Democrats weigh options as Gov. Ferguson rejects WA wealth tax; Gov. Ferguson noncommittal on gas tax increase, Speaker of the House says

Democrats weigh options as Gov. Ferguson rejects WA wealth tax

The Seattle Times — Washington Senate and House budget leaders say they are weighing several options as they prepare for a “major pivot” after Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Tuesday that neither version of the operating budget proposals by Democratic lawmakers are close to ones he would sign. At the heart of the debate: a wealth tax sought by both House and Senate Democrats. $

Gov. Ferguson noncommittal on gas tax increase, Speaker of the House says

The Spokesman-Review — Gov. Bob Ferguson has not indicated whether he would support increasing the state’s gas tax, Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins told reporters Wednesday. Jinkins, a Democrat from Tacoma, said while she’s had frequent conversations with the governor during the session, Ferguson “hasn’t expressed anything about transportation at all” and “certainly not on the revenue side.” A spokesperson for Ferguson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. $

ABORTION

• Washington preserves abortion rights, but budget cuts threaten access (The Washington Observer) $

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Tariff-weary WA businesses brace for another round of Trump trade tactics (The Seattle Times) $
• ‘We are in a trade war’: Washington leaders, business sectors largely express confusion and concern at Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement (The Spokesman-Review) $
• How can you prepare for a recession? A Spokane credit union and nonprofit share tips as Washington is already facing a rainy day (The Inlander)
• 12 WA residents made Forbes’s list of 2025 billionaires (FOX 13)

CAPITAL BUDGET

• Abbarno announces local projects as part of $7.63 billion in capital budget proposal (The Chronicle)

CONGRESS

• Senate rebukes Trump’s tariffs as some Republicans vote to halt taxes on Canadian imports (AP)
• Gluesenkamp Perez, colleagues introduce bipartisan bill to improve markets for forest products (The Chronicle)

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• US judge orders Trump administration to restore legal aid to unaccompanied migrant children (AP)

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• New catalytic converter law aimed at deterring theft in WA (Snoqualmie Valley Record) $
• EDITORIAL: Seattle is weary of gun violence. City auditor’s report is a lifeline (The Seattle Times) $

CYBERSECURITY

• Sensitive data was leaked in 2024 Highline Public Schools ransomware attack (The Seattle Times) $

DRUG CRISIS

• As the needs of Spokane’s vulnerable grow, so does Spokane Fire Department’s community assistance team (The Spokesman-Review) $
• OPINION: State must do better to protect Washington’s children (Rep. Deb Manjarrez/Yakima Herald-Republic)
• OPINION: Republicans are fighting fentanyl in Washington. Democrats won’t advance our bills (Sen. Jim McCune/The News Tribune) $

EDUCATION

• Tacoma private school that raised $210K to avoid shutdown will close next school year (The News Tribune) $
• Olympia school staff is more diverse than ever. But how does it compare to the student body? (The Olympian) $

ENERGY & UTILITIES

• Lewis County passes resolution aimed at protecting use of natural gas for heating, cooking (The Chronicle)
• CenturyLink racked up 1.6M violations over flaky service, WA regulators say (The Seattle Times) $

FISH

• WDFW survey seeks public input on salmon and steelhead management (KNDO/KNDU)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Third WA measles infection recorded; infant came through Sea-Tac (The Seattle Times) $

HIGHER EDUCATION

• WSU freezes some hiring and raises as new president starts campus tours in Tri-Cities (Tri-City Herald) $

HOMELESSNESS

• City of Vancouver’s seasonal overnight homeless shelters are closed; will they reopen in winter? (The Columbian) $

IMMIGRATION

• ‘Not a sanctuary city’: Spokane Valley resolution ignites immigration debate (The Center Square)
• ICE arrests 37 in workplace raid at Bellingham roofing company (KUOW Radio)

LAW ENFORCEMENT

• Ferguson and Democrats square off over cash for cops (The Washington Observer) $
• Snohomish County law enforcement to encrypt police airwaves (The Everett Herald) $

LEGISLATURE

• Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha could be recognized as WA state holidays (The Seattle Times) $

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Seattle City Council approves resolution recognizing failure of ‘defund the police’ (The Center Square)

MEDIA

• Idaho becomes the 41st state to protect journalists, sources (The Idaho Statesman/The Seattle Times) $

OPEN GOVERNMENT

• Lawsuits accuse Clark County councilors of breaking open meeting rules before C-TRAN vote (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

OPERATING BUDGET

• The panel for our spicy budget debate (The Washington Observer) $
• More funding for the Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents Task Force and other bad budget plans (KVI Radio)
• OPINION: WA Democrats need a new tool in the toolbox (David Horsey/The Seattle Times)

OTHER STATES

• Oregon Department of Education shuts down literacy, math development programs due to unexpected federal funding cut (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
• Oregon moves to regulate harmful ‘forever chemicals’ (The Oregonian) $
• After false starts, Oregon wolf compensation reform gains traction (Capital Press) $
• Flooding has put an Oregon city’s sewer system at the point of collapse (The Washington Post/The Seattle Times)

POLITICS

STATE

• Famous or infamous on I-5? Uncle Sam billboard property is being sold (The Oregonian) $

SECURITY

• Time’s Running Out: what you must know about the REAL ID deadline before flying (MyNorthwest)

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Push for social media safeguards to protect children derails in Washington House (Washington State Standard)

SPORTS

• WIAA says vote on member amendments banning transgender athletes violates state law (MyNorthwest)

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Bill to close two schools for developmentally disabled clears House committee (The Center Square)
• How Washington state is suing Trump in his second term (Axios – Seattle)

TAXES

• Ferguson kinda-sorta threatens to veto a wealth tax (The Washington Observer) $

TRANSPORTATION

• $8M project to improve traffic flow on Richland’s State Route 240 (KNDO/KNDU)
• EDITORIAL: Transit board, new CEO have much to deliver (The Everett Herald) $

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET

• WA House passes $15B transportation budget backed by gas tax hike (Washington State Standard)
• WA lawmakers consider tax based on fuel efficiency to fund transportation (FOX 13)
• WA House passes transportation funding, EV sales drop statewide (Spokane Public Radio)

WATER

• OPINION: WDFW must be held accountable for nitrate contamination threatening our water (Sean Swope, Lewis County Commissioner/The Chronicle)

WEATHER & CLIMATE

• Seattle rainfall grows more intense with climate change (Axios – Seattle)
• Washington’s snowpack falls short again, raising drought concerns (MyNorthwest)

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• Intentional burning to begin to minimize future wildland fires (KOZI Radio)

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