Padden bill cracking down on retail theft is signed into law
May 05, 2017
OLYMPIA – A bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that toughens penalties for retail theft was signed into law Friday by Gov. Jay Inslee. Senate Bill 5635 makes it easier for prosecutors to seek longer sentences for retail-theft crimes, by expanding the application of “special circumstances” sentence enhancements. Padden, R-Spokane... Read More...
Raising the stakes on Corrections, Hirst fix
May 03, 2017
The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, May 3, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here.    Dear friends and neighbors, The first important action of our special session took place Tuesday as the full House and Senate convened and started taking action on... Read More...
Senate passes Corrections reform bill a second time, keeps issue alive
May 02, 2017
OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate passed a Department of Corrections reform bill for the second time Tuesday, assuring the issue will remain under active consideration during the Legislature’s current special session. Senate Bill 5294, prompted by last year’s early-release scandal, was one of several bills revived Tuesday as the full... Read More...
The good news and the bad from the Washington statehouse
April 27, 2017
The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, April 27, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, This was a week of accomplishment and disappointment. After years of effort to toughen our state’s impaired-driving laws, my legislation to make... Read More...
Ferguson ‘guidance’ on flouting immigration law goes too far, Padden says
April 26, 2017
See correspondence here:  April 14: Letter to Attorney General Bob Ferguson  April 21: Letter from Attorney General’s Office  April 26: Second letter to Attorney General Bob Ferguson OLYMPIA – Sen. Mike Padden is questioning new “guidance” from the state Attorney General’s Office that could serve as an instruction manual for... Read More...
Legislature votes to make 4th DUI a felony
April 21, 2017
Senate passes bill six times – House votes after Renton man arrested for 11th DUI OLYMPIA – The state House approved a bill Thursday night that makes the 4th DUI a felony in Washington state, sending the bill to the governor’s desk after two long years of effort. The Senate... Read More...
Special session looms as Legislature fails to complete its work
April 20, 2017
 The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, April 20, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here.   Dear friends and neighbors, This is the last week of our regular session in Olympia – but our work is far from over. Our regular... Read More...
Senate pays tribute to late Spokane jurist Sam Cozza
April 18, 2017
Final bill advocated by Judge Cozza signed into law Monday   OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate paid tribute Tuesday to the late Judge Salvatore “Sam” Cozza, former presiding judge of the Spokane County Superior Court, with a resolution honoring his life and legacy. Cozza, a leading figure in the state’s... Read More...
Padden bill cracking down on retail theft clears Legislature
April 17, 2017
OLYMPIA – A bill making it easier for prosecutors to crack down on retail theft won final passage in the Senate Monday, sending the measure to the governor’s desk. The 47-1 vote in the Senate on Senate Bill 5635 caps a session-long effort by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, to... Read More...
Senate continues to expand public access through remote testimony
April 17, 2017
Update to leaders notes significant progress; House fails to offer report Since 2014, Senators Mike Padden and Sharon Brown have led an effort to increase the opportunities for public participation in the legislative process. The two recently requested an update from Senate and House administrators on progress to enable testimony... Read More...