Tag Archives: ESOPs

Washington ranked 8th most dangerous state, according to FBI crime report

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 1, 2024. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

In recent years reports show crime is worsening in Washington. The latest indication that our state’s crime problem is growing more dire is found in a recent FBI crime report. The report shows our state is the eighth most dangerous state for crime in the U.S.! 

According to a story published last week in the (Tacoma) News Tribune, the FBI report looked at the frequency of certain types of crime: assault offenses, homicide, kidnapping/abduction, sex offenses, burglary/breaking and entering, destruction/vandalism, extortion/blackmail, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and robbery. 

The FBI report showed Washington has the highest larceny and theft rate compared to other states. The study revealed our state has a larceny/theft rate of 2,133.6 per 100,000 residents. There were 179,545 larceny-theft incidents and 179,545 offenses reported in the state in 2022, said the report.  

The report showed Washington has a high kidnapping and abduction rate, with 16.3 incidents per 100,000 residents. In 2022, there were 1,327 kidnapping/abduction incidents and 1,454 offenses reported in Washington.  

Around the time the FBI crime report made the news, Governor Inslee was talking about how Washington’s recidivism rate for offenders had dropped from 34% in 2015 to 22% in 2020. The governor did not mention that our state has the lowest number of law enforcement officers per capita of any state in the nation or that we have a huge shortage of prosecutors in our state, which results in the dismissals of a large number of criminal charges every day. What about the victims of crime? 

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Barker Road projects completion enhances 4th District traffic safety

This graphic provides more details about the Barker Road corridor projects.

On April 25, I was pleased to join Spokane Valley city officials and others at the event celebrating the completion of the Barker Road corridor projects. 

The Barker Road corridor projects were a true collaboration, as they received funding from the city of Spokane Valley, Spokane County, state government and the federal government. The state provided $1.5 million to the grade-separation project, which kickstarted the federal matching dollars and ultimately the project elements that followed. These investments ensure Spokane Valley remains a vibrant place to live, work and thrive. 

Besides removing a grade crossing with the BNSF train tracks, this project includes a new roundabout that will reduce the risk of serious or fatal collisions. While collisions are still possible in a roundabout, at least they are low speed and thus should mean fewer and less severe injuries. 

The new overpass and roundabout will improve emergency access for vehicles, eliminate vehicle wait times that have averaged about 162 minutes (about two and a half hours) per day at each of the two BNSF crossings, reduce overall traffic congestion and improve traffic flow, and eliminate the need for trains to sound their horns, making nearby neighborhoods less noisy.    

Judge’s decision forces new boundaries for many legislative districts 

Many residents (and legislators) throughout eastern Washington had become accustomed to the new legislative-district boundaries that were created by the state’s independent, bipartisan Redistricting Commission in late 2021. (Those boundaries, based on results of the 2020 U.S. Census, went into effect for the 2022 election season.)  

However, as many of you know by now, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Lasnik recently sided with Democratic activists who argued the 2022 redistricting plan violated the federal Voting Rights Act. He ordered new boundaries for many eastern Washington districts, as well as some districts found in Clark and Skamania counties in southwest Washington.  

Lasnik’s decision has a negative impact on only Republicans legislators, especially 15th District Senator Nikki Torres, a Latina Republican who was elected to her Senate seat only two years ago. Under the judge’s redrawn legislative boundaries, Senator Torres no longer even lives in the 15th District. She would have to relocate to be a candidate for reelection to the position she holds. 

Since Judge Lasnik issued his ruling, many people throughout eastern Washington have expressed their unhappiness over the decision. Among them is Moses Lake Deputy Mayor Deanna Martinez, who wrote this guest editorial that was published by the Tri-City Herald two weeks ago. 

Remembering former Senator Baxter

It was sad to hear that former 4th District Senator Jeff Baxter passed away on April 24. As some will remember, Jeff was appointed in early 2011 to replace longtime Senator Bob McCaslin, with whom I served when I was a state representative from 1981 to 1995. Although I defeated Jeff in a special election for the Senate seat in November 2011, our office worked with Jeff on a number of issues over the last 12 plus years. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff’s family.  

Photo from ESOPs panel talk in D.C. 

Members of the ESOPs panel that met at the U.S. Capitol (L to R): Kerry Siggins, CEO of StoneAge of Durango, Colorado, chair Colorado ESOP Commission; Washington State Senator Mike Padden; Colorado State Representative Naquetta Ricks; Paul Kinghorn, University of Northern Iowa; and Zach Warmbrodt, Financial Service Editor for Politico. 

As was mentioned in an e-newsletter a few weeks ago, I was part of a congressional panel discussion on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) at the U.S. Capitol Building last month. This photo, provided by the event’s organizers, shows the panelists. Last year, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure that I introduced that aids businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The governor signed SB 5096 on May 9th of last year. 

National Day of Prayer

As many of you may know, tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer in America. This day is as important to me as it is to so many of you. In recent days, some constituents have reached out to me and asked that I proclaim May 2 this year as a National Day of Prayer. As much as I would like to do that, a single legislator does not have the authority to make such a proclamation. It would take action by the Legislature to do it.

However, I am proud to point out there has been a long tradition of offering a prayer at the start of each day’s floor session in the Senate and House of Representatives during a legislative session. Many legislators, myself included, value this prayer very much before we begin a floor session to address issues important to the people of Washington.

WSU President Schulz to retire 

By now, you may have heard the news that Kirk Schulz will retire as Washington State University’s president when the 2024-25 school year ends approximately a year from now. During President Schulz’s tenure as WSU president, I met with him several times in either my Olympia or Spokane Valley office to discuss higher-education matters. Knowing that many 4th District residents have attended WSU in the past or are students there, I care about the university and its students. I wish the university well in hiring a worthy successor to lead an institution so important to our area and the entire state. 

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

 

Retiring after serving 12 years in the Senate

Dear friends and neighbors,

It has been a real honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 4th District in the state Senate since 2011. After much thought and discussion with my wife, Laura, the time has come for me to retire from the Washington State Senate.  

I have appreciated the opportunity to work with my legislative colleagues on a variety of issues over these years to make Washington better. I will miss my relationships with each one of them.     

While I have focused on many issues, public safety has been especially important to me. As either ranking member or chair of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, I have had input on public safety legislation. Unfortunately, there has been a sharp increase in crime in recent years, including auto thefts and burglaries. It is disappointing that House Democrats did not follow the Senate’s lead on passing my habitual property-offender bill (SB 5056,) and Senator Lynda Wilson’s opioid reckless-endangerment bill (SB 5010). Washington has far to go in terms of improving public safety. 

Senator Padden delivers a speech on the Senate floor during this year’s session.

Laura and I look forward to traveling and spending more time with our five sons and four grandchildren. 

