Mike Padden

It’s frustrating that nearly two weeks into the second special legislative session, the Legislature has yet to reach agreement on a new budget. At the same time there has been a measure of progress which suggests things are beginning to come together.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it… I do not know anyone who has gotten to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but it...

We recently got more good budget news; the economic forecast that came out this week pointed to the state expecting more revenue thanks to our recovering economy.This proves once again that there is no need for new taxes. In fact, there are some of us who believe that it is...

A positive tax-revenue forecast is leading three state senators to call for a tax cut, saying this is the time for relief, not more spending. State Sens. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, and Michael Padden, R-Spokane Valley, are calling for a reduction in business and occupations taxes. Their plan...

This post originally appeared in the leadership blog of the Majority Coalition Caucus, Exit 105. When talk turns to the Voting Rights Act, that old black-and-white news footage starts running through our minds — sit-ins, boycotts and the March on Washington. The federal law of 1965 was one of the most significant bills of the...

Today Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2140, which creates a law to help families struggling to pay for court-ordered services. The signing caps an effort that began during the 2014 legislative session under the leadership of the late Rep. Roger Freeman, who passed away last October. Before the bill...

Sen. Padden with Rose Gundersen, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Washington Engage — an organization that works to prevent sex and labor trafficking in Washington State. Our district office is now open! Although the special session means that I have to continue to be in Olympia for a bit...

Today the Senate Law and Justice Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 6099, a measure to help ensure that deceased crime victims have an advocate at sentencing hearings when there is no one else to speak for them. The bill, known as the Victims’ Voice Act, is sponsored by Sen....

Today Sen. Mike Padden, chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, held a joint work session with the Senate Government Operations and Security Committee to examine concerns that a proposed state version of the Voting Rights Act could increase litigation and costs for local jurisdictions. “The proposed Washington State...