WA judge rules high-capacity magazine ban unconstitutional, state appeals
OLYMPIA, Wash., April 10, 2023—A Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge ruled Monday, April 8, that Washington State’s ban on high-capacity magazines was unconstitutional, immediately issuing an injunction for the state to stop enforcing the ban, the Seattle Times first reported. On July 1, 2022, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5078 went into effect making it illegal […]
US Supreme Court denies request by Republican Latino voters to pause the Lasnik redistricting map
Washinton, D.C.—An emergency application for an injunction to the adoption of an alleged gerrymandered court-approved redistricting map ordered by Judge Robert Lasnik of the District Court of Western Washington, was denied on Monday, April 2, by United States Supreme Court Justices whom Justice Elena Kagan, assigned to the Ninth Circuit Court, referred the matter. As […]
Republicans fighting for Latino representation as WA state redistricting dispute heads to US Supreme Court
SEATTLE—On Friday, March 22, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request to stay (put on hold) the adoption of a redistricting map ordered by Judge Robert Lasnik, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, on March 15. The matter now heads to the United States Supreme Court where Justice […]
Washington State Legislature passed a record high number of citizen initiatives in 2024
The Washington State Legislature adjourned this year’s legislative session on March 7 passing three citizen-initiated initiatives into law—the most ever for a single year. From 1912, when the state’s initiative process was established, to 2023, just six Initiatives to the Legislature (ITLs) have received legislative approval. With three approved this year, the total increases to […]
Clinton-appointed judge redistricts out Washington Republican lawmakers
SEATTLE—Judge Robert Lasnik, of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, ordered the adoption of a redistricting map that impacts the boundaries of 13 legislative districts—12 Republican and 1 Democratic—and which redistricts out several Republican and no Democratic lawmakers ahead of 2024 General Election. Judge Lasnik’s decision stems from a January […]
First three Let’s Go Washington initiatives pass the legislature and now law
OLYMPIA—Three of six Let’s Go Washington landmark initiatives to the legislature passed both chambers of the Washington State Senate and House on Monday, March 4, and will become law in 90 days after the Legislature adjourns on March 7—no signature by Governor Jay Inslee is needed. The three initiatives that did not receive public hearings […]
Overwhelming public support for Parental Rights initiative
OLYMPIA—The House Education Committee and Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee held a joint public hearing to discuss Initiative 2081, protecting parental rights, on Wednesday, February 28. The Meeting was chaired by Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (D- Rainier Beach). “We all know that family members are every child’s first teachers,” said Senator Lisa Wellman (D-Mercer […]
Washington lawmakers hold public hearing on police pursuit initiative
OLYMPIA—The Senate Law and Justice Committee and the House Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry Committee held a public hearing on February 28 to discuss I-2113, the police pursuit initiative. A total of 161 people signed up to testy in which 151 were in favor of the initiative; another 5,483 people signed a petition not to testify […]
Legislature holds hearing on initiative concerning personal income tax
OLYMPIA—The Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Finance Committee held a joint public hearing to discuss a citizen initiative, I-2111, concerning personal income tax, in the John L. O’Brien building in Olympia Tuesday, February 27. The joint meeting was chaired by Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek). There was a total of 181 testifiers […]
Uproar about party declaration on ballot envelope after Elon Musk tweet
WASHINGTON STATE—Some Washington state voters in uproar about being required to declare a political party (or party declaration) on their upcoming Presidential Primary ballot envelope after Elon Musk, CEO of X, SpaceX, and Telsa) brought attention to the decades-old tradition in a recent X post. This is the second presidential election which requires voters to […]