In the meantime, I plan to stay busy in my role as your state senator by attending meetings and events in and near our district. One of them is a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of the Barker Road corridor projects north of the Spokane River. It’s at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.  

You can read the news release about my retirement announcement. 

It was humbling to read so many local news stories about my retirement decision. They include these stories by the Spokesman-Review , KPBX Radio, KHQ-TV, KREM-TV, KXLY-TV and the Spokane Valley News Herald. There is also an interview with KONA Radio, based in the Tri-Cities. Next Sunday I will do a taped interview with the Right Spokane Perspective Radio program to talk about a recap of this year’s legislative session.  

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email. 

Thank you, as always, for the honor of representing you in Olympia!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Attending meeting at U.S. Capitol about ‘ESOPs’ 

The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Nearly two weeks ago, I flew to Washington, D.C., to attend a panel discussion at the U.S. Capitol Building about employee stock ownership plans – better known as ESOPs.  

The Aspen Institute and Rutgers University (located in New Jersey) helped organize the conference. Joey Nestegard, CFO with Schweitzer Engineering of Pullman also was part another panel talk on ESOPs. Representative Larry Bucshon, MD of Indiana as well as Maryland U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke at the conference. Many private investors took part as well. 

Last year, the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure I introduced that aids businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The governor signed SB 5096 last year. 

Senate Bill 5096 promotes employee ownership, which is a very valuable thing – not only for our employees but for society. Studies have shown that employee owners are happier, stay in their jobs longer and retire in a much better financial position. Plus, employee-owned companies are more likely to stay located locally. This bill also helps those businesses looking to adopt an ESOP. Many current business owners do not have a plan for when they transition out of the business, and employee ownership provides a valuable option. 

4th District students among those receiving scholarships at banquet

The 32nd annual Spokane Scholars Banquet, hosted by the Spokane Scholars Foundation, was held at the Spokane Convention Center last night. The event honored 168 high academically achieving seniors from 30 schools around the Spokane area, including several in the 4th District. During the banquet, the foundation awarded 24 of the students with scholarships between $1,000 and $4,000. It is special that 4th District students, as well as other area students, were honored for their hard work and strong academic achievements. You can read more about the banquet here.

Meeting on traffic-safety concerns in Newman Lake

Tomorrow I will attend a virtual meeting, hosted by the state Traffic Safety Commission, to discuss traffic-safety concerns in Newman Lake. 

Last year, a road-safety audit was commissioned by the Eastern Washington region of the state Department of Transportation in response to traffic concerns for the Trent/State Route 290 corridor from N. Harvard Road to N. Idaho Road. WSDOT shared the findings of that RSA with Newman Lake residents a few months ago. Since then, the department has identified striping, lighting and signage projects for this year based on the audit findings.  

The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss the behavioral traffic-safety concerns from the Newman Lake community for Trent/SR-290 and to see how the Traffic Safety Commission may be able to help address these concerns.  

New government guide still available

As mentioned in my e-newsletter a few weeks ago, there is a new 4th District Government Guide for districts residents to use. It includes names and contact information for officials at the federal, statewide, legislative and local government levels. It also provides other helpful information. If you would like to have a copy of the new government guide mailed to you, please call my legislative assistant, Annalise Hemingway, at 509-921-2460 or email her at annalise.hemingway@leg.wa.gov.

Copies of the updated government guide will be available soon at these locations:

  • Millwood City Hall (9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane)
  • Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane)
  • Spokane Valley City Hall (10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley)
  • Spokane Valley Library (22 N. Herald Road, Spokane Valley)
  • Liberty Lake City Hall (22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake)
  • Liberty Lake Library (23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake)
  • Otis Orchards Library (22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards)
  • Spokane Valley Senior Center (2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley)

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: 509-921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Four Padden-sponsored laws take effect July 23

On Sunday (July 23) many new laws passed this year by the Legislature will take effect. Four of these new laws are based on bills prime-sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden: Senate Bill 5033, SB 5058, SB 5096 and SB 5218.

‘Kimberly Bender’s law’

The law created by Senate Bill 5033 reclassifies the crime of first-degree custodial sexual misconduct, (in which the corrections officer has sexual intercourse with the victim) now a Class C felony, to a Class B felony with a seriousness level of VII. That calls for an initial sentence of 15 to 20 months and a high-end sentence between 7.25 years and 9.6 years. The new law also reclassifies second-degree custodial sexual misconduct (in which the corrections officer has sexual contact with the victim) from a gross misdemeanor to a Class C felony with a seriousness level of V, which would bring a sentencing range of six to 12 months for those with the lowest offender score and a range of six to eight years for offenders with the highest offender score.

“Officers who work in jails and state correctional facilities are part of the law-enforcement community just as much as the officers who patrol our communities and investigate crimes,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Like all the other people we entrust to administer justice, corrections officers must be held to a high standard, especially considering the unique level of authority they have over people in custody.”

Padden’s bipartisan bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate and House of Representatives, was inspired by a KING-TV investigation last year about a Clallam County jail guard, John Gray, who served just over a year in prison after sexually assaulting four women.

SB 5033 is called “Kimberly Bender’s law,” in honor of the 23-year-old Quileute woman who died by suicide in her Forks jail cell in 2019 after reporting to city officials that Gray sexually harassed her. Bender’s mother, Dawn Reid, asked Padden to name the bill after her daughter.

Gray was convicted in 2021 of two felony and two misdemeanor counts of custodial sexual misconduct and served 13 months of his 20-month sentence.

During the bill’s public hearing before the Senate Law and Justice Committee last January, Michele Devlin, the chief criminal deputy prosecutor for the Clallam County prosecutor’s office, testified in favor of SB 5033, pointing out that Gray sexually assaulted several women in his job as a jail guard.

“This bill acknowledges the disproportionate power dynamic between an inmate and a corrections officer. It also acknowledges the trauma experienced by survivors associated with sexual assault,” Devlin told the committee.

‘Missing middle’ housing

Senate Bill 5058, which was approved unanimously in both the Senate and House, will help encourage home ownership in Washington by making it easier for smaller condominium buildings to be constructed. The measure exempts buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building.”

Padden said SB 5058 should result in more homeownership in the state.

“Washington has one of the lower homeownership rates in the nation, and this bill will help our state address this problem,” said Padden, who noted that the bill received support from cities with limited land area.

“These smaller condominiums will still have the same building requirements that a townhouse or single-family house has,” added Padden. “The reduction of additional inspections beyond requirements for a townhouse or a single-family house will reduce the cost of these condominiums, making them more affordable to more buyers.”

“SB 5058 is a Condominium Act reform bill that will help encourage the development of new, small in-fill condominium units and provides a critically important first step in attainable home ownership for middle-income families,” said Jim Frank, founder of Greenstone Homes. “The bill helps open the door to the ‘missing middle’ housing needed in cities across the state.”

