Taxes
Legislature fails to pass bill addressing drug-possession penalties
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 27, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The Legislature ended its 105-day session Sunday night. As usually happens, the final days of the session focused on passing the final versions of the...
Read More
Senate Democrats pass two bills that limit gun rights
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 13, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The rights of law-abiding Washingtonians to buy and use firearms took another step backward late last week when the Democrat-run Senate passed two measures, both...
Read More
Governor signs Padden bill raising penalties for sexually abusive jail guards
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 30, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, I am pleased that my public safety bill that imposes longer sentences on sexually abusive jail and prison guards was signed today by Governor Inslee...
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
Despite stable state coffers, Democrats want to create ‘wealth tax’
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers March 16, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. The 2023 legislative session is now in its 10th week, with five weeks to go. April 23 is the scheduled last day. As the Legislature approaches the home stretch...
Read More
Income tax sweeps Senate Freedom Caucus ‘Galloping Gertie’ Awards
Awards ceremony honors ‘epic fails’ of 2021 legislative session The new income tax passed by majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature earned top honors in the first annual Galloping Gertie Awards, presented by the Senate Freedom Caucus to honor the biggest fails of the 2021 legislative session. The income tax...
Read More
Eastern Washington senators sponsor bill to end tax chaos for concrete pumpers
Three state senators from eastern Washington – 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy, 4th District Sen. Mike Padden and 7th District Sen. Shelly Short – are leading a legislative effort to fix a problem caused by the state Department of Revenue that affects how concrete pumpers are taxed. Senate Bill 6317,...
Read More
Jobs numbers that are scary good
As Halloween rapidly approaches there will be plenty of ghosts, witches and a few saints searching for candy and other treats. I hope it is a safe and enjoyable time for you and your family. Fortunately, one of the treats our nation continues to enjoy is a thriving economy, which...
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