Inslee nominee to Housing Finance Commission convicted of domestic violence

Published on February 14, 2019
Senate Democrats unanimously pass nomination out of committee despite knowing nominee lied about his record OLYMPIA…Senate Republican leadership issued the following statement in response to a unanimous vote by Senate Democrats in the Senate Housing Stability and Affordability Committee to pass Noe Castillo’s gubernatorial nomination out of committee, despite a conviction for domestic violence and... Read More

Ericksen save-the-whales bill puts emphasis on new salmon hatcheries

Published on February 07, 2019
Promotes public-private investment in new Puget Sound hatcheries Pilot project would be built in Bellingham Best way to ensure adequate feedstock for Puget Sound orcas OLYMPIA – A proposal from state Sen. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, would leverage private investment in salmon hatcheries to help restore declining orca populations on Puget Sound. Under Senate Bill 5824,... 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

Legislature finally fixes I-940, and does it right

Published on January 30, 2019
OLYMPIA – The Washington Legislature sent its first bill of the year to the governor’s desk Wednesday, fixing a police-deadly-force initiative approved by voters last fall – and this time it did it without breaking the law. HB 1064, approved by the state House last week and by the Senate on Wednesday, clarifies the new... 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