Author Archives: brianzylstra

Wishing you a happy, safe Fourth of July!

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers July 2, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

This Thursday, people throughout the U.S. will celebrate Independence Day – America’s birthday. It was on July 4, 1776, when the 13 American colonies formally broke away from British rule and declared that they had become a new nation: the United States of America. (Seven years later, on September 3, 1783, the U.S. and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolution and saw Great Britain recognize the U.S. as a sovereign nation.)

As some history buffs know, the Continental Congress actually voted for independence on July 2, 1776. After several members of the Continental Congress spent two days drafting a Declaration of Independence, the Congress approved it two days later, which is why we celebrate Independence Day on July 4.

July 4 fireworks appear over the Capitol in Olympia.

Throughout our nation’s 248 years of existence, we have experienced great triumphs and tragedies, and other highs and lows. While America continues to change in different ways (some good and some bad), we remain united by constant ideals – our love of freedom and liberty, the blending of new American citizens, and a desire to make our country even better – “a more perfect union.”

For many people, July 4 means food and fireworks. As we enjoy gathering with family and friends on the Fourth, let’s also remember why we celebrate Independence Day and why it matters. Happy birthday, America!

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Pollinator-habitat workshop is a success

After weeks of planning, a pollinator-habitat workshop co-hosted by my office and the Spokane Conservation District was held June 25 at the conservation district’s headquarters.

Over 30 people attended the free event, including several who work in the landscaping or building-construction industries.

Special thanks to Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter for emceeing and helping plan this event. Another big thank-you goes to the presenters at the workshop, including Katie Buckley of the state Department of Agriculture; Hannah Walker of Spokane Scape; Cathy Spokas, the city of Spokane’s landscaper; Beth Mort of Zinnia Designs; and Aubrey Hoxie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Finally, I thank Julia Costello for attending the workshop. Julia deserves credit for asking me to sponsor legislation to enhance pollinator habitat in Washington. The result was Senate Bill 5934, which was approved by the Legislature and Governor Inslee this year and is now state law.

There is talk of hosting other pollinator-habitat workshops later this year. If such events are scheduled, information will be provided in a future e-newsletter.

State revenue projection declining

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council last Wednesday adopted a second-quarter forecast that shows a $666 million revenue decline through the next two budget cycles: a drop of $477 million for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium and $189 million for the 2025-27 biennium. The decline was due mostly to a nosedive in the amount of revenue collected through the state’s tax on capital-gains income.

My colleague, Senator Lynda Wilson, who is Republican leader of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is current chair of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, issued a statement last week in which she expressed concerned that the drop-off in income-tax revenue may prompt an effort from legislative Democrats to expand this tax.

Here is Senator Wilson’s statement:

“When we adopted the year’s first-quarter forecast in February, the state’s chief economist warned us to expect slow economic growth – but the economy is not to blame for this predicted drop in revenue. The change in this quarter’s forecast goes hand-in-hand with a sharp decline in the state’s capital-gains tax collections.

“In its first year the capital-gains tax took in about $800 million; here in year two the collections are on track to total about half that much. This is exactly the kind of volatility I and others predicted when the majority Democrats adopted the capital-gains tax.

“When a tax fails to bring in the anticipated level of revenue, it’s almost inevitable that someone will want to cast the net wider and capture more money. Our Democratic colleagues already proposed that idea, and we should expect they will do so again.

“The thousands of Washingtonians already subject to the capital-gains tax include people who have spent years building a business, then sell it to retire. Next thing you know, someone will suggest adding home sales to the list of things covered by the capital-gains tax, and that would hit far more people.

“I’ve said it before: The capital-gains tax doesn’t pay for anything that can’t be funded with other revenue. Our schools and other important things like access to childcare never should have been tied to such a volatile tax. Today’s forecast is proof.”

Our Democratic colleagues will have to fight their natural urge to expand a tax all to satisfy their constant craving for more money from you and other hard-working taxpayers. Republicans will be ready to stand with taxpayers if and when that time comes.

Tax credits for conversion to employee- ownership businesses now available

Last year, the Legislature and the governor approved Senate Bill 5096, which creates the Washington Employee Ownership Program at the Department of Commerce to offer technical support, and other services, to certain businesses considering certain employee-ownership structures. SB 5096 also provides a business-and-occupation tax credit for costs related to converting a qualifying business to an employee-ownership structure.

The state Department of Revenue has made that tax credit available as of yesterday (July 1). Here is DOR’s special notice about the tax credit.

Below is information I recently received from a Department of Commerce official about the upcoming tax credit:

On Monday, July 1st, the WA DOR will go live with the implementation of the tax incentive credit. It will be a very simple process using their existing portal, similar to other tax credits already in place. The DOR team anticipates that the process may take up to 60 days from the submission of the application to DOR issuing the tax credit. I am also enclosing a sample of the notice that businesses will receive via a notification in their portal accounts once the credit is issued.

On our end, our program webpage will also be live on Monday, July 1st. There is a section on this page that will talk about the tax credit and provide links to DOR. DOR will also provide a link to our page. http://www.commerce.wa.gov/eop and http://www.commerce.wa.gov/eop-commission

DOR and Commerce will continue to work together in identifying technical assistance needs for businesses and collaborating on troubleshooting if and when unexpected gaps or questions arise.

Senate Bill 5096 also created a state Employee Ownership Program Commission to oversee the program. I’m honored to be a member of this commission. Other commission members include Joey Nestegard of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. The EOP Commission’s next meeting is July 22.

A full-time Legislature? No thanks.

An empty Senate chamber.

The Spokesman-Review last week published an excellent guest editorial by former state legislator Mark Harmsworth that is worth a read. Harmsworth, now with the Washington Policy Center, focused on a recent poll by the left-leaning Northwest Progressive Institute that claimed 59% of likely voters favor seeing Washington’s Legislature meet year-round. As all of you know, under the state constitution our Legislature meets for 105-day sessions in odd-numbered years and for 60-day sessions in even-numbered years, with the option of meeting in special session if necessary.

