Stories by Elizabeth Hovde
214 stories
Opinion: A Boeing strike could give the state’s UI fund a much bigger test
As of Sept. 14, 174 striking workers have collected $604,491 from Washington's Unemployment Trust Fund under a new law allowing strikers to receive UI benefits.
Opinion: A teacher’s disagreement with WEA shows why public workers need to know their rights
A fifth-grade teacher disagrees with WEA's opposition to I-001, highlighting public workers' right to opt out of union membership under Janus v. AFSCME.
Opinion: WFSE demands a ‘fair’ contract — but workers and taxpayers can’t see the numbers
Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues neither state workers nor taxpayers can evaluate what is "fair" when wage proposals and their costs remain undisclosed.
Opinion: A school bell should not be a bargaining chip
Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues public educators should not withhold school from children to gain bargaining leverage.
Opinion: Striking workers are now expected to seek work like others
Washington's ESD faces federal pressure to enforce work-search rules for striking workers or risk losing funding and employer tax credits.
Opinion: Workers need their wages more than the state's paid-leave program does
Washington's paid-leave payroll tax stands at 1. 13% and is projected to hit its 1. 2% cap by 2027, with some lawmakers eyeing a 2% rate.
Opinion: WA Cares' launch showcased care WA Cares did not provide
Gov. Ferguson showcased a caregiving arrangement at the WA Cares launch that the program had not paid for a single day of.
Opinion: Dues & Don’ts – Unions are political, and union money is again driving opposition to initiatives
WEA, the Washington Federation of State Employees, and relevant locals of SEIU each contributed $1M to oppose IP26-645, the income tax repeal initiative.
Opinion: UI fund has a government-made leak harming workers and their employers
138 striking workers have collected 642 weeks of UI benefits totaling nearly $506,000 under Washington's new law.
WA Cares ready-ish to launch; family caregivers remain in the dark
Of 113 early WA Cares applicants, only 44 qualified — and family caregiver guidance funnels toward a union-linked employer.
Opinion: More employers mean more opportunities for workers
A Washington Policy Center analyst argues that fewer employers directly means fewer choices and less power for workers.
Opinion: Hospital price transparency is good, but its impact will be limited
Washington still shields hospitals from competition through certificate-of-need laws other states have repealed.
Opinion: Trading one bad healthcare system for another is not a solution
Washington Policy Center's Elizabeth New (Hovde) argues the state's Universal Health Care Commission ignores free-market alternatives entirely.
Opinion: New resource can help public employees understand their rights
A 2018 Supreme Court ruling made public-sector union membership entirely voluntary — but many workers still don't know it.
Opinion: ACA enrollment drops should force honest conversations about healthcare costs
Washington's ACA enrollment fell nearly 13%, but disenrolled does not necessarily mean uninsured.
Opinion: Fix licensing. Expand access. Lower costs. Free workers.
Universal licensure recognition could replace Washington's patchwork of occupation-by-occupation licensing compacts.
Opinion: Workers needed tax relief, but Olympia gave them something else
Washington's new 9. 9% income tax faces a court challenge and a likely voter initiative before first payments are due in 2029.
Opinion: WA Cares – Important information is still MIA, but benefits are available for some in July
Family caregivers using CDWA are subject to a union contract with SEIU 775 — a fact not clearly disclosed in registration materials.
Opinion: Public workers’ First Amendment rights are getting attention – in Idaho, not Washington
Idaho moves to stop public schools from collecting union dues through government payroll while Washington continues favoring unions over worker choice.
Opinion: The state’s RFK-proofing bill comes with a cost
Mandates like HB 2242 can lead to higher premiums as insurance companies absorb costs for new preventive services, affecting affordability statewide.
Higher payroll taxes may hit workers as eligibility rules broaden
Elizabeth New argues the state’s paid family leave system drains paychecks from lower-income workers and gives more to frequent and high-income users, urging repeal or major reform.
Opinion: Some worker rights get a poster, others get fine print
Elizabeth New questions why Washington state highlights some workplace protections while Janus First Amendment rights for public employees remain hidden in official materials.
Opinion: State is rightly emphasizing experience and skills, not degrees
Elizabeth New explains how a new state policy removes unnecessary advanced degree requirements, supporting skills-based employment and broadening opportunities for capable workers.
Opinion: Hiring someone for jobs around the house?
Households in Washington that hire caregivers or cleaners will have to keep records, offer contracts, and follow new compliance rules under HB 2355.
Showing the 24 most recent of 214.