When Pranks Turn Deadly
“Swatting” is when someone with malicious intent falsely reports an emergency to get armed law enforcement to show up in force at someone’s home or business. This can result in injuries and deaths of innocent people, in addition to needless panic, evacuation and trauma. Deadly swatting hoaxes are more than just pranks. Hate groups have targeted vulnerable victims, including Seattle’s own Ijeoma Oluo, author of So You Want to Talk About Race.
HB 2632 will prevent and punish wrongdoers from weaponizing law enforcement against innocent victims. Heavier penalties for false emergency calls will save innocent people from fear and harassment, not to mention relieving burdens on our already overworked police departments.
Clean Fuels, Single-Use Plastics, Not-so-Flushable Wipes, and Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions
The 2019 session included passage of some key environmental policies, including a bill to transition our state to 100% clean energy by 2045, legislation that phases out super pollutants, a bill that supports increased energy efficiency for commercial buildings, and much more.
While these were big victories, we know that there’s a lot more work to do to. This session we’re looking at bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address plastic pollution, implement solid waste policies, and further efforts to protect clean water.
- Clean fuels – Nearly half of Washington state’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the transportation sector. Implementing a clean fuels standard would deliver the triple win of protecting our climate, cleaning our air, and growing clean energy jobs. The House passed a bill last year, and this year we’re hoping to get this policy all the way to the governor’s desk.
- Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets – In 2008 Washington established an emissions reduction timeline. This legislation would align those targets with current climate change science. Climate change is already increasing the severity of wildfires, making our ocean waters more acidic, and melting our snowpack earlier in the year. Climate change is a global problem, but it will take all of us working locally to protect our environment for future generations.
- Single-use Plastic Bags – Plastic bags gum up our recycling facilities, add to landfill waste, and contribute harmful microplastics to the environment. HB 1205 would bring the state into alignment, giving retailers and grocers one simple standard to comply with instead of the current 37-jurisdiction patchwork. The bill advanced out of committee last year, and the Senate voted its companion off the floor last week.
- Not-so-flushable wipes – Just because something is labeled “flushable” doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to flush it down the toilet. Flushing so-called “flushable” wipes can cause major problems for household plumbing and municipal sewer systems. It has also led to expensive repairs for wastewater infrastructure and sewage spills into the Puget Sound. This legislation would make sure that items labeled as “flushable” are actually flushable.
Look for more updates coming soon and please reach out if you have questions, comments, or ideas.
All best wishes,
Roger Goodman
Representative, 45th District
Washington State Legislature