What the NPI poll failed to point out is the much higher cost that would be associated with a full-time, year-round Legislature.

Harmsworth’s opinion piece noted that on average, the cost to taxpayers for each of our part-time Washington legislators amount to $112,000 annually when salary, per-diem, medical/dental and pension benefits are included. That works out at $123 per hour based on the 60-105 day sessions. Moving to a full-time Legislature could more than triple that salary.

As someone who has served a legislator for 28 years, I think it would be a huge mistake to change from a part-time Legislature to a year-round one. The ideal of “citizen legislators” has been part of Washington since its territorial days. It works, and needs to be preserved.

Article points out sea lions, birds and water temperatures as causes for salmon decline in Snake River

Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities.

As some of you know, there was recent news that the state Department of Ecology and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation are conducting a study – the Lower Snake River Water Supply Replacement Study – on the potential impacts if Congress decided to breach Washington’s four Lower Snake River dams between Clarkston and the Tri-Cities. DOE and the Bureau of Reclamation held two virtual meetings last week to talk about the study and the dams.

Considering that the Biden administration several months ago struck a secret deal with several tribes and other groups that oppose the Snake River dams, it’s doubtful that the administration will drop its interest in removing the four dams, which provide cheap and clean electric power to our region and offer other benefits, including barge transportation for wheat and other products and goods, irrigation, recreation and flood control.

Chelsea Martin, the government relations and communications coordinator for Modern Electric Water Company, recently wrote an extensive and informative piece about the dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers in which she focuses on the dams’ importance, as well as factors other than the dams that contribute to the decline of the salmon population in the Snake River. You can also read the story here.

“Even if we reach 100% dam passage rates, our most robust mitigation efforts could be totally upended if salmon can’t survive threats,” Chelsea wrote, listing the following as threats to salmon: 1) hostile oceanic conditions, 2) warming rivers, 3) sea lions, 4) 6PPD-quinone, PCBs and other toxic pollution, 5) predatory birds and 6) non-native predatory fish.

Democrats consider ‘retail delivery fee’

As if there aren’t already too many taxes and fees taking money out of our wallets or bank accounts – another fee is being floated.

According to a recent story by KIRO Radio in Seattle, the idea of a “retail delivery fee” was discussed at a joint legislative transportation committee meeting in Vancouver June 18. The proposed fee would apply to taxable retail items delivered by motor vehicles, including packages from Amazon and goods shipped by companies like UPS and FedEx. You can watch TVW’s coverage of the joint transportation committee meeting here.

This part of KIRO Radio’s story was especially noteworthy:

A study conducted by consulting firm CDM Smith examined the potential impact on consumers and businesses. It also analyzed the experiences of Colorado and Minnesota, the only two states with a retail delivery fee. In Colorado, the fee, enacted in 2022, charges 28 cents per delivery, generating $75.9 million in its first year. Minnesota’s fee, implemented in 2023, charges 50 cents for deliveries over $100, raising an estimated $59 million for cities and towns.

For Washington, the consultants evaluated various fee scenarios. If applied universally to all taxable items without exemptions, the fee could generate up to $112 million by 2026 and $160 million by 2030.

Alternatively, if the fee only applies to deliveries exceeding $75 and exempts retailers with less than $1 million in sales, the potential revenue drops to $49 million in 2026 and $70 million in 2030.

The Association of Washington Business and Washington Retail Association expressed concerns about a retail delivery fee, which they called a “doorstep tax.”

“The doorstep tax is a double tax on top of one of the most regressive and highest sales taxes in the country,” they wrote in a report about the proposed fee. “While we acknowledge the need for innovative solutions to address environmental and budget challenges, taxing deliveries is not the answer.”

If this possible fee was to come up for a Senate vote before I retire in early January, I would be a resounding “no.”

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Sen. Padden’s office and Spokane Conservation District hosting pollinator-habitat workshop June 25 

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers June 18, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Area landscapers, home builders and others who plant shrubs are invited to attend a free pollinator-habitat workshop on Tuesday, June 25, that the Spokane Conservation District and I are co-sponsoring.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Conservation District headquarters at 4422 E. 8th Ave. In the Spokane Valley.

People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. For that or additional information, contact my district office at 509-921-2460.

Here is the program for the pollinator habitat workshop on June 25.

This workshop allows landscapers, builders and city officials to hear about ways to install pollinator habitats in new home developments. Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture. We hope the workshop will help landscapers and others to learn ways to protect and enhance pollinators in our region, which is very important to both agriculture and the environment.

“Pollinator-friendly spaces in urban landscapes offer tremendous benefits,” said Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter. “Not only do they contribute to the beauty of our communities, but they serve as educational platforms creating an awareness about the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining our ecosystems by preserving biodiversity and reducing resource-intensive practices.”

Guest speakers will include Katie Buckley of the state Department of Agriculture, Beth Mort of Zinnia Designs, Aubrey Hoxie of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services and Kristen Zimmer from the city of Spokane.

During its 2024 session, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure I introduced that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The idea for the pollinator-habitat legislation came from Mount Spokane High School senior and Girl Scout Julia Costello, who requested that I sponsor the bill as part of a requirement for her to earn the Gold Award, which is the Girl Scout equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout as a Boy Scout. SB 5934 was signed on March 28 by Governor Inslee, with Julia and her parents in attendance. Julia will attend the workshop.

Under the proposal, a local government may encourage applicants for project or commercial-building permits to include pollinator-friendly plants in any landscaped area, and it may provide pertinent information about such plants.   

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Police-pursuit initiative takes effect, should help reduce traffic deaths

Nearly two weeks ago, Initiative 2113, which restores police pursuits in Washington, went into effect June 6th. This initiative, which was approved by the Legislature last March, should result in fewer traffic deaths in the state.

