Friends,
Democrats continue to ignore their constitutional duty to take
up the six citizen initiatives certified by the Democrat Secretary of State for their action… and the 2024 legislative session continues to
stagger on. As we continue delivering the latest news 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…
This week’s
Newsmaker Interview…
GOP Representative Keith Goehner discussed his legislative priorities,
including addressing transportation issues and restoring law enforcement authority. He emphasized the need for hearings on the Let’s Go
Washington citizen initiatives, anticipating voter interest. Rep. Goehner also highlighted concerns about bills such as the Democrats’ natural
gas ban and sentencing modifications. In addition, he explained proposed legislation for back country search and rescue support and lamented the lack
of transparency in fuel prices under the carbon tax. Read
more.
This week’s top story…
As the Democrat-dominated state legislature surpassed the halfway point of its 60-day session, there was a notable lack of
substantial progress on major issues impacting our state. Despite numerous bills thankfully meeting their demise at the latest Olympia deadline, one
persistent proposal stands out. Rent control may become a reality, with HB 2114 passing the state House of Representatives. However, the Democrats
deny they are pushing rent control, opting instead for the term "stabilization" to downplay the controversial nature of rent control. But
semantics don't change the essence, rent control, or "stabilization," is not a viable solution for addressing the state's housing
affordability crisis. Read more this story and
more.
In case you missed it…
Democrats in Washington continue their trend of proposing new taxes during the legislative session, even after Senate Bill 5770,
which aimed to triple local property taxes, was abandoned under public pressure. However, House Bill 2276, a real estate tax, remains on the table.
Scott Walker, vice president of Rush Residential, criticized the proposal in a recent opinion piece, highlighting the paradox of making housing more
expensive in the name of creating affordable housing, especially considering Washington's already high real estate excise taxes. Read more this story and more.
Your bit of inspiration for the week…
Enjoy the beauty of Palouse Falls right here in our state, as captured by former U.S. Congressman Rod Chandler. |
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