February 20, 2015

Report from Olympia — Feb. 20, 2015

With legislative deadlines looming, this week the pace of work picked up significantly. But there is always time to meet with friends from the district who stop by to discuss their views on legislation or even to just say hello…. On Wednesday, Tim Knue with the Washington Association for Career...
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February 16, 2015

Padden continues work to end human trafficking

Saying that there is still work to be done, today Sen. Mike Padden oversaw the Senate Law and Justice Committee’s review of several bills aimed at addressing human trafficking. “The Washington State Legislature has an excellent history of dealing with the issue of human trafficking,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley and...
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February 16, 2015

Fourth District lawmakers to host telephone town hall Feb. 24

Fourth Legislative District residents are encouraged to participate in an upcoming telephone town hall hosted by their legislators: Sen. Mike Padden and Reps. Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin. The hour-long community conversation will take place Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. On the evening of the telephone town hall, participants...
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February 13, 2015

Report from Olympia — Feb. 13, 2015

On Monday, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on my bill to help keep the cost of residential construction low and housing more affordable. Senate Bill 5759 requires that distinct “prevailing wage” rates be calculated and paid to workers employed in residential construction. SB 5759 emerged...
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February 12, 2015

Padden bill to help new small businesses clears Senate panel

On Wednesday, a bill sponsored by Sen. Mike Padden that would provide tax relief for Washington’s new small businesses was approved by the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee. “We know that the first three years are the most critical to a small business being able to survive,” said Padden,...
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February 06, 2015

Report from Olympia — Feb. 6, 2015

It’s hard to believe we’re already into February, and that four weeks of the 2015 legislative session are almost behind us. This week the Legislature began delving into some big issues like responding to the governor’s cap-and-tax plan and helping our veterans find jobs. …Also this week, the Washington Council...
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February 03, 2015

Key Senate panel unanimously approves Padden’s felony-DUI bill

Momentum and support continue to grow for Sen. Mike Padden’s bill to make a fourth DUI conviction in 10 years a felony. Today the state Senate Law and Justice Committee voted unanimously to approve Senate Bill 5105, which now moves one step closer to a vote of the full Senate....
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January 30, 2015

Report from Olympia — Jan. 30, 2015

The third week of the 2015 session is almost over and things are beginning to move quickly in Olympia. We have been busy this week, hearing bills in various committees, meeting with visitors to the Legislature and promoting good legislation to improve the lives and safety of Washingtonians. We’ve also...
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January 23, 2015

Report from Olympia — Jan. 23, 2015

Today marks the end of week two for the 2015 legislative session. This has been a busy week for our office; we have had a number of visitors from the district and several of my key bills received hearings before their assigned policy committees. Click here to read the full...
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