OLYMPIA – Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, released the following statement Friday in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs vs. Women’s Health Organization: “Forty-nine years after the U.S. Supreme Court found a right to abortion hidden in the shadows of the Constitution, the court has finally...

Lovick amendment would add treatment sentencing alternative In its final vote of Wednesday night, the Washington State Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 5054, a measure aimed at strengthening the state’s felony-DUI law and reducing the pain and suffering faced by victims of impaired drivers. The 48-0 vote sent the proposal to...

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, released the following statement in response to oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The challenge to a Mississippi law restricting abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy could allow the Supreme Court to overturn previous decisions...

Mass-termination event is last straw — senators cite failure of leadership Thousands of state employees get ax under Inslee vaccination mandate Follows nearly 600 days of autocratic decisions in ‘emergency’ that never ends Ferries on reduced schedule due to severe staffing shortage, other impacts expected Governor has ignored Legislature, shut...

With goal of ‘reducing incarceration,’ governor and Legislature create new public safety risks To read report, click here. OLYMPIA – As if new restrictions on law enforcement weren’t enough, an effort by Washington lawmakers to empty prison cells and return convicted felons to the street is creating new public safety...

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, responded this afternoon to remarks made by the state insurance commissioner, in which he declared Republican state legislators in Texas “have become America’s own version of the Taliban” after a new law effectively banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected went into effect...

Washington state employees, contractors and healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 18 or risk being fired, according to an announcement made by Gov. Jay Inslee today. In mandating the shots, and allowing limited exemptions only for medical or religious grounds, Inslee is following the lead...

As the Legislature prepared to convene for this year’s session, state troopers were ordered to Olympia from across the state, joined by 750 National Guardsmen, and a fence was erected around the state Capitol, shutting out the public. After nearly four months of repeated calls from Republicans and members of...

Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview, is joining the Senate Freedom Caucus, the cadre of Washington senators focused on issues of individual liberties, economic growth and restrained, responsible government. “If ever there was a need for a Senate Freedom Caucus, the time is now,” Wilson said. “This year’s legislation presents major threats...