On Thursday we received an updated revenue forecast, and projected revenue is much higher than expected – to the point that many described it as “raining money in Olympia.” When the numbers are all added up, budget writers now expect (over the next three years) to have more than $2.4...

Week five was spent on the Senate floor voting on bills previously approved by their assigned committees. Below I highlight several good bills that are still in play, so please keep reading. Tomorrow is the final day for us to consider “house of origin” bills; in other words, it’s the...

The 2018 Legislature has completed its fourth week; there are five weeks to go. On Friday we reached an important deadline for bills to pass policy (non-fiscal) committees if they are to move forward. I continue to be concerned about the new Senate majority’s focus on passing controversial bills that...

We are now well into the 2018 legislative session. There was plenty of activity last week, including hearings and voting on a handful of bills Wednesday and Thursday. There were also a number of events on campus, including the annual March for Life and a visit by leaders and researchers...

It was quite the emotional roller coaster last week here in Olympia — with several ups and downs and twists. Last week, however, ended with some great news. On Thursday night, the Legislature finally approved a remedy for the disastrous Hirst decision — the Supreme Court ruling that made it nearly impossible for rural...

The 2018 session is underway, and although we have only been in Olympia for a few days, I have much to share with you. Already lawmakers have started work on issues that affect both our state and our district, from addressing the ability of rural property owners to develop and...

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope that you and your family enjoyed a very peaceful and joyous Christmas celebration, and are ready to welcome in the new year. As 2018 rapidly approaches, so too does the start of the new legislative session in Olympia. Like every session, this year will...

The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, Nov. 27, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, Six weeks from now, we will begin a legislative session in which Democrats have control of the House, the Senate and the...

The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, Nov. 9, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here.   Dear friends and neighbors, We have plenty of news to report this week. A Veteran’s Day celebration has been set for Felt’s Field, a key member...