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Here’s who Bob Ferguson wants to lead WA’s departments of corrections and ecology
Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson is tapping a Biden Administration official to lead the state’s Department of Ecology and to keep 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø at the forefront of the nation’s fight against the damaging effects of climate change. Ferguson named Casey Sixkiller, regional administrator of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, to guide the department responsible for carrying out the […]
WA program to help low-income tenants buy homes has led to zero purchases
A state-run housing program that has failed to deliver on its promise of providing longtime tenants a chance to buy their homes came under fire from 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø lawmakers on Wednesday. A bipartisan panel conducted a hearing on a new state audit that found no purchases have been made through the program that operates mostly in […]
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø secretary of state certifies 2024 election results
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s 2024 election is in the books. Well, almost. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and Gov. Jay Inslee certified the results on Wednesday — except for a recount of ballots cast in the duel for a state Senate seat in southwest 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø. In that race, Democrat Adrian Cortes edged Republican Brad Benton by 172 votes, […]
WA Gov. Inslee orders hiring and travel freeze for state agencies
With the state facing a multi-billion dollar budget gap, 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Gov. Jay Inslee has ordered state agencies to freeze “most non-discretionary and non-essential” hiring, service contracts, purchasing and travel. Inslee’s directive, issued late Monday, contains exceptions such as positions that “directly impact public safety,” contracts tied to tax collection or revenue generation, and travel required […]
First bills drop ahead of WA’s 2025 legislative session
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø lawmakers have begun teeing up legislation ahead of the 2025 session. Monday marked the first day they could pre-file bills. Legislators will have 105 days to push their ideas through the process after the session kicks off on Jan. 13. There’s no guarantee a pre-filed bill will receive a hearing, the first step on […]
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø’s Dan Newhouse looks ahead to a new Trump era
Republican Dan Newhouse is preparing for a sixth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving one of 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state’s most solidly Republican congressional districts. He’s excited. He’ll be a member of the House majority again. With Republicans in charge in the Senate and an incoming GOP president, he foresees his party “accomplishing good things […]
Ferguson asks 3 agency leaders from Inslee administration to stay on
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson continued to fill out his administration Wednesday, announcing he is retaining leaders of two agencies and shifting another executive into a leadership role at a different department. Ferguson said he will re-appoint Marcus Glasper as director of the Department of Licensing and David Puente Jr. as director of the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø State […]
In WA state Legislature, Democrats and Republicans are sticking with their leaders
House Speaker Laurie Jinkins and Minority Leader Drew Stokesbary will lead their respective caucuses in the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state House of Representatives in the 2025 legislative session. Democrats reelected Jinkins, a Tacoma representative, who will mark her sixth session as speaker once she is formally confirmed by the House on Jan. 13. She’ll lead a caucus […]
A WA state Senate race heads to recount as counties certify results
Democrat Adrian Cortes narrowly defeated Republican Brad Benton on Tuesday in a closely-watched election for an open seat in the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state Senate. But with only a 172-vote margin in results certified by Clark County, a machine recount will be required to confirm the outcome. “I’m extraordinarily confident that we have secured a victory in […]
WA public employee union sues state following failed contract vote
A 5,000-member public employee union in 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø that overwhelmingly rejected a new two-year contract in September is accusing the governor’s office and several community colleges of bad-faith bargaining. The 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø Public Employees Association filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging the state Office of Financial Management engaged in unfair labor practices by refusing to resume bargaining […]
State panel will begin review of building codes targeted by gas initiative
The state Building Code Council set out on a path Friday to ensure energy rules for new construction comply with provisions in the natural gas initiative 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø voters approved this month. But the council’s first step will not be to erase any current building codes when Initiative 2066 takes effect next month, setting the stage […]
Ferguson names policy veteran as his budget director
51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø state Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Thursday named a veteran budget writer and policy analyst to serve as his director of the Office of Financial Management. K.D. Chapman-See, the agency’s current legislative affairs liaison, will be the point person helping Ferguson fashion his first state spending plan in the shadow of a potential multi-billion dollar […]