On The Impact: Workers’ comp, nuclear energy & cuts to social services

We have some really good debates on The Impact tonight.  If workers’ compensation reforms can be made interesting, I think we did it.  We take a closer look at the most controversial portion of that issue and then hear from two key House lawmakers about their thoughts on voluntary settlements.

Of course, the nuclear crisis in Japan is bringing new attention to nuclear energy here in the U.S.  So how safe is nuclear energy?  And what role should it play in Washington’s energy future? The House’s lead legislator on energy, Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, told me more nuclear power production is coming to our corner of the world.  So, the questions are when, where and how can we make it secure?  Right now, we have just one plant operating on the Hanford nuclear site near Tri-Cities.  Rep. McCoy is joined on set by Rep. Terry Nealey, a Republican member of the House energy committee, who proposed legislation this year to expand the state’s production of nuclear power.

And finally, a good debate on social services between Rep. Ruth Kagi, the chair of the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee, and Sen. Mike Carrell, a Republican on the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee. The biggest divide came over the extent of fraud and abuse within the safety net system.  During that debate, I promised Rep. Kagi to post a graphic representation of the decline in funding for social services, so here it is:

Don’t miss The Impact Wednesday nights at 7pm & 10pm on TVW.