EDITORIAL: Ruling Democrats, your tax hikes come at a cost to all WA residents; WA Legislature approves gas tax increase

EDITORIAL: Ruling Democrats, your tax hikes come at a cost to all WA residents

The Seattle Times — The legacy of the 2025 state Legislature may be raising the cost of living in Washington amid uncertain economic times. No matter how hard ruling Democrats try to steer a buffet of tax hikes toward businesses and wealthier Washingtonians, they will make life costlier for all — including those who can least afford it … At breathtaking speed this past week, the Democratic-controlled House and Senate rushed through the largest tax hike in state history. $

WA Legislature approves gas tax increase

Washington State Standard — Republicans say the medley of taxes, on top of separate levies to pay for the operating budget, is too much for working-class residents to bear. Rep. Andrew Barkis, the leading Republican voice in the House on transportation issues, said in floor debate that he recognizes revenue is needed to improve Washington’s infrastructure. But “it comes to a point where we’re putting this on the backs of Washingtonians with an ever-increasing burden of taxation,” said Barkis, of Yelm.

AGRICULTURE

• Washingtonians are buying chickens to get around high egg prices. Is it worth it? (KNKX Radio)

BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR

• Striking workers could soon get unemployment benefits under bill House approved (The News Tribune) $
• Washington’s richest: Who tops the list? (Axios – Seattle)
• Tariff tit-for-tat has Seattle waiting for the ships to come in (The Seattle Times) $
• OPINION: Intellectual property violations threaten WA innovation (Gary Locke, former governor of Washington, Secretary of Commerce, and Ambassador to China/The Seattle Times) $
• EDITORIAL: WA finds safe middle ground for young workers (The Columbian) $

CONGRESS

• Talk of raising taxes on millionaires swirls as Republicans draft Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ (AP)

CORRECTIONS & JAILS

• Her son died while restrained by guards at a WA jail. Now she’s suing (The Seattle Times) $

COURTS (FEDERAL)

• Washington challenges federal order restricting K-12 funds for ‘illegal DEI practices’ (The Spokesman-Review) $

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

• Washington tops U.S. in car break-ins for April, FBI reveals (KONP Radio)
• At a Lynnwood thrift store, rising shoplifting mirrors larger retail crime surge (The Everett Herald) $

EDUCATION

• WA lawmakers poised to give schools a special education victory (The Seattle Times) $
• Cashmere senior sues school district over valedictorian eligibility (NCW Life Channel)
• EDITORIAL: Lawmakers opt to fail some WA students, invite McCleary 2.0 (The Seattle Times) $
• EDITORIAL: Students get a life lesson in building bridges (The Everett Herald) $

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT & THE WHITE HOUSE

• Trump administration blasts Washington over immigration enforcement lawsuit (Washington State Standard)

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

• Bit of a fight’: WA Senator notes a brewing feud between governor, Democrat caucus (MyNorthwest)

HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS

• Tharinger-backed law expands public access to Washington health care data (KONP Radio)

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Dozens of international students in Washington to have visas restored as Trump administration backs down – for now (KUOW Radio)
• WSU international student records reinstated after Trump reverses course on visas (The Spokesman-Review) $
• WSU Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity shut down until 2030 for hazing (MyNorthwest)

HOMELESSNESS

• Yakima officials debate best way to address hard-to-solve homeless issues (Yakima Herald-Republic) $
• ‘Few places to go’: Those living in Burnt Bridge Creek encampment say it serves a purpose, but city plans to close it (The Columbian) $

HOUSING

• Procedural snag delays votes on bill to cap Washington rent increases (Washington State Standard)
• Historic rent cap bill hangs in the balance as clock runs out in Olympia (The Center Square)
• Brandi Kruse slams Washington’s ‘reparations’ homeownership program for discrimination (KVI Radio)
• Washington’s homeownership gap addressed by new law, but concerns over costs remain (KOMO TV)
• Gov. Ferguson signs new law to expand Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption program (KGMI Radio/My Bellingham Now)

LEGISLATURE

• What’s still outstanding as the WA Legislature wraps up this weekend (FOX 13)
• What to expect as 2025 WA legislative session nears end (FOX 13)
• Democrats hug it out over rent restriction, UI for strikers (The Washington Observer) $
• Watch: WA lawmaker banned from House floor for remainder of session after outburst (The Center Square)
• Spending on lobbying in Washington state has doubled in a decade. What is all that money buying? (KUOW Radio)
• BLOG: New proposal to split state has same old prospects (Jim Camden/The Spokesman-Review) $

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• Seattle spends millions on illegal immigrants as Trump admin seeks to deny funds (The Center Square)
• Ellensburg residents pack council meeting over push to eliminate DEI from city plan (Daily Record) $
• EDITORIAL: Franklin commissioners flout transparency, risk safety with jail takeover (Tri-City Herald) $

MENTAL HEALTH

• Washington law allowing involuntary mental treatment should be expanded, advocates say (Kitsap Sun) $

OPERATING BUDGET

• Gov. Ferguson ‘cautiously optimistic’ legislators can meet budget deadline (KING TV)
• Washington State lawmakers have just two days to finalize the state budget for the Governor to sign (KREM TV)

OTHER STATES

• Hackers release millions of files after Oregon DEQ cyberattack (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

PARENTAL RIGHTS

• Overhaul of WA Parents’ Bill of Rights heads to Ferguson (The Seattle Times) $

STATE GOVERNMENT

• Washington AG’s Office launches new sexual assault reporting website (KIRO TV)

TAXES

• Big tax increases headed for Ferguson’s desk (The Washington Observer) $
• How many state tax increases are Washington Democrats proposing? (KVI Radio)
• Senate could vote Saturday on increases to state Business and Occupation tax (The Spokesman-Review) $
• Republican budget leaders see showdown ahead as Senate Democrats approve trio of major tax increases (Clark County Today)
• Watch: No-new-taxes budget petition signed by 27K delivered to Ferguson’s office (The Center Square)
• OPINION: Just what we don’t need — a property tax hike that’s also bad for rural schools (Sen. John Braun/The Chronicle)

TRANSPORTATION

• Washington lawmakers approve 6-cent gas tax hike with July start date (MyNorthwest)
• WA lawmakers pump higher gas taxes into their empty budget tank (The Seattle Times) $

WATER

• A dry April lowers water supply forecast (The Lewiston Tribune) $

WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE

• WA bill signed into law adds oversight to private utility wildfire protection plans (The Center Square)

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