News

A statewide initiative aimed at clarifying who can compete in girls’ sports is now in the Legislature’s hands. Tracy Ellis reports

OLYMPIA — Sen. Judy Warnick is urging the Legislature to hold a public hearing on Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, a certified initiative addressing participation standards in interscholastic sports, saying it should move through the normal legislative process and be openly vetted. “This initiative was signed by hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians and certified by the...

Lives lost on dangerous roads pushes a state Senator to act. Tracy Ellis reports.  

Senator Jeff Wilson joined KVI’s Ari Hoffman Show to sound the alarm on a proposal that would make Washington’s initiative process harder. The plan adds new hurdles like requiring 1,000 signatures before starting, extra verification steps, and restrictions on paid signature gatherers—moves Wilson says will silence voters and gut direct democracy. He calls fraud claims...

Senator Shelly Short speaks out against a bill that would make it harder for Washingtonians to file and run initiatives, calling it an attack on citizen voices. She also highlights her support for a new approach to wildlife management aimed at addressing declining deer populations and balancing predator-prey dynamics. Short emphasizes the need for accountability...

Senate Republican Leader John Braun raises concerns about a bill introduced by the Democratic majority that would make it harder for Washingtonians to propose initiatives and gather signatures. Braun argues that the measure undermines direct democracy guaranteed by the state constitution and reflects an effort to consolidate legislative power at the expense of citizen involvement.

Senator Mark Schoesler provides insight into the second week of the legislative session. He highlights the flood of new tax proposals—ranging from utility and cellphone taxes to income and wealth taxes—and their impact on hardworking families. Schoesler also shares details on his bill to rein in school construction costs and voices concerns about inefficiencies in...

OLYMPIA—Sen. Nikki Torres has advanced Senate Bill 6066 to give local governments and the Washington State Department of Transportation a new tool to address roadways with a high number of serious and fatal crashes by establishing temporary “crash prevention zones” focused on safety improvements. “This is not a bill I wanted to introduce, but my...

Senator Jeff Wilson shares exciting news about his bill to promote affordable housing through kit homes. The legislation, which passed unanimously in the Senate, aims to cut through government red tape and make it easier for Washington residents to build their own homes. Senator Wilson explains how this innovative approach can help address the state’s...

Senators Shelly Short and Judy Warnick join KPQ to share insights on Olympia’s short session, budget concerns, wildfire prevention funding, and homeowners insurance issues. They stress fiscal responsibility, bipartisan efforts, and protecting communities from growing wildfire risks.

In this episode of *The Elephant in the Dome Podcast*, Senate Republican Leader John Braun is joined by Senators Keith Wagoner and Jeff Wilson to discuss two controversial proposals in Olympia: restrictions on Washington’s initiative process and a bill that could allow unelected boards to remove elected sheriffs. Are these measures protecting democracy—or undermining it?...

A failed bridge on the road to Mount Rainier needs urgent replacement, according to a state senator. Kelley Payne tells us a proposal to fast-track the emergency replacement of the Fairfax Bridge gets a Senate Transportation Committee hearing next week.