BC's new premier, abortion medication, housing referendum, capitol campus tours



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Governors call for clarity from pharmacies on medication abortion

On Tuesday, a coalition of 14 governors including Gov. Jay Inslee urged that major pharmacies clarify their plans [ [link removed] ] ?to distribute medication abortion and protect access to reproductive health care services. Some major pharmacy chains have limited access to abortion medication in response to political pressure.

?As companies that dispense critical, life-saving medications, we urge that your decisions continue to be guided by well-established science and medical evidence and a commitment to the health and well-being of patients ? not politics or litigation threats,? wrote the governors [ [link removed] ], who are members of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance, a non-partisan coalition of governors committed to strengthening reproductive health care access.

?As you know, the [Food and Drug Administration] determined more than 20 years ago that Mifepristone is safe and effective, and as health care providers, we hope you will see this attempted interference in the private market for what it is: a threat to the rights of Americans to access basic health care,? urged the governors.

The letter comes at the same time a Trump-appointed Texas judge is allowing a coalition of anti-choice activists to challenge FDA?s approval of the drug [ [link removed] ] in 2000. A ruling on the plaintiffs? request for a preliminary injunction is expected any time. If plaintiffs are successful, Mifepristone may be taken off the market nationwide.

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Inslee visits Walla Walla, Kitsap counties to talk housing

Gov. Jay Inslee was interviewed in Walla Walla by Whitman College students on-air over KWCW

Whitman College students interviewed Gov. Jay Inslee in Walla Walla on-air over KWCW to discuss housing, climate change, and other issues on Tuesday, March 14.

The soaring cost of housing is an issue affecting the entire state, and the governor has visited several counties to hear from local leaders and residents about the need for affordable housing and supportive housing developments.

On Tuesday, Inslee visited the Evergreen Commons in Walla Walla [ [link removed] ]. The new development offers 29 units of subsidized housing for low-income residents, and at least six units for tenants with chronic mental illness. On Friday, the governor visited Housing Resources Bainbridge, a community land trust developing land for affordable housing. HRB assists first-time homebuyers, adults with disabilities, low-income residents, and renters in need of temporary emergency assistance.

With homelessness increasing as rents and home prices grow, officials estimate the need to build one million additional housing units in the next 20 years. The governor?s $4 billion housing referendum [ [link removed] ] would increase the speed and scale of building more projects like these in every Washington county. Thousands of new housing units would provide supportive housing for people with disabilities, assistance to first-time homebuyers, funding to accelerate predevelopment and preconstruction of buildable land, and assistance to help developers purchase land for affordable housing construction.

While in Walla Walla, Inslee spoke with Whitman College students on-air over KWCW, a nonprofit radio station. Lindsey Pasena-Littlesky asked the governor [ [link removed] ]?whether his housing proposals would benefit working families.

?We need to be attentive to housing challenges not just for folks who are homeless right now, but for the folks that are working 40 hours a week and can?t pay rent,? said Inslee. ?About half the dollars would be used for very low-income folks, many of whom are homeless today. About 30 percent would be used for what we call ?working family housing,? and about 15 percent for help for behavioral health and chemical addiction services.?

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British Columbia?s new premier visits Olympia

British Columbia Premier David Eby and Gov. Jay Inslee met Monday in Olympia to discuss shared priorities.

British Columbia Premier David Eby and Gov. Jay Inslee met Monday in Olympia to discuss shared priorities. The visit was the first of Eby?s term as B.C.?s new premier.

British Columbia Premier David Eby visited Olympia on Monday [ [link removed] ], his first visit since becoming premier in November. Washington state and British Columbia have a fruitful history of cooperation, one that Eby and Gov. Jay Inslee are eager to continue.

"There are so many common priorities, common issues and challenges that our two jurisdictions face,? said Eby.

British Columbia is in the middle of a ten-year affordable housing plan, and recently doubled down with a proposal to invest further billions [ [link removed] ] to expand housing supply. Likewise, Inslee has proposed a $4 billion bond to accelerate housing construction in Washington state.

A bilateral meeting between delegations from British Columbia and Washington state encompassed clean energy, economic connections, salmon, high-speed rail, housing, mental health, and drug addiction.

"We have had the start of a beautiful friendship, continuing to build on what we've done with the premier's predecessor," said Inslee.

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Legislative session ? week 10 in review

Friday marks Day 68 of the 105-day session. With house of origin cutoff done and gone, legislators resumed their focus on committee hearings this week. Bills that passed out of one chamber must now make their way through the other. If it felt a bit quieter this week in Olympia, it won?t feel that way long. The next big thing on the horizon are budget discussions.

In odd-numbered years, legislators adopt new two-year operating, capital and transportation budgets. Sens. Mark Mullett and Yasmin Trudeau have announced that Senate Democrats will release their capital budget proposal on Monday morning [ [link removed] ] at 10:30 a.m. The capital budget supports construction-related projects. For folks tracking how legislators are approaching the urgent need for more housing, this is the budget to watch. Inslee rolled out his proposed budgets in December, with an emphasis on housing and behavioral health [ [link removed] ]. His proposal includes a $4 billion housing referendum to significantly speed up and front-load housing construction over the next six years.

On Monday afternoon, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council [ [link removed] ] will release the newest revenue forecast. This is the unofficial launch for legislators to begin work on proposals for the operating budget, which pays for state services and operations. TVW will air the revenue forecast Monday at 2:00 p.m. [ [link removed] ] Senate leaders will likely release an operating budget proposal later in the week, and House leaders will release their proposal after the Senate.

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News you might have missed:

Daffodils bloom in front of the Washington State Capitol

Daffodils bloom in front of the Washington State Capitol - free guided tours of the campus introduce visitors to the history and horticulture of the capitol grounds.

*Free tours highlight Capitol Campus history, horticulture*

The Washington State Capitol Campus blooms in vivid color every spring. Visitors may join a free guided botanical tour <[link removed]> of the campus, highlighting the famous cherry trees and other vibrant plant life adorning the historic grounds. Participants will hear all the grounds? gorgeous flora their fascinating history, including the Saucer Magnolias bred by an officer in Napoleon?s army.

*Gun reform advancing in both Washingtons*

This week from the nation?s capitol, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to increase background checks and urged lawmakers nationwide to ?do something big [ [link removed] ]? to prevent preventable death from irresponsible use and sale of firearms. Washington has already approved numerous policies [ [link removed] ] to reduce gun violence, and this year the Washington State Legislature is poised to approve three additional policies: a bill requiring a waiting period and safety training, a ban on purchase of semiautomatic rifles, and a bill to increase accountability of gun manufacturers and retailers. If passed, Washington would have among the most comprehensive suite of gun violence policies [ [link removed] ] in the country. ?

*2,700+ tons of trash removed from Washington roadways in 2022*

Every mile of highway in Washington state's urban areas is littered by more than 48,000 individual pieces of trash [ [link removed] ], according to estimates by the state Department of Ecology. That's 1,500 pounds of roadside litter per mile in cities, and nearly 1,000 pounds in rural areas. State work crews collected over 5.4 million pounds of trash at a cost of $12 million last year.

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