Report from Olympia — April 30, 2015
While there is still much work to be done, several bills did make it through the legislative process and are now being signed into law. Last week Senate Bill 5101, my legislation to allow courts to order a mental evaluation of an offender, even if the Department of Corrections does...
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Padden urges House to follow Senate lead on remote testimony
Sen. Mike Padden went into the 2015 regular session with a goal of increasing the opportunities for public participation in the legislative process. An analysis of the Senate’s remote testimony pilot program shows that Padden and his colleagues in the Senate took significant steps toward achieving that goal in that...
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Report from Olympia — April 24, 2015
Today the Senate passed a resolution commending businesses that have made veteran employment a priority. Our state is honored to host several major military bases and significant installations from all branches of the military, including Spokane County’s own Fairchild Air Force Base. With our military having been engaged in two...
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Report from Olympia — April 17, 2015
There are just nine days left in the legislative session. This week we hit the deadline for the Senate and House to take action on bills from the opposite chamber, except those necessary to implement the budget and bills in dispute between the chambers. While I am hopeful that I...
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Report from Olympia — April 14, 2015
The scheduled end of the 2015 legislative session is only 12 days away. That’s a very short amount of time to complete all the work yet to be done – especially on the budget. This week the House and the Senate began formal negotiations over their budget proposals. The two...
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House approves Padden bill encouraging specialty courts
Sen. Mike Padden saw his legislation to encourage the establishment of specialty, or “therapeutic,” courts move one step closer to becoming law, following a unanimous vote today in the state House of Representatives. The state Senate had given Senate Bill 5107 its unanimous support in February. “Therapeutic courts serve an...
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AG Ferguson and Sen. Padden urge House action on felony DUI bill
Today the House Public Safety Committee heard public testimony on a measure sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that would make a fourth DUI conviction within 10 years a felony. “This bill is really about going after those repeat offenders who are putting the public at risk and even taking lives,”...
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Senate adopts Padden resolution honoring those with Down syndrome
Today the Senate adopted a resolution sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, honoring people with Down syndrome and recognizing the efforts of people and organizations working on behalf of those with developmental disabilities. Padden shared his personal commitment to policies that recognize the rights of those with Down syndrome. “As a...
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VIDEO: Senate honors those with Down syndrome
Watch a video featuring comments from Sen. Padden and some of the Down syndrome self-advocates who attended today’s reading of Senate Resolution 8657, honoring those with Down syndrome and recognizing those individuals and organizations who advocate on their behalf.
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