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With final speech, Inslee bids adieu as 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø governor
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Gov. Jay Inslee used his final address to a joint session of the Legislature on Tuesday to frame a 12-year legacy that spanned a pandemic, historic natural disasters, unmatched expansion of government and a quixotic bid for president. The three-term Democrat told members of the House and Senate that serving in the governor’s office […]
2025 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state legislative session begins
There was plenty of pomp and politics for the opening day of the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Legislature’s 2025 session. It began at noon Monday for the state’s 98 representatives and 49 senators. But for many, the day didn’t end until the dinner hour as they went from taking their oath of office to listening to residents and […]
Democratic legislative staff in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø approve first-ever labor contract
It took Democratic staff in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s Legislature a little longer but they have joined their Republican colleagues in approving two-year contracts, concluding the first-ever round of collective bargaining for legislative employees. Legislative assistants, policy analysts and communications staff in the House Democratic Caucus and legislative assistants in the Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously ratified agreements in […]
Six lawmakers to watch in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s 2025 session
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s citizen legislature kicks off its 2025 session Monday in Olympia. Lawmakers will have 105 days to make multi-billion dollar shortfalls disappear from state operations and transportation budgets. They’ll wrangle over policies for capping rent hikes, purchasing guns, providing child care, teaching students, and much, much more. With many new faces, they’ll spend a lot […]
Ferguson pitches spending cuts, voices skepticism of ‘wealth tax’
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson released his blueprint Thursday for chopping billions in state spending while investing millions in education and public safety in his first term — without the aid of new taxes. Ferguson, who takes office next week, outlined how he will seek $4 billion in cuts across most state agencies and four-year universities, […]
Ferguson taps 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø transportation department insider to lead agency
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Wednesday named Julie Meredith, who manages massive road and highway projects like the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct and State Route 520 floating bridge, as 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s next transportation secretary. Meredith is a 36-year veteran with the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State Department of Transportation where she now serves as assistant secretary for urban […]
After 24 years as WA insurance commissioner, Kreidler prepares to retire
Mike Kreidler, currently 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s oldest and longest-serving statewide elected official, exits the public stage next week, ending a political career spanning six decades. He’s retiring after six terms as state insurance commissioner, a tenure in which he oversaw the expansion of consumer protections and fraud investigations and the regulation of insurers coping with increasingly complex […]
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s two new members of Congress are sworn in
Republican Michael Baumgartner and Democrat Emily Randall became 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s newest representatives in Congress on Friday afternoon. They were sworn in following the session’s first political drama — election of the House speaker — that found the newcomers on opposite sides. Baumgartner and his Republican colleagues used their narrow majority to reelect House Speaker Mike Johnson, […]
Meet the new faces of the 2025 legislative session
The upcoming legislative session will see high levels of turnover among 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state lawmakers. Following the retirements of longtime legislators, a few redistricting switch-ups, and some departures for higher office, there will be new faces in 29 seats. Some are familiar, as many new senators are former House members. Some are returning after a term […]
Tax debate hangs heavy over approaching 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø legislative session
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Democrats are preparing for a legislative session where new taxes will be a major focus to solve a multi-billion dollar state budget hole.  House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, and Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, told the Standard last week that they haven’t settled on which tax legislation might be prioritized, but many ideas […]
Ferguson and GOP leaders see value in eliminating WA’s elected schools chief
As Democratic Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson looks to transform the delivery of public education in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø by appointing rather than electing an overseer of the system, his strongest allies may be Republicans. Ferguson campaigned on eliminating the superintendent of public instruction as an elected job and putting a person in charge of education policy in his […]
Ferguson taps Seattle state senator to lead WA Department of Commerce
State Sen. Joe Nguyen will be the new director of the Department of Commerce. Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced Nguyen’s appointment to lead the agency, which manages a budget of $7.9 billion and administers more than 100 programs in the areas of housing, energy, community and economic development, local government and business services. Nguyen […]