Employee-owned businesses

Senate Bill 5096 is a bipartisan measure that will aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure.

The measure was backed by a diverse group, including the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

“Employee ownership is great for our employee owners, our customers, and our communities and is a key part of our culture,” said Joey Nestegard, chief business officer at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. “SEL is proud to be 100% employee owned and we are thankful to Senator Padden for encouraging more businesses to consider this great model.”

“This new law will help promote employee ownership, which is valuable not only for employees but for our society,” said Padden. “Studies have shown that when employees are happier, they stay in their job longer and they retire in a much better financial position. The companies are more likely to remain in the local area.”

Padden added that the measure, which was passed unanimously by the Senate and House, will help maintain local businesses after a business founder retires.

“Many current business owners do not have a plan for when they transition out of the business, and employee ownership provides a valuable option,” Padden said.

SB 5096 specifically will create the Washington Employee Ownership Program at the state Department of Commerce to offer technical support and other services to certain businesses considering certain employee ownership structures; form the Washington Employee Ownership Commission to oversee the program; and provide a business-and-occupation tax credit for costs related to converting a qualifying business to an employee ownership structure.

ESOPs are recognized under federal tax law as a qualified defined contribution retirement plan. The ESOP must be designed to invest primarily in qualifying employer securities and meet certain other requirements. The IRS and United States Department of Labor share jurisdiction over some ESOP features.

A win for patients

People buying motorized wheelchairs or other mobility-improving equipment will pay less thanks to Senate Bill 5218, which makes such equipment tax-exempt. The Senate and House unanimously approved SB 5218.

“This law will help people with disabilities by removing the sales tax from motorized wheelchairs or other technological equipment, which will help them save money while also helping maintain their independence,” said Padden.

One of the people who provided written testimony in support of SB 5218 is Steve Gleason, a former Gonzaga Prep, Washington State University and New Orleans Saints football player who contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“This is a huge win for both patients, and companies that sell mobility-enhancing equipment, as it removes a barrier that a lot of times made it impossible for patients to get equipment,” said Don Whitney, chief operating officer of Inland Medical and Rehab. “Most insurances, including Medicare, did not pay for the sales tax, leaving either the patient or our company to pay the tax to the state Department of Revenue. In Spokane that is equivalent to 9%. So a $40,000 high-end CRT wheelchair would have a tax of $3,600 that needed to be collected from the patient or our company just absorbed the tax and paid it. We absorbed the cost just so we could service our patients, who are also our friends. In the last decade, over 60 independent companies in Washington state went out of business as they could not maintain paying sales tax and not being reimbursed it.

“My hope is this will help the bottom line for all companies providing services in Washington, leading to patients having more access to service and to receive better equipment. Patients who have to pay privately for this equipment will now also have greater access by not having to pay the tax. Most patients are on limited incomes, and without this equipment may be hospitalized or put into long-term care. The passage of SB 5218 has opened the door for people so they can stay in their homes and has helped companies improve their bottom lines to remain in business and provide quality product and access to service to its patients,” added Whitney.

The new law states that to claim the sales-tax exemption, the purchaser must provide the seller with an exemption certificate as prescribed by the state Department of Revenue. The tax exemption will apply to mobility-enhancing equipment sold or used on or after Aug. 1, 2023.

Honoring fallen soldiers during Memorial Day ceremony

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers May 31, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope all of you enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend. While the three-day weekend provides a great opportunity for us to gather with family and friends, it’s also a chance for us to honor our veterans who gave their lives to our nation so that we, as Americans, can enjoy our cherished freedoms and rights.

Thank you to our veterans, living and dead, who served our great nation, and thanks to those who currently serve in our military.

Members of the Rodgers High School Junior ROTC during the Memorial Day ceremony at Pines Cemetery.

On Monday, my wife Laura and I attended the Memorial Day ceremony, sponsored by Spokane Valley American Legion Post 241 and held at Pines Cemetery to honor our fallen veterans. As anyone who has been to one of these ceremonies knows, it is a somber occasion that makes you appreciate even more the tremendous sacrifice these soldiers made to serve and protect America. It also helps you understand the profound loss experienced by families who had a beloved relative join the service, never to return.  

Sen. Padden talks about the 2023 legislative session during Saturday’s 4th District town hall meeting.

On Saturday morning, I joined my 4th District seatmates, Reps. Leonard Christian and Suzanne Schmidt, in participating in a town hall meeting at CenterPlace in the Spokane Valley. Nearly 60 people attended the one-hour event, which included a recap of the recently ended 2023 legislative session, followed by a question-and-answer period. A special thank-you goes to those who took time during their three-day weekend to join us at the town hall.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving as your state senator!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Tomorrow is deadline for some to opt out of WA Cares program

WA Cares, our state’s new long-term care program, will be activated on July 1, despite strong efforts by legislative Republicans to repeal or modify this costly and flawed program.

The program will be funded by a very expensive payroll tax, in which those making $50,100 (the median income in Washington) will have $24 a month (or $288 a year) taken out of their paychecks unless they have already obtained an exemption approval letter by purchasing private, long-term care insurance.

The WA Care program provides a maximum lifetime benefit of only $36,500, payable at a maximum of $100 per day – even though the cost of care currently averages up to more than three times that. This program is not only extremely expensive for workers, it also falls short of providing benefits at the level many people will actually need.

I was one of several Republican legislators who offered bills to stop WA Cares from becoming reality. In 2022, I introduced Senate Bill 5234, which sought to repeal the WA Cares program and its payroll tax. However, Senate Democrats did not allow it to even receive a public hearing in committee.

The state Employment Security Department says certain individuals in Washington can still apply for an exemption from the payroll tax that funds WA Cares, but the deadline to apply is tomorrow (June 1).

People who are still eligible to opt out of WA Cares include:

  • Workers who are a spouse or domestic partner of an active-duty U.S. armed forces member.
  • Workers who work in Washington but live out of state.
  • Workers who have a temporary nonimmigrant visa like a H-2A or H-1B visa.

Those who want to apply for an exemption should follow the instructions available here.

Governor signs three Padden bills after session ends

I was on hand to watch Governor Inslee sign Senate Bill 5058, which will make it easier to build smaller condominium buildings. Also at the signing ceremony were Tricia Gullion (left) of the Building Industry Association of Washington and Spokane City Council member Betsy Wilkerson (right). 

During the weeks after the 2023 regular session ended on April 23, Governor Inslee signed three more bills that I introduced this session.

Senate Bill 5058 exempts buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories high from the definition of “multiunit residential building.” Washington has one of the lower homeownership rates in the nation, and this bill would help our state address this problem. SB 5058 is one of several measures approved by the Legislature this year that aim to boost the supply of housing in Washington. This bill should result in condos that are less expensive, which should encourage more people to become homeowners.   

