E-Newsletters

Dear friends: Move Ahead Washington is the most environmentally friendly package of transportation investments in state history and one of the most exciting achievements of the 2022 legislative session. It’s especially notable for two things. One, it dramatically boosts spending on for pedestrian infrastructure, transit, pollution control, fish passage and other critical statewide projects and maintenance. Two, these investments do not require a general or gas tax increase because nearly all the funds come from last year’s carbon fee in the ...

Dear friends: While we had reason to know it was coming, news of the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft opinion to repeal Roe v. Wade is alarming on numerous levels. First, this radical change would reverse 50 years of settled law. This is no small matter. At all levels, our courts steadily clarify and improve our laws by building on existing laws — not blatantly upending them. “Legal precedent” is the bedrock on which our entire legal system stands. To radically violate the ...

Dear Friends: One of the hardships of the pandemic has been the emotional burden our young people carry and how it affects their learning, whether in the K-12 grades or in college. To support students’ physical, mental, and emotional health in grade and high schools, my colleagues and I in the Legislature added more than $1 billion in new funding to the budget this year:

• A key component is the hiring of more nurses, counselors and social workers to ensure our classrooms ...
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Dear friends: During a legislative session, the bigger bills tend to draw lots of media attention while smaller bills get little or none — but some of those “little” bills can make big improvements in people’s everyday lives. It’s common knowledge, for instance, that we generally pay much more for prescription drugs than people in other countries, often for no good reason. Insulin, as just one example, is a commonly used drug that hasn’t been significantly changed since its development decades ago. ...

Dear friends: On Feb. 24, upon Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world became a significantly more dangerous place. It is hard to overstate the malicious recklessness with which Russian President Putin is acting. But if the history of WWII has taught us anything it is that we must confront international bullies early, before they become even more powerful and invade more nations. I commend Gov. Inslee’s decision Monday to review the state’s procurement and other business activities with Russian state institutions and ...

Dear Friends: As you know, for two years now we have lived under the most serious public health threat of our lifetimes. The coronavirus and its variants have spread quickly, causing serious illness throughout the population. Cases range from temporary illness, to long-term or even permanent health problems, to the very loss of life. While vaccinations and other healthy practices have limited the spread of the viruses and reduced the severity of infections, the presence of unvaccinated people in public is a ...

Friends: When the 2022 legislative session convenes Monday, response and recovery from the pandemic remains our prime concern. Beyond that, I’ve drafted a baker’s dozen bills and drawn up about half a dozen budget requests. My priorities include proposals involving drug crimes, water pollution and police accountability:

• Last year the State Supreme Court invalidated the criminal penalties prohibiting illegal drug possession. Last session we addressed this void left by the ruling by making a third offense of possession of controlled substances ...
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