Washington Legislature Archives - Page 6 of 8 - Northwest Public Broadcasting

In State Of State Address, Jay Inslee Calls For Climate Change Action, Addressing Mental Health

By Austin Jenkins January 15, 2019

Climate change topped Gov. Jay Inslee's list of priorities in his 2019 State of the State speech. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

Warning that Washington state is at a "tipping point," Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday delivered a State of the State address that called on lawmakers to address carbon pollution, "transform" the mental health system and save Puget Sound orcas.Read More

Washington State Sen. Kevin Ranker Resigns Amid Workplace Conduct Investigation

By Austin Jenkins January 12, 2019

Washington state Sen. Kevin Ranker is the subject of a workplace misconduct investigation. CREDIT: WASHINGTON SENATE

Washington state Sen. Kevin Ranker, an Orcas Island Democrat, has resigned his seat in the midst of a workplace conduct investigation. In a letter to Gov. Jay Inslee dated Friday, Ranker, who served in the Senate for a decade, said his resignation was effective immediately. Read More

Washington Sen. Kevin Ranker Admits Relationship With Former Staffer Accusing Him Of Misconduct

By Austin Jenkins December 19, 2018

A Washington state senator under investigation for alleged workplace misconduct involving his former legislative assistant acknowledged Tuesday that he had a "brief relationship" with the woman before he hired her in 2009.Read More

Jay Inslee Proposes Big Boost In State Spending, New Taxes In Two-Year Washington Budget

By Austin Jenkins December 13, 2018

Gov. Jay Inslee announced his proposed budget for the 2019-21 biennium at a Capitol news conference Dec. 13, 2018. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is proposing a hefty $10 billion increase in state spending over the next two years to maintain current services and fund new priorities, including mental health and orca recovery. To pay for it, Inslee is once again pushing for a new state capital gains tax on high income earners as well as an increase in the business and occupation tax on Read More

Inside Jay Inslee’s Proposed Budget: A New, 500-Bed Mental Hospital To Replace Western State

By Austin Jenkins December 11, 2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, pictured here outside Western State Hospital, is proposing the state explore building a new state hospital. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is taking the first step toward a plan to help house and treat psychiatric patients who have been involved in the criminal justice system: a new, 500-bed state mental hospital.Read More

Olympia Harassment: Workgroup Recommends New Office To Investigate Misconduct In Legislature

By Austin Jenkins December 9, 2018

washnigton state capitol CREDIT: BRIANHE / WIKIMEDIA - TINYURL.COM/ZMPZ86K

Following eight months of meetings, a workgroup on the prevention of sexual harassment in the Washington state House is recommending an independent office where victims could report misconduct. The recommendation is part of a package of suggested reforms.Read More

Washington Legislators Reverse Course, Won’t Investigate Rape Allegation Against Sen. Joe Fain

By Derek Wang December 4, 2018

Senate Republican floor leader Joe Fain, R-Auburn. CREDIT: TED WARREN

The Washington State Senate announced Tuesday that it will not go forward with its planned investigation of Senator Joe Fain (R-Auburn). Fain has been accused of raping a Seattle woman in 2007 before he took office and has denied the allegation.Read More

10 People Have Been Arrested In Washington For ‘Lie And Try To Buy’ Gun Law

By Austin Jenkins December 1, 2018

A 2017 Washington law that requires gun dealers to report failed background checks has resulted in at least 10 arrests and two convictions, according to a report to the governor and legislators. CREDIT: QUAGMAR / FLICKR

A 2017 law that requires Washington gun dealers to report when someone tries to buy a firearm and fails a background check has resulted in at least 10 arrests and two convictions so far, according to a report by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.Read More

Professional Initiative Sponsor Tim Eyman Is Back With Another Proposed $30 Car Tabs Measure

By Austin Jenkins November 14, 2018

Professional initiative sponsor Tim Eyman, right, holds a photo from his first successful $30 car tabs initiative in 1999. Eyman says he has collected almost enough signatures to qualify a 2019 car tabs rollback initiative to the 2019 Legislature. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS/N3

Nearly 20 years after Washington voters passed Initiative 695, which repealed Washington's motor vehicle excise tax, anti-tax activist Tim Eyman says he's close to qualifying a new initiative to repeal taxes to support Sound Transit and restrict car tabs to $30. Read More

Washington State Sen. Joe Fain Concedes Tight Re-Election Race Amid Rape Accusation

