Search Results for: town hall
Oppose the income tax: Sign in "CON" for Friday's hearing on Senate Bill 6346
Dear Friends and Neighbors, The unconstitutional income tax (Senate Bill 6346) proposed by Democrats this week will be heard in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 1:30 p.m. meeting this TODAY in Senate Hearing Room 4 of the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. As of 9:00 a.m. today, more than 54,000 people signed in to oppose the bill. This makes it the most unpopular bill in state history! In fact, some Democrats are saying that this has ...
REMINDER: Please join us for 17th District Zoom town hall meeting February 18!
February 4, 2026 Dear Friends and Neighbors, I want to let you know about a very controversial bill that was just introduced this week in the Legislature. Senate Bill 6346 would create a state income tax. Democratic proponents are trying to sell it as a tax on millionaires because it would impose a 9.9% tax on your taxable income, with the first $1 million exempt. This bill would hit married people filing jointly who make a combined income of $1 million the same ...
Olympia Democrats finally unveil their plan for a state income tax
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Wilson's subscribers Feb. 3, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Wilson's e-mails, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, The big story in Olympia today is that my majority colleagues in the Legislature have finally introduced their income tax bill. They’ve launched the biggest debate of this year’s legislative session, and here is the thing I like best about it. At last, they can stop pretending they are against the idea. The income tax bill is right there ...
ALERT: Listening sessions for the two initiatives before the Legislature
On Tuesday, February 3, Senate and House Republicans are hosting two listening sessions on the two citizen-initiatives that have been submitted to the Legislature this year. While it is the Legislature's constitutional duty to prioritize initiatives above all other business, majority Democrats refuse to allow a hearing on either proposal. This shuts down any opportunity for those in favor of the initiatives to have their voices heard. These listening sessions will give the people a public forum to share comments in favor ...
Protecting our neighborhoods as LRA placements are proposed
First, I want to thank the families and community members who joined us last Monday night in Kennewick for the town hall on the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement. I was encouraged by the strong turnout and deeply appreciate everyone who took the time to show up, ask questions, and share personal concerns. When public safety is involved, clarity matters — so let me speak plainly with you. The proposed placement of an LRA home in Kennewick has raised serious and ...
VIDEO: Sen. Matt Boehnke puts community safety first in Kennewick LRA discussion
Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick, shares a legislative update on ongoing efforts to address the proposed less-restrictive alternative (LRA) housing placement in Kennewick. From Olympia, he discusses how community input, town hall feedback, and constituent concerns are shaping legislation to protect families, children, and neighborhoods while ensuring public safety across the Tri-Cities and Washington state. ...
‘Initiative Killer’ bill attacks a cherished right of the people
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian's subscribers Jan. 23, 2026. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. At a Senate hearing Tuesday, current and former state elections officials testified in opposition to this year’s proposal to hobble initiative campaigns. From left, former Secretary of State Sam Reed, current Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and initiative backer Brian Heywood. To see video, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, Since 1912, the initiative process has been an important safety valve for ...
NEWS: Torres bill targets dangerous roadways with new crash prevention zones
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 community has suffered far too many losses on U.S. 395,” Torres, R-Pasco, said. “We have to address this head-on, and I hope this legislation is a ...
Christian bill boosting Medical Lake, Clover Park school construction passes committee
Christian testifies before the Senate K-12 and Early Learning Committee Jan. 14. OLYMPIA – A bill freeing up school construction money for districts operating schools on military bases won approval from a Senate committee Thursday. Senate Bill 5901, sponsored by Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, excludes military base schools from school-construction funding calculations. The measure would end a longstanding inequity that has reduced school construction money for the Medical Lake and Clover Park school districts. Christian told the Senate K-12 and Early Learning ...
Fortunato bill for rapid replacement of Fairfax Bridge gets a hearing
OLYMPIA — Legislation sponsored by Sen. Phil Fortunato to fast-track the emergency replacement of the Fairfax Bridge will receive a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Senate Bill 5987 is in response to the closure of the Fairfax Bridge on State Route 165, which cut off access to parts of Mount Rainier National Park and forced residents and businesses in surrounding communities to rely on unsafe and inefficient detours. The bill would declare the bridge failure ...
2026 session underway, scheduled to last 60 days
January 14, 2026 Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope all of you enjoyed the holiday season! Here’s wishing you a happy and healthy 2026. I’m back in Olympia for the 2026 legislative session, which began Monday and is scheduled to end March 12. With the session underway, I want to make sure that you know how to reach me about issues that are important to you. As of last Monday (the first day of session), bills are being introduced in both chambers, the House ...
