Making Washington a place to prosper.

[un]Divided: Democrats shut down debate on parental rights

[un]Divided: Democrats shut down debate on parental rights

Not only did Democrats in Olympia vote to gut a voter initiative protecting parental rights, they shut down debate on the floor so they didn’t have to hear dissenting opinions. Brandi Kruse has more on unDivided.

By Brandi Kruse

Property Tax Hikes Still Alive and Well in Olympia

Property Tax Hikes Still Alive and Well in Olympia

Yesterday, Olympia politicians pushed HB 2049 through the House—a repackaged property tax hike designed to hit Washington families where it hurts most: your home. They changed the bill—but it’s still a tax hike HB 2049 no longer triples how fast local governments can raise your property taxes. Instead, it was amended to give greater taxing...

Center Square: WA Senate Dems advance several tax hike bills as session enters last week

Center Square: WA Senate Dems advance several tax hike bills as session enters last week

The Center Square Washington breaks down legislative activity over the past weekend, including a flurry of tax hike bills that were advanced out of the state senate. Ahead of the last week of the legislative session, Democratic senators on Saturday passed several bills as part of a $12 billion tax package, including expanding the capital...

New polling: Washingtonians strongly oppose tax hikes being pushed in state budget

New polling: Washingtonians strongly oppose tax hikes being pushed in state budget

New polling from the Napolitan News Service shows strong opposition to tax increases and especially in using them to balance the state budget which includes record levels of spending.  Some key findings include: 80% believe slowing the growth of government spending is a better way to address Washington’s budget deficit, as opposed to 12% who...

3 Tax Hikes. Zero Notice. Speak Out by 5:30 PM TODAY!

3 Tax Hikes. Zero Notice. Speak Out by 5:30 PM TODAY!

With barely any notice, Olympia has introduced three massive tax increases—and scheduled a public hearing for TODAY at 5:30 PM. They’re hoping you won’t see it coming. But our community is strong, and together we can stop them! Just yesterday, hundreds rallied on the Capitol steps to protest property tax hikes. Now today, we must sign in...

Politics unPacked: Week 13

Politics unPacked: Week 13

Brandi Kruse has Everything you need to know about a busy week in Olympia, including votes on rent control and upending the parental rights initiative.

By Brandi Kruse

Rally to Stop the Property Tax Hike

Rally to Stop the Property Tax Hike

Some Washington lawmakers are trying to push through the largest tax increases in state history—but voters are pushing back harder than ever. 60,000 Washingtonians have already officially signed in to oppose the proposed massive property tax increases. But now it’s time to take that momentum from our screens to the Capitol steps.    RALLY TO...

Countdown to end of legislative session: Can We Kill These Bills in Time?

Countdown to end of legislative session: Can We Kill These Bills in Time?

Washington lawmakers are running out of time—and that’s a good thing. This week, including today’s committee meetings, are key legislative deadlines. If certain bills don’t advance out of committee by then, they’re done for the year. That means you still have time to stop some of the worst proposals on the table. Here’s What’s Still Alive:...

Nearly $1,000 property tax hike on the April ballot for Edmonds residents

Nearly $1,000 property tax hike on the April ballot for Edmonds residents

City of Edmonds leaders have placed Proposition 1 on the April 22nd Special Election ballot which, if approved, would annex the city into the South Snohomish County Regional Fire Authority (RFA). The ordinance to put this on the ballot was proposed by Mayor Mike Rosen and approved on a 6-1 vote by the City Council....

Olympia Madness: On to the Deadweight Eight

Olympia Madness: On to the Deadweight Eight

Round 1 of Olympia Madness is in the books. Washingtonians voted on the 16 worst bills lawmakers proposed this legislative session, and we now present to you: Round 2 kicks off today, with Rep. Jake Fey’s Vehicle Mileage tax going up against a double-team effort to raise your property taxes from Sen. Jamie Pederson and...

[un]Divided: Gas tax increase appears inevitable

[un]Divided: Gas tax increase appears inevitable

Washington drivers are likely to see a 6 to 9 cent increase in taxes per gallon of fuel under proposed transportation budgets in Olympia. Senator Curtis King (R) says there is little choice but to accept the increase because revenue sources for transportation projects are limited.

By Brandi Kruse