Budget Drama: Democrat leader confesses to being impaired during hearing, calling it a ‘poor choice’
OLYMPIA—Washington state House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Seattle) acknowledged Thursday that he drank alcohol before a late-night committee hearing Wednesday evening, where lawmakers said he appeared impaired while wrapping up debate on a key budget bill. The Democrat from West Seattle, in a statement to conservative radio host Jason Rantz, called it a “poor choice” […]
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 […]
What’s on the agenda for Washington’s 2026 legislative session
With a looming $1.6 billion to $2.3 billion budget shortfall hanging over the Washington state legislature, House and Senate leaders and Governor Bob Ferguson presented differing proposals to address the issue. Three panels of House and Senate leaders discussed the state’s transportation budget and general fund, while Ferguson renewed his support for a “millionaire tax.” […]
Greenhouse gas emissions reduction adjusted downward nearly 3,000%
OLYMPIA—The Washington State Department of Commerce on January 6 revised greenhouse gas emissions data to the Department of Ecology for projects funded by the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) during 2023-25. The agency previously reported that eight rebate projects for 2023-25 funded by the CCA that support home electrification and appliance rebates for low-income and vulnerable […]
WA governor calls for tapping reserve fund and climate law cash to fill budget hole
OLYMPIA [JERRY CORNFIELD]—Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson made a splash Tuesday with his full-throated endorsement of taxing the earnings of millionaires. The surprise declaration from the first-term Democratic governor nearly drowned out his newly released plan to erase a multibillion-dollar shortfall in the current state budget. He made “super clear” that if Washington taxes millionaires, the […]
WA GOP budget lead blasts Ferguson’s budget plan as ‘a complete joke’
[The Center Square]—Washington state Gov. Bob Ferguson released his proposed 2026 supplemental budget on Tuesday, the deadline for presenting it. Ferguson’s proposed budget totals $79 billion and aims to address a projected $2.3 billion shortfall through a combination of cost-saving reductions and targeted spending in housing, education and infrastructure. “I want to be clear that […]
Snohomish County Public Works Receives $1.1 million in grants for safety improvements
EVERETT—Snohomish County Public Works has received two grants totaling more than $1.1 million that will fund safety improvements at a south Everett intersection and a study for overcrossing plans at Interstate 5 (I-5) and the Interurban Trail. Public Works’ County Road Safety Program will receive a $914,000 grant to construct a quick-build (or modular) roundabout […]
John Braun commentary: Clarity on climate policy cost comes too late for our state
I have spoken many times about the importance of giving people a second chance to get on a better path. It usually comes up when the topic is our state’s management of juvenile offenders. I never had a reason to consider whether that should also extend to billionaires. Then in late October, Bill Gates — […]
It’s a go! Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding receives authorization to build three new hybrid-eclectic ferries for WA state
OLYMPIA—Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group has officially received a Notice to Proceed from Washington State Ferries (WSF) to build two, with an option for an additional third, 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries for Washington state, the company announced on August 15. “This is an exciting milestone in bringing new hybrid-electric ferries to our fleet,” said David Sowers, Washington State […]
Florida company selected to build hybrid-electric ferries for WSF, sparking local job concerns
Washington State has selected Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new 160-vehicle hybrid-electric ferries for Washington State Ferries (WSF) at a cost of $714.5 million, a decision that prioritizes cost savings but has raised concerns about bypassing local shipbuilders and its impact on Washington’s economy. “After careful consideration and conversations with legislative leaders, I […]