By NWPB News November 9, 2018

Washington State Senator Joe Fain conceded to his opponent, Mona Das, Friday night. It came after the latest vote tally, and an expected outside investigation into a rape accusation made in September.Read More

Democrats Make Gains In Washington Legislature, Many Races Too Close To Call

By Austin Jenkins November 7, 2018

Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen was among the Republicans fighting to keep his seat after Tuesday’s election. AUSTIN JENKINS / N3 Listen It wasn’t a sweeping blue wave, but Democrats […]Read More

‘Deceptive’ Mailings In Washington Legislative Races Prompt Campaign Finance Complaints

By Austin Jenkins October 23, 2018

Mailers like this one urging a write-in vote for a "real progressive" candidate were sent to voters in four hotly contested Washington state legislative races. COURTESY: FUSE WASHINGTON

Washington's Public Disclosure Commission said Monday it's received nine complaints about a series of controversial mailers that were sent to voters in Thurston County and four hotly contested state legislative districts from coastal Washington to Spokane.Read More

Does Washington Need New Guardianship Rules For Adults With Severe Mental Illness Or Addiction?

By Austin Jenkins October 4, 2018

Western State is one of the largest psychiatric hospitals west of the Mississippi River. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS

A Washington state senator who says he’s heard from “literally hundreds of parents” of adult children who are struggling with mental illness or addiction wants to allow families to petition for temporary guardianship.Read More

‘Done Being Silent’: Former Seattle Official Accuses Washington State Sen. Joe Fain Of Rape

By NWPB News September 28, 2018

Candace Faber, pictured here in the office of the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, the weekend she says she was raped by Sen. Joe Fain. CREDIT: CANDACE FABER

Washington state Sen. Joe Fain denied Faber’s written allegations to The Seattle Times. “Any allegation of this serious nature deserves to be heard and investigated for all parties involved,” Fain told the Times.Read More

Rep. Matt Manweller Says He’ll Step Down, Former Student At Center Says She’s Relieved

By Austin Jenkins September 24, 2018

Washington 13th District GOP Rep. Matt Manweller CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE/2014

Under pressure to resign following a new allegation of sexual misconduct, Republican state legislator Matt Manweller on Monday told a reporter from the Columbia Basin Herald that he would resign if re-elected this November. In his statement, Manweller neither denied what he called the "alleged relationship" nor apologized.Read More

Washington House Republicans Ask Manweller To Resign After Former Student Alleges Underage Relationship

By Austin Jenkins September 21, 2018

Republican state Representative Matt Manweller WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE

House Republican leaders on Friday called on embattled state Rep. Matt Manweller (R-Cle-Elum) to resign. The move followed the publication of a story by the public radio Northwest News Network earlier in the day detailing an alleged sexual relationship between Manweller and a 17-year-old former high school student of his in 1997.Read More

Rep. Matt Manweller, Fired From CWU, Accused Of Underage Relationship With Former Student

By Austin Jenkins September 21, 2018

A former Idaho high school student of embattled GOP Washington legislator and longtime educator Rep. Matt Manweller says she had a sexual relationship with him beginning after she graduated in 1997, when she was 17 years old and he was a decade her senior. Under Idaho state law at the time, sex between an adult male and a female younger than 18 constituted statutory rape.Read More

CWU Report Finds ‘Pattern Of Unprofessional Conduct’ From Rep. Matt Manweller In Firing Him

By Austin Jenkins August 22, 2018

Washington state Rep. Matt Manweller “engaged in a pattern of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior” with current and former female students at Central Washington University (CWU) over a 13-year period, according to an 85-page investigative report released by the university on Wednesday.Read More

Washington Rep. Matt Manweller Fired From Central Washington University, Plans To Sue

By Austin Jenkins August 14, 2018

Central Washington University fired Republican state Rep. Matt Manweller Tuesday, Aug. 14, from his position as a tenured professor of political science following a months-long investigation into his conduct toward students.Read More

Embattled Washington Lawmaker David Sawyer Trails In Primary After Misconduct Allegations

By Austin Jenkins August 8, 2018

Democratic state Rep. David Sawyer of Tacoma was in third place in early primary returns Tuesday night, an indication of the political fallout he’s facing over numerous allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women and an investigation that found he violated House harassment policy. Read More

Washington Rep. Matt Manweller Denies Inappropriate Behavior, Pre-Empts CWU Report

By Austin Jenkins August 2, 2018

With less than a week until the primary election in his district, Republican state Rep. Matt Manweller has released a video accusing his employer—Central Washington University —of pursuing a partisan-driven investigation into his workplace conduct.Read More

Vindicated By Washington High Court, Lawyer With Criminal Past Becomes Campaign Fodder

By Austin Jenkins July 17, 2018

Tarra Simmons, an honors law school graduate with a criminal past, was the subject of a political mailer attacking a Democratic candidate for the Washington Senate.

