WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Tuesday, February 3


Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, talks with a colleague while the Senate is at ease during opening day of the legislative session, Jan. 12, 2026, in Olympia.

Democrats unveil WA income tax on people earning over $1 million
The measure’s introduction will kick off what is sure to be a heated debate — and probable legal challenges and ballot fights — over creating an income tax in Washington, which is one of nine states that does not levy one. “We have an opportunity to improve our tax code by making it fall less heavily on both low-income people and on businesses that create jobs. This is an opportunity to do both of those things,” said Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, the House Majority Leader, in an interview Monday. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)



Voters at an elementary school polling place in Pittsboro, North Carolina, on Nov. 5, 2024.

Trump wants to ‘nationalize the voting,’ seeking to grab states’ power
President Donald Trump said Monday that Republican lawmakers should nationalize voting – claiming a power explicitly granted to states in the U.S. Constitution. Speaking to right-wing podcaster Dan Bongino, who recently stepped down from his role as the FBI’s deputy director, Trump again falsely alleged that the 2020 election was stolen from him, and he urged Republicans to “take over” elections and nationalize the process. “We should take over the voting, the voting, in at least 15 places,” Trump told Bongino. “The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting.” Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Tom Brenner/For The Washington Post)



Senator Maria Cantwell

‘Apparent ransom:’ Sen. Cantwell pushes back on DOJ lawsuit over Washington voter rolls
“Pam Bondi has sued Washington state to get sensitive voter data,” Cantwell said. “I’m standing strong against efforts to undermine our voting system. Democracies don’t grow on trees. They need to be protected, defended, and fought for.” The Justice Department has said it has filed lawsuits against multiple states, including Washington, for failing to provide voter registration lists. Continue reading at KIRO 7. (KIRO 7)


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Aberdeen Daily World
Where have Olympic Peninsula elk herds gone?
Rep. Randall visits with Quinault Tribal Council in Taholah
Development workshop presents vision for Rognlin’s property in McCleary
Opinion: Commissioners corner – pump the brakes on requiring EV line trucks

Axios
Amazon cuts nearly 2,200 Washington jobs
Washington state lawmakers take on data center costs

Bellingham Herald

Is a 32-hour work week in WA’s future? Lawmakers say it would boost productivity (Scott, Parshley, Simmons, Hill, Fosse, Cortes)

Capital Press
Washington farmworker union bill advances in state Senate (Saldaña)
States outside the Pacific Northwest get access to South Korean potato market

Columbian
Vancouver residents join voices decrying ICE during Latino Legislative Day at Capitol

The Daily News
Opioid funds to help Longview rethink response to overdose calls
AMR paramedics get raise in new union contract outside Cowlitz County
Work on radio towers used by Columbia County emergency crews begins

Everett Herald
Everett Transit releases draft of long-range plan
Editorial: Ban on face masks assures police accountability
Marysville’s public looks for ICE answers from their mayor

Kitsap Sun
Washington part of nationwide blood shortage this winter

News Tribune
White nationalists claimed WA man doxxed them. How a judge responded
Opinion: Why Airbnb targets affordable housing bill with “Vacation Tax” line (Ramel)
First woman popularly elected to WA Supreme Court will retire after 33 years
Cities would face restrictions on sweeping homeless encampments under WA bill (Gregerson)

New York Times
Trump, in an Escalation, Calls for Republicans to ‘Nationalize’ Elections

Puget Sound Business Journal
Which WA city has the highest rents?
T-Mobile lays off hundreds of WA workers
Zillow fires about 200 employees citing performance

Seattle Times

South King County students walk out in ‘ICE Out’ protest
Opinion: Guardrails needed for automated license plate readers
Democrats unveil WA income tax on people earning over $1 million (Pedersen, Fitzgibbon)
Trump wants to ‘nationalize the voting,’ seeking to grab states’ power
Editorial: Fully fund college tuition aid, whichever schools students choose (Nobles)

Spokesman Review
Spokane council eyes icing ICE out of more public property
Washington Supreme Court justice and Gonzaga grad to step down from bench
Holy smokes! Mariners, Cal Raleigh honored in WA Legislature for 2025 season (Heck)
Spokane landlords now required to engage in eviction prevention programs, council votes
Opinion: HB 2489 raises serious concerns for Spokane in the age of fentanyl
Opinion: The bipartisan case for educational freedom — and a tax credit that delivers it

Washington Post
House to vote on reopening government, extending ICE funding
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon

WA State Standard
WA Senate leader explains dim outlook for a new tax on big businesses (Pedersen)

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Hundreds of Tacoma high school students walk out to protest ICE
District delays schools in Rainier Beach area following deadly shooting
Domestic violence deaths surge in King County as victim services face funding crisis
Weekend shootings underscore work ahead despite Seattle’s crime progress, police chief says

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
WA Senate resolution honors Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle PD Report: Crime rates fell by 18%, homicides fell by 36% last year
Days after two students killed, new Seattle superintendent talks school safety
Amazon’s most recent layoffs impact more than 2,000 Seattle-area employees
Planned Parenthood drops lawsuit against Trump administration’s Medicaid cuts
‘Apparent ransom:’ Sen. Cantwell pushes back on DOJ lawsuit over Washington voter rolls

KUOW Public Radio
Amazon layoffs include more than 2,000 jobs in Seattle area
WA Democrats’ ‘millionaires tax’ is here, but Ferguson doesn’t support it yet (Fitzgibbon)
‘Mourn today, act tomorrow.’ New Seattle Schools superintendent emphasizes safety following fatal shooting near South Shore

KXLY (ABC)
Campaigns for and against two WA initiatives ramp up
Washington’s precious metals tax drives business boom in Idaho
Washington DOT gives timeline on when it’ll finish North Spokane Corridor
Spokane City Council expands eviction prevention program to aid tenants and landlords

Web

Cascadia Daily News
Bellingham driver licensing office to close for about 3 weeks 
Bellingham library closure in late 2026 necessitates alternative day-shelter option 
These mayors led their cities through two major floods. Here’s what they’ve learned

Cascade PBS
How Trump’s immigration agenda is impacting Washington state

MyNorthwest
Improving WA’s commercial driver safety, one fee at a time (Fey)
More than 100 rally for youth safety after Rainier Beach shooting 
WA income tax on millionaires: Lawmakers introduce long-awaited bill (Pedersen)
Amazon’s most recent layoffs impact more than 2,000 Seattle-area playoffs 
Days after two students killed, new Seattle superintendent talks school safety 
Seattle Police Chief says community is ‘too familiar with mourning young lives’
Multiple Seattle schools delay classes after deadly Rainier Beach High shooting, $5k reward issued 

The Urbanist
Becoming a ’15-Minute City’ Could Be Within Reach for Tacoma

Washington Observer
A four-day work week? (Scott)
A shorter workweek and un-banning the switchblade

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Tuesday watch
SDOT’s plan for spending Seattle Transportation Levy money this year: Here are West Seattle highlights
VIDEO: Safety, budget questions during new Seattle Public Schools superintendent Ben Shuldiner’s brief briefing