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Washington Republicans wrestle with realities of a redrawn political map
Republican state lawmakers on Tuesday renewed their grievances with a court-ordered redistricting that’s reshaped Washington’s political landscape in a way that threatens to be unfavorable for the Grand Old Party in this year’s elections. In a committee work session, three GOP senators registered disbelief that the redrawn 14th Legislative District at the center of the […]
Washington lawmaker accused of belittling staff faces new scrutiny
A Republican state lawmaker accused last year of berating and bullying staff is in trouble again. A report released Monday found state Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor, violated legislative conduct rules when she publicly identified three people interviewed for an investigation whose names had been redacted. Caldier provided those names to reporters in December in […]
No matter the election results, 2024 will be a big year for turnover in Olympia
Washington’s state government is in for much change this election season due to officeholders leaving and pursuing new political posts. Here’s what we know with candidate filing set to begin Monday. Gov. Jay Inslee and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler are retiring. Attorney General Bob Ferguson passed on re-election to compete for governor. Commissioner of Public […]
Voters may get a say on the future of natural gas in Washington
The November ballot could be the next battleground in the fight over Washington’s march toward ending natural gas use in homes. Key players behind three Republican-backed initiatives state voters are already set to decide are close to launching an all-out effort for a fourth, aimed at blocking the state’s shift away from natural gas and […]
Washington election season kicks into gear with candidate filing
An election season thick with intrigue gets formally underway in Washington on Monday when candidates can begin filing for hundreds of local, state and federal offices. Retirements and redistricting assure new faces will be behind the levers of power in Olympia and, in at least two cases, Washington, D.C. Hot-button issues of abortion rights, climate […]
Republican legislative staff move first to unionize under new WA law
Employees of the Washington Legislature could start pursuing union representation Wednesday and two groups of workers did. Both are Republican. Legislative assistants for GOP members of the state House and Senate want the recently formed Legislative Professionals Association to represent them. Petitions on behalf of workers in each chamber were filed with the Public Employment […]
Inslee has 60 days to decide on controversial Horse Heaven wind farm
The fate of one the largest wind farms ever proposed in Washington now rests with Gov. Jay Inslee. On Monday, the state’s energy facility siting panel sent Inslee its recommendation for approval of the Horse Heaven wind and solar project, ending a contentious multi-year review. It culminated with regulators paring the Benton County project to […]
More people landed jobs in Washington last month. More wound up jobless, too.
Washington’s economy added jobs in March. But its labor pool shrunk and the number of jobless grew as well. The combined result was an uptick in the state’s unemployment rate, according to the latest monthly report from the Employment Security Department. The economy grew by 5,300 jobs, with the private sector accounting for 2,900 and […]
WA ammo magazine restrictions to remain in place as state appeals judge’s ruling
Washington’s ban on the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds will remain in place while the state appeals a lower court ruling that briefly overturned the law. On Thursday, Supreme Court Commissioner Michael Johnston extended his April 8 order, which put on hold a lower court ruling – issued earlier that […]
Court-ordered redistricting is factor in exits of two GOP state lawmakers
Two Republican state lawmakers in Washington are forgoing re-election while a third is moving across town so he can try to keep the legislative seat he’s held since 2007. Their decisions have one thing in common – redistricting. More precisely, a federal judge’s March decision to approve new boundaries of several legislative districts to enhance […]
New federal funds will help thousands in Washington get solar power for free
Washington state will receive $156 million in federal funds for new programs to install rooftop solar on thousands of homes and apartment buildings, and to expand access to solar energy in tribal communities. The money is a slice of $7 billion in grants nationwide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday through its Solar For […]
Endorsements and discord: WA GOP wraps up Spokane convention
SPOKANE – Semi Bird got his moment. Jaime Herrera Beutler got rebuffed. Dan Newhouse continues to pay a price for his vote to impeach the former president. And leaders of the Washington State Republican Party will leave Spokane Saturday evening with an endorsed slate of candidates but also continued discord in their ranks. “This is […]