Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
Building a stronger, more just & transparent democracy
More than 100 young people in Washington became homeless last year as they transitioned out of the state's foster care program. Some legislators say state and federal restrictions are standing in the way of the resources they need to keep their housing. "Stable housing is critical," said State Sen. Wilson, D-Auburn. "These are our children. These are state-raised children. We would not put our own children into a space where they don't have a place to live." Senate Bill 5082...
Landlords and property owners gathered under the Capitol dome in Olympia Jan. 13 to protest a bill that would cap increases on rents. Corey Hjalseth, who is getting ready for retirement with his wife, said the bill will ultimately force them to sell their properties. "When somebody artificially comes in and tells me how much I can raise the rent or how much I can charge a tenant for a late fee, or that I have to help them with relocation expenses if I raise their rent more...
Gov. Bob Ferguson was sworn in and legislative members, state employees and the public celebrated the event with an inaugural ball. Dressed in black tie attire, inaugural ball attendees swarmed on the steps of the Legislative Building Jan. 15 and filled the rotunda inside, where Squaxin Island tribal members performed ceremonial songs. The first day in office wasn't all pomp and ceremony, however. Shortly after being sworn in, the new governor signed three executive orders....
As they were cheered from the gallery by friends and family and treated to a ukulele version of "America the Beautiful," legislators gathered Jan. 15 for the opening of the 2025 Washington State Legislature. "As long as we stay focused on making sure people are better off by our decisions, we will get through our challenges and we will keep moving this state forward," said Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who was elected as speaker of the House for the sixth time. In the...
Meaningful, independent journalism is at a crossroads. Advertisers who once filled newspaper coffers and funded local journalism have shifted resources to the Internet. And although newspapers are reaching more people than ever in print and online, the money that was once available for journalism has gone elsewhere. Nowhere is this more apparent than Olympia's Capitol Campus. Before the press corps was moved to the Capitol building, offices in the old press houses were...
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson unveiled a budget-cutting plan to ease a projected $12 billion statewide budget deficit during a 2025 legislative preview in Olympia Jan. 9. "Washingtonians expect that we will increase revenue as a last resort. I will not contemplate additional revenue options until we have exhausted efforts to improve efficiency," Ferguson said. Estimates of the deficit vary widely, from $7 billion to $15 billion. To make up the deficit, Ferguson proposes cutting...
Washington State voters want legislators to cut spending but also support spending more on specific programs, according to a recent poll. “People are not anti-government,” said pollster Stuart Elway during a legislative preview session Jan. 9. “People want government to work and to provide needed services but done efficiently and effectively.” Elway established the Cascade PBS/Elway Poll in 1992. This year, 403 registered voters across Washington State were surveyed between Dec. 26 and 30, with phone calls, text...
