Taxes & Cost of Living

WA’s natural gas restrictions extremely unpopular – Inslee signs it into law

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...

Seattle Times op-ed: Redistricting decision hurts Latino voters

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...

Citizens rise up, force lawmakers to listen in historic session

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...

Roll call votes on HB 1589: Natural Gas Ban

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...

Lawmakers force WA families to go all-electric, hand them $40,000 bill

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...

Victory! Three voter initiatives to become law in Washington

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...

Three initiatives granted hearings and looming concerns about selective action

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...

Olympia updates: Critical legislation on fentanyl, natural gas ban, rent control

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...

[un]Divided: Senator caught posting lies about CCA funding

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.

By Brandi Kruse

Your voices stopped a property tax hike in its tracks

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...

Halfway through session: WA Lawmakers have curious priorities

Much of the attention during this legislative session has centered around the handling – or lack thereof – of the six citizen-led initiatives. Despite the state constitution’s requirement for them to take precedence over all matters aside from the state budget, none of them have been granted a hearing at the halfway point of the...

Alert: Hearing on bill that would raise your energy bills, eliminate options on natural gas

Wednesday morning, Washington lawmakers will consider HB 1589, a bill that would have massive ramifications on our state’s energy prices and options.

Rally: Demand Democrat legislators stop delaying democracy on voter initiatives

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, January 31, 2024, at 3:30PM WHERE: CAPITOL STEPS, North/Supreme Court Side WHO: Undivided Host Brandi Kruse and WA GOP Chair Jim Walsh will be featured speakers, joining Future 42 and grassroots activists from the Steelhead Alliance WHY: Our state’s Democratic lawmakers are failing to uphold constitutional mandates by obstructing the consideration of voter-backed...

Washington Democrats delaying democracy on voter initiatives

The Washington Constitution is clear: State lawmakers must prioritize ballot initiatives championed by voters. But Democratic state lawmakers are refusing to play by the rules. Not one of the three certified initiatives before the legislature has been granted a hearing.