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Monday, January 23

Two weeks down, many more to go: Here’s a look at the bills WA lawmakers considered last week
After a flurry of committee meetings, the second week of the state Legislature is in the books. Last week, lawmakers heard several bills that address issues ranging from police accountability to increasing “missing middle” housing in the state. While the legislative session still has weeks to go before it adjourns, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, told reporters Wednesday that some bills could make it to the floor this week, although she did not specify which bills they might be. Lawmakers have until Feb. 17 to pass their bills out of committee, so the next few weeks will focus on getting proposed legislation out of committee and onto the debate floor. Here are some of the proposals that were introduced or had public hearings this week: Continue reading at The Olympian. (The Olympian)

Tacoma gave families $500 a month for a year. Could something similar happen across the state?
State lawmakers, led by Democrat Rep. Liz Berry, held their first public hearing on a bill that would provide two years of unrestricted monthly payments for up to 7,500 Washington residents who meet specific criteria. Dubbed the Evergreen Basic Income Pilot Program, the payments would range from about $900 – $2,100 per month depending on where a participating resident lives. “Everyone in Washington should be able to meet their basic needs and care for their loved ones,” said Berry at the hearing. “We know that giving people cash with no strings attached works. With basic incomes, more people are able to afford food and housing, pay off debt, get full-time jobs, save for emergencies, and get the physical and mental health support they need.” Continue reading at KNKX. (Patrick Rodriguez)

WA lawmakers start remake of drug possession laws
Two proposals emerged this week to update how Washington law deals with possession of illicit drugs, a quandary the state has faced since the Washington Supreme Court struck down the state’s drug possession statute as unconstitutional in early 2021. While the two bills that dropped this week differ, both would make drug possession a gross misdemeanor, a step up from its current misdemeanor status, and would involve more formal nudges to get people who are charged with drug possession into treatment. A third approach will likely be introduced to acknowledge the work of the Substance Use and Recovery Services Advisory Committee, made up of lawmakers, service providers and members of the criminal justice system, which recommended decriminalization. Continue reading at Seattle Times.

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Associated Press
Feds send $930 million to curb ‘crisis’ of US West wildfires
State lawmakers propose power grid protections after attacks

Aberdeen Daily World
‘Oakley Carlson Act’ introduced in the Washington Legislature
A paucity of paramedics: county fire departments deal with personnel pinch
DNR expanding landowner programs
Chehalis Basin strategy facilitator steps back

Axios
Washington state might nix-single family zoning (Bateman)

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom residents urged to brace for new round of extra-high ‘king’ tides

Columbian
Behavioral health advocates are here to help Washingtonians
Survey: Homelessness, housing most important to Clark County residents
East Fork Lewis River habitat restoration at risk in Inslee’s budget

Everett Herald
Everett college students press Murray to boost financial aid funding
Everett plans to dole out $533K for human needs programs
New VA clinic in Everett already has 5,300 patients
Boeing workers long-exposed to carcinogen far above legal limits
Editorial: Slow roll on changes to state’s police pursuit law (Dhingra)

The Inlander
Nearly 8 million gallons of untreated water poured into the Spokane River on a single day in December

Kitsap Sun
Washington’s carbon ‘cap-and-invest’ plan is here. How does it work?

News Tribune
Will SR 16 traffic be addressed this year? Here are Gig Harbor’s priorities in Olympia (Randall)

New York Times
Supreme Court Puts Off Considering State Laws Curbing Internet Platforms

Olympian
A ‘willing partner’ emerges in Washington’s search for a new airport site
Two weeks down, many more to go: Here’s a look at the bills WA lawmakers considered last week (Jinkins, Peterson, Rule, Lovick, Riccelli, Salomon, Bateman, Trudeau)

Peninsula Daily News
Housing bond bid weighed (Tharinger)
Infrastructure, housing top priorities in Port Townsend
Legislators file dozens of housing bills

Puget Sound Business Journal
Deadlines loom for the lucrative ERC, but there is some good news
Boeing to be arraigned on fraud charge over 737 Max crashes
Opinion: Washington court will get final say on capital gains tax (Pedersen)

Seattle Times
WA lawmakers take aim at vehicle dwellers and parking enforcement (Kuderer)
New WA labor council president April Sims brings lived experiences
Half of WA college students face food or housing insecurity, survey finds
WA kids deserve 45 minutes of recess time, new bill proposes (Nobles)
WA lawmakers start remake of drug possession laws (Robinson, Salomon)

