Friends,

 

The 2024 legislative session is underway! And, as we continue highlighting the latest action coming out of Olympia, we hope to keep you up-to-date with an item or two of interest last week from your own backyard. Read on…

 

Republican State Sen. Perry Dozier (16th LD) joined us for our weekly Newsmaker Interview. Sen. Dozier shared his priorities for the 2024 legislative session, including addressing the cost of living, public safety, and supporting parental rights in education. From his perspective working in the agricultural industry for over 40 years, Sen. Dozier also emphasized the need to address significant challenges facing farmers through the “Cultivate Washington” agenda – and criticized the ongoing failure to exempt farmers from the carbon tax, as promised. Read more.

 

Democratic legislators now have three initiatives from the people to ignore, with three more from Let’s Go Washington likely on the way. By the week’s end the Democrats had voted against holding immediate hearings on the first two proposals certified with enough signatures, I-2113, focused on reinstating sensible police pursuit rules,  and I-2117, to repeal the carbon tax. It remains to be seen if the legislators will follow the state constitution and consider the initiatives soon. Read this story and more.

 

Last weekend, the news of John Kerry planning to step down from his role as President Joe Biden’s climate czar generated minimal interest, with many unaware the position existed. However, in Olympia, the announcement spurred political maneuvers by Gov. Inslee’s team to propose him for a lucrative, yet seemingly unproductive role in D.C. Meanwhile, Lt. Governor Denny Heck likely started searching for his initial gubernatorial address draft, as he is poised to replace Washington State's environmentally focused governor if he moved on. Read this story and more.