Category Archives: In The News

A bill that would ban most law enforcement officers from wearing masks while interacting with the public cleared a key Washington Senate committee this week, as supporters argue it is needed to ensure accountability and transparency.

OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson’s first year in office has been shaped by a state budget crisis that was years in the making, and yet somehow arrived abruptly. He and majority Democrats last year grappled with an estimated $16 billion gap between ...

State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen is talking about passing a new income tax during next year’s short legislative session. Plus, how the state will pay for flood damage with a tight budget.

Washington Democratic legislative leaders made it clear on Tuesday that they intend to “Trump-proof” the state from federal interference in Washington’s LGBTQ+ rights and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. During a press conference at the Washington State Capitol, Democratic ...

OLYMPIA Wash. (KPTV) – On Monday, Washington Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins issued a joint statement vowing to fight back against federal executive orders “attacking transgender youth:” “As parents, members of the LGBTQ+ ...

Washington state lawmakers will convene in Olympia next week for a 105-day marathon legislative session. Leaders offered a preview of their priorities Thursday as they gear up for lawmaking and budget writing, as the clock starts on the new fiscal cycle ...

Democratic state lawmakers are again pushing a proposal to restrict rent hikes across Washington. Despite the rent cap bill’s dramatic failure last session, backers say its prospects this year are better given new lawmakers, revamped legislative committees and growing public support. The road ...

OLYMPIA — Washington has a new governor, a mix of new lawmakers and a multibillion-dollar problem. The exact partisan makeup of the state Legislature is still fuzzy as ballots continue to get counted, but Democrats are expected to hold on to strong majorities when legislators ...

Washington Senate Democrats chose state Sen. Jamie Pedersen as their new majority leader on Monday. Pedersen, who represents the 43rd Legislative District in Seattle, replaces retiring Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig of Spokane. Democratic senators made the much-anticipated leadership decision in a ...

The state’s bipartisan Redistricting Commission has been a source of recurring drama the past two months. The four voting commissioners — who were charged with the once-per-decade task of redrawing the state’s political maps — eventually agreed on new lines ...