Washington House Passes Bill Banning Masked Law Enforcement Officers
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street] — A prohibition on law enforcement covering their faces, motivated by masked federal immigration agents, is one step closer to becoming Washington law. The state House passed the legislation along party lines Tuesday with Democrats in support. The Senate approved it in January. It now heads back to the Senate, which will need […]
No cops hired so far with WA’s new $100 million grant program
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Money from Washington’s new $100 million program to boost police hiring has yet to reach cities and counties. Local officials have been frustrated with the rollout of the grants championed by Gov. Bob Ferguson to address Washington’s status as dead last in the nation in police staffing per capita. They complain it’s been […]
WA governor’s $1B borrowing plan to buy new ferries sinks in Legislature
OLYMPIA [Tom Banse]—Budget writers in the Washington Legislature on Monday declared their intent to eventually buy more hybrid electric ferries to modernize the state ferry fleet. But newly unveiled House and Senate transportation spending proposals left at the dock a $1 billion borrowing request from the governor to pay the tab, raising doubts about when and how […]
WA Democrats drop push for business tax to cover Medicaid costs
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Washington state Democrats are likely abandoning plans for a new tax on employers like Walmart and Amazon, whose workers get health coverage through Medicaid. The proposal came amid recent federal cuts to the program, which provides insurance for low-income Americans. The Senate’s budget committee was set to vote on advancing the legislation last […]
Budget bills in WA Legislature would tap rainy day fund, spend heavily on legal payouts
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street and Bill Lucia] —Democrats in the Washington Legislature on Sunday proposed tapping the state’s rainy day savings account and slashing hundreds of millions of dollars for a child care program for low-income families to balance the state’s budget into next year. But under their plans, the state’s main operating account would have a more […]
Trump announces new tariffs after SCOTUS ruling, alleges foreign meddling
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J Trump on Friday lambasted the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling curtailing his use of emergency powers for tariffs, labeling it “ridiculous” and “terrible,” while alleging foreign influence on nation’s highest court. He announced that the tariffs will remain in effect and that he will be signing an executive […]
Tension rising over how to spend revenue from proposed WA income tax
OLYMPIA [Bill Lucia] — A day after the Washington state Senate approved an income tax on millionaire earners, Gov. Bob Ferguson said he’s still not satisfied with the bill. He’s previously preached the need to pump a significant portion of the proceeds toward tax relief. On Tuesday, he said lawmakers hadn’t gone far enough and […]
Washington flood damage totals at least $182M, governor says
OLYMPIA [Jake Goldstein-Street]—Washington Governor Bob Ferguson on Tuesday asked the Trump administration for up to $173 million to deal with damage to roads, levees and more from flooding in December, and prepare for similar future disasters. The preliminary damage estimate for the state is $182.3 million, Ferguson said. “This historic flooding resulted in, we believe, […]
John Braun commentary: Olympia’s concern for affordability continues to be one-sided
Republicans still seem to be alone at the state Capitol when it comes to knowing what “affordability” truly means. The proof is in the nearly 70 bills proposed or reintroduced by majority Democrats over the past several weeks that would make living in our state even more expensive. This long list of legislation would increase […]
WA State Senate approves Millionaires’ Tax on personal income
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD & BILL LUCIA]—Washington state moved one step closer Monday, February 16, to creating a personal income tax two years after the Legislature said it wouldn’t. Majority Democrats in the Senate advanced legislation on a 27-22 vote to tax households earning more than a million dollars. Passage of the bill followed a three-and-a-half hour debate on […]
