Looking forward to a busy spring and summer
April 28, 2016
This e-newsletter was distributed to Sen. Padden’s subscribers on April 28, 2016. Dear friends and neighbors, The 2016 Legislative session is over, but these still are busy times. This week we saw the dedication of the Spokane Valley Tech skills center, and coming up we have one of the biggest... Read More...
What really happened in this year’s legislative session
April 15, 2016
This newsletter was distributed to Sen. Mike Padden’s subscribers on April 15, 2016. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, This year’s legislative session is finally over, and it’s time for us to step back, take a breath, and assess what was accomplished. This session... Read More...
House Democratic leaders kill felony DUI bill for fifth straight time
March 30, 2016
OLYMPIA – State Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, acknowledged deep disappointment Wednesday after House Democratic leaders killed his felony impaired-driving bill for the fifth time in a row. Senate Bill 5105, which would make the 4th DUI a felony in Washington state, has been passed unanimously by the Senate five... Read More...
Senate Corrections investigation turns to Warner
March 23, 2016
OLYMPIA – Former Corrections Secretary Bernie Warner, identified by witnesses as a key player in the release of thousands of inmates ahead of schedule, has become a formal focus of the Senate’s independent investigation of the Department of Corrections. Senate Law and Justice Chair Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, filed a... Read More...
More witnesses dispute governor’s report on Department of Corrections
March 17, 2016
Fourth hearing held in Senate’s independent investigation of early-release scandal OLYMPIA – More witnesses Wednesday contradicted the findings of the governor’s office on the early-release scandal at the Department of Corrections, making a total five in a row who have testified there is more to the story. During public testimony... Read More...
Legislative session goes into overtime
March 10, 2016
This newsletter was distributed to Sen. Mike Padden’s subscribers on March 10, 2016. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. On what should have been the morning of adjournment, a rainbow appeared over the Capitol. Dear friends and neighbors, It shouldn’t have happened, but the Legislature is heading into... Read More...
Padden releases results of 2016 legislative survey
March 09, 2016
Here’s what residents of the 4th Legislative District are saying about top legislative issues Here are the results of Sen. Mike Padden’s 2016 legislative survey. Sen. Sheldon circulated his survey in a newsletter mailed to residents of the 4th Legislative District, and also made it available online. Thanks to all... Read More...
Governor’s response to DOC fiasco superficial, say Padden and O’Ban
March 07, 2016
Sens. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, and Steve O’Ban, R-Pierce County, chair and vice chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, released this statement following Gov. Jay Inslee’s announcement of demotions and reprimands for certain Department of Corrections employees involved in the early release of thousands of felons: “The fact... Read More...
Lawmakers call for action on DUI bills before end of 2016 session
March 07, 2016
OLYMPIA – Lawmakers from all four corners of the Legislature are calling for action on DUI bills before the regular legislative session ends on Thursday. At a news conference Monday morning at the Capitol, lawmakers said the state needs stronger measures to deal with repeat offenders and to improve the... Read More...
Senators: Testimony reveals flaws in governor’s DOC report
March 01, 2016
Click here for a printable copy of the one-page summary Sens. Mike Padden and Steve O’Ban, chair and vice-chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, released the following statement Tuesday: Today we distributed a one-page summary of the biggest discrepancies we have discovered to this point between the governor’s... Read More...