Category Archives: In The News

07 Mar
0

Everett Herald: A handshake, a deal then hospital staffing bill emerges from Senate

OLYMPIA — Hospital executives and nurse union leaders achieved detente late last month in their years-long battle on staffing levels. They only had a handshake, not a deal. Agreement required several more days of negotiations between the two groups and ...

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06 Mar
0

Everett Herald: A presidential visit and a Blake bill passes in the Senate

OLYMPIA, March 6, 2023 — Welcome to the Monday edition. Hope you had a nice weekend. We start this week with a historic event, then turn our attention to a critical deadline. This morning, Sauli Niinistö, president of the Republic ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
08 Feb
0

Seattle Times: “WA charter school funding perpetuates systemic inequality”

“It’s very frustrating. These schools are doing everything we wanted them to do, but they can’t get the funding,” said Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah. He is sponsoring a bill that would provide charters with more money for tutoring, English language learners, highly ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
04 Feb
0

Seattle Times: “WA bill aims to boost AC for vulnerable residents in wake of 2021’s extreme heat wave”

Fearing a repeat of the deadly heat, Knowles approached Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, and asked for a legislative fix. Senate Bill 5147 seeks to provide small grants for adult family home operators to purchase air conditioning, and eventually require new facilities to ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
03 Feb
0

Spokane Public Radio: “As effort to fund Avista Stadium upgrades continues, team turns to state for help”

In context of a proposed $70 billion state budget, $24 million isn’t that much money. But state Sen. Mark Mullet, an influential figure in writing the capital budget, said the path might be more difficult than the numbers imply. “I ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
02 Feb
0

Law360: “Staff Survey Details Depth Of Anger At Wash. Insurance Chief”

Per the OIC’s request, some of the comments were included in a separate third-party report released in January that described a lack of accountability as a feature of the culture at the OIC. A top state legislative leader told Law360 ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
02 Feb
0

State of Reform: “Bills would provide opportunities to expand Washington’s nursing workforce”

Senate Bill 5498 would establish the Nurse Loan Repayment Assistance Program under the Washington Health Corps for nurses at participating employers. Participating employers would include hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, ambulatory surgical facilities, and various health centers. Bill sponsor Sen. ...

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02 Feb
0

Everett Herald: A tax credit for working families and a tax break for newspapers

OLYMPIA, Feb. 1, 2023 — It’s Wednesday. Welcome to a new month. And a new era. Sign-ups begin today for the Working Families Tax Credit that will steer refunds of up to $1,200 to low-income individuals and families if they meet certain eligibility requirements.

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Washington State Capitol Building
17 Jan
0

Seattle Times: “A smart way for legislators to help save local news”

Many things are needed to sustain local news outlets in Washington state. That includes extending and expanding a business and occupation tax break the Legislature created to save jobs in the essential local news industry. This is straightforward, relatively low cost and ...

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Washington State Capitol Building
13 Jan
0

MyNorthwest: “Democratic Senator sponsors bill limiting emergency powers; Inslee adamantly against it”

“Is the bill dead or alive?” asked Brandi Kruse on KIRO Newsradio. “It’s been a frustrating process. Let’s leave it at that,” replied Mullet. “I think the Governor has put a lot of political capital into trying to keep any ...

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