July 31, 2018

Taxes, immigration, and initiative disputes simmer during ‘slow season’

The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s Report From Olympia, July 31, 2018. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here.   In heat of summer, issues simmer Taxes, court cases, and immigration occupy attention during ‘slow season’ Dear friends and neighbors, All of us can agree this is...
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July 25, 2018

O’Ban, Padden submit amicus brief in taxpayer lawsuit against Sound Transit

OLYMPIA…Leaders of last year’s state Senate investigation into Sound Transit Wednesday submitted an amicus (or “friend of the court”) brief in a class-action lawsuit filed against the regional transit authority in June. The brief was filed in Pierce County Superior Court by Sen. Steve O’Ban, who called for the 2017...
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July 19, 2018

Hear Sen. Padden on the Lars Larson Show

In this July 19 appearance on the Lars Larson Show, Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, discusses a letter sent by 22 Washington lawmakers opposing the abolition of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
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July 16, 2018

Washington lawmakers oppose abolition of ICE, counter congressional criticism

Click here to read the letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen. OLYMPIA – Twenty-two Washington lawmakers are declaring opposition to abolition of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), countering calls from congressional liberals for its elimination. The legislators released a letter Monday expressing support for the agency’s...
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July 10, 2018

Summer tragedy puts DUI law back in spotlight

 The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, July 10, 2018. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, I hope you enjoyed an enjoyable and safe Independence Day celebration. This is the season for barbeques, celebrations, family reunions, road trips, parties and vacations. Yet...
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June 28, 2018

Lawmakers ignored constitution with changes to I-940, Supreme Court justices told

Sen. Mike Padden among those making legal challenge, says ‘process matters’ Today, plaintiffs in the case of Eyman v. Wyman argued before the Washington Supreme Court that the Legislature’s handling of Initiative 940 disregarded the state constitution because the initiative, which deals with police use of deadly force, was altered...
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June 19, 2018

Judges weigh in on controversies

The Legislature is now deep into its interim – the period between legislative sessions, when activities at the Capitol slow considerably and lawmakers spend the majority of their time back in their home districts… While the pace of our state’s legislative branch has slowed for now, the judiciary branch –...
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June 14, 2018

Guilty verdict for early-release killer calls attention to Corrections inaction, Padden says

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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June 05, 2018

Citizens strike back

This continues to be one of the busier interims (the months between legislative sessions) we have seen in recent years. Court cases continue to be big news, with the public challenging the way the majority in Olympia addressed raiding the state’s rainy day fund, properly enacting initiatives, funding local transportation...
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