The past eight months have been a whirlwind of victories for Tarra Simmons—an honors law school graduate with a criminal past. This week something happened that Simmons could not have anticipated. A political mailer started showing up in mailboxes in the 26th Legislative District that attacked a Democratic candidate for state Senate, Emily Randall, for supporting Simmons Read More

Washington Lawmaker Pays $35K For Child Care, Vows Help For Other Parents

By Austin Jenkins July 11, 2018

File photo. A task force created by the Washington Legislature is set to tackle the issue of affordable childcare. CREDIT: KIDSWORKCHICAGO.COM / TINYURL.COM/YCUAZQF4

It’s the agony of modern day parents: how to find and afford decent child care. This has become such a problem, the Washington Legislature has created a task force to tackle the issue.Read More

Why A Tacoma Lawmaker — And His Accuser — Are Calling For A Better Way To Investigate Misconduct At The Legislature

By Austin Jenkins July 6, 2018

Washington state Rep. David Sawyer CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

In the aftermath of a recent workplace conduct investigation at the state Capitol, the Democratic lawmaker at the heart of the inquiry and one of his accusers say the process has revealed flaws in how the Legislature handles complaints made against elected officials.Read More

Investigation Finds Washington Lawmaker Violated Harassment Policy

By Austin Jenkins June 11, 2018

Washington House leaders are recommending that state Rep. David Sawyer, D-Tacoma, lose his chairmanship, not be assigned a legislative assistant and continue to have his access to staff restricted as the result of the findings of an investigation into his conduct that could also result in an ethics probe.Read More

Washington Lawmaker Suspended As Committee Chair, Accused Of Creating Hostile Work Environment

By Austin Jenkins May 9, 2018

Washington House Democrats voted Wednesday to suspend state Rep. David Sawyer as chair of the Commerce & Gaming Committee. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

Washington House Democrats voted Wednesday to suspend state Rep. David Sawyer as chair of the Commerce and Gaming Committee pending the outcome of an investigation into workplace conduct.Read More

Washington State Trooper Alleges Misconduct In Unit That Flies Governor

By Austin Jenkins May 3, 2018

File photo of a Beechcraft King Air B200 turboprop aircraft at the Washington State Patrol aviation facility at the Olympia Airport. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS

A Washington state trooper has accused a leader in the State Patrol’s aviation unit of ordering staff to illegally delete public records and lying to the Governor’s Office about the availability of planes.Read More

Welcome To ‘Lobbyhood’: Many Neighbors Of Washington Capitol Are Lobbyists Paid To Influence Laws

By Austin Jenkins April 15, 2018

This home is one of 18 owned or used by lobbyists in Olympia's South Capitol neighborhood, across the street from the state Capitol campus. CREDIT: STEVE RINGMAN/THE SEATTLE TIMES

Just south of Washington state Capitol building you’ll find a neighborhood dotted with quaint, historic houses. But you won’t find families with children in many of them. Nearly one-third of the 62 homes found immediately south of the Capitol are owned or used by lobbyists, corporations or unions, according to a review of public records.Read More

Frustrated And Broke, Washington Counties Consider Suing State

By Austin Jenkins April 5, 2018

Lincoln County Commissioner Scott Hutsell says he would likely support a lawsuit against the State of Washington over unfunded mandates to counties. He spoke on TVW's ''Inside Olympia'' program. TVW

After years of pleading with the state Legislature for more state funding, Washington's 39 counties could decide this year whether to file a lawsuit against the state over unfunded mandates.Read More

New Washington Law Grants Visitation Rights To Grandparents Through Court Petition

By Austin Jenkins March 22, 2018

Betsy Deane and her granddaughter, Toria Staudinger, traveled to Olympia to witness Gov. Jay Inslee sign a grandparent visitation bill into law. Deane hopes to use the new law to win visitation rights to see her nine-year-old granddaughter. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

