Search Results for: town hall
Legislature OKs second Padden bill removing red tape from construction of smaller condominiums
For the second year in a row, the Legislature has unanimously approved a bill introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. Senate Bill 5792 would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building” if one story is utilized for above- or below-ground parking or retail space. The House of Representatives passed the ...
Nearly 97% of those testifying on I-2113 support it
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 29, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, After constant pressure from citizens across the state, three of the six initiatives sent to the Legislature this session finally received public hearings before joint legislative committees earlier this week. Attendees hold up signs during a rally about the six initiatives to the Legislature, which was held on the Capitol steps last week. Senator Padden was among many ...
E-News: Check your energy bill! How does the cap-and-trade law affect you?
As a supporter of the six initiatives submitted to the Legislature this year, I appreciated being able to say a few words Friday to a crowd of others who rallied on the Capitol steps because they feel the same way! February 25, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Tomorrow is Day 50 of this 60-day legislative session, and the deadlines are coming up faster as the end approaches. Our Senate Ways and Means Committee has only through tomorrow to take action on the many ...
E-News: Hearings scheduled on initiatives next week; this week went to budgets
With Sen. Lynda Wilson of Vancouver in the Senate chamber. The supplemental operating budget passed today by the state Senate reflects some of my input, which I worked through her as Senate Republican budget leader and her counterparts on the majority side. Keep reading for details. Dear Neighbor, Greetings from the state Capitol! I have important news about voter initiatives that couldn't wait... for reasons that will become apparent. This past weekend I reported to you how our Democrat colleagues had finally committed ...
Live from Olympia -- the good, the interesting, the controversial
Note: This e-newsletter originally was distributed to Sen. Gildon’s subscribers Feb. 23, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Gildon’s e-newsletters, click here. A visit from royalty: I was delighted this year to present the Senate resolution honoring Pierce County’s Daffodil Festival, and to welcome the Daffodil Court to the Capitol. The celebration, now in its 91st year, recognizes the leadership and volunteerism of our youth. A queen will be crowned March 2, and the celebration culminates in a grand floral parade April 6 ...
Three initiatives to Legislature to receive hearings next week
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 22, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, After weeks of no action on any of the six initiatives sent to the Legislature early this session, Senate Democratic Leader Andy Billig of Spokane and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins announced last Friday that the Senate and House finally would schedule public hearings on three of the measures. These three initiatives will receive public hearings next week: Initiative ...
House Housing Committee passes two Padden bills
A House committee has advanced two bills introduced by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden, including one that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. The House Housing Committee yesterday approved Senate Bill 5792, which would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building” if one story is utilized for above- or below-ground parking or retail space. “This bill builds on ...
IN THE NEWS: Legislators from the 39th District take part in Concrete town hall
By Racquel Muncy / Skagit Valley Herald | Residents of the state's 39th Legislative District gathered at Concrete Theatre on Saturday for a town hall with Sen. Keith Wagoner and representatives Carolyn Eslick and Sam Low. ...Each of the legislators had an opportunity to speak about what is important to them before taking questions from the audience. Wagoner mentioned that in 2024 there are six initiatives from constituents and he is in favor of all six. ...One resident asked if the Legislature had thought ...
E-News: Property-tax threat goes away, but threat to rural health care remains
I was happy to welcome members of Teamsters 117, which represents Department of Corrections employees, when they came over from Walla Walla to visit the Capitol earlier this month. In response to the question "Who has been assaulted on the job?" probably half raised their hands. Feedback like this often inspires legislation, and I will be following up with them on this and other concerns in the spring. Dear Neighbor, Greetings from the state Capitol! This week the state Senate wrapped up its ...
E-News: Think every legislator puts the safety of children first? Think again
February 16, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, As of today there are 20 days left in this year’s session. With the exception of budget updates, we’re through with moving Senate bills across to the House of Representatives, and are back to meeting as committees – this time to consider bills moved over to us by the House. Being the Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, I was in the middle of the effort to block the majority Democrats’ proposed property-tax ...