Washington state is experiencing an increase in fatal and serious-injury crashes on our roads and highways that is shocking and heartbreaking. I-2113 will help officers apprehend dangerous drivers and make our roads and highways safer.

A recent Washington Traffic Safety Commission report revealed the state has reached a 33-year high for traffic fatalities. The report showed 810 people were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle last year, an increase from 743 killed in 2022.

Of these 810 traffic deaths, nearly half (400) involved a drug- or alcohol-impaired driver, while 251 involved excessive speed, 171 involved not wearing a seatbelt or other restraint, and 135 involved a distracted driver.

There are several factors that have resulted in the high number of traffic fatalities in recent years, but a key one has been the inability for officers to pursue vehicles in many situations. With I-2113 in effect, officers can pursue drivers in more instances and remove them from our highways.

I-2113 should help reverse the growing crime problem in Washington. Crime is a great concern for citizens and communities throughout our state. In fact, we have reached a crisis point in our state because of skyrocketing crime.

After the Legislature passed laws a few years ago that restricted law-enforcement officers from pursuing suspects, criminals became more emboldened. They have acted in a more brazen manner as they commit crimes. The result has been a sharp increase in auto theft, retail theft, burglary and other property crimes. Making matters worse, many auto thieves have used their stolen vehicles to smash into ‘pot shops’ to steal cash, or they use these cars as battering rams to break into other stores to steal merchandise.

With Initiative 2113 now in effect, law-enforcement officers again are able to pursue suspects instead of watching them drive away.

The Washington State Patrol recorded nearly 8,000 incidents of drivers refusing to stop for troopers in the years after a controversial 2021 state law restricted police officers from chasing suspects. 

Sen. Padden receives award at “Energy Summit”

Modern Electric Water Company’s Chelsea Martin presented me with the company’s Statesmanship Legacy Award June 4.

On June 4, I was honored and humbled to receive an award while attending the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Energy Summit in Coeur d’Alene.

Chelsea Martin, the government affairs manager for Modern Electric Water Company, presented me with the company’s Statesmanship Legacy Award “in recognition of his 28-year tenure in the Washington State Legislature.”

In it’s news release about the award, Modern Electric CEO Joe Morgan said, “Senator Mike Padden’s unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy for the people of Spokane Valley and the state of Washington have left an indelible mark on our community.”

Thanks to Modern Electric for this special award!

Little progress made on retail theft

Capitol Lake with the Legislative Building in the background.

One of the most serious crime problems in our state, as well as America, is organized retail theft, which hurts businesses, workers and consumers in Washington.

The Washington Retail Association last year said theft costs businesses $2.7 billion a year statewide.

Earlier this month, the (Vancouver) Columbian published an editorial that focused on organized retail theft and the state’s efforts to combat it. Two years ago, the state Organized Retail Crime Theft Task Force was created. So far, the task force has announced only one prosecution – last November. One can only hope this task force will produce more prosecutions than just one.

Organized retail theft is an issue that has been on the Legislature’s radar screen, but Democrats have refused to pass Senate Republican bills to address it, including my Senate Bill 5056, which would have allowed a court discretion to sentence a person found beyond a reasonable doubt to be a habitual property offender to an additional 24 months for a Class B felony, and an additional 12 months for a Class C felony. The Senate this year passed it 38-10, but the House refused to give it a vote.

Another Republican measure that was not passed by the Legislature this year was Senate Bill 5160, prime-sponsored by 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, R-Pasco. Under Senate Bill 5160, a person would be guilty of second-degree organized retail theft for stealing property with a cumulative value of at least $750 with two or more accomplices who enter the store within five minutes of one another.

The Legislature next year needs to take stronger steps to stop organized retail theft in our state.

New 4th District Government Guide still available at many locations

As mentioned before, there is a new 4th District Government Guide for districts residents to use. The free guide includes names and contact information for officials at the federal, statewide, legislative and local government levels. It also provides other helpful information. If you would like to have a copy of the new government guide mailed to you, please call my legislative assistant, Annalise Hemingway, at 509-921-2460 or email her at annalise.hemingway@leg.wa.gov.

There also are copies of the updated government guide at these locations:

Millwood City Hall (9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane)
Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane)
Spokane Valley City Hall (10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley)
Spokane Valley Library (22 N. Herald Road, Spokane Valley)
Liberty Lake City Hall (22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake)
Liberty Lake Library (23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake)
Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards)
Spokane Valley Senior Center (2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley)

Radio interview with Lars Larson

Last Tuesday, I did a live interview with Portland-based radio talk-show host Lars Larson, whose show is carried by many stations throughout the Northwest. We discussed two of the initiatives passed by the Legislature earlier this year – police pursuits and parental rights – and what the Legislature has and hasn’t done in addressing the fentanyl crisis. You can listen to the interview here.

Local school district faces menu limits, thanks to the state

Last week, The Center Square ran a story that should make many Valley residents take notice. The article was about how the Central Valley School District might raise the price of its breakfast and lunch options for the upcoming school year.

This part of the article explains the state’s role in the potential cost increase for meals for students in the school district:

The district’s Nutrition Services program relies on meal revenue and funding from state and federal programs to support itself, including the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, implemented last school year to provide free meals to qualifying students and schools. 

Groh said CVSD currently uses CEP to provide free meals to all students at 13 of its 27 schools and program sites, with one more location expected to join next year. However, the downside is that CEP limits the district’s ability to generate additional revenue through raising meal prices.  

Upon the end of the school year, CVSD estimates it will have served approximately 350,000 breakfasts and 1,012,383 lunches, including the meals of qualifying CEP students and schools and those who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through other programs.

The Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that CEP alone will cost taxpayers approximately $71 million annually for the over 575,000 students who qualify. 