Three years ago, Betsy Deane's son was killed in an automobile accident. Now, the Pasco, Wash., grandmother hopes a new state law will allow her to reunite with the granddaughter she hasn’t been able to see since.Read More

New Washington Laws Aim To Address Workplace Sexual Harassment And Gender Pay Gap

By Austin Jenkins March 21, 2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee poses with state Sen. Karen Keiser at a bill signing ceremony on Wednesday.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has signed several measures into law aimed at tackling sexual harassment in the workplace and an update to the Equal Pay Act to help address gender pay gap in the state.Read More

Big Changes Coming To Voting Rights And Access In Washington

By Austin Jenkins March 16, 2018

Youth age 16 and 17 will soon be able to pre-register to vote in Washington. That’s just one of several voting-related bills the governor is scheduled to sign into law soon.Read More

‘It Was A Sad Year.’ Washington Lawmakers See Missed Chances To Protect Sexual Assault Survivors

By Austin Jenkins March 12, 2018

The Washington Legislature has sent a ban on bump stocks to Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature. A bump stock is a trigger modification device that make a semi-automatic rifle function more like an automatic weapon. CREDIT: JON CONNELL

Several efforts to protect sexual assault victims failed to pass in Washington’s 60-day legislative session which adjourned last Thursday. Now lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are expressing frustration.Read More

News Roundup – Reviewing The ‘Shot Out Of A Cannon’ Washington Legislative Session

By NWPB News March 9, 2018

Austin Jenkins talks with Scott Leadingham about the 2018 Washington legislative session

Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins joins Scott Leadingham to talk about what did and didn’t happen in Olympia this year, including a review of how the legislature addressed sexual harassment inside its own halls.Read More

Washington Legislature Declines Bill To Address School Shootings

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa March 9, 2018

File photo of the Washington Senate gallery. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

After the recent mass shooting in Florida, Washington state lawmakers faced immense pressure to enact gun control legislation. But a bill to address school shootings made little progress, despite Democratic control of the House and Senate.Read More

Is A Portland-Seattle-Vancouver Bullet Train A Reality? Lawmakers Dedicate Money To Study

By Tom Banse March 8, 2018

The Washington Legislature has approved further study of a super-fast train from Portland to Seattle to Vancouver, BC. Lawmakers passed and sent to the governor's desk a supplemental transportation budget which includes $1.2 million for a consultant to prepare a "business case analysis" of bullet train service from Portland to Vancouver, BC with stops in between.Read More

What Bills Passed And What Didn’t In Washington’s 2018 Legislative Session

By Austin Jenkins March 8, 2018

Washington State Capitol Building. CREDIT: WSDOT / FLICKR

Washington lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn Thursday after a short, 60-day election-year session during which Democrats flexed their new one-party control to pass a slew of legislation. Here’s a look at some of the bills that passed and some that didn’t.Read More

Washington Homeowners Will Likely Get Some Property Tax Relief Next Year

By Austin Jenkins March 8, 2018

Washington homeowners would get some property tax relief in 2019 under a bill that passed the Democratically-controlled state Senate Wednesday night over Republican objections. The bill is part of a final budget deal reached with the House as the Legislature heads toward a scheduled adjournment on Thursday, March 8.  Read More

Washington High School Students Rally In Olympia For Gun Control

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa March 7, 2018

High school students rallied at the Washington state Capitol Tuesday demanding restrictions on purchases of military-style weapons and tougher background checks. CREDIT: ENRIQUE PEREZ DE LA ROSA / NORTHWEST NEWS NETWORK

More than 100 Washington high school students rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday, March 6 demanding restrictions on purchases of military-style weapons and tougher background checks.Read More

Jay Inslee Signs Washington Net Neutrality Bill; Oregon On Deck

By Tom Banse March 5, 2018

Washington state lawmakers and other supporters surround Gov. Jay Inslee at a net neutrality bill signing ceremony in Olympia Monday. CREDIT: TOM BANSE

Your internet service should be free of slow lanes and corporate favoritism if legislation just signed in Washington state and awaiting the governor's signature in Oregon works as intended. The states' objectives were to block a federal rollback of Obama-era net neutrality rules.Read More

Governor Vetoes Public Records Bill As Washington Lawmakers Acknowledge ‘We Made A Mistake’

By Austin Jenkins March 1, 2018

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed a bill Thursday, March 1, 2018 that would have exempted the Legislature from the state's voter-approved Public Disclosure Act.

