campaign contributions from business. Now Democrats are getting a growing share of that money.

"In my opinion, he's not a left-wing Seattle liberal," McCabe said of Chopp. "He's more of a blue-collar Bremerton Democrat."

Traisman, with the Washington Conservation Voters, said interest groups won't go crazy.

"There's a perception out there that all the progressive groups are going to come in with their hands out," Traisman said. "We're going to be smart about this ... It doesn't mean we're to be coming in asking for higher taxes."

Yet Rolf said Democrats shouldn't shy away from raising taxes or closing certain tax breaks if it's needed to move Washington in the right direction, particularly for such popular causes as health care, education and transportation.

Andrew Garber: 360-236-8268 or agarber@seattletimes.com.

Ralph Thomas: 360-236-8266 or rthomas@seattletimes.com.