New laws will tax the rich, offer aid to low-income workers
Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed bills that will impose a new tax on the state’s super wealthy and offer a bit of cash back to the poorest of Washington’s taxpayers. Seated at a table outside the Tukwila Community Center, Inslee first put his signature on the Working Families Tax Exemption which will steer annual rebates of up to $1,200 to low-income individuals and families across the state. Continue reading at The Everett Herald. (Ted S. Warren)
Legislation removes second-degree robbery charges from three strikes law
During this year’s session, the Washington State Legislature voted nearly along party lines to pass a bill that removes all second-degree robbery convictions from the list of charges that apply to the state’s “three strikes” policy. On April 26, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5164 into law, which will grant a resentencing hearing to people who have already been convicted of second-degree robbery and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole under the three strikes law because of that conviction. Continue reading at The South Seattle Emerald. (Karen Neoh)
Suspending licenses for unpaid tickets is unconstitutional, WA court rules
A Thurston County Superior Court judge has ruled that Washington state’s practice of suspending licenses because of unpaid traffic fines is unconstitutional. In the ruling, Judge Mary Sue Wilson said the state’s Department of Licensing can only suspend licenses after it develops a method for evaluating whether people have the ability to pay for the tickets. Before the ruling, the department could suspend licenses for any unpaid moving violations, such as speeding tickets. Continue reading at KNKX. (Elaine Thompson)
Associated Press
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