Seen and Heard 16
Sen. Braun AUDIO: KVI Radio: Sen. John Braun Calls for Probe into Covenant Homeownership Program Mismanagement AUDIO: KIRO RADIO: Sen. Braun on Housing Program Abuse AUDIO: Sen. Braun on Race-Based Housing Scandal on KVI Radio AUDIO: Braun: Corruption in race-based homeownership program exploits taxpayers, undermines public trust AUDIO: Green Hill scandal ‘a systemic failure,’ demands accountability, transparency, reform AUDIO: The Right Spokane Perspective: Sen. John Braun on Budget Discipline and Legislative Accountability AUDIO: Hair-on-Fire” Politics: Sen. Braun Slams Medicaid Fearmongering & Budget Bloat on Lars Larson Show AUDIO: ...
Town hall meeting set for Saturday
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Christian's subscribers Nov. 12, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, The 2026 legislative session is coming right up, and I’ll be holding a town hall meeting in Spokane Valley Saturday to tell you about it. Trust me, we’ll have plenty to talk about. • This year’s Legislature passed the biggest tax increase of all time, a total $14 billion. Yet our colleagues in the majority party already are talking ...
Who says crime doesn’t pay?
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian's subscribers Oct. 31, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Christian's e-newsletters, click here. Washington taxpayers are spending millions to settle lawsuits stemming from mismanagement at Green Hill School, the state's high-security facility for dangerous juvenile offenders. Dear Friends and Neighbors, The way things have been going lately in Washington state’s juvenile rehabilitation system, I don’t think anything can surprise us. Consider the recent case of a corrections officer at Green Hill School. This month ...
Washington state goes for broke!
Forecast for Olympia: Major storm coming in January. Dear Friends and Neighbors, Big new taxes kicked in Wednesday across Washington state, and guess what? We're already broke. Olympia learned last week that the $77.9 billion budget approved in April already is in deficit. That's in spite of the biggest tax increase in the history of the state, a staggering $14.1 billion in new taxes. Despite this new money, the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projects that Washington will run $421 million short ...
25th District lawmakers to host in-person town hall meeting Oct. 11
Sen. Gildon, Rep. Jacobsen and Rep. Keaton PIERCE COUNTY -- The state lawmakers serving parts of Pierce County, including Puyallup, South Hill, Summit, and Waller are holding an in-person town hall meeting from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. Sen. Chris Gildon and Reps. Cyndy Jacobsen and Michael Keaton will take questions and comments from their constituents regarding decisions made during this year’s legislative session and issues to address when lawmakers reconvene in mid-January 2026. The town hall will be at ...
25th District lawmakers to host in-person town hall meeting Oct. 11
Rep. Michael Keaton, Rep. Cyndy Jacobsen and Senator Chris Gildon PIERCE COUNTY -- The state lawmakers serving parts of Pierce County, including Puyallup, South Hill, Summit, and Waller are holding an in-person town hall meeting from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11. Sen. Chris Gildon and Reps. Cyndy Jacobsen and Michael Keaton will take questions and comments from their constituents regarding decisions made during this year’s legislative session and issues to address when lawmakers reconvene in mid-January 2026. The town hall ...
12th Legislative District Town Hall
Sen. Goehner, R-Dryden, Rep. Steele, R-Chelan, and Rep. Brian Burnett, R-Wenatchee, will hold a town hall on Oct. 11. My colleagues and I, Rep. Mike Steele and Rep. Brian Burnett, will hold a community town hall on Saturday, October 11, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Miller's, located at 4597 Tolt Ave. in Carnation. If you are able to attend, we would love to see you. The event, supported by the City of Carnation, is open to the public and provides residents with ...
12th District residents take the lead in shaping state policy
Sen. Goehner, R-Dryden, at Beef Day on the Hill at the Washington State Capitol, April 9, 2025. This past legislative session, citizens across Washington demonstrated the power of public engagement like never before. With remote testimony now a permanent option, residents can weigh in on bills that affect their families, farms, and businesses, without ever having to travel to Olympia. In the House, over 11,700 people signed up to testify, while more than half a million registered their opinions online. The Senate ...
Fortunato thanks governor for emergency declaration, renews call for second bridge, tax relief for rural communities
Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, issued the following statement after Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a state of emergency in response to the White River Bridge closure on State Route 410: “I appreciate the governor’s swift action in declaring an emergency so the state can move quickly to stabilize the White River Bridge. That step is critical, but it is not enough. Rural communities like Wilkeson and Carbonado are being hit hardest by these bridge failures, and they cannot be left to shoulder ...