OLYMPIA – A first-degree murder conviction Thursday in Spokane for a killer released early from prison calls attention to the fact that critically important reforms to the state Department of Corrections have not yet been implemented, says Sen. Mike Padden, ranking Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee. More...

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OLYMPIA — Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, offered the following reaction to a ruling Friday in Thurston County Superior Court sending Initiative 940 to the November ballot. Padden was among the plaintiffs in Eyman v. Wyman, which maintains the Legislature disregarded the constitution this year by amending the initiative without...

Thursday, in a vote of 95-2, the Washington State House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 6408, aimed at clarifying the rules surrounding the use of police body cameras. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley. Legislation approved in 2016 established public-disclosure and other requirements relating to body-worn...

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...

OLYMPIA – Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, has been named ranking minority member on the Senate Law and Justice Committee as this month’s election forces reorganization of the Senate. The ranking minority position is the top Republican slot on the Law and Justice Committee, which Padden has chaired for 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...

The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, Oct. 30, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Spokane Valley mayor Rod Higgins welcomes the Senate Law and Justice Committee Oct. 24 to a meeting at the new Spokane Valley City Hall. This hearing will be aired on...

Read executive summary here: ST-ExecSumLtrPaddenOBan OLYMPIA – Sound Transit misled lawmakers and voters in its effort to pass a $54 billion bond issue last year, concealing truth from decision-makers and violating the state constitution in the process, a Senate investigation has concluded. The Seattle-area rail transit agency won voter approval...