Senate Republicans unveil trio of bills to improve public safety
Two members of the Senate Republican Caucus have prefiled bills for the 2023 legislative session that aim to reverse recent criminal-friendly laws passed by Democratic majorities. “One of our main goals this session is to advance bills that will help make people and communities safer in our state,” said Sen....
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Padden to continue as lead Republican on Senate Law and Justice Committee
Sen. Mike Padden will serve another two years as the ranking Republican on the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Senate committee assignments were released today, five weeks before lawmakers convene at the Capitol for their next session. “Having served on the Law and Justice Committee since becoming a senator in...
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Padden lauds Spokane Valley win of grant for highway safety upgrades
A grant award announced today puts the city of Spokane Valley $5 million closer to moving ahead with a long-awaited road-improvement effort. Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said the money will ultimately go toward constructing a railroad underpass where BNSF tracks now cross Pines Road (State Route 27). It also...
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Our state needs to address alarming rise in drug-overdose deaths
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Nov. 9, 2022. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Washington’s drug-overdose deaths have risen at three times the rate of the country as a whole Dear friends and neighbors, Drug overdoses continue to rise at an alarming in...
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A horrifying case shows result of attack on public safety
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Oct. 5, 2022. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here. Habitual criminal got life-without-parole after bloody car crash, now eligible for release Dear friends and neighbors, Last week we saw what happens when the Legislature makes a point of...
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Shorter sentence for man convicted in brutal car crash is terrible result of war on public safety, senators say
Robert Jackson was among 3,000 prisoners released in earlier Department of Corrections fiasco OLYMPIA – Resentencing of a man who got life without parole after he killed his girlfriend in a bloody 2015 car crash is a travesty that illustrates the terrible human consequences when the Legislature goes “soft on...
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Our state should follow Idaho’s lead and provide tax relief
State needs fair oversight of prison complaints [Note– The following newsletter was sent to Sen. Mike Padden’s subscribers Sept. 1, 2022.] Dear Friends and Neighbors, This year has been a very difficult time for people throughout Washington and our nation. Record-setting inflation – especially sky-high gas prices – has made...
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New crime stats show terrible result of Olympia’s anti-police crusade
Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers Aug. 10, 2022. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s e-newsletter, click here. Dear Friends and Neighbors, We’ve just gotten new statistics for crime in Washington state, and the numbers are chilling. During 2021, we saw increases in all forms of violent...
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Governor set to endorse Republican proposal for improved police training programs
Padden says governor’s endorsement is appreciated, but public safety remains a mess OLYMPIA – A Republican proposal to improve police training statewide appears to be gaining steam in the Washington Legislature as Gov. Jay Inslee prepares for a press conference Thursday to announce his support. Numerous police and sheriff’s officials...
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