High-value WA home listings increase by 65% after passage of income tax
[The Center Square] — The number of high-priced homes listed for sale in Washington state that cost $2 million or more increased significantly the day after the state legislature passed an income tax on millionaires, according to data The Center Square obtained from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. While the numbers of homes overall were […]
Democrats Reject Protections for Children in Drug-Affected Homes
With a handful of days left in the 2026 legislative session, we still don’t know what will happen with some very controversial bills, such as the proposed income tax. Unfortunately, it’s already clear these 60 days at the Capitol will not end well for those of us who take a special interest in the safety […]
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” […]
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 […]
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 […]
Bill critics dubbed the ‘initiative killer’ appears dead for 2026 session
OLYMPIA [The Center Square] — The initiative killer bill appears to be dead in Olympia, at least for this session. SB 5973 – sponsored by Sen. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, cleared out of the Senate State Government Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee last month, but on Tuesday, Sen. Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said the bill was not expected to […]
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 […]
ICE Out: Heated debate on bill to bar hiring of ICE agents
OLYMPIA [CASSIE DIAMOND]—Lawmakers clashed during a public hearing for a bill that would prohibit Washington law enforcement agencies from employing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers hired after Trump’s second-term inauguration. During a House Community Safety Committee meeting Thursday, Jan. 29, the division between Democratic and Republican legislators regarding their stances towards ICE was made […]
Will Chen Launches Campaign for State Representative in Washington’s 32nd Legislative District
Edmonds City Councilmember Will Chen on Friday, January 16, formally announced his campaign for State Representative in Washington’s 32nd Legislative District, entering the race with a focus on affordability, opportunity, public safety, and practical, fiscally responsible leadership at a time when families and small businesses across the district are feeling increasingly squeezed. Spanning communities in […]
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.” […]
