Law & Justice

January 18, 2024

Governor’s rosy state-of-the-state speech defies reality

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers January 18, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The 2024 legislative session has entered its second week. After the full Senate gathered on January 8 for its opening-day ceremonies and to swear in...
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January 17, 2024

Senate passes Padden bill to keep repeat property offenders behind bars longer

A bill from 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that could keep repeat property offenders behind bars longer was approved today by the Senate on a 38-10 vote. Senate Bill 5056 would allow prosecutors to seek up two additional years on a sentence for first-degree robbery offenders if they can prove...
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January 08, 2024

The bell rings — 60-day legislative session starts today

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers January 8, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, This year’s legislative session begins today and is scheduled to last 60 days, ending March 7. Today will be highlighted with the traditional opening-day ceremonies...
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November 20, 2023

Let’s “ditch the switch!” and have year-round standard time in Washington

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers November 20, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, In November, Americans in nearly every state were forced to adjust to the annual switch from daylight saving time back to standard time. If there...
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November 01, 2023

Regional law-enforcement training center has grand opening

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers November 1, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, On October 19, many local and state officials gathered for the grand-opening ceremony at the Spokane County Sheriff Regional Training Center, near Fairchild Air Force...
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October 12, 2023

“Taxpayer Town Hall” coming October 17 with Treasurer Baumgartner

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers October 12, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The public is invited to an upcoming “Taxpayer Town Hall” hosted by Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner and myself. It takes place this coming Tuesday,...
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September 28, 2023

Seattle already has passed 2022 homicide total – with three months left

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers September 28, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, In recent years, a glaring example of how our state’s crime problem has worsened is the rise in homicides in Seattle and King County. On...
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August 24, 2023

No state worse than WA for jump in drug-overdose deaths

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Aug. 24, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Let’s hear it for firefighters, others battling area wildfires Dear friends and neighbors, Over the past week, firefighters and others have heroically battled two wildfires in parts of Spokane...
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August 22, 2023

Padden says Washington’s drug-overdose crisis is now among worst in U.S.

New statistics from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Washington’s fatal drug-overdose situation is even grimmer than a month ago, says Sen. Mike Padden, the lead Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee. For the third straight month, the CDC has issued a report that finds...
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