March 09, 2017

Unanimous vote to correct corrections

 The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, March 9, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, Last year we saw huge controversy when an investigation of the Department of Corrections was launched by the Senate Law and Justice Committee, which...
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March 06, 2017

Senate votes unanimously for Corrections reform bill, prompted by early-release scandal

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate voted unanimously Monday for a bill that makes sweeping reforms to the Department of Corrections in the wake of last year’s early-release scandal. Senate Bill 5294, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, enacts recommendations made by the Senate Law and Justice Committee last year...
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March 02, 2017

Senate passes felony DUI bill — for the 6th time

 The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, March 2, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, The action in the Legislature has moved to the House and Senate floors. We face a March 8 deadline to pass most of the...
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February 28, 2017

Padden bill protects property rights, curbs eminent domain abuse

OLYMPIA – A bill prohibiting local governments from taking private property for economic development purposes cleared the Senate Tuesday night, aimed at preventing a practice permitted by state law that has frustrated property owners statewide. Senate Bill 5445, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, restricts the use of eminent...
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February 23, 2017

Corrections reform, other issues top Law & Justice agenda

 The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, Feb. 23, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, We’re at the point of our legislative session when the action begins to move to the Senate floor. There are still a few bills...
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February 23, 2017

Senate votes to make 4th DUI a felony – for 6th time

OLYMPIA – The Washington Senate voted 41-0 Thursday morning to make the fourth DUI a felony in Washington state, marking the sixth time the Senate has given such a measure a unanimous vote since 2015. The previous five times, House leaders have declined to bring the measure to the House...
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February 20, 2017

Bill makes coroners’ inquests a more useful tool in police fatalities, suspicious deaths

OLYMPIA – A bill aimed at making coroners’ inquests a more useful procedure, particularly in high-profile cases involving law enforcement, cleared the Senate Law and Justice Committee last week and awaits action by the Senate Rules Committee. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, was inspired in part...
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February 16, 2017

The pace quickens

The following newsletter was sent to subscribers to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, Feb. 16, 2017. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletters, click here. Dear friends and neighbors, We’re at the point of the legislative session when the pace starts to quicken. On Friday we face a deadline for the passage of...
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February 16, 2017

Corrections reform bill clears Senate committee, prompted by early releases, mismanagement

OLYMPIA – A bill prompted by last year’s early-release scandal at the state Department of Corrections cleared the Senate Law and Justice Committee Thursday. Senate Bill 5294 enacts key reforms recommended by the committee following a months-long investigation into the improper early release of some 3,000 prisoners convicted of violent...
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