State considering new car tab tax for King County
March 1, 2013
New: March 1, 2:58 p.m.
By Kylee Zabel, Reporter
WNPA Olympia News Bureau
More taxes to sustain existing benefits are the financial crutch being considered by the Legislature to support public transportation entities in King county.
The House Transportation Committee Feb. 25 heard testimony on a bill that would allow county and/or city officials to increase the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) by 1.5 percent, with conditions, to support specific transportation services. Read more
Estranged wife says state Rep. Roger Goodman drove stoned
February 27, 2013
In his six years in the Washington State House, 45th District Rep. Roger Goodman (D), has made a name for himself toughening driving under the influence laws, even winning a “legislator of the year” award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
But in documents submitted in Goodman’s ongoing divorce from his wife of 16 years, Liv Grohn, and in interviews, Goodman seems to admit to driving after using marijuana. These allegations concern a time period when even possession of marijuana was illegal.
In an Oct. 4 court filing, Grohn accuses Goodman of acting “with willful disregard for our children’s safety by repeatedly driving them while stoned.” Read more
State tax hikes would fund road projects
February 27, 2013
By Kylee Zabel, Reporter
WNPA Olympia News Bureau
House Democrats rolled out a $10 billion,10-year transportation-revenue package Feb. 20 calling for, among other revenue sources, a ten-cent increase in the gas tax.
House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-41) and fellow Democrat legislators introduced what they call the Connecting Washington plan, which is intended to relieve congestion on roadways, help with maintenance costs, manage storm water and connect Washington businesses to local, national and global markets. Read more
Leave divorce wait time alone
February 20, 2013
One bill winding its way through the Legislature would increase the divorce waiting time increase from 90 days to one year after filing with the courts. The thought that a longer wait time would help a marriage is foolish.
Divorce is, to say the least, unpleasant. Even when there are no children involved, the hurt feelings, financial untangling and emotional stress can be devastating. When there are children involved, the household animosity should not be prolonged. Read more
GOP bid to fund education first falls flat on party-line vote
February 6, 2013
By Kylee Zabel, Reporter
WNPA Olympia News Bureau
A showdown on the House floor Feb. 1 over an amendment offered by Republicans, which would create a separate budget for K-12 education funding, provoked Enumclaw Rep. Cathy Dahlquist (R) to ask, “Where has the majority party been the last 10 years?” Read more
Separating education is not a budget solution
February 6, 2013
Last Friday, the House of Representatives split along party lines on a proposal to create a separate budget for K-12 education funding. If approved, the education budget would need to have been funded before the state could look at its other obligations.
It’s just not that simple.
The state constitution says that education is to be the paramount duty of the state government, but it never really gets into what paramount means. However, thinking of it only in terms of school funding is overly simplistic. While dollars are extremely important, there’s a lot more to education than making sure teachers have adequate resources. Read more
Sammamish lawmakers sign on to bills igniting abortion funding debate
January 31, 2013
By Zoey Palmer
WNPA Olympia News Bureau
Two bills introduced early in this legislative session would require any health-insurance plan in Washington state that covers maternal care to also cover abortions.
HB 1044 and SB 5009, collectively known as the Reproductive Parity Act, would reinforce existing state law that requires insurance companies to cover abortion except in cases in which the insurance provider is explicitly religious. Read more
Education funding forum coming next week
January 15, 2013
New: Jan. 15 2:48 p.m.
Sammamish voters who want to keep their eye on education funding discussions in Olympia will have a golden opportunity Jan. 22.
The League of Education Voters is hosting an education funding forum from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the King County Library Administration Building, 960 Newport Way N.W. in Issaquah. Read more
Sammamish lawmakers prepare for legislative session
December 31, 2012
New: Dec. 31, 3:16 p.m.
Sammamish’s Republican state senators are poised to play key roles in budget and education issues in Olympia next year.
Sen. Steve Litzow, who represents the southern half of the city in the 41st District, and Sen. Andy Hill, who covers the rest of Sammamish in the 45th District, will be given plum committee chairmanships as part of a new majority coalition announced earlier this month. Read more
Sammamish City Council decides on legislative goals
October 24, 2012
Lobbyists working on behalf of municipal governments like Sammamish will be active in Olympia in the next year, and Sammamish leaders have a wish list that includes clearer medical marijuana laws, more protections against harassing public records requests and fewer dreaded “unfunded mandates.” Read more
