Washington Supreme Court declines to redraw political maps, accepts redistricting commission’s work
The Washington Supreme Court will not exercise its authority to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative district maps, leaving in place the work of the bipartisan redistricting commission. In a unanimous ruling Friday, the court found the commission had substantially met its legal obligations by voting on a map framework just before the midnight Nov. 15 deadline — despite the panel not revealing its maps publicly prior to the vote and acknowledging that final work on completing them continued after the deadline. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times)
Gathering set for Islamic Center of Olympia after center targeted by explosive, group says
A gathering of support for the Islamic Center of Olympia is set for Friday morning after the center was allegedly targeted by an explosive last week, a statewide group announced. According to a news release from the Washington chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, security camera footage shows someone in a car dropping an explosive device in front of the center the evening of Nov. 23. Continue reading at The Olympian. (CAIR Washington)
Potential delay of new long-term care payroll tax considered
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday he is talking to lawmakers about a potential delay in the collection of a mandatory payroll tax to fund Washington state’s new long-term care program. On Wednesday, Senate Democratic leadership sent Inslee a letter asking him to delay implementation of the premium assessment — set to start in January — until Jan. 1, 2023, saying that it would allow the Legislature to address concerns about the program. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Washington DSHS)
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