Education

Washington now leads U.S. in drug overdose deaths Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers July 25, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, Washington now has the dubious honor of having the highest gas prices of all states in America. Unfortunately, our state has become a national leader... Read More...
Sen. Padden to hold 4th District telephone town hall Monday, March 20 Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 17, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. I invite you and other 4th Legislative District residents to take part in a district telephone town hall on Monday, March 20, from 6 to 7 p.m. Invitations to... Read More...
Senate committee passes bill to combat impaired driving Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Dec. 19, 2022. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The Legislature is now in the second week of its 2023 session in Olympia. The focus early in this 105-day session is on committee meetings, where... Read More...
Back in Olympia for start of 2023 legislative session Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Dec. 19, 2022. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The 2023 legislative session is underway. The 105-day session began Monday with the traditional opening-day ceremony in the Senate chamber, in which new or recently reelected... Read More...
Padden to honor student during Central Valley School Board meeting Monday Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, will help honor a local high school student for winning a national essay contest. The ceremony is Monday (Jan. 9) night. Central Valley High School student Lucy He will receive a legislative certificate of appreciation for winning the Chinese American History Month essay contest during... Read More...
They’re raiding the state rainy day fund! Majority is using a “felony budget gimmick,” which the State Treasurer calls a “dangerous precedent” and has urged the Legislature to reject. We received some particularly alarming news late last night, when the Senate majority unveiled a last-minute, secret plan to do an “end run” around the state constitution in order to... Read More...
Seasons change and the new session approaches As we approach Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, we are reminded of the importance of family, faith and thankfulness for all the blessings in our lives. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity you have given me to be your voice in the Senate. In even-numbered years, like 2016, the legislative... Read More...
Bad timing by our state Supreme Court The only debate between then-challenger Ronald Reagan and incumbent President Jimmy Carter prior to the 1980 presidential election produced one of the lines for which President Reagan is still remembered. “There you go again,” he said to Carter (before explaining that Carter’s promotion of national health insurance misrepresented Reagan’s position... Read More...