A special anniversary

In the area just outside my Olympia legislative office, I have several quotes by former President Ronald Reagan on the walls. Visitors to my office often paused to look at them before entering my office to chat with me about legislative matters. Last Wednesday marked the 37th anniversary of one of Reagan’s more famous quotes, which came from a speech he delivered at the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, during the period when Berlin was divided, and the east side of the city was walled off by the Communists: “Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” As older readers will remember, Mr. Gorbachev was then-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Former President Reagan had a unique ability to eloquently and forcefully communicate his message.

Contact us!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Sen. Mike Padden Honored with Prestigious Statesmanship Legacy Award

Modern Electric Water Company proudly announced the presentation of the prestigious Statesmanship Legacy Award to Washington State Senator Mike Padden in recognition of his exceptional 28-year tenure in the Washington State Legislature.

The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 4, during the Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association Energy Summit, attended by esteemed energy association leaders, Washington state policymakers, and candidates for statewide and congressional offices.

“Senator Mike Padden’s unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy for the people of Spokane Valley and the state of Washington have left an indelible mark on our community,” said Joe Morgan, CEO of Modern Electric Water Company in Spokane Valley.

“His exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to public service embody the values we hold dear at Modern Electric Water Company. We are honored to present him with the Statesmanship Legacy Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions and profound impact. Congratulations, Senator Padden, on this well-deserved honor.”

In a heartfelt award presentation, Sen. Padden was lauded for his passion, fiery spirit, and dedicated service to the Spokane Valley community. With an illustrious legislative career spanning nearly three decades, Sen. Padden has exemplified principled leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a steadfast commitment to public service.

Colleagues in the Legislature shared their thoughts on Sen. Padden’s remarkable legacy.

Sen. Shelly Short, floor leader for the Senate Republican Caucus (7^th District):

“Mike Padden was one of the longest-serving members of the Legislature by the time I was appointed to the Senate in 2017, and I quickly came to recognize the depth of his knowledge and experience. I appreciated his guidance on legislation, procedural motions and the dozens of other specific decisions members are called upon to make. Mike’s principles were always consistent – fiscal responsibility, limited government, preserving our constitutional freedoms, protecting the role of the family and supporting our institutions. As a former district court judge, he was unwavering in his support for the judicial system, effective law enforcement and justice for crime victims. When our colleagues launched their crusade to open prison doors and defund the police, Mike was a staunch voice of opposition, fighting the good fight for public safety and to hold criminals accountable for their actions. Yet he also knew how to work the system to achieve his goals, and he maintained strong working relationships with members of the other party. Mike has been one of our strongest members, and I am glad to see him receive this award, because it shows others recognize his contribution as we do within the Senate Republican Caucus.”

Sen. Lynda Wilson (17^th District): “If you cherish our Second Amendment like I do, Senator Padden is your kind of legislator. But as we saw in this past legislative term alone, he’s also capable of passing legislation on issues ranging from housing supply and business ownership to corrupt prison guards and promoting habitat for pollinators! When it came to debates in the Senate chamber, no one was more of a statesman. What a tremendous legacy he leaves.”

The Statesmanship Legacy Award recognizes Sen. Padden’s outstanding contributions to the Spokane Valley community, the 4th District, and the state of Washington. Throughout his tenure, Sen. Padden has championed legislation to improve the lives of residents and foster bipartisan cooperation in pursuit of common goals.

In accepting the award, Sen. Padden expressed gratitude for the honor. He thanked Modern Electric Water Company, its Board of Directors, and its dedicated team for their support and recognition.

“I’m honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Sen. Padden. “The Legislature must do all it can to ensure affordable, reliable energy remains a reality for Washingtonians. Modern Electric Water Company is to be commended for providing some of the lowest electric power rates in our state and for providing such reliable service to its customers.”

CAPTION: Sen. Mike Padden receives the Statesmanship Legacy Award from Modern Electric Water Company’s Chelsea Martin.

Padden hopes traffic deaths, crime will drop as initiative restoring police pursuits goes into effect

Today marks the day when Initiative 2113, which restores police pursuits in Washington, goes into effect. State Sen. Mike Padden said the initiative, which was approved by the Legislature last March, should results in fewer traffic deaths in the state.

“Washington state is experiencing an increase in fatal and serious-injury crashes on our roads and highways that is shocking and heartbreaking. I-2113 should help officers apprehend dangerous drivers and make our roads and highways safer,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley.

The 4^th District senator pointed to a recent Washington Traffic Safety Commission report revealing the state has reached a 33-year high for traffic fatalities. The report showed 810 people were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle last year, an increase from 743 killed in 2022.

“There are several factors that have resulted in the high number of traffic fatalities in recent years, but a key one has been the inability for officers to pursue vehicles in many situations. With I-2113 in effect, officers can pursue drivers in more instances and get them off our highways,” said Padden, the Republican leader on the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

Padden noted I-2113 will help reverse the growing crime problem in Washington.

“Crime is perhaps the greatest concern for citizens and communities throughout our state,” said Padden. “In fact, we have reached a crisis point in our state because of skyrocketing crime.

“After the Legislature passed laws a few years ago that restricted law-enforcement officers from pursuing suspects, criminals became more emboldened. They have acted in a more brazen manner as they commit crimes. The result was a sharp increase in auto theft, retail theft, burglary and other property crimes. Making matters worse, many auto thieves have used their stolen vehicles to smash into ‘pot shops’ to steal cash, or they use these cars as battering rams to break into other stores to steal merchandise.

“With Initiative 2113 now in effect, law-enforcement officers again are able to pursue suspects instead of helplessly watching them drive away,” added Padden.

Sen. Padden’s office and Spokane Conservation District hosting pollinator-habitat workshop June 25

Area landscapers and other businesses or people who plant shrubs are invited to attend a free pollinator-habitat workshop on Tuesday, June 25, sponsored by 4^th District state Sen. Mike Padden and the Spokane Conservation District.

