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

Schoesler and Warnick welcome appointment of Ybarra to 13th District vacancy

Published on January 15, 2019
On the first day of the 2019 legislative session, commissioners from Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln and Yakima counties appointed longtime Quincy resident Alex Ybarra to the state House of Representatives to fill a vacant seat in the delegation. Ybarra was immediately sworn in upon appointment and will join Sen. Judy Warnick and Rep. Tom Dent as... Read More

Padden and Holy applaud new Spokane-area remote-testimony sites

Published on December 20, 2018
Senate staff confirms newly approved sites to be located at EWU-Cheney and Spokane Valley City Hall Lawmakers today applauded news that the Senate’s remote-testimony pilot project will be expanding to two new sites in Spokane Valley and Cheney. Sen. Mike Padden received confirmation this week from legislative staff that Eastern Washington University’s Cheney campus and... Read More

Senate Republican Caucus announces 2019 Committee Assignments

Published on December 14, 2018
The Washington State Senate Republican Caucus announces its 2019 Standing Committee assignments, which were finalized today:   2019 SRC Standing Committees List   Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks (4D/3R) Warnick* Honeyford Short   Early Learning & K-12 Education (7D/4R) Hawkins* Holy Padden Wagoner   Energy, Climate & Technology (6D/3R) Ericksen* Brown Sheldon   Environment... Read More

Honeyford receives award for service to veterans and their families

Published on December 14, 2018
With veterans looking on Friday, Lourdes (Alfie) Alvarado-Ramos, director of Washington’s Department of Veteran Affairs, presented Sen. Jim Honeyford with the 2018 Outstanding Service to Veterans – Legislator of the Year Award for his service to Washington’s veterans and their families. “It is really an honor to receive this recognition,” said Honeyford, R-Sunnyside. “I’ve always... Read More

O’Ban: Legislature needs to work with governor to prioritize mental health care in Washington state

Published on December 11, 2018
Sen. Steve O’Ban, R-University Place, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Inslee’s behavioral health priorities media availability. “I have been urging my colleagues and the governor to think of behavioral health policy and funding in the upcoming session as the next ‘McCleary’-level priority for the Legislature. It appears that the governor is taking... Read More