Senate Bill 5096 aids businesses looking to follow a business model that allows workers to be owners. Schweitzer Engineering, which has operations in the Spokane Valley, supported this bill, as did Ownership America.

Senate Bill 5218 makes mobility-improving equipment tax-exempt. This will help make motorized wheelchairs and similar equipment much less expensive to buy, helping people with disabilities to save money while also helping them maintain their independence. (This recent Seattle Times story on the Seattle Mariners recognizing ALS patients mentions how a motorized wheelchair can cost $60,000 nowadays.)

The laws created by all three bills take effect on July 23, as does Senate Bill 5033, another measure signed by the governor that I introduced this year. SB 5033 imposes longer sentences on sexually abusive jail and prison guards. I introduced the bill after KING-TV in Seattle reported about a prison guard in Clallam County who sexually abused several female inmates.

Legislative session recap given at Spokane Valley City Council meeting

Last night I attended the Spokane Valley City Council meeting, during which Brianna Murray provided a review of this year’s legislative session in Olympia. Brianna did a nice job discussing the highlights and lowlights of the session. Please click here to watch the city council meeting, including Brianna’s presentation.

Fuel prices rise sharply in recent days

If you noticed that fuel prices have risen significantly in recent days, you are now alone. This story published by The Center Square earlier this week pointed out the sharp increase in fuel prices over the three-day weekend.

The story’s lead paragraphs say it all:  

The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was sitting at $4.68 statewide on Monday, up from $4.60 the week prior according to AAA data.

This holiday weekend price hike marks the 17th week this year of rising fuel prices for Washingtonians, following the implementation of the new carbon tax earlier this year.

As the story implies, one of the main culprits for the fuel price spike is the cap-and-trade program that went into effect in January. Since cap-and-trade became reality, fuel prices in Washington have become even higher than in Idaho. According to the state-by-state fuel price comparison compiled by AAA, regular unleaded gas in Washington costs an average of $4.697, compared to $3.857 in Idaho. This price difference of roughly 85 cents a gallon is bound to hurt Washington gas stations located near the Idaho border, as gas consumers will be tempted to drive a few miles east to save on fuel.

Updated 4th District government guide still available

My office recently produced and mailed an updated version of a 4th District government guide to many households in our district. If you did not receive a government guide and would like one, simply contact my district office at 509-921-2460. You also may pick up a free copy of the government guide at any of these locations:

Millwood City Hall…………………….9103 E Frederick Ave., Spokane

Argonne Library………………………..4322 N Argonne Road, Spokane

Spokane Valley City Hall……………10210 E Sprague Ave., Spokane Valley

Spokane Valley Library………………12004 E Main Ave., Spokane Valley

Liberty Lake City Hall………………….22710 E Country Vista Drive, Liberty Lake

Liberty Lake Library……………………23123 E Mission Ave., Liberty Lake

Otis Orchards Library…………………22324 E Wellesley Ave., Otis Orchards

Spokane Valley Senior Center…….2426 N Discovery Place, Spokane Valley

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the interim we are conducting business from our district office in Spokane Valley. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (509) 921-2460

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Governor signs Padden bill to benefit employee stock ownership plans

Gov. Jay Inslee today signed Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan measure prime-sponsored by 4th District Sen. Mike Padden that will aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure.

“This new law will help promote employee ownership, which is valuable not only for employees but for our society,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Studies have shown that when employees are happier, they stay in their job longer and they retire in a much better financial position. And the companies are more likely to remain in the local area.”

Padden added that the measure will help maintain local businesses after a business founder retires.

“Many current business owners do not have a plan for when they transition out of the business, and employee ownership provides a valuable option,” Padden said.

SB 5096 specifically will:

  • create the Washington Employee Ownership Program at the state Department of Commerce to offer technical support and other services to certain businesses considering certain employee ownership structures;
  • form the Washington Employee Ownership Commission to oversee the program; and,
  • provide a business-and-occupation tax credit for costs related to converting a qualifying business to an employee ownership structure.

The measure was backed by a diverse group, including the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

“According to decades of research, employee-owned companies consistently produce higher wages, greater employee wealth and fewer layoffs,” said Jack Moriarty, founder and executive director of Ownership America, a national think tank. “Senator Padden and his bipartisan co-sponsors deserve praise for their leadership in positioning Washington to create and retain high-quality jobs that build wealth for workers and communities through employee ownership.”

With the adoption of this bipartisan legislation, Washington has established itself as a national leader in the employee ownership field, added Moriarty.

ESOPs are recognized under federal tax law as a qualified defined contribution retirement plan. The ESOP must be designed to invest primarily in qualifying employer securities and meet certain other requirements. The IRS and United States Department of Labor share jurisdiction over some ESOP features.

SB 5096 was unanimously approved by both the Senate and House this year.

Senate resolution honors Seattle Mariners on 2022 playoff run

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 20, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

It was great to meet with former Seattle Mariners catcher Dan Wilson during his visit to the Capitol this morning. 

Dear friends and neighbors,

After more than 100 days of committee meetings and floor sessions in Olympia, this year’s regular legislative session will end this Sunday, April 23.

Before the Legislature wraps up for the year, there are still important tasks for the Senate and House to finish, including passage of a new two-year state operating budget. The two chambers also will need to reach final agreement on new two-year state capital and transportation budgets.

The Senate and House also will spend these final days negotiating on a handful of bills that are “in dispute,” meaning that one chamber disagrees with changes to a bill made by the second chamber.    

During a typical Senate floor session, members will debate and vote on a number of bills and amendments. But occasionally we also sponsor resolutions that are read aloud on the floor. The resolutions often recognize or honor notable individuals or group in our state. Sometimes, these resolutions recognize sports teams or athletes. One of the Northwest’s beloved pro sports teams was honored today.

The Senate took a couple of minutes from today’s busy floor schedule to pass a resolution congratulating the Seattle Mariners on reaching the 2022 American League playoffs and ending their 21-year postseason drought. After the resolution was read aloud and then approved by the Senate, a number of senators spoke about the team and its exciting season. You can watch a video of my floor speech on the resolution here.   

Earlier this morning, before the resolution was read on the floor, former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson came to the Capitol to meet with fans, sign autographs and have photos taken. I enjoyed chatting with Dan and hearing his thoughts on the current Mariners team and a couple of fun stories about his playing days. 

This newsletter covers several other issues and events happening in Olympia in this past week.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving as your state senator!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Legislature passes two Padden bills this week

I was pleased that the Legislature this week approved two of my bills.

Senate Bill 5218 would make the sale of motorized wheelchairs and other mobility-improving equipment tax-exempt. The House unanimously passed it on Monday after the Senate unanimously approved it on March 31. It has been sent to the governor for his signature. No signing date has been scheduled yet, but bills passed by the Legislature that are delivered to the governor more than five days before the Legislature adjourns must be acted on within five days (not counting Sundays) – otherwise they automatically become law. The governor has 20 days (except Sundays) to act on bills that are delivered fewer than five days before session ends.    