The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Spokane Conservation District headquarters at 4422 E. 8^th Ave. in Spokane Valley.

People interested in attending are asked to RSVP. For that or more information, contact Padden’s district office at 509-921-2460.

“Pollinator-friendly spaces in urban landscapes offer tremendous benefits,” said Spokane Conservation District Director Vicki Carter. “Not only do they contribute to the beauty of our communities, but they serve as educational platforms creating an awareness about the crucial role pollinators play in sustaining our ecosystems by preserving biodiversity and reducing resource-intensive practices.”

“This workshop allows landscapers, builders and city officials to hear about ways to install pollinator habitats in new home developments, said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Pollinators, including bees and butterflies, play a very important role in the pollination of crops, contributing to the production of fruits, vegetables and nuts. They play a vital role in sustaining agriculture. We hope the workshop will help landscapers and others to learn ways to protect and enhance pollinators in our region, which is very important to both agriculture and the environment.”

During its 2024 session, the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5934, a bipartisan measure introduced by Padden that aims to promote the use of pollinator-friendly shrubs or bushes in landscaping. The idea for the pollinator-habitat legislation came from Mount Spokane High School senior and Girl Scout Julia Costello, who asked Padden to sponsor the bill as part of a requirement for her to earn the Gold Award, which is equivalent to earning the Eagle Scout as a Boy Scout. SB 5934 was signed on March 28 by Gov. Jay Inslee, with Costello and her parents in attendance.

Honored to receive award from law-enforcement group

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 30, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Throughout my combined 28 years as a state legislator (15 sessions in the House from 1981 to 1995 and the past 13 sessions in the Senate), my time and energy have been focused on crime and public safety issues. For people in our communities to feel safer, we need to do all we can to make and enforce good strong laws and put criminals behind bars. It is why I always sought to serve on the House or Senate committee that addressed law and justice issues.

During these years, I have prime-sponsored or co-sponsored many bills that aimed to fight crime or protect crime victims better.

Public safety has always been my passion and my mission as a legislator, so it was a great honor to receive the highest honor from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs last week. WASPC officials presented me with the association’s Gene Cotton Award during its spring conference at the Spokane Convention Center. WASPC’s news release about the award is here. The photo above shows me standing between Douglas County Sheriff Kevin Morris (left), who is the WASPC Board president, and WASPC Executive Director Steve Strachan.

In the news release, Strachan said:

“Senator Padden has consistently and thoughtfully supported law enforcement and balanced public safety policies over more than forty years as a state legislator and judge. He has worked tirelessly to improve laws that help balance the need for public safety and ensure law enforcement is accountable to the community.”

According to the news release, the Gene Cotton Award, which is named for a former Clark County sheriff and WASPC executive director, “is given very infrequently and reserved only for extraordinary public officials who demonstrate their leadership to support law enforcement public policies.”

Special thanks to WASPC for this wonderful honor!

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Attending Spokane Valley Veterans Memorial dedication

Senator Padden talks with 103-year-old Pat Tully, a World War II veteran, during last Friday’s dedication of Spokane Valley’s Veterans Memorial.

It was an honor to join about 100 other community members, veterans and elected officials at Balfour Park this past Friday morning for the dedication of Spokane Valley’s Veterans Memorial. It was special to talk with several of the veterans in attendance, especially World War II vet Pat Tully, who looks fit and strong at age 103.

Here is part of my speech during the ceremony: “One of the goals of this memorial is to celebrate the power of lifting each other up in times of need. It also will inform and teach our community about the historical grand contributions of our military, and recognize the military’s commitment to our nation.”

The Spokesman-Review published a very good story about Friday’s event. You can read it here.

Seattle Times runs Padden op-ed on rise in traffic deaths

You might remember that my previous e-newsletter focused on the troubling increase in traffic deaths in Washington. Soon after the Washington Traffic Safety Commission issued its recent report revealing that our state had reached a 33-year high in road fatalities, I submitted a guest editorial piece to The Seattle Times about this problem and suggestions on how to fix it. The Times published it over the weekend. You may read it here.

The WTSC report showed that about half of all of the traffic fatalities in Washington involved impaired driving. That’s why it is so important to have enough law-enforcement officers patrolling our roads and highways to watch out for impaired drivers and arrest them before they cause an accident.

KHQ-TV recently published a story about Barry Marcus, a Spokane-based State Patrol trooper who made his 4,000^th DUI arrest on April 30. Trooper Marcus has served in the State Patrol for 32 years. The efforts and dedication displayed by Trooper Marcus and other WSP troopers, as well as officers with our local police departments and Spokane County Sheriff’s Department, are vital to keeping drivers and passengers safe.

Speaking to Spokane County realtors

Yesterday I reported on the recently ended legislative session to about 20 people at the Spokane County Realtors’ governmental affairs meeting in Spokane. Our discussion included my condominium bill (SB 5792) that was approved by the Legislature this year and how the Senate stopped a Democrat-sponsored bill, passed by the House, that would have established rent control in our state.

Local students to compete in national cybersecurity contest

Cybercrime is a growing problem in our state and across America. It is an issue that the Legislature has focused on more and more in recent years. If cybercrime is to be curtailed, we need skilled and talented people who can help improve and enhance cybersecurity and prevent cybercrimes.

Two potential cybersecurity experts live here in the 4^th District. The Spokesman-Review ran a story last week about two Central Valley High School seniors, Lilian Miller and Quan Do, who will travel to Atlanta next month to compete in the SkillsUSA National Cybersecurity Championship. Lilian and Quan placed eighth in last year’s competition. Good luck to them!

Contact us!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Washington reaches highest number of traffic fatalities in 33 years

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 17, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Our state is experiencing an increase in fatal and serious-injury crashes on our roads and highways that is shocking and heartbreaking. We’re failing to protect our families, friends and children.