Joint 13th District Virtual Town Hall
Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, and Reps. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, and Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, are inviting constituents from the 13th District to join them for a one-hour Virtual Town Hall meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. to discuss the 2024 legislative session. The remote town hall meeting will be conducted using the Zoom platform. Those who would like to participate must pre-register in advance for the conference by clicking here. Participants can submit questions in advance. The conference can only accommodate the first 500 attendees, so constituents should register early. ...
Columbian Editorial: Understanding the Pledge will benefit democracy
Republished in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Contrary to commonly held belief, public classrooms throughout Washington are expected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day. The Revised Code of Washington (28A.230.140) calls for “appropriate flag exercises to be held in each classroom at the beginning of the school day ... at which exercises those pupils so desiring shall recite the following salute to the flag: ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for ...
MacEwen to host telephone town hall Feb. 22
OLYMPIA… State Senator Drew MacEwen will host a telephone town hall on Thursday, February 22 starting at 7 p.m. He invites constituents from the 35th Legislative District to call in with questions and concerns about state government and legislation being considered during this year’s legislative session. With the end of the session approaching there are many items of importance to discuss, including the six initiatives that will be appearing on the November ballot. “No need to travel, all you need to do ...
BREAKING NEWS: Unneeded property tax hike is stopped in Senate
Note: This e-newsletter originally was distributed to Sen. Gildon’s subscribers Feb. 9, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Gildon’s e-newsletters, click here. I joined Senate Republicans at a news conference Thursday as SB 5770 was poised for a vote. You can see my remarks by clicking here. Dear friends and neighbors, Ready for some good news from Olympia? We learned this afternoon that one of the most controversial bills of our 2024 legislative session will not be advancing. Senate Bill 5770 would have amounted to ...
The people upstage Olympia with six initiatives
Note: This e-newsletter originally was distributed to Sen. Gildon’s subscribers Feb. 8, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Gildon’s e-newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, One of the most important developments in Olympia this year didn’t start with the Legislature. It started with the people. Six initiatives have been presented to the Legislature this session, after petition drives that collected a total 2.6 million signatures. These initiatives challenge the direction the Washington Legislature has taken under the leadership of majority Democrats these last several ...
ALERT – Property taxes could rise under bad bill moving in Senate
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers February 8, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Senate Democrats are considering a bill this session that could dramatically raise your property taxes if enacted. Unfortunately, this very bad and very expensive proposal is still alive. The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday voted to pass Senate Bill 5770, which would triple the allowable growth rate of annual ...
Executive mismanagement, bad law result in child’s death
OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement after foster families protested at the Capitol yesterday against a bill they believe is partly to blame for the death of a 3-week-old Port Townsend infant born with fentanyl in its system who died after being placed in the care of its father by the Department of Children, Youth and Families. The father is a drug addict without a stable home. The protesters demanded the repeal of House Bill 1227, also ...
14th District lawmakers invite residents to virtual town hall Feb. 22
As the Legislature nears the midpoint of the short 60-day 2024 session, 14th District lawmakers are inviting residents to join them for an upcoming virtual town hall. Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R-Goldendale, and Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, will provide a legislative update during the virtual town hall and provide constituents the opportunity to ask questions or share their concerns and ideas. "As I say every session, getting the opportunity to have these conversations with our communities is incredibly important ...
Senate passes second Padden bill removing red tape from construction of smaller condominiums
A year ago, the Legislature unanimously approved a bill from 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that helps encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier to construct smaller condominium buildings. A similar condo-construction measure introduced by Padden is advancing this year following passage today by the Senate on a 49-0 vote. The proposal now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Bill 5792 would exclude buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than three stories high ...
A look at three controversial bills
Note: This e-newsletter originally was distributed to Sen. Gildon’s subscribers Feb. 2, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Gildon’s e-newsletters, click here. See video update by clicking here or on image above. Dear friends and neighbors, In this week's video update from Olympia, I explain three bills that have become major controversies in our 2024 legislative session. These bills would -- Allow property taxes to grow faster (Senate Bill 5770), Launch a state rent control program (Senate Bill 6136), and Give the state control ...