In the News

By David Frockt and Eileen Cody Special to The Times Last spring, something incredible happened: After a decade of gridlock, Congress finally passed a bill that recognizes the enormous strain of health care costs on family and state budgets. Born out of the COVID-19 crisis, the American Rescue Plan Act included direct relief through 2022 for the monthly premiums Washington residents face ...

It’s time to recover and rebuild. But how do we build a stronger community in the wake of one of the worst economic crises in our country’s history?

The key word is “build.”

Building local public infrastructure is ...

Election workers could get added protections from harassment under a bill currently being considered in the Washington State Senate. After witnessing harassment of vote counters and poll workers in other states following the presidential election, State Senator David Frockt wanted to do something. “I was just kind of outraged what I was seeing happening with the vote counting and intimidation that was ...

How can Washington state best rebuild its economy after COVID-19? Help people at immediate risk of crises related to housing, food, childcare, or employment. Offer small businesses relief — and help the hospitality and leisure industries, particularly. Support the aerospace and manufacturing industries. Ensure healthcare security. Expand Internet access.

Those are the primary ideas a bipartisan committee in the state ...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed an extra-large capital budget for the 2021-23 biennium that would tap future bond capacity with an aim to jump-start the state’s ailing economy and expedite key infrastructure projects. Highlights of the plan include investments across the state in areas ranging from housing to K-12 school seismic retrofits to wildfire prevention efforts.

The Washington economy is currently facing a recession, fueled in part by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, the Washington State Senate established a special committee, focused on evaluating and responding to the economic crisis facing our state. The Washington State Senate Special Committee on Economic Recovery is chaired by Senator David Frockt, who spoke with KHQ's Christian Saez today ...

Sen. David Frockt (D-46), vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee with lead responsibility for the capital construction budget, released the following statement today after Gov. Jay Inslee released his proposed 2021 capital construction budget: “Investing in construction, infrastructure, and much-needed housing and behavioral health can provide a crucial tool for our recovery from the COVID-19 recession and help ...

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday unveiled his proposed state budget plan with new taxes on capital gains and health insurers to fund government through the coronavirus pandemic without reducing services.

The governor’s new proposed 2021-23 state operating budget would spend $57.6 billion, with a focus on boosting public health spending amid a pandemic and ...

Legislators from both parties have already pre-filed numerous bills in anticipation for the upcoming session. Lawmakers will have a lot on their plate when the legislature reconvenes on Jan. 11th, having to manage the state’s continued response to a global pandemic while conducting business remotely. Democratic and Republican legislators discussed some of their priorities during two different panels at the ...

Raymond and Mary Clark knew they were taking a gamble when they moved to Spokane in 2016.

The Clarks were moving from Oregon and lost their health insurance coverage.

Raymond started a new job that offered no health benefits, and plans offered on the Health Benefit Exchange in Washington were ...