Skagit Valley Herald
Skagit Transit to waive fees for riders on Thursday

Sol De Yakima
Niños de WA merecen 45 minutos de recreo, propone nuevo proyecto de ley (Nobles)

Spokesman Review
Spokane County is about to try a criminal justice reform effort that once seemed doomed
Bill seeks to increase registration and voting accessibility in jails (Simmons)
Getting There: Inslee, Spokane lawmakers remain committed to finding funding for North Spokane Corridor (Billig, Ormsby, Riccelli)
Spokane argues in court filings it can legally clear Camp Hope, leaves door open to challenge Martin v. Boise
Opinion: Legislators again looking at changes to Washington election laws (Hunt, Kuderer)

Tri-City Herald
Once controversial homeless housing complex about to open for 60 in Tri-Cities

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
Washington State Patrol honors hospital, 911 personnel for response to shooting of Trooper Dean Atkinson Jr.

Yakima Herald-Republic
It Happened Here: Legislature organizes Yakima County in 1865
What applicants to Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund should look out for

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
In Session: Lawmakers consider wealth tax proposal, increased hazing fine (Dhingra)
745 people died from traffic accidents in Washington in 2022, the highest number since 1990

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
South Park ready for latest King Tide; here’s what to expect around the Sound
AG Ferguson’s office recovers another $9.3M in stolen unemployment money
On 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, many in Seattle continue fight for federal abortion rights

KNKX Public Radio
Tacoma gave families $500 a month for a year. Could something similar happen across the state? (Berry)

KUOW Public Radio
Design review process could be axed to speed up housing production in Washington state (Walen, Peterson)

KXLY (ABC)
Washington Domestic Violence Advocacy programs could face budget cuts

Web

MyNorthwest
State group recommends axing, replacing B&O tax on businesses
Computer malfunction delaying reservations for San Juan ferries

The Stranger
Cops Want to Endanger Innocent Lives by Making Car Chases Easier (Dhingra, Goodman)

Friday, January 20

WA lawmakers trying again to tax wealth, as part of nationwide effort
Democrats in the Washington Legislature introduced a measure Thursday to tax Washingtonians who have more than $250 million. The state would tax 1% of the fair market share of a Washington resident’s wealth like stocks, bonds or other assets, but the first $250 million would be exempt. The move is part of a nationwide campaign, unveiled this week, to tax wealthy residents. Washington is joining state legislatures in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and New York in similar efforts. “We are here to put billionaires and ultramillionaires on notice that it is time that they pay what they owe and that state legislators are the ones to make them do it,” said Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, who is sponsoring the bill. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

Middle housing bill begins with more support in WA Legislature than last time
Experts say Washington needs to triple the number of homes being built in order to keep up with the housing shortage, which drives up prices. The Washington State Legislature has around 16 bills in progress that would create more housing. On Tuesday, House Bill 1110 got its first hearing. “As you know, Washington is experiencing a housing shortage, which is culminating in a housing crisis,” said Representative Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia), the bill’s main sponsor, at the hearing. “This supply imbalance is creating increasingly expensive homes, and increasingly expensive rents that’s impacting our constituents in every corner of the state.” The bill would remove bans on denser forms of housing like duplexes and fourplexes in cities across the state. Continue reading at KUOW. (Joshua McNichols)

A new study found WA is one of the worst states to drive in. Just how low do we rank?
WalletHub found Washington to be the second-worst state to drive in, ranking low for the cost of ownership and maintenance of a vehicle, and traffic and infrastructure. The Evergreen State is only beaten out for worse driving conditions by Hawaii. Washington’s neighboring states also fared much better, with Idaho ranked 6th and Oregon 24th.To determine the best and worst states to drive in, WalletHub used four key dimensions to formulate the rankings: Cost of ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, safety, and access to vehicles and maintenance. Under those four dimensions are 31 relevant metrics, such as average gas prices (cost of ownership and maintenance), average commute time by car (traffic and infrastructure) and traffic fatality rate (safety). Continue reading at News Tribune.

