March 25, 2015

House hearing held on Padden bill protecting private-property rights

Today the Washington State House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to protect private-property owners from having their property taken by government and given to a private company for economic-development purposes. The bill also would clarify that issues of blight and economic development are not sufficient...
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March 23, 2015

Padden bill tackling designer drugs heard in House committee

Today the House Commerce and Gaming Committee heard public testimony on a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that would increase fines for the sale of designer drugs, such as synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones and methcathinones – commonly referred to as “bath salts.” The measure would also create a civil liability...
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March 20, 2015

Report from Olympia — March 20, 2015

While our work on bills continues, I was reminded this week of why our efforts to pass legislation dealing with human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children are so important. As the Spokesman-Review reports, Spokane County inmates orchestrated sex crimes from their jail cells by arranging prostitution of underage girls....
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March 18, 2015

House panel hears testimony on Padden bill to increase judicial independence

Today the House Judiciary Committee heard public testimony on a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden aimed at increasing the independence of the state’s administrative-law judges by reducing opportunities for them to be pressured or punished by state-agency heads. “It’s so important for the public to have confidence in the...
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March 12, 2015

Report from Olympia — March 12, 2015

Legislative Update: Key bills gain bipartisan support Yesterday’s ‘house of origin” voting deadline means that several bills have died for the session, but this is a good thing. The deadlines we put in place help to prioritize bills that have statewide significance and broad appeal. They also help identify bills...
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March 11, 2015

Padden bill protecting private-property rights approved by Senate

Today the Senate approved Senate Bill 5363, which would prohibit government’s use of its eminent-domain power for economic development. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden, passed the Senate by a vote of 30-19 and now heads to the House of Representatives for its consideration. The term “eminent domain” refers...
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March 10, 2015

Report from Olympia — March 10, 2015

Wednesday, March 11 is the deadline for both the Senate and House to pass their own bills – or they are off the table for the session. Budget-related bills may be considered until the end of the session. At this point in the session, several of the measures I introduced...
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March 10, 2015

Padden measure to help neighborhoods deal with nuisances moves to House

Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to help cities and towns protect their taxpayers from the cost of nuisance abatement was passed by the Senate today by a vote of 40-9 and now heads to the House of Representatives. “In January, Spokane Valley City Manager Mike Jackson and City Attorney Cary Driskell...
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March 10, 2015

Senate unanimously passes Padden bill to simplify collection of forensic samples

On Monday the Senate unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden aimed at making it easier for law enforcement to obtain blood samples for forensic testing in criminal investigations – especially those concerning DUI offenses. “In some jurisdictions there is up to a five-hour delay in acquiring an...
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