Earlier this week, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission issued a report revealing our state has reached a 33-year high for traffic fatalities. The report showed 810 people were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2023, an increase from 743 killed in 2022.

Of the 810 traffic deaths last year, nearly half (400) involved a drug- or alcohol-impaired driver, while 251 involved excessive speed, 171 involved not wearing a seatbelt or other restraint, and 135 involved a distracted driver. What is so tragic about these fatality figures is that these deaths could have been prevented if drivers were more careful and responsible when behind the wheel.

What is especially troubling about Washington’s rise in traffic deaths is that the rest of America is driving more safely. According to a Seattle Times story about the WTSC report, Washington’s increase in road fatalities runs counter to national figures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 40,990 people died on U.S. roads last year, a 3.6% decrease from 2022. The Times story noted that nearly every other state recorded fewer deaths than the year before.

It’s unacceptable that nearly half of the 810 traffic deaths in 2023 in our state involved impaired drivers. The Legislature has taken recent steps to reduce impaired driving, including making a fourth DUI conviction a felony and expanding the “lookback” period for reviewing prior impaired-driving convictions to 15 years, instead of 10. We also passed the initiative restoring police pursuits, which should allow officers to apprehend more bad drivers on roads and highways.

But more needs to be done! It would be good to see the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and Washington State Patrol work to increase public awareness about impaired driving so more people avoid driving after downing too many drinks or taking drugs that can impair their driving ability. The Traffic Safety Commission and State Patrol also should do more to remind drivers to keep their eyes on the road instead of focusing on their cell phones or other things that can distract them.

The Legislature also can do more to reduce impaired driving, which contributes to so many of our state’s traffic deaths. Last year, I introduced Senate Bill 5791, a bipartisan proposal, supported by the State Patrol, that would require WSP to establish a pilot program to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of oral fluid roadside information (basically, an oral swab) collected by law enforcement when impaired driving is suspected. (Taking the oral swab would be voluntary for drivers.) After being passed by the Senate Transportation Committee during this year’s session, SB 5791 died when it was on deck for a full Senate vote.

Several other states have implemented oral swab testing (which detects six drugs and alcohol) on suspected impaired drivers, and the results have been positive. My hope is that another legislator will sponsor this bill next year after I retire from the Senate and that the Legislature will finally pass this measure. It should help reduce impaired driving and lower the number of traffic deaths in our state.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Efforts to increase number of law-enforcement officers in state

Senator Padden and other attendees during last October’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new law-enforcement training center run jointly by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Air Force.

Another reason for Washington’s rise in traffic fatalities is the lack of law-enforcement officers in our communities. Many law-enforcement agencies, anti-crime advocates and legislators have pointed out in recent years that Washington ranks dead last (51^st out of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia) for the number of law-enforcement officers per capita.

Washington’s extremely low number of police officers in communities also is a key reason why crime continues to rise across our state.

An article recently published by Seattle-based Crosscut offers some reasons for the low number of law-enforcement officers across Washington, beyond the simple fact that more are leaving the profession than entering it. The net loss in officers makes it hard for the remaining officers to maintain law and order in their communities.

The Crosscut story cited several likely reasons for the drop in police officers: job pressures, burnout, frustrations, the fluctuating stigmas of being a cop, bad hours for raising a family, sometimes long commutes because an officer cannot afford to live in the city they are protecting and a lack of local money to hire new law-enforcement officers.

Many people argue that the backlash against police officers in 2020 following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis and the ensuing demonstrations and riots in Seattle and other cities across the nation caused many officers to leave law enforcement for other jobs. The combination of “officer loss” and pro-criminal laws passed by the Democrat-controlled Legislature in recent years has contributed greatly to the increase in many types of crime in Washington, including murders, auto thefts and robberies.

Fortunately, the Legislature finally has recognized the problem of a lack of law-enforcement officers and taken steps to fix it. This part of the Crosscut article discusses what the state has done to tackle the lack of officers:

In 2022, the Criminal Justice Training Center added a campus in Spokane. This year, other satellite centers started operating in Pasco and Vancouver. Another is expected to open in Arlington later this year. One of the hurdles to training recruits is that it is difficult for many — especially those with children — to spend four and a half months in Burien. The satellite campuses are designed to address that while raising the total capacity to train 870 police recruits in 2025, plus 800 correctional officers, misdemeanor probation officers and other roles.

Another improvement is that it no longer costs local law enforcement to send their recruits in for training. Until this year, local police and sheriff’s departments had to pay 25% of the training costs for each recruit. After legislative action this year, the state is paying 100% of the bill.

4^th District Government Guide still available at many locations

As mentioned in my e-newsletter in recent weeks, there is a new 4^th District Government Guide for districts residents to use. The free guide includes names and contact information for officials at the federal, statewide, legislative and local government levels. It also provides other helpful information. If you would like to have a copy of the new government guide mailed to you, please call my legislative assistant, Annalise Hemingway, at 509-921-2460 or email her at annalise.hemingway@leg.wa.gov.

There also are copies of the updated government guide at these locations:

Millwood City Hall (9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane)
Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane)
Spokane Valley City Hall (10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley)
Spokane Valley Library (22 N. Herald Road, Spokane Valley)
Liberty Lake City Hall (22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake)
Liberty Lake Library (23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake)
Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards)
Spokane Valley Senior Center (2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley)

Washington had largest increase for drug-overdose deaths among states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday released its monthly report on drug-overdose deaths by state. This report covers all 12 months of 2023. A Seattle Times story reported that overdose deaths in the U.S. declined by nearly 3,500 deaths from the prior year, or 3.1%.

Unfortunately, Washington state actually is leading the nation in the increase in overdose deaths in 2023 (going from 2,763 in 2022 to 3,526 in 2023, an increase of 763). In percentage terms, this was a 27.6% year-over-year increase, only outpaced by Alaska (44.1%), Oregon (30%) and Nevada (28.9%).