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Aberdeen Daily World
School board votes against allowing state funding of Ocean Shores tsunami tower

Axios
Washington state marks three years of COVID
Wealth tax prospects doubtful — but tax reform isn’t dead (Frame, Fitzgibbon)

Bellingham Herald
State Democrats join multi-state effort to tax the ultra-wealthy (Frame, Thai, Hunt)
Update: Albertsons to pay stockholders $4b dividend. Grocer announces when it will happen

Capital Press
Farm Bureau, others go to court over new WOTUS rule

Columbian
State offering $35M in grants for solar power

The Daily News
Kelso reviews plan to house library, senior center and affordable housing in one building

Everett Herald
Meadowdale Beach updates give fish, hikers more room to roam
Police: Man pointed realistic BB gun at Everett elementary students

The Inlander
A string of attacks on Pacific Northwest power stations reignites concerns about grid security

News Tribune
A new study found WA is one of the worst states to drive in. Just how low do we rank?
Seafood processor fined after Tacoma ship fire leads to oil spill at Port of Tacoma

New York Times
The U.S. Hit Its Debt Limit. What Happens Next?

Olympian
Lewis County police arrest Green Hill incarcerated students in fentanyl bust

Puget Sound Business Journal
Here’s how jet makers are responding to labor, supply chain crises
WA hospital leaders sound alarm about ‘catastrophic’ financial losses

Seattle Times
Asian Americans in Seattle use Lunar New Year traditions as connection to heritage, family
WA lawmakers trying again to tax wealth, as part of nationwide effort (Frame)

Spokesman Review
Bill to ease Washington’s housing crisis would allow up to fourplex on all residential lots (Bateman)

Tri-City Herald
Could Tri-Cities become home to an aerospace industrial center?

Walla Walla Union Bulletin
MLK monument made at Walla Walla Foundry soon to be unveiled in Boston

Yakima Herald-Republic
Hop Hill solar farm proposed just east of Sunnyside in Benton County

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Tacoma community groups call for more action after teen shootings
Boeing ordered to be arraigned on charge in Max crashes

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Washington lawmakers considering new approach to drug possession law

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Washington lawmakers look to strengthen laws against ‘revenge porn’ (Orwall)

KNKX Public Radio
WA grapples with seals, sea lions preying on endangered salmon

KUOW Public Radio
WA Democrats join nationwide rollout of ‘wealth tax’ proposals (Frame, Thai)
WA lawmakers are subject to public disclosure law on paper. But are they in practice?
Middle housing bill begins with more support in WA Legislature than last time (Bateman)

KXLY (ABC)
WSDOT: Camp Hope down to around 138 people

Q13 TV (FOX)
Gov. Inslee endorses bill to lower blood alcohol level in Washington (Lovick)

Web

Land Line
Washington state bill covers restroom access for truck drivers (Stanford)

MyNorthwest
String of WA gun laws heard by House Judiciary Committee

Thursday, January 19

Legislature must address WA nursing crisis
Washington, like other states, is facing a health care problem, one that intensified during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem isn’t merely a shortage of nurses. Nor is it simply a staffing issue. It’s a health care delivery problem that’s affecting staff, hospitals and patients. And now, nurses and hospitals are asking the state Legislature to help solve it. Senate Bill 5236 would, among other things, create staff-to-patient ratios for hospitals; a committee comprising hospital administrators and medical staff to develop the ratios and standards for each hospital; and set financial penalties for violating the staffing plan. The bill is pitting medical staff against hospital administrators, but there’s at least one point in which all should agree: When nurses are overworked, it’s the patient that stands to lose. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Karen Ducey)

New School Recess Bill Aims To Combat Youth Mental Health Crisis
A bill filed in the Washington State legislature last week and co-sponsored by Senators T’wina Nobles (D-Fircrest) and Claire Wilson (D-Auburn) would ensure students receive a minimum of 45 minutes of recess during each school day. There is currently no Washington state law guaranteeing recess for students. “Kids not only deserve play, it is critical for their development,” said Nobles. “Withholding recess, especially as a disciplinary action, does the opposite effect–research shows it makes behavior worse. Research shows students learn better when they get recess and as we tackle learning loss as a result of remote learning, we need to bolster betterment for our students in every way we can.” Continue reading at Seattle Medium. (Legislative Support Services)

In a bid at ‘keeping child care on the agenda,’ Murray talks funding in Olympia
Sen. Patty Murray joined state legislators, moms and kids in the Capitol on Wednesday to talk about federal and state efforts to address the child care crisis, an issue she said continues to be a top priority for her. “Our child care system isn’t just stretched thin,” Murray said. “It is broken.” Murray was joined by state Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, and state Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island. Child care and early learning have been top priorities in the state Legislature in recent years. In 2021, the Legislature passed the Fair Start for Kids Ac. Senn said funding child care remains a priority throughout the Legislature. She said lawmakers are working on numerous pieces of legislation this session to address the child care crisis, some of which will require federal investment. Continue reading at Spokesman Review. (Elena Perry)

