Washington state’s new pickleball license plate just launched
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—Washington served up a new license plate Wednesday, honoring the state sport of pickleball. In the works for three years, it is the second of seven specialty plates to hit the market since getting approved by lawmakers earlier this year. “We’re thrilled to see our efforts become reality,” said Kate Van Gent, vice president of the nonprofit Seattle […]
Voters to decide if WA Cares tax dollars can be invested in stock market
OLYMPIA [Jerry Cornfield]—The first item on every Washington voter’s ballot is a proposal to add a few lines to the state constitution that would change how billions of taxpayer dollars are managed. Senate Joint Resolution 8201 seeks to let the state make stock market investments with payroll taxes collected for its long-term care program, known as WA […]
WA fire officials press for safety reforms amid accessory dwelling unit surge
As Washington lawmakers ease barriers to build more housing across the state, fire officials warn of an “unintended circumstance” making their jobs more difficult in some communities. They say recent state laws encouraging higher density development have led to more properties with multiple single family residences, or accessory dwelling units, squeezed onto them. In some […]
US Senate confirms Joe Kent to lead a national intelligence agency
[Washington State Standard]—Joe Kent, a former Army Special Forces soldier and two-time Republican candidate for Congress in Washington state, was confirmed by the US Senate on Wednesday, July 30, as director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The 52-44 vote comes nearly six months after President Donald J Trump nominated Kent to lead the center. Kent has worked as […]
Dueling Democrats: WA House member looks to unseat senator from her own party
(Washington State Standard)—Two Democratic state lawmakers are set to clash in 2026 in one of the party’s strongholds in western Washington. State Rep. Cindy Ryu has launched a campaign to unseat Sen. Jesse Salomon, saying the colleague she once endorsed is “too moderate” for their district, which straddles the border of King and Snohomish counties. “He’s my […]
Ferguson signs $77.8 billion budget with largest tax hike in WA state history at $9.4 billion
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson entered office warning that a $16 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next four years would require spending cuts and, as a last resort, higher taxes. On Tuesday, the first-term Democrat appeared satisfied with lawmakers’ work to close the financial gap, signing a two-year state budget and a tax package to produce […]
Plan to raise cap on property tax growth collapses in WA Legislature
Democratic state lawmakers dropped their bid Monday to repeal a voter-approved limit on property tax growth in Washington, excising one of the most controversial revenue-raising ideas they’ve pursued in this year’s legislative session. The proposal, embedded in House Bill 2049, sought to allow an increase in the growth factor from the current 1% cap to as much […]
WA State Senate adopts new rule restricting press in chamber to ‘maintain decorum’
OLYMPIA—In a voice-only vote, the Washington State Senate on Wednesday, March 27, overwhelmingly adopted a rule within its last four weeks of the Legislative Session to restrict members of the press from “the wings” and adjacent areas of the of the Senate unless accompanied by a sitting senator or senator’s staff member. The members of […]
House Democrats push 200% increase on property tax cap
OLYMPIA—Democratic state lawmakers are aiming to erase a voter-approved limit on annual property tax hikes as a way, they claim, to generate hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools and local governments. The state House Finance Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 1334 which would repeal a 1% cap on annual growth for property […]
With final speech, Inslee bids adieu as Washington governor
OLYMPIA—Washington Governor Jay Inslee used his final State of the State speech to a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday to frame a 12-year legacy that spanned a pandemic, historic natural disasters, unmatched expansion of government and a quixotic bid for president. The three-term Democrat told members of the House and Senate that serving in the […]