To put this in perspective, California and Texas combined saw a smaller increase in overdose deaths than Washington, despite having nearly 10 times our state’s population.

When the state Supreme Court issued its Blake decision in February 2021, Washington was 31^st in the country in per-capita drug overdose death rate, with a rate 20% below the national average. Washington now ranks ninth-highest in the country, with a rate over 40% higher than the national average.

West Virginia ranks first in drug-overdose death rate with 81.2 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Tennessee (53.4 deaths), Delaware (51.6), Louisiana (49.0), Alaska (48.5), New Mexico (47.9), Kentucky (47.1), Nevada (45.7), Washington (45.3) and Maine (42.9). Oregon ranks 11th, with 42.7 deaths.

See WSDOT’s aerial photo of new Barker Road roundabout

(Photo courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation)

Even though the recently completed Barker Road roundabout was mentioned in an earlier e-newsletter just a couple of weeks ago, the Eastern Region office of the state Department of Transportation provided this aerial photo of the new roundabout near I-90. It is worth a look.

Video shows problem with ranked choice voting

In recent years, some individuals and groups have been pushing an unusual and very rarely used voting system called “ranked choice voting“ or “RCV.”

Pierce County used ranked choice voting for a couple of years in the early 2000s before getting rid of it.

This video discusses the problems with RCV. If a bill to implement ranked choice voting in Washington had reached the Senate floor for a vote, I would have been a resounding “no.”

Receiving lifetime award

It was my honor to recently receive this lifetime achievement award from the Spokane County Republican Party for my years as a 4^th District legislator.

Contact us!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Washington ranked 8th most dangerous state, according to FBI crime report

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 1, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

In recent years reports show crime is worsening in Washington. The latest indication that our state’s crime problem is growing more dire is found in a recent FBI crime report. The report shows our state is the eighth most dangerous state for crime in the U.S.!

According to a story published last week in the (Tacoma) News Tribune, the FBI report looked at the frequency of certain types of crime: assault offenses, homicide, kidnapping/abduction, sex offenses, burglary/breaking and entering, destruction/vandalism, extortion/blackmail, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and robbery.

The FBI report showed Washington has the highest larceny and theft rate compared to other states. The study revealed our state has a larceny/theft rate of 2,133.6 per 100,000 residents. There were 179,545 larceny-theft incidents and 179,545 offenses reported in the state in 2022, said the report.

The report showed Washington has a high kidnapping and abduction rate, with 16.3 incidents per 100,000 residents. In 2022, there were 1,327 kidnapping/abduction incidents and 1,454 offenses reported in Washington.

Around the time the FBI crime report made the news, Governor Inslee was talking about how Washington’s recidivism rate for offenders had dropped from 34% in 2015 to 22% in 2020. The governor did not mention that our state has the lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita of any state in the nation or that we have a huge shortage of prosecutors in our state, which results in the dismissals of a large number of criminal charges every day. What about the victims of crime?

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Barker Road projects completion enhances 4th District traffic safety

This graphic provides more details about the Barker Road corridor projects.

On April 25, I was pleased to join Spokane Valley city officials and others at the event celebrating the completion of the Barker Road corridor projects.

The Barker Road corridor projects were a true collaboration, as they received funding from the city of Spokane Valley, Spokane County, state government and the federal government. The state provided $1.5 million to the grade-separation project, which kickstarted the federal matching dollars and ultimately the project elements that followed. These investments ensure Spokane Valley remains a vibrant place to live, work and thrive.

Besides removing a grade crossing with the BNSF train tracks, this project includes a new roundabout that will reduce the risk of serious or fatal collisions. While collisions are still possible in a roundabout, at least they are low speed and thus should mean fewer and less severe injuries.

The new overpass and roundabout will improve emergency access for vehicles, eliminate vehicle wait times that have averaged about 162 minutes (about two and a half hours) per day at each of the two BNSF crossings, reduce overall traffic congestion and improve traffic flow, and eliminate the need for trains to sound their horns, making nearby neighborhoods less noisy.

Judge’s decision forces new boundaries for many legislative districts

Many residents (and legislators) throughout eastern Washington had become accustomed to the new legislative-district boundaries that were created by the state’s independent, bipartisan Redistricting Commission in late 2021. (Those boundaries, based on results of the 2020 U.S. Census, went into effect for the 2022 election season.)

However, as many of you know by now, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik recently sided with Democratic activists who argued the 2022 redistricting plan violated the federal Voting Rights Act. He ordered new boundaries for many eastern Washington districts, as well as some districts found in Clark and Skamania counties in southwest Washington.

Lasnik’s decision has a negative impact on only Republicans legislators, especially 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, a Latina Republican who was elected to her Senate seat only two years ago. Under the judge’s redrawn legislative boundaries, Senator Torres no longer even lives in the 15th District. She would have to relocate to be a candidate for reelection to the position she holds.

Since Judge Lasnik issued his ruling, many people throughout eastern Washington have expressed their unhappiness over the decision. Among them is Moses Lake Deputy Mayor Deanna Martinez, who wrote this guest editorial that was published by the Tri-City Herald two weeks ago.

Remembering former Senator Baxter

It was sad to hear that former 4th District Senator Jeff Baxter passed away on April 24. As some will remember, Jeff was appointed in early 2011 to replace longtime Senator Bob McCaslin, with whom I served when I was a state representative from 1981 to 1995. Although I defeated Jeff in a special election for the Senate seat in November 2011, our office worked with Jeff on a number of issues over the last 12 plus years. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff’s family.

Photo from ESOPs panel talk in D.C.

Members of the ESOPs panel that met at the U.S. Capitol (L to R): Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge of Durango, Colorado, chair Colorado ESOP Commission; Washington State Senator Mike Padden; Colorado State Representative Naquetta Ricks; Paul Kinghorn, University of Northern Iowa; and Zach Warmbrodt, Financial Service Editor for Politico.

