‘Net metering’ bill forces low-income Washingtonians to subsidize solar panels for the wealthy, senators say

Published on March 05, 2019
OLYMPIA – A ‘net metering’ bill passed by the Senate Monday forces low-income Washington residents to subsidize rooftop solar panels for the well-to-do, senators complained. Senate Bill 5223 requires utilities to dramatically expand their purchases of power from customers with rooftop solar panels, to at least 4 percent of their load, if sufficient customers seek... Read More

Senate Republicans warn bill to move up state primary would undo 25 years of campaign finance reform

Published on February 28, 2019
Senate Bill 5270 a step backward to the dark days of campaigns sullying Legislative ethics   OLYMPIA…A bill sponsored by Senate Democrats to move the state primary election to earlier in the year reminds many at the Capitol of the dark days when campaigns and Legislative ethics were blatantly ignored, leading to scandal and sweeping... Read More

State resources illegally used for Democrat campaign training, says Schoesler

Published on February 25, 2019
Demands in letter to Democrat leader campaign group’s reservations be canceled OLYMPIA…It is illegal for state resources to be used for campaign purposes, including training, but that is what Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville says is happening at the Legislative Building in Olympia this session. Schoesler sent a letter to Sen. Democrat Leader Billig... Read More

The end of slavery and the Era of Reconstruction commemorated in Senate resolution on National Freedom Day

Published on February 01, 2019
The Washington State Senate passed a resolution Friday to commemorate the end of slavery in America and the 156th anniversary of the post-Civil War era known as Reconstruction.   Senate Resolution 8611, sponsored by Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-University Place, coincides with National Freedom Day, which honors President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the congressional resolution for... Read More

O’Ban ‘job tax credit’ bill scheduled for committee hearing

Published on January 23, 2019
Goal: Incentivize job creation in counties with highest unemployment to ‘spread the wealth’ of Puget Sound prosperity OLYMPIA…Sen. Steve O’Ban’s bill that would incentivize job growth in Washington counties with the highest unemployment by providing a $275-per-employee ‘job tax credit’ on new jobs will be heard during the meeting of the Senate Financial Institutions, Economic... Read More

O’Ban bill cosponsored by Democrats fights for taxpayer oversight of Sound Transit

Published on January 17, 2019
OLYMPIA…In a 2019 bill introduced this week, Sen. Steve O’Ban continues his fight for greater accountability for Sound Transit and to bring down the Sound Transit tax burden. Since the regional transit authority spends more than $54 billion in tax dollars, more than some small countries, O’Ban and fellow Senators on both sides of the... Read More