Mike Padden

We are now well into the 2020 legislative session. There was plenty of activity this week, including hearings and voting on bills in committees, as well as some time voting on a handful of bills on the floor of the Senate chamber. One of the bills that was subject to...

Today members of the state Senate Law and Justice Committee unanimously voted to advance Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to extend the ‘look-back’ in DUI cases, allowing courts to consider convictions over the preceding 15 years when preparing to hand down a sentence. Senate Bill 5299 would allow more repeat offenders...

Despite the rain, thousands of Washingtonians from across the state gathered in Olympia on Monday for the 42nd Annual March for Life. While the march is timed to coincide with the dark anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, it also happens early in...

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,...

Spokane Valley senator reminds public that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness month This week Sen. Mike Padden introduced a bill to help end the sexual exploitation of children and vulnerable adults that occurs at hotels and motels in cities across Washington. The Spokane Valley Republican’s announcement of...

Monday was the start of the 2020 legislative session. With only 60 days during this short session to complete our work, lawmakers wasted no time getting down to business. Some legislators have returned to Olympia, determined to thwart the will of the people. They are content to leave the fate...

Forward-looking approach aims to head off problems before they occur Ongoing problems at the scandal-plagued state Department of Corrections are prompting a trio of Senate Republicans to introduce a package of sweeping reforms to address what they call a costly and fatal record of mismanagement. Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley,...

Legislators to fix problem that produced chaotic double-taxation situation In response to concerns raised by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the Washington Department of Revenue (DOR) has suspended the implementation of new administrative guidance concerning the sales tax on concrete pumping. The delay will allow lawmakers to weigh in during...

This week lawmakers returned to Olympia for what are known as “committee assembly days” – the time when legislative committees meet to do some pre-session planning. The Senate committees on which I serve – Law and Justice, Early Learning and K-12 Education, and Transportation – convened to discuss a number...