In the face of intense pressure from the public and media, and following hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee vetoed a bill Thursday night that exempts the Legislature from the state’s voter-approved Public Disclosure Act. Read More

Age Restriction On Semi-Automatic Rifle Purchases Moving Through Washington Legislature

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa March 1, 2018

The Washington Legislature is considering a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21. CREDIT: MICHAEL SAECHANG / FLICKR - TINYURL.COM/HJQMT6U

President Donald Trump has called on Congress to raise the minimum age to buy a rifle from 18 to 21. In Washington state, a proposal to do that passed a major legislative hurdle Thursday when it was voted through a powerful Senate committee.Read More

Jay Inslee Faces Immense Pressure To Veto Public Records Bill

By Austin Jenkins February 28, 2018

Front desk staff at Gov. Jay Inslee's office in Olympia tally calls urging the governor to veto SB 6617 exempting the Washington Legislature from the state's voter-approved Public Records Act. CREDIT: AUSTIN JENKINS

Will he or won’t he? That’s the question as Washington Gov. Jay Inslee faces immense pressure to veto a bill that exempts the Legislature from the state’s Public Records Act. Inslee has until midnight Thursday to decide.Read More

Washington Legislature Passes Net Neutrality Legislation

By NWPB News February 28, 2018

Pedestrians walk in the rain near the Legislative Building, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash., as cherry trees display their spring blossoms. CREDIT: TED S. WARREN/AP

Washington lawmakers have passed legislation intended to restore net neutrality. Under the measure, internet providers are prohibited from blocking content or impairing traffic.Read More

Washington Could Be First State To Ban Toxic Firefighting Foams

By Courtney Flatt February 28, 2018

EA-16G Growler Jet - Jared Rusk KCTS9-EarthFix

Washington lawmakers have agreed to ban firefighting foam that contains harmful chemicals. Perfluorinated chemicals are used in firefighting foam to help contain petroleum fires. Firefighters have sprayed the foam around Washington’s military airstrips and fire-training facilities.Read More

Will Jay Inslee Veto Bill That Limits Transparency In Washington’s Legislature?

By Emily Schwing February 27, 2018

Washington Gov. spoke to MSNBC's Chris Hayes on Monday night. MSNBC

Twelve newspapers across Washington ran editorials Tuesday demanding that Gov. Jay Inslee veto what they are calling a “secrecy” bill. It’s legislation that would exempt legislators from the state Public Records Act.Read More

Washington House Passes Bump Stock Ban, Senate Passage Uncertain

By Enrique Pérez de la Rosa February 23, 2018

Washington State Capitol CREDIT: BRIANHE / WIKIMEDIA

The Washington state House passed a ban on bump stocks Friday, Feb. 23. It's a gun modification that allows certain weapons to fire more rapidly. Legislators debated the ban under the shadow of last week’s school shooting in Parkland, FloridaRead More

Multiple Women Accuse Tacoma Lawmaker Of Unprofessional, Inappropriate Behavior

By Austin Jenkins February 23, 2018

Multiple women have accused Washington state Rep. David Sawyer of unprofessional and inappropriate behavior. CREDIT: WASHINGTON LEGISLATURE

In recent weeks, eight women interviewed by Northwest News Network, The News Tribune and The Olympian have said Washington state Rep. David Sawyer of Tacoma has crossed personal and professional boundaries, sometimes repeatedly, and accused him of engaging in behavior before and after he joined the Legislature that ranged from inappropriate to harassing.Read More

Washington Lawmakers Fast-Track Bill To Exempt Themselves From Public Records Law

By Austin Jenkins February 22, 2018

Washington lawmakers are fast-tracking a bill to exempt themselves from the state’s voter-approved Public Records Act. The move comes after the Legislature lost a public records lawsuit filed by several news outlets, including public radio.Read More

Invoking Florida School Shooting, Jay Inslee Urges Lawmakers To Act On Gun Bills

By Austin Jenkins February 21, 2018

At his weekly news conference Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee called on state lawmakers to pass gun control measures.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is reiterating his call for state lawmakers to pass a series of what he calls “common sense” gun control measures. He made his comments Wednesday, Feb. 21 in response to the Florida shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School where 17 people were killed.Read More