Senate Bill 5096 would aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The House unanimously passed an amended version of this bill on Monday. The Senate yesterday voted 48-0 to concur with the House’s changes, so this bill has been approved by the Legislature and soon will go to the governor.    

Last week, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5058, which would help encourage home ownership in our state by making it easier for smaller condominium buildings to be constructed. It specifically would exempt buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of multiunit residential building. It was sent to Governor Inslee on Tuesday.

DUI lookback bill is still alive as part of HB 1493

 

House Bill 1493, which deals with impaired driving, includes language from SB 5032, my bipartisan proposal that would expand the period for reviewing prior convictions of impaired driving to 15 years, from the 10 years now in state law, when determining whether a new offense of impaired driving is charged as a felony. Under SB 5032, any person who has three or more prior DUI offenses within that 15-year lookback period would face a felony, rather than the current penalty of a gross misdemeanor. SB 5032 would give offenders a chance to undergo a highly structured treatment program.

After the Senate last week passed the version of HB 1493 that includes the language in SB 5032, the House on Monday refused to concur with the Senate’s changes to that bill, so the Senate today amended the measure in a way that will result in the House giving its final approval. Once that happens, the bill will go to the governor.     

Updated 4th District government guide still available

Every year or two, our office produces and mails a 4th District government guide to residents of our legislative district. With the help of my staff, we recently produced and sent out an updated government guide that includes helpful contact information on your local, state and federal government elected officials, as well as other government services. The online version of the new government guide can be found here.

If you did not receive the new government guide and would like a printed copy, please contact my legislative assistant, Irina, in our Olympia office by either calling at 360-786-7606 or emailing her at irina.dolbinina@leg.wa.gov.

Controversial bills still alive as session nears end

Over the past several days, the Senate and House reached agreement on a large number of bills. Most of these compromise measures received strong bipartisan support in the Senate.

But there have been some bad bills that I could not support that either have been passed by the Democrat majorities in the House and Senate or are still alive at this point of session.  

One very controversial bill that is still alive is Senate Bill 5599. Under this proposal, parents of runaway children seeking gender-affirming care would not be notified by a licensed shelter or host home if the child was taken in there. (The bill would require a shelter or host home to report to the Department of Children, Youth and Families within 72 hours of the child being there.) This proposal has caused a tidal wave of opposition from many people across the state. They have argued that the bill ignores the rights of parents to know where their children are.

After the Senate passed it 27-19 on March 1, the House amended and then approved the bill 57-39 on April 12, just before the House’s floor cutoff. (The Spokesman-Review published this story earlier this week on the House passing SB 5599.) The Senate yesterday voted along party lines, 29-20, to concur (or agree) with the House changes to the bill, so, unfortunately, it has been approved by the Legislature and soon will be sent to the governor.  

Another controversial bill that is still alive this session is Senate Bill 5352, which deals with vehicle pursuits. As some of you know, the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2021 severely weakened Washington’s vehicle-pursuit law by allowing law-enforcement officers to pursue a suspect only if they have probable cause to believe the driver has committed a violent or sexual crime, or escaped from jail. The 2021 law also allows pursuits for reasonable suspicion of DUI. But the law prohibits pursuits for auto thefts and burglaries.

Since the 2021 law went into effect, auto thefts in Washington have skyrocketed. According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, auto thefts rose 31% in Washington from 2021 to 2022, the second-largest increase after Illinois. The total number of vehicle thefts in our state last year was 46,939, which ranks Washington third after only California and Texas, the two most populous states in the America. (Washington is the 13th most populous state.) 

SB 5352 would lower the threshold for law enforcement to chase suspects from probable cause to reasonable suspicion of violent and sex crimes. Pursuits for domestic violence and vehicular assaults also would be allowed under the proposal.

I voted against this bill because it doesn’t get the job done in restoring officers’ ability to pursue suspects. For instance, under SB 5352, officers still could not chase after people suspected of auto theft or reckless driving. Because SB 5352 still restricts officers from pursuing auto-theft suspects, this crime will continue to be a huge problem here in Washington.

The Senate originally passed SB 5352 in March. After the House amended and then approved it 57-40 on April 10, the Senate voted 26-22 on Monday  to concur with the House’s changes to the proposal, so it will soon go to Governor Inslee for his consideration.

A third bad bill that has passed is House Bill 1240, which would ban the sale or purchase in our state of modern sporting rifles. After the Senate had amended and then passed HB 1240 on April 8, the House refused to concur with the Senate’s changes, so the bill returned to our chamber, where Senate Democrats voted to remove the Senate’s original amendments and then adopt new amendments.  Under the most recent amendment that was approved by the Senate Democrats, firearms dealers in Washington would be allowed to sell or transfer their existing stock of firearms affected by the ban – provided they were acquired before Jan. 1, 2023. However, the sales could only be to out-of-state customers, and only for 90 days after the governor signs the measure into law). The House yesterday voted 56-42 to agree with the latest version of HB 1240, so it will go to the governor.

I have voted against each version of HB 1240 because it restricts the rights of gun owners.

Bill to raise property-tax cap won’t pass this year, says Senate Democrat

In recent weeks, one of the more controversial bills to appear this session was Senate Bill 5770. It would triple the cap (to 3%, from the current 1%) on annual increases in the property taxes levied by state and local governments. The 1% cap was first implemented by the voters in 2001, through Initiative 747; after the state Supreme Court declared it invalid six years later, a Democrat-controlled Legislature quickly reinstated the 1% limit with the blessing of a Democratic governor (former Gov. Gregoire).

Following a huge outcry by Republicans and property owners, the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, told The Center Square in an email that “SB 5770 will not be advancing this year.” (You can read The Center Square article here.) That is good news for homeowners and property owners. But as he specified “this year,” we must expect another push for this unpopular measure next year.

KVI Radio interview on transgender men housed in women’s prison

This morning I did a live phone interview with Seattle-based KVI Radio talk show host John Carlson. We discussed transgender men being housed in a state women’s corrections facility. I also provided an update on the legislative session. You can hear that interview here. 

Fuel prices continue to rise, thanks to “cap-and-trade”

When the Democrat-controlled Legislature in 2021 passed the Climate Commitment Act, creating a “cap-and-trade” program that went into effect this Jan. 1, the governor claimed that “cap-and-trade” would raise fuel prices by only a few cents a gallon.

Anybody who has bought gas or diesel in the past few months will tell you the governor is very wrong. According to this story by the Washington Policy Center’s Todd Myers, since Jan. 1, our state’s “gas prices have increased between 35 and 52 cents more than neighboring state since the state launched a tax on CO2 emissions at the beginning of the year. (See chart above that was featured in the WPC story.) Despite the clear data, state politicians and agency staff refuse to acknowledge the cost of the increases and aren’t helping residents deal with the impact of the costs.”

