Articles written by Josh Kelety
Sorted by date Results 1 - 18 of 18
By 
Last-minute bill amending police deadly force laws passes state Legislature
OLYMPIA (March 8) - In a last-minute effort lawmakers, cops, and community activists reached a deal on lowering the legal standard for prosecuting officers who kill in the line of duty. The bill, HB 3003, is a product of a surprise agreement between...
Behind the scene look at public records bill veto
OLYMPIA (March 2) -- When Governor Jay Inslee vetoed Senate Bill 6617 on Thursday night, March 1, he had some time to spare. But not much. The governor had until 11:59 p.m. to decide whether to sign the controversial bill, veto it entirely, veto it...
Law enforcement, activists come to agreement on police use of force
In a last-minute effort lawmakers, cops, and community activists reached a deal on lowering the legal standard for prosecuting officers who kill in the line of duty. The bill, HB 3003, is a product of a surprise agreement between law enforcement...
State Legislature passes last minute budget deal and property tax cut
On the final day of the legislative session, lawmakers approved a last-minute supplemental budget deal that funnels roughly $1 billion to K-12 public education and a $400 million one-time reduction in state property taxes. For the entire 60-day legis...
At odds over education funding and how to cut property taxes
OLYMPIA, Feb. 20 -- Democrats in both chambers of the state Legislature are at odds over adding more funding to public education and how to cut property taxes across Washington. Banking on a promising tax revenue forecast, Senate Democrats want to us...
Bill to tax oil in pipelines, update state oil spill contingency plans advances in state Senate
OLYMPIA (Feb. 6) -- A bill that would tax oil in pipelines to fund oil spill prevention planning passed out of a state Senate committee —but only after a proposed tax hike was dropped. The legislation, SB 6269, would levy taxes on oil transported i...
Carbon tax advances in state senate
OLYMPIA (Feb. 1) -- A tax on carbon emissions proposed by Governor Jay Inslee has taken a big step forward. On Feb. 1, the state Senate Energy, Environment, and Technology Committee passed a revised version of Inslee’s carbon tax plan with a 6-4 v...
State health insurance market in flux
OLYMPIA (Feb. 1) -- Washington state’s health insurance market is increasingly volatile. While the number of people without insurance has decreased every year since 2013, monthly premium rates have spiked and only one insurer is available in some c...
Bill that would reduce car tab rates passes in Senate
On the heels of the state House approved bill to reduce car tab taxes, Sen. Steve O’Ban, R–University Place, and Rep. Mark Harmsworth, R–Mill Creek, called for steeper cuts and lambasted Democrats for not joining them. Last week, the House passed a D...
Lawmakers still grappling with court mandated education funding
OLYMPIA (Jan. 31) -- Despite the passage of last year’s bipartisan agreement to fully fund K-12 public education with a property tax hike, the state Legislature is still wrestling over the issue. In November, the state Supreme Court ruled that the L...
Lawmakers want to rein in Washington's many tax breaks
OLYMPIA (Jan. 24) -- Six hundred ninety-four. That’s how many separate tax breaks and exemptions saved taxpayers—but cost the state—a little over $100 million from 2015 to 2017, according to the state Department of Revenue. Lawmakers on both sides of...
Vetoed manufacturing tax cut again pushed in bipartisan effort Bill would lower business and occupation tax by 40 percent over four years
OLYMPIA (Jan. 25) -- Legislators are once again pushing for an across-the-board manufacturing tax cut that was vetoed during the previous legislative session by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. The bill, which is sponsored by four Republicans and two...
Transit advocates fear it will cut funding for key projects
OLYMPIA (Jan. 26) -- The state House of Representatives passed a bill Jan. 24 that would reduce car tab taxes that help finance regional transportation projects. The bill, HB 2201, would require Sound Transit to change its formula for valuing cars an...
State bills allowing same-day voter registration, local redistricting to empower minorities move ahead
OLYMPIA (Jan. 19) -- The state Senate passed several bills aimed at expanding access to voting and promoting minority representation in local governments through redistricting. On the evening of Jan. 17, in a reconvened Senate floor vote session, the...
Initiative threat has industry warming to proposed carbon tax
OLYMPIA (Jan. 19) --With environmental activists threatening a carbon tax ballot initiative, some manufacturing and energy companies are opting to work with lawmakers on Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s recently proposed tax rather than flat out o...
State bills allowing same-day voter registration, local redistricting to empower minorities move ahead
OLYMPIA (Jan. 19) -- The state Senate passed several bills aimed at expanding access to voting and promoting minority representation in local governments through redistricting. On the evening of Jan. 17, in a reconvened Senate floor vote session, the...
Initiative threat has industry warming to proposed carbon tax
OLYMPIA (Jan. 19) --With environmental activists threatening a carbon tax ballot initiative, some manufacturing and energy companies are opting to work with lawmakers on Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee’s recently proposed tax rather than flat out o...
Capital Budget passed, but housing issues still remain
OLYMPIA (Jan. 19) --The state Legislature passed a capital budget on Jan. 18—a day late for affordable housing projects across the state to receive crucial funding. Affordable housing developers had until 5 p.m. on Jan. 17 to apply for federal low i...
