Hello Friends and Neighbors, It’s been well over a month since our 2024 session ended, but it sure doesn’t feel like it because of all the things that have continued to happen in the legislative arena. There’s the controversial decision from a federal judge that redrew the boundaries of our...

It’s rare to be part of a committee hearing for an initiative to the Legislature, because in the past 30 years only one such measure had received enough voter signatures to qualify (this year a record SIX were qualified and submitted). This is from our Wednesday-morning hearing on Initiative 2113,...

As a supporter of the six initiatives submitted to the Legislature this year, I appreciated being able to say a few words Friday to a crowd of others who rallied on the Capitol steps because they feel the same way! February 25, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Tomorrow is Day...

  February 16, 2024 Hello Friends and Neighbors, As of today there are 20 days left in this year’s session. With the exception of budget updates, we’re through with moving Senate bills across to the House of Representatives, and are back to meeting as committees – this time to consider...

Hello Friends and Neighbors, If you own property or a home or rent your home… this week didn’t start out well. My colleagues in the Senate majority were all set to open the door to the largest property-tax increase in Washington history. The bill to enable this (SB 5770) was...

At this point in the 2024 session the Senate’s work is focused on the policy committees, which have through next Wednesday to act on Senate bills. This is from our Law & Justice meeting yesterday, where the list of bills we considered included legislation to help communities rebuild their law-enforcement...

When I and other budget leaders met with news reporters to preview our session I spoke about the need to be conservative about appropriating the billions of dollars collectively generated by the capital-gains income tax, the long-term care payroll tax and the cap-and-trade law, because those sources would go away...

Hello Friends and Neighbors, You’re probably busy with holiday-related things so I’ll make this brief. The next legislative session begins two weeks from Christmas Day – that’s Monday, January 8. To repeat the invitation made in my previous e-newsletter, I’d like to hear any ideas you have for legislation. After...

November 23, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, While the next legislative session won’t begin until January 8, the prep work is already under way. Earlier this month several members of our Clark County legislative delegation visited the Fort Vancouver clinic operated by Fresenius Medical Care, where we talked with staff and...

Sept. 14, 2023 Hello Friends and Neighbors, Earlier this week the gas-prices webpage from AAA had this headline: “Gas Prices Slump Slightly as Summer’s End Approaches.” Maybe in other states, but not ours. When I last checked in with you, it was mid-July and gas in Skamania County was $5.22...