Todd’s story points out that the difference between Washington’s gas prices and the average of Oregon and Idaho increased by about 44 cents per gallon since the beginning of this year. This significant difference will make it very tempting for some drivers living near the state border to cross into Idaho to fuel up. That would hurt Washington gas stations located near the border.  

The Climate Commitment Act included language that would have exempted fuel for farming, barging, maritime and aviation from higher costs caused by the cap-and-trade program. However, farmers and others have not received this exemption. They continue to pay the extra cost created by cap-and-trade. Bills were introduced this session to implement this exemption, but they went nowhere. It is wrong for the Department of Ecology, which is in charge of the cap-and-trade program, to not fix this problem and make the expected exemption a reality. DOE and Governor Inslee need to fix this problem soon this year before wheat grown on eastern Washington farms is harvested and shipped via barge down the Snake and Columbia rivers.  

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Legislature OKs Padden bill providing tax exemption for mobility equipment

People buying motorized wheelchairs or other mobility-improving equipment could pay less thanks to a bill that has been approved by the Legislature.

Senate Bill 5218, from 4th District Sen. Mike Padden, would make such equipment tax-exempt. The House of Representatives unanimously approved the measure today after the Senate unanimously passed it March 31. SB 5218 now goes to Gov. Jay Inslee for consideration.

“This bill will help people with disabilities by removing the sales tax from motorized wheelchairs or other technological equipment, which will help them save money while also helping maintain their independence,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “It can be very costly for someone to buy such equipment that they need for their daily lives, and the sales tax only adds to the high cost. This bill helps make such purchases more affordable for those who need this equipment.”

During his Senate floor speech in favor of the proposal, Padden mentioned that written testimony supporting the bill was provided by Steve Gleason, a former Gonzaga Prep, Washington State University and New Orleans Saints football player who contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“Steve indicated how important this legislation would be, not only for those who have ALS or multiple sclerosis but those who need what I would call high-tech wheelchairs that can do so much and can cost $30,000 and up,” said Padden. “The sales-tax portion is a large amount of money for this equipment. Steve pointed out that if people have this equipment, they are less likely to go into hospitals and require more expensive medical care.”

SB 5218 states that to claim the sales-tax exemption, the purchaser must provide the seller with an exemption certificate as prescribed by the state Department of Revenue. The tax exemption would apply to mobility-enhancing equipment sold or used on or after Aug. 1, 2023.

House also passes Padden bill to benefit employee stock ownership plans 

The House today also unanimously passed Senate Bill 5096, a bipartisan proposal sponsored by Padden that would aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure.

“This bill promotes employee ownership, which I think is a very valuable thing, not only for our employees but for society,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “Studies have shown that employees are happier, they stay in their job longer and they retire in a much better financial position. And the companies are more likely to stay locally.”

Padden added that the bill would help those businesses looking to adopt an ESOP.

“Many current business owners do not have a plan for when they transition out of the business, and employee ownership provides a valuable option.”

The proposal is backed by a very diverse group of supporters, including the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories.

SB 5096 specifically would:

  • Create the Washington Employee Ownership Program at the state Department of Commerce to offer technical support and other services to certain businesses considering certain employee ownership structures.
  • Form the Washington Employee Ownership Commission to oversee the program.
  • Provide a business and occupation tax credit for costs related to converting a qualifying business to an employee ownership structure.

The House amended SB 5096, so it must return to the Senate for concurrence. The Senate unanimously passed the measure on March 2.

The 2023 legislative session is scheduled to end Sunday.

 

Senate Democrats pass two bills that limit gun rights

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 13, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

The rights of law-abiding Washingtonians to buy and use firearms took another step backward late last week when the Democrat-run Senate passed two measures, both requested by Gov. Inslee, that will restrict this constitutionally protected right. No Republicans supported either bill.

On Friday, the Senate voted 28-18 to pass House Bill 1143, which would prohibit someone from buying a firearm from a dealer unless the buyer has passed a background check and has completed a firearm-safety training program.

Then on Saturday, after hours of debates and votes on nearly 20 Republican-sponsored amendments (all defeated by the majority Democrats), the Senate voted 27-21 to approve House Bill 1240, which would ban the sale or purchase in our state of modern sporting rifles.

Under HB 1240, exceptions are included for those who now own or someday inherit such a firearm. Violating the proposed law would be a gross misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

Several of my Republican colleagues gave powerful and impassioned speeches about why HB 1240 should not be passed. Two speeches that stood out were by 9th District Sen. Mark Schoesler and 10th District Sen. Ron Muzzall. (Click on their names to watch parts of their speeches.)

Read this Tacoma News Tribune story to see a list of the roughly 60 specific firearms that would be banned under HB 1240 and where the bill goes next.

What is especially frustrating and inconsistent about the Democrats’ approach to what they call “gun violence” is that they vote to approve proposals that deny freedom-loving people of their right to have certain guns, then turn around and pass a bill that would decriminalize the illegal use of firearms for repeat offenders. If the Legislature really cares about gun violence, legislators need to make sure that crimes committed with a firearm receive sufficient punishment. Decriminalizing their illegal actions is the wrong approach. It likely will lead to more crime in the future.         

In the days leading up to the two votes on the Senate floor, my office received 1,336 emails on HB 1143 and 1,652 emails on HB 1240. Many of these emails addressed both bills. Of all of these emails, only 100 or so were in favor of the two proposals. To those 4th District residents who took the time to call or email me about these two bills, thank you! I appreciate how you care about this important right.

Because the Senate amended both bills before passing them, the House of Representatives must vote to “concur” (agree) with those changes before they can be sent to the governor. 

If and when the governor signs these bills, I expect lawsuits will be filed against both proposals. It is very possible that they will be found unconstitutional.  

This newsletter covers several other issues and events happening in Olympia in this past week.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving as your state senator!

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Updated 4th District government guide now available

Every year or two, our office produces and mails a 4th District government guide to residents of our legislative district. With the help of my staff, we recently produced and sent out an updated government guide that includes helpful contact information on your local, state and federal government elected officials, as well as other government services. The online version of the new government guide can be found here.

If you did not receive the new government guide and would like a printed copy, please contact my legislative assistant, Irina, in our Olympia office by either calling at 360-786-7606 or emailing her at irina.dolbinina@leg.wa.gov.

Legislature passes bill expanding eligibility for property-tax exemption

Throughout this session, other lawmakers and I have called for the Legislature to provide tax relief for Washingtonians. While there won’t be any widespread tax relief this year, there is some modest good news to share.

