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:...
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....
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...
Most everyone at one point or another has been faced with personal financial challenge where money is tight, and you have to prioritize your spending. It’s what any responsible person does, dealing with what’s in your direct control. Cut back on eating out and entertainment. Cancel a subscription you can live without. Focus on basic...
Washington voters overwhelmingly passed Initiative 2066 to restore energy choice and block the natural gas ban, but one activist judge just decided your vote doesn’t count. King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan halted the law, siding with special interests and climate activists instead of the people. Future analysis of the decision and the ridiculous logic behind it is available here. This decision...
The Lynnwood Times has published an op-ed from Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, regarding the legal proceedings surrounding 1-2066, which overturned the state’s ban on natural gas. Under one party rule in Olympia, over the past 12 years, it has become custom for judges to step down before their term is up so...
Thank you to the thousands of you who have contacted lawmakers and signed in for committee hearings in response to our action alerts. With sign-ins especially often 10:1 in favor of a common-sense position, the response from our community has not gone unnoticed. Wednesday, March 12, marked a significant cutoff date for the Washington legislative...
The state budget with its $6.6 billion shortfall has loomed over the legislative session and will soon become the primary focal point. Democrat legislative leaders and Governor Bob Ferguson have been planting seeds for a “measured” approach -which includes spending cuts and tax increases – and a heavy emphasis on the latter. But that approach...
A proposal that failed to pass last year has returned to the legislature, reigniting debate over whether striking workers should be eligible for unemployment benefits. Senate Bill 5041 would allow workers who go on strike to collect unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, a program that is traditionally reserved for individuals who lose their jobs through no...
Washington lawmakers are considering legislation, known as the “bottle bill,” that would impose a new bottle deposit system on residents, despite concerns that similar programs in other states have led to higher costs, fraud, and declining recycling rates. House Bill 1607, sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver), would require consumers to pay a 10-cent deposit...
Washington Democrats are moving forward with two bills that undermine citizens’ influence over state policy. Senate Bill 5382 would impose new restrictions on the state’s initiative process, making it significantly harder for grassroots campaigns to place measures on the ballot. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 5181 seeks to repeal a recently enacted parental notification law— one that...
As we enter into tax season, the high cost of living and taxes have been a significant topic of discussion in our community and throughout the state. Local governments throughout Snohomish County adopted different strategies to address their planned expenditures in their final budgets for 2025. We can anticipate slight tax increases from time to time for essential services...
The Center Square Washington covered Tuesday’s committee hearing in which lawmakers debated HB 1334, which would allow state and local governments to triple the rate they increase property taxes, compared to what is currently allowed under law. The bill faced still opposition from the public, with 12,124 people signed-in to oppose the bill with just...
Washington’s education system is failing students, despite a dramatic increase in funding. 8th grade math scores have dropped, and 4th grade reading scores continue to decline, even though per-student spending has increased by 110% since 2013. Clearly, the status quo with your children’s education hasn’t worked. So, what if we could put parents in control instead? 30 other states are already doing this, many of them...