Plan to raise cap on property tax growth collapses in WA Legislature
Washington State Standard — From the outset of the session — now just six days from ending — Democrats’ desire to increase the limit has been one of the pillars of the multibillion-dollar tax packages developed in each chamber. The idea has been fiercely opposed by Republican lawmakers and others who warned the measure would drive up living and housing costs. “It’s a great start. There’s still a lot left in their budget that taxes regular Washingtonians,” said House Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn.
With under a week left in session, WA lawmakers butt heads on tax ideas
The Olympian — Washington Democrats revealed an updated revenue package last week that would raise nearly $12 billion over four years. However, Gov. Bob Ferguson criticized the revenue plan, calling it “too risky” amid ongoing federal-funding uncertainty. Senate lawmakers on Saturday gave the green light to expanding the state sales tax — a move critics argue would hurt regular Washingtonians the most. $
AGRICULTURE
- Moses Lake lawmaker’s bills signed into law to support agriculture, veterinary care and rural airports (KHQ TV)
- How will tariffs impact WA’s trade-dependent agriculture industry? (Cascade PBS)
BUSINESS, ECONOMY & LABOR
COMMUNITY & FAMILY ISSUES
CONGRESS
- Millionaire tax would generate about $400 billion in revenue (Bloomberg News/The Columbian) $
- 60,000 Americans to lose their rental assistance and risk eviction unless Congress acts (AP)
- Business leaders tell Sen. Patty Murray that uncertainty surrounding tariffs is impacting local manufacturers (The Reflector)
- Gluesenkamp Perez talks trades at Kelso High, as community funded halted in Congress (The Daily News) $
CORRECTIONS & JAILS
COURTS (FEDERAL)
- Federal judge orders U.S. to restore visas of 2 international students in Oregon (AP)
- U.S. Supreme Court appears likely to uphold Obamacare’s preventive care coverage mandate (AP)
COURTS (STATE)
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
- ‘Worst case I’ve witnessed:’ Suspect accused of using nail gun on missing elderly woman, beating her to death (KING TV)
- Lake Stevens parents arrested in child sex abuse, bestiality case (The Everett Herald) $
- Exclusive: Inside look into the world of cockfighting rings and the fight to stop them (KIRO TV)
DRUG CRISIS
- Washington newborns testing positive for drugs at alarming rates (KING TV)
- A lifeline for drug treatment on the ropes (The Washington Observer) $
EARLY LEARNING
EDUCATION
- Public Disclosure Commission confirms Ridgefield School District broke state campaign laws during levy effort (Clark County Today)
- Richland school leaders consider rejecting controversial ‘race and curriculum’ policy (Tri-City Herald) $
- Staff cuts loom in Yakima schools as district aims for long-term stability (KAPP/KVEW)
- COLUMN: Despite academic failures, Democrats reject cap on excessive superintendent pay, severance (Jason Rantz/MyNorthwest)
ENVIRONMENT
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
- Gov. Bob Ferguson signs 35 bills into Washington law. Here are the changes they made (KING TV)
- Bill to end landmark abuse in Seattle, Tacoma heads to governor’s desk (Puget Sound Business Journal) $
HEALTH CARE & HOSPITALS
- ‘I know that people will die:’ Concerns over possible Medicaid cuts have some fearing the worst (KING TV)
- OPINION: Legislators must work to help pharmacies – not squeeze them (Erik Nelson/The Spokesman-Review) $
HIGHER EDUCATION
- UW, other WA universities decry Trump’s ‘political interference’ (The Seattle Times) $
- UW College of Arts and Sciences to make immediate 5% cuts (KIRO TV)
HOMELESSNESS
- SMN: Poe Russell raises concerns over city’s homelessness plan as mayor touts 80% drop in tents (MyNorthwest)
- Spokane City Council declines to reinstate Prop 1 after state Supreme Court strikes it down (The Spokesman-Review) $
HOUSING
- Seattle leads the pack as concessions surge in some US home markets (Puget Sound Business Journal) $
IMMIGRATION
LEGISLATURE
- A devastating loss’: WA state Sen. Bill Ramos mourned after dying unexpectedly (Washington State Standard)
- Colleagues mourn the sudden loss of state Sen. Bill Ramos (The Center Square)
- Washington lawmakers remember State Senator Bill Ramos (Cascade PBS)
- A salute to a state senator (KIRO TV)
- WA state senator dies unexpectedly during trail run. ‘Difficult to process’ (The News Tribune) $
- Eastside Senator dies suddenly over the weekend (The Washington Observer) $
- Process begins to fill position left vacant by late Sen. Bill Ramos (KING TV)
- Legislative Watch: April 22 (The Wenatchee World) $
- Centralia student serves as page in the Washington state House of Representatives (The Chronicle)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Seattle’s slumping revenue reignites debate over taxing the rich (The Center Square)
- Spokane County sees revenue bump as $20M deficit and potential cuts loom (The Center Square)
- Spokane outlaws discriminating against homeless job applicants (The Spokesman-Review) $
MILITARY & VETERANS
- WA bill to restrict outside National Guard from entering state is signed into law (Washington State Standard)
- WA can now restrict outside National Guard from entering state (The Seattle Times) $
OPERATING BUDGET
- OPINION: Closing the Yakima Valley School betrays our most vulnerable (Sen. Nikki Torres and Mike Yestramski, president of the Washington Federation of State Employees/Yakima Herald-Republic)
- OPINION: Washington must close this facility to protect our rights (Shawn Latham, public policy coordinator for Self Advocates in Leadership/The News Tribune)
OTHER STATES
SPORTS
- Controversial transgender student-athlete ruling falls one vote shy of passing (MyNorthwest)
- WA schools vote on transgender athletes: How we got here and what’s next (The Seattle Times) $
- Washington sanctions girls flag football as high school sport, first addition since 1999 (KOMO TV)
TAXES
- Watch: WA Senate Dems advance several tax hike bills as session enters last week (The Center Square)
- WA legislators work on tax proposals with days left before session ends (FOX 13)
- Senate Democrats approve first wave of massive tax hikes; an ‘expensive day for the taxpayers’ (Clark County Today)
- Coalition of Washington businesses and industry groups say proposed B&O surcharge will impact consumers directly (The Reflector)
- Democratic lawmakers push tax increases in hopes of balancing Washington’s budget (The Spokesman-Review) $
- A taxing Saturday in the Senate (The Washington Observer) $
- OPINION: Tax increases in Washington: The stage is set for a battle royale (Rep. John Ley/The Reflector)
TRANSPORTATION
- Transportation leaders, workers urge drivers to slow down after sharp rise in work zone crashes (The Reflector)
- North Cascades Highway reopening after monthslong closure (The Seattle Times) $
- ‘20-foot’ high rockslide shuts down SR 11 in Skagit County (KIRO TV)
- Walk-on ferry between Anacortes and San Juans launches on trial basis (Washington State Standard)
- OPINION: TriMet’s ‘fiscal cliff’ a caution for Clark County taxpayers (Rep. John Ley/Clark County Today)
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
WATER
- $19M Snoqualmie River restoration project sees early success for salmon, flood safety (The Center Square)
- Lynden’s fluoride debate returns as city council revisits last year’s vetoed ban (KOMO TV)
WILDFIRE PREVENTION & RESPONSE
WOLVES
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