Mike Padden

Today would have been the 107th birthday of Ronald Reagan. JIM VALLEY TALKED TO ONE REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO HONORED THE 40TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN OLYMPIA. Ronald Reagan was born February 6, 1911. In a speech on the Senate floor, Republican Senator Mike Padden from...

The 2018 Legislature has completed its fourth week; there are five weeks to go. On Friday we reached an important deadline for bills to pass policy (non-fiscal) committees if they are to move forward. I continue to be concerned about the new Senate majority’s focus on passing controversial bills that...

We are now well into the 2018 legislative session. There was plenty of activity last week, including hearings and voting on a handful of bills Wednesday and Thursday. There were also a number of events on campus, including the annual March for Life and a visit by leaders and researchers...

Today the Senate Law and Justice Committee received public testimony on Senate Bill 6408, aimed at clarifying the rules surrounding the use of police body cameras. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, the ranking member on the committee. In 2016, the Legislature passed House Bill 2362,...

Senator Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, urges a no vote on the confirmation of Stephen Sinclair to head the Washington state Department of Corrections. Padden urges a ‘no’ vote on SGA 9267 – STEPHEN SINCLAIR, appointed April 25, 2017, for a term ending January 01, 2075, as Director of the Department...

On Thursday the Senate approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that is aimed at increasing access to small-claims courts, by raising the jurisdiction of the courts from $5,000 to $10,000. “This is an important update in the jurisdiction of small-claims courts that’s well overdue,” said Padden, the lead...

It was quite the emotional roller coaster last week here in Olympia — with several ups and downs and twists. Last week, however, ended with some great news. On Thursday night, the Legislature finally approved a remedy for the disastrous Hirst decision — the Supreme Court ruling that made it nearly impossible for rural...

The 2018 session is underway, and although we have only been in Olympia for a few days, I have much to share with you. Already lawmakers have started work on issues that affect both our state and our district, from addressing the ability of rural property owners to develop and...

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I hope that you and your family enjoyed a very peaceful and joyous Christmas celebration, and are ready to welcome in the new year. As 2018 rapidly approaches, so too does the start of the new legislative session in Olympia. Like every session, this year will...