IN THE NEWS: Emergency powers reform
During the pandemic, former Gov. Jay Inslee held emergency gubernatorial powers for more than 900 days and only he could determine when those powers would end.
While it’s important for the governor to have the power to act quickly in the event of an emergency, it becomes equally as important at some point for the Legislature to take its seat at the table to ensure the actions taken are reasonable and warranted.
Senate Bill 5434, which would require the Legislature to approve an extension of the governor’s emergency powers after 30 days, does not limit the governor’s ability to respond quickly. It simply allows the Legislature to decide if the governor should continue to exercise those powers after the first 30 days.
Despite the bipartisan support, SB 5434 is encountering pushback in committee and may not move forward.
Email the committee chair and tell them to move the bill out of committee WITHOUT weakening it.
Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro Woolley, is the sponsor of SB 5434 and appeared on channel 13 Fox News in a story that helps explain what is happening with the bill. Watch the story.
SB 5434 is scheduled to be voted out of committee at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 21. The meeting will be in Senate Hearing Room 2, which is in the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.
Don’t let up the pressure: The mileage tax lives
Thank you to everyone who has called or emailed Democrat legislators to oppose the proposed mileage tax in Senate Bill 5726 and House Bill 1921. Your response has been overwhelming and encouraging.
We aren’t done yet!
These two bills are deeply unpopular and, while they haven’t passed out of committee yet, they still could before 5 p.m. tomorrow.
The feedback we’ve received from constituents—and what we’re seeing across social media—makes it clear: Washingtonians strongly oppose being charged 26 cents for every mile they drive.
In fact, 95.7% of the more than 6,000 people who signed in to share position on the idea OPPOSED it.
And it gets worse. Under this proposal, you’d also be taxed on the tax. For example, if you drive 3,000 miles in a year, you’d owe the state $780, plus another 10% on top of that. Your total bill? $858.
At a time when you’re already paying 50 cents more per gallon because of Democrats’ climate policies, facing higher insurance rates, and paying more for vehicle repairs, this new tax would force you to dig even deeper—adding hundreds of dollars more to your annual expenses.
For those who commute long distances, travel for work, or rely on transportation to make a living, the financial burden would be even greater.
While Democrats talk about lowering the cost of living, they continue to push this costly mileage tax alongside proposals for a property tax increase, cell phone tax hike, vacation rental tax, and several new and higher taxes on businesses.
Washingtonians aren’t buying it. People understand that higher taxes won’t fix the problem—and that the added costs will inevitably fall on them. Voters believe the Legislature should cut waste and live within its means, not force taxpayers to pick up the tab.
A January 2025 survey of Washingtonians by EMC Research found:
- 76% think the Legislature has enough money to address important priorities and think we just need to spend it more effectively.
- 65% do NOT trust the Legislature to spend their tax dollars wisely.
- 71% are concerned that taxes will jeopardize the economy and the availability of good-paying jobs.
- Less than 25% think past spending has improved our quality of life.
Make your voice heard. Tell the chairs of the Senate and House Transportation Committees: NO MILEAGE TAX. Stop these bills in their tracks.
Republicans’ affordable housing package
The following news release was sent out on Tuesday, Feb. 18 announcing the Housing Solutions Washington package.
OLYMPIA… Washington State Senate Republicans today unveiled a bold new housing strategy aimed at tackling the growing housing affordability crisis, partly by making it easier to build homes.
The details of the package of legislation called Housing Solutions Washington will be announced at the virtual joint legislative Republican leadership media availability at 9:15 a.m. Viewers can watch the event live on TVW.
“We’re facing an urgent housing affordability crisis, and Housing Solutions Washington is our roadmap to fix it,” Sen. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden, the ranking member on the Senate Housing Committee. “The 18 bills in the package are about overcoming the biggest barriers to increasing our housing supply.”
The initiative outlines three key legislative strategies to address the root causes of the crisis while offering sustainable, market-driven solutions for all Washingtonians. It focuses on density issues, alternatives to rent control, and the innovative potential of kit homes to provide affordable housing options for residents across the state.
“Housing Solutions Washington will create more housing, lower costs, and empower our builders to do what they do best, produce new homes. This isn’t about government mandates – it’s about reducing bureaucracy and opening the door for new opportunities in housing development,” said Goehner.
READ THE FULL NEWS RELEASE
READ THE ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON STATE STANDARD
You can tune in to watch the hearings tomorrow for the following housing bills. You can also sign in to testify or show support. The Housing Committee meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. It will take place in Senate Hearing Room 4, which is in the John A. Chergerg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia.
- SB 5731 – Creating a tenant assistance program. GOEHNER
- SB 5732 – Creating greater accountability for increasing the supply of housing consistent with growth management. BRAUN
- SB 5733 – Concerning updating comprehensive plans. BRAUN
- SB 5748 – Incentivizing the substantial reduction or elimination of impact fees. WILSON, J.
- SB 5749 – Concerning housing development opportunity zones. WILSON, J.
WATCH: This week’s Republican press conference
VIDEO: Republican Senate Leader John Braun and Sen. Keith Goehner, along with House Republican leaders, discuss public safety, taxes, education, housing and more. Also included, insights on ongoing debates with Democrats and Gov. Ferguson.
Only the Transportation Committee and the Ways & Means Committee meet next week. Fiscal cutoff for bills to move through those committees is Friday, Feb. 28.
You can follow the committee schedules and monitor which bills will be heard through the following links.