State senate stalls unemployment tax reduction

OLYMPIA — Senate lawmakers are putting off a planned vote on unemployment tax breaks for businesses.

The bill is projected to save Washington employers about $300 million by halting an increase in unemployment insurance rates. Senators were going to debate the measure Wednesday, but put the bill off for later consideration instead.

They don’t have unlimited time. Gov. Chris Gregoire said the bill has to pass both chambers of the Legislature and be signed into law by Feb. 8 to have an effect on this year’s tax rates.

Lawmakers also have other issues to consider in the area of unemployment policy, but those topics have been split from the tax-relief bill and will probably be debated separately.