The Legislature has approved a proposal that would make more people eligible to qualify for property-tax relief. House Bill 1355 would increase the income limit to qualify for existing property-tax exemptions. Under the bill, homeowners can get an exemption on their property taxes if they are at least 61 years old, unable to work because of a disability or meet one of several other qualifications. Applicants also must make less than their county’s income limit for the program. More information about this proposal can be found here.  

The Senate passed HB 1355 47-0 last Friday. The House approved it 96-0 in March. The measure now goes to the governor.

Senate passes flawed housing bill

On Tuesday, the Senate passed House Bill 1110, which would require certain cities planning under the state’s Growth Management Act to authorize minimum development densities on lots zoned predominately for residential use. I voted against it. This is an issue that should be addressed by locals, not the state. This legislation takes away local control on land-use decisions from the cities of Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Millwood. It gives the decision-making power to Olympia. You can watch my floor speech opposing HB 1110 by clicking here. Because the Senate amended HB 1110 before approving it, the proposal must return to the House for concurrence.

Padden bills update

Yesterday was “floor cutoff,” the final day for the full Senate to approve bills passed by the House earlier this session and for the full House to pass bills approved by the Senate. Three of my bills – plus a fourth bill that has been folded into a House proposal – are still alive after this key deadline. Sunday, April 23 is the last scheduled day of this year’s legislative session.

SB 5096 would aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. This bipartisan proposal is on the House second-reading calendar. Because the proposal is considered necessary to implement the budget, it was exempt from yesterday’s floor cutoff.   

SB 5218 would make the sale of motorized wheelchairs and other mobility-improving equipment tax-exempt. This bill is scheduled for passage by the House Finance Committee tomorrow morning following a public hearing. Like, SB 5096, SB 5218 was exempt from this week’s floor cutoff deadline because it is considered necessary to implement the budget.

SB 5058 would help encourage home ownership in our state by making it easier for smaller condominium buildings to be constructed. It specifically would exempt buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of multiunit residential building. The bill was passed 97-0 by the House yesterday. Because the House did not amend it, the bill now goes to the governor.

HB 1493 deals with drunk driving. Even though it is a House proposal, it now includes language from SB 5032, my bipartisan proposal that would expand the period for reviewing prior convictions of impaired driving to 15 years, from the 10 years now in state law, when determining whether a new offense of impaired driving is charged as a felony. Under the proposal, any person who has three or more prior DUI offenses within that 15-year lookback period would face a felony, rather than the current penalty of a gross misdemeanor. SB 5032 would give offenders a chance to undergo a highly structured treatment program. The Senate passed HB 1493 on a 48-0 vote Tuesday. You can watch my floor speech in favor of HB 1493 by clicking here. Because the Senate amended it, the bill returns to the House for “concurrence.”   

Abortion-pill stockpile proposal receives Senate hearing

A pro-abortion bill that was introduced only last week is being fast-tracked by Senate Democrats toward passage by the Legislature this session.

Senate Bill 5768 received a public hearing Monday in the Senate Ways and Committee, which passed the bill on a party-line vote yesterday. The proposal would allow the Department of Corrections to stockpile and distribute doses of the abortion pill Mifepristone. If and when SB 5768 reaches the Senate floor, I will vote against it. This proposal is part of an effort by Governor Inslee and some Democrats to turn Washington into an abortion destination state.

The SB 5768 hearing and vote came days after Gov. Inslee announced that he was stockpiling 30,000 doses of Mifepristone in case U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of Texas blocked federal Food and Drug Administration approval of the abortion-causing drug. The Texas judge issued a decision last Friday to block this abortion-causing drug. Later on the same day, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice from eastern Washington’s federal court issued an order prohibiting the FDA from pulling access to the drug. The issue over Mifepristone is likely headed to the U.S. Supreme Court.     

Otis Orchards student serves as page

Brigitte Peterson (above), a sophomore at Chesterton Academy of Notre Dame, is serving as a Senate page this week. Brigitte, 15, is the daughter of Vincent and Amanda Peterson of Otis Orchards. She enjoys volleyball, softball, golf, skiing and playing the piano. Although Brigitte lives in the 4th District, 6th District Sen. Jeff Holy of Cheney was kind enough to sponsor her because I had already reached my quota of page sponsorships for this session.   

Session update video created for 4th District Slavic-speaking population

In recent years, the Slavic-speaking population in the 4th Legislative District has grown substantially, as immigrants from Russia and Ukraine have settled in our area. Just as I did a few years ago, I recently shot a video that is for our district’s Slavic-speaking population. The video is meant to welcome our Slavic-speaking neighbors and provide them with an update on the legislative session, including the Senate resolution that honors Ukrainian Americans. It also provides information on how to take English-as-a-second-language (ESL) classes at Spokane Community College. Special thanks to my legislative assistant, Irina Dolbinina, who is featured in the video translating what I say into the Russian language, which is very similar to the Ukrainian language. The video can be viewed by clicking here.  

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.

Senate unanimously passes Padden bill providing tax exemption for mobility equipment

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Padden’s subscribers April 6, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. Padden’s newsletter, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Someone suffering from multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) or some similar ailment often must rely on motorized wheelchairs or other high-tech equipment to have the mobility to continue living independent lives. Unfortunately, such equipment can cost $30,000 or more, making it hard to afford.

The Senate recently passed a bill I sponsored that would make it easier for people to purchase this expensive mobility-improving equipment.  

The Senate last Friday voted 48-0 in favor of Senate Bill 5218, which would make the sale of motorized wheelchairs and other mobility-improving equipment tax-exempt. Removing the sales tax from motorized wheelchairs or other technological equipment will help those needing them to save money while also helping maintain their independence.   

We received written testimony in favor of the bill from Steve Gleason, the former Gonzaga Prep, Washington State University and New Orleans Saints football player who contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Steve indicated how important this legislation would be, not only for those who have ALS or MS but those who need what I would call high-tech wheelchairs that can do so much and can cost $30,000 and up. The sales-tax portion is a large amount of money for this equipment. Steve pointed out that if people have this equipment, they are less likely to go into hospitals and require more expensive medical care.

The proposal states that to claim the sales-tax exemption, the purchaser must provide the seller with an exemption certificate as prescribed by the state Department of Revenue. The tax exemption would apply to mobility-enhancing equipment sold or used on or after Aug. 1, 2023. 

SB 5218 has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

You can hear a radio story created by Senate Republican Caucus broadcast information officer Tracy Ellis about the Senate passing this bill.

This newsletter covers several other issues and events happening in Olympia in this past week.

If you have questions about how to participate in state government this year or thoughts to share on anything in this e-newsletter, please give me a call or send me an email.

Thank you, as always, for the honor of serving as your state senator!

Happy Easter! 

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden

Update on other Padden bills

After devoting much of our time the past three weeks to committee meetings in which public hearings were held on bills passed by the House, we are once again spending hours each day on the Senate floor to debate and vote on bills (mostly House proposals) that are still alive this session. The House is doing the same thing with bills passed earlier this session by the Senate.

