The driving force behind Washington’s effective ban on natural gas was the Climate Commitment Act (CCA), passed in 2021. That bill set benchmarks for reductions in natural gas emissions so urgent and so onerous that it forced the state’s largest utility company, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), to effectively tell lawmakers, “Either let us shut down...
“You have to speak up. The time for staying silent and just going along, those days are over. We’re a typical middle class family. My dad and grandpa started a small machine shop in 1965. Today, my husband and brother run it together. People think because we own a business, we must be rich and...
Thank you for your continued engagement with Project 42 and Future 42 Snohomish County. Please see two important updates below on recent items of significance that we have weighed in on with hundreds of you contacting your elected officials to express your thoughts; your engagement is making a difference: SNOHOMISH COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTS ORDINANCE TO...
You may be aware Gov. Jay Inslee recently signed an extremely unpopular bill, HB 1589, effectively banning natural gas services provided by Puget Sound Energy. Not only will this overwhelm an already insufficient electric grid, it could also force families to spend tends of thousands of dollars to convert their homes away from natural gas...
This article has been updated to reflect Gov. Inslee signing HB 1589 into law following original publication. One of the more surprising pieces of legislation that advanced this year’s legislative session was HB 1589, which places severe restrictions on natural gas usage in Washington. The existence of such a bill wasn’t surprising – progressive lawmakers...
Gloria Mendoza – president/CEO of GMC Training Institute and mayor of Grandview, Yakima County, from 2018-23 – was published in the Seattle Times on Mar. 25 with a response to a critical redistricting decision in Washington: Every 10 years, Washington undergoes redistricting to equalize population shifts in legislative districts. Many Eastern Washington Hispanics were thrilled...
The 2024 Washington state legislative session, which concluded last Thursday, marked a pivotal shift in the balance of power between the people and their elected officials. Emboldened by rising costs of living and concerns for public safety, Washingtonians rose up like never before to serve as a formidable check on lawmakers. They made it abundantly...
On Tuesday, March 5, Washington lawmakers passed HB 1589, a bill that will have notable impact for Washingtonians, particularly low-income families. It effectively bans natural gas, causing families to pay tens of thousands of dollars to adjust their homes, and could lead to energy bill increases upwards of $206 each month. The bill allows Puget...
In the dead of the night on Tuesday, Washington lawmakers passed a bill that will be a disaster for Washingtonians, particularly low-income families. HB 1589 effectively bans natural gas, forces families to pay tens of thousands of dollars to adjust their homes, and could lead to energy bill increases upwards of $206 each month. It’s...
A momentous achievement has been secured for the people of Washington. After tireless advocacy from everyday Washingtonians, three of the six initiatives before the state legislature have officially passed both chambers and will soon become law. The Police Pursuit, Income Tax Prohibition, and Parental Notification initiatives cleared their final hurdles on March 4 when...
Washington lawmakers have heeded the calls from citizens and have scheduled hearings next week for three out of the six initiatives that are before the state legislature including: the prohibition of state and local income tax, rolling back restrictions on police pursuit, and instituting parental notification laws. If we convince our lawmakers to pass these...
With such an action-packed legislative session heading into its final two weeks, it can be difficult to keep track of all the bills being considered. Besides the six initiatives before the legislature, here are 4 bills you should know about. 1. SB 5010: Includes fentanyl and synthetic opioids felony child endangerment statute. As the number...
State Senator Mark Liias used his government X account to share two easily fact-checked claims about what would happen if voters repeal the Climate Commitment Act. Brandi Kruse explains on the unDivided Podcast.
Over the past few weeks we’ve asked our audience to contact lawmakers about SB 5770, a bill that would’ve tripled the rate at which local governments around the state could increase property taxes without a public vote, and congratulations – you did it! Thanks to the hundreds of people that reached out to their elected...