Washington in Focus

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Spokane Unveils Homelessness Plan as Conservatives Say They Were Left in the Dark May 07, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Mayor Lisa Brown unveiled an overhaul of Spokane’s homelessness strategy Thursday, pitting the city council’s progressive majority and conservative minority against each other once again. The proposals follow the Washington State Supreme Court striking down one of the city’s camping bans in April. The high court ruled that the citizen-led effort fell outside the scope of an initiative, so the conservatives tried to restore it with a council vote, but the majority declined.

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Weekend Edition | Seattle Spends Millions on Illegal Immigrants as Trump Admin Seeks to Deny Funds May 03, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Seattle spends roughly $6.5 million a year on complementary resources for illegal immigrants, even as the administration of President Donald Trump is taking major steps to reshape immigration policy and practice – with an emphasis on enforcement of federal law. According to city statistics, there are more than 143,687 foreign-born residents in Seattle, including 21,000 illegal immigrants who make up roughly 2.7% of the city’s total population of 755,000. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

WA Legislature Passes Rainier School Closure Bill That Includes New Transition Plans Apr 30, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Outside of budget negotiations, one of the bills that dominated Washington state lawmakers' attention during the 2025 legislative session was a proposal to close a state-operated school for people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. With just hours to spare on Sunday – the last day of the 105-day legislative session – lawmakers passed a version of Senate Bill 5393 that will prohibit new long-term admissions to Rainier School in Pierce County starting July 27 and stop short-term admissions starting June 30, 2027. The changes were the result of a Republican amendment accepted by both chambers.

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Sound Transit Taxes Have Generated More Than $20 Billion in Almost 30 Years Apr 29, 2025

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(The Center Square) – In 1996, voters within the Sound Transit District voted to approve "Sound Move," which imposed a variety of local taxes to fund the construction of public transit such as bus lines, commuter trains and light rail. In the years to follow, voters would then approve ST2 in 2008 that added additional taxes or tax increases, followed by voter-approved ST3 in 2016, both of which expand or seek to expand on existing services.

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Seattle Spends Millions on Illegal Immigrants as Trump Admin Seeks to Deny Funds Apr 28, 2025

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Weekend Edition | Tax Bills in Olympia & Seattle’s Debate Over Taxing the Rich Apr 26, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Seattle officials are weighing new progressive taxes as debate swirls over whether they would help or hurt the city’s already slumping revenue streams. On April 16, Seattle City Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck announced that she is exploring progressive taxes that would make the city’s wealthiest residents pay more amid an anticipated $241.5 million drop in revenue over the next two years. The city previously closed a $250 million general fund gap for 2025-2026 using staffing cuts and its payroll tax. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spokane City Council Shelves Ordinance to Reinstate Prop 1 – For Now Apr 24, 2025

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(The Center Square) – Despite overwhelming support, the Spokane City Council voted Monday against reinstating a public camping ban after the Washington State Supreme Court invalidated the law last week. The high court said Proposition 1, which 75% of voters approved in 2023, should have never been on the ballot. The justices ruled that the initiative was administrative, not legislative, as required by state law, because it altered an existing policy rather than creating a new one.

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WA House Finance Committee Gives Do-Pass Recommendation to Three Tax Bills Apr 23, 2025

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(The Center Square) – With the session winding down, the House Finance Committee on Tuesday advanced three tax bills out of executive session, giving them a do-pass recommendation. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5794 aims to eliminate certain tax preferences, address changes in constitutional law, and clarify legislative intent. It proposes to eliminate some tax incentives deemed “obsolete” by the tax preference performance review process, including those affecting transportation, storage, and processing of goods, and packing of agricultural products.

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Seattle’s Slumping Revenue Reignites Debate Over Taxing the Rich Apr 22, 2025

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Weekend Edition | WA Senate Passes Bill That Partly Revises Parents’ Bill of Rights Initiative Apr 19, 2025

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(The Center Square) – The Washington State Senate on Friday approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296, one of this session’s most controversial and divisive pieces of legislation, on a 30-19 party-line vote. Majority party Democrats contend the bill will provide safeguards for K-12 students. Minority Republicans worry it could penalize schools and infringe on parental rights by undermining Initiative 2081, which lawmakers passed last year. I-2081 primarily focuses on providing parents with increased access to their child's school records, the right to review educational materials, and the ability to opt their child out of certain activities and instruction. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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