As was mentioned in an e-newsletter a few weeks ago, I was part of a congressional panel discussion on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) at the U.S. Capitol Building last month. This photo, provided by the event’s organizers, shows the panelists. Last year, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure that I introduced that aids businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The governor signed SB 5096 on May 9th of last year.

National Day of Prayer

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer in America. This day is as important to me as it is to so many of you. In recent days, some constituents have reached out to me and asked that I proclaim May 2 this year as a National Day of Prayer. As much as I would like to do that, a single legislator does not have the authority to make such a proclamation. It would take action by the Legislature to do it.

However, I am proud to point out there has been a long tradition of offering a prayer at the start of each day’s floor session in the Senate and House of Representatives during a legislative session. Many legislators, myself included, value this prayer very much before we begin a floor session to address issues important to the people of Washington.

WSU President Schulz to retire

By now, you may have heard the news that Kirk Schulz will retire as Washington State University’s president when the 2024-25 school year ends approximately a year from now. During President Schulz’s tenure as WSU president, I met with him several times in either my Olympia or Spokane Valley office to discuss higher-education matters. Knowing that many 4th District residents have attended WSU in the past or are students there, I care about the university and its students. I wish the university well in hiring a worthy successor to lead an institution so important to our area and the entire state.

Contact us!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Retiring after serving 12 years in the Senate

Dear friends and neighbors,

It has been a real honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 4th District in the state Senate since 2011. After much thought and discussion with my wife, Laura, the time has come for me to retire from the Washington State Senate.

I have appreciated the opportunity to work with my legislative colleagues on a variety of issues over these years to make Washington better. I will miss my relationships with each one of them.

While I have focused on many issues, public safety has been especially important to me. As either ranking member or chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, I have had input on public safety legislation. Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in crime in recent years, including auto thefts and burglaries. It is disappointing that House Democrats did not follow the Senate’s lead on passing my habitual property-offender bill (SB 5056,) and Senator Lynda Wilson’s opioid reckless-endangerment bill (SB 5010). Washington has far to go in terms of improving public safety.

Senator Padden delivers a speech on the Senate floor during this year’s session.

Laura and I look forward to traveling and spending more time with our five sons and four grandchildren.

In the meantime, I plan to stay busy in my role as your state senator by attending meetings and events in and near our district. One of them is a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of the Barker Road corridor projects north of the Spokane River. It’s at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.

You can read the news release about my retirement announcement.

It was humbling to read so many local news stories about my retirement decision. They include these stories by the Spokesman-Review , KPBX Radio, KHQ-TV, KREM-TV, KXLY-TV and the Spokane Valley News Herald. There is also an interview with KONA Radio, based in the Tri-Cities. Next Sunday I will do a taped interview with the Right Spokane Perspective Radio program to talk about a recap of this year’s legislative session.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Attending meeting at U.S. Capitol about ‘ESOPs’

The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Nearly two weeks ago, I flew to Washington, D.C., to attend a panel discussion at the U.S. Capitol Building about employee stock ownership plans – better known as ESOPs.

The Aspen Institute and Rutgers University (located in New Jersey) helped organize the conference. Joey Nestegard, CFO with Schweitzer Engineering of Pullman also was part another panel talk on ESOPs. Representative Larry Bucshon, MD of Indiana as well as Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke at the conference. Many private investors took part as well.

Last year, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure I introduced that aids businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The governor signed SB 5096 last year.

Senate Bill 5096 promotes employee ownership, which is a very valuable thing – not only for our employees but for society. Studies have shown that employee owners are happier, stay in their jobs longer and retire in a much better financial position. Plus, employee-owned companies are more likely to stay located locally. This bill also helps those businesses looking to adopt an ESOP. Many current business owners do not have a plan for when they transition out of the business, and employee ownership provides a valuable option.

4th District students among those receiving scholarships at banquet

The 32nd annual Spokane Scholars Banquet, hosted by the Spokane Scholars Foundation, was held at the Spokane Convention Center last night. The event honored 168 high academically achieving seniors from 30 schools around the Spokane area, including several in the 4th District. During the banquet, the foundation awarded 24 of the students with scholarships between $1,000 and $4,000. It is special that 4th District students, as well as other area students, were honored for their hard work and strong academic achievements. You can read more about the banquet here.

Meeting on traffic-safety concerns in Newman Lake

Tomorrow I will attend a virtual meeting, hosted by the state Traffic Safety Commission, to discuss traffic-safety concerns in Newman Lake.

Last year, a road-safety audit was commissioned by the Eastern Washington region of the state Department of Transportation in response to traffic concerns for the Trent/State Route 290 corridor from N. Harvard Road to N. Idaho Road. WSDOT shared the findings of that RSA with Newman Lake residents a few months ago. Since then, the department has identified striping, lighting and signage projects for this year based on the audit findings.

The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the behavioral traffic-safety concerns from the Newman Lake community for Trent/SR-290 and to see how the Traffic Safety Commission may be able to help address these concerns.

New government guide still available

As mentioned in my e-newsletter a few weeks ago, there is a new 4^th District Government Guide for districts residents to use. It includes names and contact information for officials at the federal, statewide, legislative and local government levels. It also provides other helpful information. If you would like to have a copy of the new government guide mailed to you, please call my legislative assistant, Annalise Hemingway, at 509-921-2460 or email her at annalise.hemingway@leg.wa.gov.

Copies of the updated government guide will be available soon at these locations:

Millwood City Hall (9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane)
Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane)
Spokane Valley City Hall (10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley)
Spokane Valley Library (22 N. Herald Road, Spokane Valley)
Liberty Lake City Hall (22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake)
Liberty Lake Library (23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake)
Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards)
Spokane Valley Senior Center (2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley)

Contact us!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.