Attorney General Rob McKenna's office quietly released an informal Attorney General's opinion today that knocked the wind out of Senate Bill 5446, the employer gag law.
The law "Prohibiting certain employer communications about political or religious matters" has caused a stir in Olympia because it is clearly aimed at hobbling employers and threatens to seriously worsen Washington's already dismal business climate.
The list of those testifying for and against the bill is a Who's Who of business and labor:
Persons Testifying: PRO: Rick Bender, WSLC; Diana Zahn, UFCW 21; Tom Wroblewski, IAMThe informal AGO states federal law preempts the state from interfering in labor relations.
CON: AWB; Boeing Company; Washington Roundtable; NFIB; Association Builders & Contractors.
Perhaps Senators Prentice, Kohl-Welles, Keiser, McDermott, Fairley, Franklin, Kline,
Murray, Ranker, Tom, Shin, Regala, Hobbs, Kauffman, Pridemore, McAuliffe, Kastama,
Hatfield, Oemig, Fraser and Jacobsen will need to find a different way to ingratiate themselves with state labor leaders.