Mothers Against Drunk Driving has named Sen. Mike Padden “Legislator of the Year” in recognition of his recent drive to strengthen state laws against driving under the influence.

“The improvements the Legislature made this year by passing my bill were a long time coming,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley, who as chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee led a successful bid to clamp down on drunken driving, especially repeat DUI offenders. “At the same time, there’s a real commitment now to making more changes, and in a bipartisan way. No one wants to see more families across our state endure the suffering that so often results from alcohol abuse and DUI.

“Each life is very, very important, and DUI is such a preventable offense – it’s so senseless. These are very valuable lives, and if we can save them or prevent serious injuries then we’re doing something positive,” said Padden, who is known at the Capitol as a defender of life.

The national-level honor, presented at MADD’s Seattle headquarters Tuesday, comes four months after Padden’s comprehensive anti-DUI bill was signed after winning unanimous support from the Washington Legislature. Many of the changes it made took effect at the end of September, with others – such as the establishment of a 24/7 sobriety program – coming Jan. 1. Continue reading →

A Vancouver-based organization at the forefront of global efforts to eradicate sex-trafficking has given Washington’s Legislature its highest marks.

Shared Hope International today announced Washington now rates an “A” grade in light of stronger anti-trafficking laws created by the Legislature earlier this year. That’s one step up from the state’s 2012 grade in SHI’s “Protected Innocence Challenge.”

Accepting the recognition was Sen. Mike Padden, chairman of the state Senate Law and Justice Committee. Padden, R-Spokane Valley, is the author of legislation approved earlier this year by the Washington Legislature to strengthen the state’s already-substantial anti-trafficking laws. Continue reading →

Sen. Mike Padden today voted in favor of the pro-aerospace measures that prompted a quick special session of the state Legislature. Before doing so, however, the Spokane Valley Republican made a bid to give other Washington employers the same level of legislative consideration.

“The same factors that drive up the cost of doing business for a big aircraft manufacturer in the Puget Sound area also affect the bottom line of family businesses in the Inland Northwest and across Washington,” Padden said. Continue reading →

Sen. Mike Padden is bringing the Senate Law and Justice Committee to Spokane for a public meeting Nov. 12. Padden, R-Spokane Valley, encourages area residents to come and participate as his committee continues leading the Legislature’s battle against the sex-trafficking industry in Washington.

The Senate panel will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Gonzaga University School of Law’s Moot Courtroom, at 721 N. Cincinnati St. Continue reading →

SPOKANE VALLEY… Sen. Mike Padden invites Liberty Lake and Greenacres residents to come and talk with him Saturday, Nov. 16 at a pair of area coffee shops.

“There’s nothing like sitting down over a cup of coffee and listening to questions, ideas and concerns from the people I serve. It’ll also help in preparing for the upcoming legislative session, which by then will be just a couple of months away,” said Padden, who is chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee.

Padden, R-Spokane Valley, will be at Cozy Coffee, 514 N. Barker Road in Greenacres, from 9 to 11 a.m. He’ll be at the Twisp Café, at 23505 E. Appleway Avenue in Liberty Lake, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Because of limited seating, Padden asks that residents phone his local legislative office at 921-2460 and set a time to visit with him at either of the two establishments.

Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, responded to news today that his 4th Legislative District seatmate, Rep. Larry Crouse, will resign from the Washington State House of Representatives on Dec. 31 due to family health concerns.

“I’ve known Larry for a long time,” said Padden. “I recruited him back in 1994 to run for the House, because he has always been a solid conservative, a man of deep character and a true representative of the people of the Spokane Valley. That was him in 1994, and that is him today.” Continue reading →

Members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee will assemble Wednesday afternoon to discuss a trio of subjects and have public hearings on three nominations to the state Sentencing Guidelines Commission.

The committee meeting is to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the state Criminal Justice Training Commission at 19010 1st Avenue South in Burien.

Sen. Mike Padden, committee chairman, noted the agenda includes a work session about a prospective piece of legislation he’s calling the “religious freedom restoration act.”

“Every so often it makes sense to update the state code so it’s in line with court decisions, and this would be an example,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “For instance, our courts have held that it’s OK for churches to use public-school facilities for Sunday services. Why not make it clear in state law that people and groups – be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh or of another faith — may not be excluded or be the target of discrimination because of their religious values?

“Faith-based organizations have every right to be present and participate in the public square. While the First Amendment lists religion ahead of speech, and the press, it seems that protection isn’t as well-known. I’d rather bring state law up to date now than wait until after someone has lodged a complaint about, say, baptisms being performed in a city park.”

Apart from the general topic of freedom, Padden said the prospective bill bears no similarity to Senate Bill 5927, a measure introduced during the 2013 legislation session that has to do with the right to engage in commerce free from discrimination.

“Let me make it clear to those who would assert otherwise: The bill we’ll talk about Wednesday has nothing to do with whether a business owner can decide who he or she serves,” said Padden. “Frankly, it’s closer to a measure proposed by my Democrat counterpart on our committee, to recognize religious freedom in our state, which passed in the Senate earlier this year with my support.”

Discussions about electronic signatures and House Bill 1000, which had come before Padden’s committee during the 2013 session, will round out the work-session portion of Wednesday’s meeting.

Sen. Mike Padden was on hand at Tuesday evening’s Spokane Valley City Council meeting for an announcement made possible by his efforts: the city’s plan to replace the southbound Sullivan Road bridge span can move forward to the contract-bidding stage.

Padden, R-Spokane Valley, had learned several days earlier that should the winning bid exceed the project’s estimated cost, the state’s Transportation Investment Board is poised to provide up to $500,000 – perhaps more – to cover the difference. That commitment allows the city to push ahead toward a January bid date. Continue reading →