Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) was supposed to be a bold step forward in the fight against climate change. Yet, over a year after its implementation, there’s no clear evidence of progress—and the cost to Washington families keeps climbing. Under the CCA, Washington introduced a tax on CO2 emissions aimed at funding projects that would...
This fall gives a unique opportunity for Washington voters to have a direct say in public policy. A total of seven different initiatives have been qualified this year, with three already being passed into law during the legislative session (I-2081 concerning parental rights, I-2111 prohibiting income taxes in WA, and I-2113 restoring police pursuits). This...
With turnout down 13.5 percentage points compared to the primary in the last presidential election year, nearly 6 in 10 Washingtonians opted not to return their ballots. In a state like ours with a top-two primary system – where the top two vote-earners advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation – this lack...
In a stunning revelation, a recent audit from the Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) has uncovered that Washington state agencies “mishandled” more than $1.1 billion in federal COVID-19 aid, as reported by The Center Square. Despite the significant mismanagement, the state’s response seems surprisingly nonchalant, portraying an attitude of “No worries! It’s not like they’re...
It’s no secret to anyone who’s had the pleasure of using the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system over the past several years that service and reliability have been sketchy, at best, and it seems to be rapidly deteriorating. The Orcasonian reports there have been an incredible 1,145 ferry cancellations this summer, and that was as...
Washington state’s primary election is just around the corner on August 6, 2024, and your vote is crucial! This election isn’t just another date on the calendar; it’s your chance to shape the future of our state. In Washington, we have a top-two primary system, which means only the two candidates with the most votes...
While Governor Jay Inslee warns of threats to democracy, his own actions reveal he might be one of its biggest adversaries. As Brandi Kruse aptly pointed out on her show [Un]Divided, “The people who scream the most and the loudest about democracy in peril, democracy at risk, are the first ones to stomp on our...
The political landscape of Washington state is undergoing a seismic shift, with June 2024 standing out as a pivotal month in the growing citizen-led movement to hold lawmakers accountable. Let’s examine the key developments that made June a landmark month for citizen power in the Evergreen State: Three Citizen Initiatives Become Law Last year, millions...
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...