Michael Goldberg April 12, 2021
Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D – Seattle) has been working to get a clean fuel standard across the finish line in the Legislature for years. He got one big step closer last week as the Senate passed HB 1091, of which he is the prime sponsor. The bill now heads back to House, where it remains to be seen whether Democrats can agree on a final version before the clocks runs out in two weeks.
Heading to the House alongside HB 1091 is SB 5126 – Sen. Reuven Carlye’s (D – Seattle) cap-and-trade bill. As Chair of the Environment & Energy Committee, Fitzgibbon will play a leading role bringing members up to speed on both bills as they currently look, asking and answering policy questions that remain, and building consensus. I spoke to him recently to hear about the loose ends he’s seeking to tie up in both bills, as well as the dynamics that made Senate passage possible this session.
Op-ed: Pass the Climate Commitment Act on Earth Day Denis Hayes April 22, 2021
On April 22, Earth Day, the Washington State House will vote on the Climate Commitment Act (SB 5126). This is the best climate legislation, with a chance of actually passing, that has yet been proposed in the United States. It is stronger, and more equitable, than any legislation that has actually passed, anywhere.
There is no better way for the Washington legislature to honor Earth Day than by passing the Climate Commitment Act.
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It is not perfect. Legislation always falls short of perfection. The Social Security Act, the Civil Rights Act, Medicare, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act were all strongly criticized for their shortcomings. Yet they all represented important milestones along the arc of justice. All have grown stronger with steadfast atte
Washington State Black Members Caucus Statement on Chauvin Verdict Washington House Democrats April 20, 2021
Today, the Black Members Caucus released the following statement after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd.
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While communities in Washington state and around the country have called for action in the streets, pushed for change at all levels of government and simply tried to persist despite continued police violence, the Floyd family, and too many other Black and Brown families, have shouldered the weight of this pain. It’s our hope that today’s verdict brings the Floyd family some peace.
Michael Goldberg April 9, 2021
At a press conference Tuesday, Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D – Seattle) said that the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) did not fully support ESSB 5226 until an amendment from Sen. Annette Cleveland (D – Vancouver) was added. But after assessing public testimony offered by WASPC and following up with the organization to hear about how their stance on the bill developed, the Wire found that Sen. Cleveland’s amendment had no such impact.
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ESSB 5226, removes the penalty of driver’s license suspension for failing to pay a ticket for a non-criminal traffic infraction. If individuals are caught driving with a suspended license, they may be charged with Driving While License Suspended – Third Degree,” or DWLS3, which is the most charged crime in Washington. DWLS3 charges have also been found
Q&A: Rep Mike Sells on labor legislation in 2021 - Washington State Wire washingtonstatewire.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from washingtonstatewire.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.