Here is an update on my proposals that are still alive:

Senate Bill 5032, which would combat impaired driving, is no longer moving forward this session. But the bill’s language was amended last week onto another drunk-driving measure, House Bill 1493. SB 5032 would expand the period for reviewing prior convictions of impaired driving to 15 years, from the 10 years now in state law, when determining whether a new offense of impaired driving is charged as a felony. Under the proposal, any person who has three or more prior DUI offenses within that 15-year lookback period would face a felony, rather than the current penalty of a gross misdemeanor. Furthermore, SB 5032 would give offenders a chance to undergo a highly structured treatment program.

The Senate Transportation Committee passed HB 1493 on Tuesday, so now it is in the Senate Rules Committee, which acts as a final hurdle for bills to reach the Senate floor.  Earlier this week, the Tacoma News Tribune published my guest editorial explaining why SB 5032 is important and how that language is now part of HB 1493.    

Senate Bill 5058 would help encourage home ownership in our state by making it easier for smaller condominium buildings to be constructed. It specifically would exempt buildings with 12 or fewer units that are no more than two stories from the definition of multiunit residential building. SB 5058 is in the House Rules Committee, so it is close to reaching the floor for a full vote by the House.

Senate Bill 5096 would aid businesses looking to adopt an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) corporate structure. The bill was passed Monday by the House Appropriations Committee, so it is expected to reach the House Rules Committee soon.

Next Wednesday, April 12, is the “floor cutoff” for the Senate to pass House bills. This year’s legislative session is scheduled to end Sunday, April 23.

Inslee uses tax money to buy over $1 million in abortion-causing pills

Governor Inslee’s plan to make Washington an “abortion destination state” took another disappointing step forward this week when he announced that the Department of Corrections, under his orders, purchased a three-supply (30,000 doses) of the abortion-causing drug mifepristone. DOC seems like the wrong agency for such, but it has a pharmacy license. Inslee also revealed that the University of Washington provided an additional 10,000 pills of this abortion-causing drug, bringing the state’s supply to 40,000 pills. Inslee said it cost the state $1,275,000 to buy the 30,000 pills.

I’m very disappointed that the governor has spent well over $1 million in public money (in other words, tax dollars) to buy such a large supply of abortion-causing drugs as part of his scheme to make Washington a destination state for women from other states to come here to receive an abortion. What about the unborn child?

And the thing is, he decided to make this expensive purchase all because a judge in Texas recently heard arguments in a court case that could force the federal Food and Drug Administration to rescind its approval of mifepristone. The Texas judge has not even issued a ruling, and yet Inslee has taken it upon himself to spend your tax dollars on a possible future event.

You can read KOMO-TV’s story about the abortion-pill mass purchase here.   

During his news conference Tuesday announcing the pill purchase, Inslee shared that Democrats have introduced legislation – Senate Bill 5768 and House Bill 1854  – to authorize DOC to distribute or sell mifepristone to licensed health-care providers in our state. According to the KOMO story, medical abortions count for more than half of all abortions in the U.S. and nearly 60% of abortions in our state.

I am opposed to these proposals.

Senate passes its version of transportation budget

North-South Freeway construction.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed its own version of the 2023-25 state transportation budget. The vote was 42-6. The Senate Transportation Committee, on which I serve, had approved the Senate transportation budget (Senate Bill 5162) on Monday.

The Senate’s plan includes funding for these road or highway projects found in or near the 4th District:

  • US 395 (North Spokane Freeway)
  • I-90 corridor improvements in Spokane area
  • I-90 corridor from Spokane to Idaho state line (design)
  • I-90 interchange improvements from Barker to Harvard
  • Barker Road/Trent Avenue grade separation
  • Spokane Transit Authority – Interstate 90/Valley HPT corridor infrastructure
  • Spokane Transit Authority – Argonne Station Park and Ride
  • Spokane Transit Authority – Sprague Line High Performance Transit improvements
  • Move Ahead Washington – Millwood Trail pedestrian and bike project

More information about the Senate transportation budget can be found here.

The House passed its transportation budget 96-1 on Monday. Now that the Senate has approved its version of the transportation budget, transportation-budget leaders from the two chambers will meet to negotiate a final version of the state transportation budget for the Senate and House to vote on near the end of our session.

Updated 4th District government guide now available

Every year or two, our office produces and mails a 4th District government guide to residents of our legislative district. With the help of my staff, we recently produced and sent out an updated government guide that includes helpful contact information on your local, state and federal government elected officials, as well as other government services. The online version of the new government guide can be found here.

If you did not receive the new government guide and would like a printed copy, please contact my legislative assistant, Irina, in our Olympia office by either calling at 360-786-7606 or emailing her at irina.dolbinina@leg.wa.gov.

Gonzaga Prep student serves as Senate page

It has been my pleasure to sponsor Gonzaga Prep freshman Jack Hamsher (above) as a Senate page this week. Jack is the son of Scott and Jennifer Hamsher of Spokane Valley. He is involved in several school activities, including Chess Club, Debate Club, Math Club and the Asian American and Pacific Islander affinity group. I thank all of the pages I sponsored this year for taking time away from their families, their schools and their friends to work in the Senate for a week. I hope they enjoyed their experience in Olympia, learned about how the Legislature works and made new friends.     

Recent radio and TV interviews

During the past several days, I was asked to do various radio or TV interviews about different bills before the Legislature.

On Tuesday morning, I did a live interview with KXLY Radio’s Dave Spencer. We discussed the state operating-budget proposals, including funding for yet another study on the Snake River dams; my bill recently signed by the governor that increases penalties for jail guards who sexually assault those in their custody; and my bill making motorized wheelchairs and other mobility-enhancing equipment tax-exempt. You can hear the interview here.  

Last Friday afternoon, I did a phone interview with KREM-TV’s Amanda Rowley for a story the station ran on House Bill 1240, which would ban semiautomatic firearms in our state. You can watch the story here.   

Finally, last Thursday, I was interviewed for a story by KING-TV in Seattle about the governor signing Senate Bill 5033, which imposes harsher penalties for sexually abusive jail and prison guards. You can view that story here.      

Contact us!

If you have a question or concern about state government, please do not hesitate to contact our office. During the session we are conducting business from our Senate office in Olympia. We are here to serve you!

Phone: (360) 786-7606

Olympia Office: 215 Legislative Modular Building, Olympia, WA 98504-0404

Email address: Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov

PLEASE NOTE: Any email or documents you provide to this office may be subject to disclosure under RCW 42.56. If you would prefer to communicate by phone, please contact Sen. Padden’s Olympia office at (360) 786-7606.

To request public records from Sen. Padden, please contact Randi Stratton, the designated public records officer for the Secretary of the Senate and Senate members.