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(This article originally appeared on PubliCola and has been reprinted under an agreement.)

For the first time in Washington state history, state legislators had a floor vote on a long-proposed capital gains tax. Even more novel: They passed it.

On Saturday, March 6, the Senate Democrats, led by Sen. June Robinson (D-38, Everett) pushed SB 5096 through the senate. The bill passed 25 to 24 with most of the Democratic majority, including all of Seattle’s delegation, voting for it. The entire Republican caucus, along with moderate Democratic Senators Steve Hobbs (D-44, Lake Stevens), Mark Mullet (D-5, Issaquah), Annette ...

No one would dispute that monetary fines — from a $136 speeding ticket on up to $2.6 million for violating state campaign financing laws — can be effective in keeping everyone in line. We can easily think of plenty we’d rather do with that $136 than send it to the court. Yet, for many, those fines — if they go unpaid and lead to a suspended driver’s license — become more than an annoyance, more than incentive to obey speed limits and other traffic laws. They can force an onerous choice for some between forgoing a paying job ...

Washington State’s 2021 legislative session kicked off on January 11 and it will go for 105 days, until April 25. Between now and then, State senators and representatives will introduce bills to the legislature, refer them to their applicable committees, and consider the bills multiple times and at various stages before a bill is potentially passed into law. This year’s session is entirely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes many legislators think that fewer bills will be passed, but important legislation is still in the works. The Emerald contacted each senator and representative from the state’s 11th, 34th, ...

State Sen. Marko Liias, who represents the 21st District that includes parts of Edmonds and Lynnwood, was unanimously reelected as majority floor leader by his Senate Democratic Caucus peers on Monday, a position he has held since 2017. “It’s an honor to continue as majority floor leader,” said Liias, a Democrat who lives in Lynnwood. “Senate Democrats approach every policy discussion with the philosophy of putting people first, and that’s exactly what we need to do this session to help struggling people and families through the pandemic.” Read more here....

Last year,  a woman in Burien called 911 to report her sister’s boyfriend was holding her and her family hostage. When the 911 operator attempted to gain more information, the woman, sounding panicked, said: “He’s going to take my phone,” then abruptly hung up. 

Police raced to the address provided, but when they arrived, they found no one being held against their will, according to a King County Sheriff's Office report obtained by Crosscut. The couple living there had no idea who had called. 

It wasn't until the next ...

Doctors and medical students performing pelvic exams on unconscious women without permission: It may sound crazy, but it’s actually been a widespread practice across the country for decades. It’s an invasive and personal medical procedure that even in the best of circumstances, can be traumatic for some women, especially survivors of sexual abuse. But if you think that means doctors have to first get a woman’s permission to do such as exam, you’d be wrong. Read more here: https://mynorthwest.com/1739653/pelvic-exams-bill-washington-state/

Moving to end a threat of international trade sanctions against Boeing, lawmakers in Washington State on Wednesday introduced legislation that would eliminate tax breaks for the plane maker.

The World Trade Organization concluded last year that Boeing benefited from unfair subsidies from the state worth roughly $100 million a year.

State Senator Marko Liias, a sponsor of the bill, said the proposal had come from Boeing itself. The Legislature is expected to act before its session ends on March 12.

How high is too high when it comes to cannabis usage in Washington state?

The answer might come from a bill that’s been introduced in this year’s legislative session.

HB 2546, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, along with 21 secondary sponsors, calls for a new THC limit on recreational sales of cannabis concentrates to match the 10-percent limit already imposed on infused edibles.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/marijuana/article239575968.html

OLYMPIA — Lawmakers are talking again about reducing the motor vehicle excise tax that helps fund Sound Transit expansion.

But leaders of the regional transit authority are cautioning, again, against leaving them without an adequate stream of dollars to build promised light rail projects.

It’s a familiar discourse. The past three legislative sessions ended without lawmakers doing anything to provide a modicum of financial relief for vehicle owners.

This session may bring a different conclusion, thanks to passage of Initiative 976.

Read more ...

OLYMPIA — Ira Moser of Snohomish and some friends are coming to the state Capitol a lot lately to talk about one subject: guns.

They’re gun owners. They’re concerned lawmakers may impose new restrictions on them and their firearms.

So they showed up Monday for a two-hour Senate committee hearing on bills limiting the capacity of gun magazines, requiring training for those with concealed weapon licenses, and imposing longer sentences for the use of stolen firearms.

Push for new gun laws triggers passion at Senate hearing