Students ignite debate with call for jobless to do community service

  • By Jerry Cornfield
  • Friday, January 24, 2014 5:47pm
  • Local News

Two Snohomish High seniors ignited a little partisan scuffling Friday with their proposal to require unemployed adults to perform community service if they want to keep receiving benefits.

Students Kristen Hoffmann and Marissa Martz pitched the idea to lawmakers in a visit to Olympia last week. On Friday, conservative Republicans in the House and Senate introduced bills to put the concept into law — and Senate Democrats immediately denounced it as a punitive measure.

Senate Bill 6392 and House Bill 2690 require individuals do at least eight hours of community service for every four weeks of unemployment benefits received. The bills exempt those younger than 18 and older than 65 and people with a “justifiable cause for failure to perform community service.”

Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, sponsor of the Senate bill, said the requirement will expand opportunities for the unemployed to make connections that might land them a job. He said it is not intended to be a punitive measure.

Martz and Hoffmann both said punishing those without jobs was not their aim either.

“The intention is not to punish people on unemployment,” Hoffmann said. “It is to open doors, reduce fraud, keep people moving and help them find work.”

But Sen. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, didn’t see it that way. In a prepared statement she said:

“Our friends and neighbors seeking jobs are already struggling to pay the bills and feed their kids in addition to looking for work. Community service is an honorable pursuit, but forcing someone into it simply to maintain their family’s lifeline is downright cold.”

In their written proposal submitted to lawmakers, the two students said the bill is intended “to reduce unemployment fraud in Washington State by adding extra requirements of community service” and to “reduce money going towards people who don’t truly need unemployment.”

Hoffmann said they were searching for a way to curb the number of people who collect checks without fully complying with existing requirements to find a job. In order to receive benefits, one must make contact with at least three potential employers per week.

Requiring service seemed a way to do that and provide a little benefit for nonprofit community groups.

Martz said she thinks the bill, if passed, could help individuals learn new skills or hone ones they already have. It also could help them beef up their resumes and improve their chances to find work.

“There is a saying, ‘A body in motion stays in motion.’ What we’re trying to do is to help people to stay motivated, to keep moving,” she said. “And at the end of the day you are giving something back to the community.”

She said both of them have had a parent spend time on unemployment and become discouraged at the difficulty of finding work. That’s why they don’t want this to be seen as punishment.

“We know how hard it is to find jobs,” she said.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

A wall diagram shows the “journey of the ballot” at the new Elections Center on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County Auditor: No need for feds to meddle with state or local elections

Garth Fell’s comments were in response to a report of Justice Department mulling criminal charges against election officials.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services said a temporary work stoppage is causing some customers in the county to experience “temporary service delays.”

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.