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Associated Press
Flavored cannabis marketing criticized for targeting kids
Feds send $930 million to help Forest Service curb ‘crisis’ of US West wildfires

Aberdeen Daily World
Cold weather shelters face hiccups and delays

Axios
State institutions still hold Indigenous remains

Bellingham Herald
Why are eggs so expensive in Whatcom County? Local Farmer weigh in
Inclusive public signs boost teens’ attitudes about trans people, study says. Here’s how
This is why Petrogas will pay $4 million for unpermitted emissions

The Daily News
Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez reviews business on the Columbia River
Washington leaders look to increase school safety with more officers, staff during legislative session

Everett Herald
‘We cannot help people if they are not alive’

Indian Country Today
Indigenous people on the ‘front lines’ of climate solutions

The Inlander
NEWS BRIEFS: Washington legislators seek to protect abortion rights and more (Cleveland)
A Washington state bill would legalize psilocybin, the key ingredient in “magic mushrooms” (Salomon, Billig)

Islands’ Weekly
This year’s legislature is more diverse than in the past (Jinkins, Orwall, Bronoske, Keiser, Lovick)

News Tribune
Opinion: WA lawmakers are weighing a bottle deposit system to boost recycling. It’s a bad idea

Olympian
A court said Albertsons could give $4B to shareholders. What a higher court just ruled
The Olympia City Council wants 9 things from the state this session. What are they?
Nisqually get feedback on healing center proposal for former Frankie’s site in Olympia
Tenino area residents protest planned sex offender housing, ask Thurston County for help

Peninsula Daily News
Following local cities, Jefferson County proclaims rights for orcas
Budget, staff cuts expected for Port Angeles School District

Puget Sound Business Journal
Boeing awarded $425M by NASA for fuel-efficient test plane
Workplace bullying is on the rise — and it’s hitting Gen Z the hardest

Seattle Medium
New School Recess Bill Aims to Combat Youth Mental Health Crisis (Nobles, Wilson)
Rep. Jamila Taylor Elected Majority Caucus Vice Chair (Taylor)

Seattle Times
Submerged log just another obstacle to revival of WA ferries
WA still too slow with mental health services for people in jail, judge told
‘Sam’s Law’ parents push for harsher penalties for hazing for a second year
Editorial: Legislature must address WA nursing crisis

Skagit Valley Herald
Ferries system working to increase service

Spokesman Review
Washington Legislature again looks to tackle safe staffing requirements in hospitals (Robinson)
In a bid at ‘keeping child care on the agenda,’ Murray talks funding in Olympia (Senn, Wilson)

Washington Post
U.S. begins ‘extraordinary’ steps to avoid debt ceiling

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
State senator says constitutional amendment protecting abortion needs more votes (Keiser)
‘It will help a lot of people’: Seattle 8-year-old wants to change state hearing aid laws (Orwall)

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Pierce County mistakenly shares hundreds of thousands of registered voters’ sensitive information

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
State lawmakers expected to introduce bill taxing wealthy Washingtonians (Thai)
Washington lawmakers considering bill that would lower blood alcohol limit for drivers (Lovick)

KNKX Public Radio
Behind your speedy Amazon delivery are serious hazards for workers, government finds

KUOW Public Radio
Washington lawmakers discuss an alternative to jail for mental health crises (Dhingra)
Incarcerated people would earn minimum wage under new proposal (Simmons)

KXLY (ABC)
Senate Bill 5202 aims to put $4 billion towards solving housing insecurity (Trudeau)
WA lawmakers propose bill requiring clergy to report child abuse, citing InvestigateWest reporting (Frame, Walen)

NW Public Radio
New legislation takes aim at blinking lights on Washington wind turbines (Connors)

Web

Crosscut
Can a $42B internet expansion plan close WA’s digital divide?

MyNorthwest
City of Bellevue to start safe parking pilot program for those living in cars
Fight against bird flu continues despite Dept. of Agriculture precautions
Gov. Inslee: Homelessness is complex, needs help from legislature

West Seattle Blog
THURSDAY MORNING: ‘State of the Port’
Metro is short on drivers as well as buses. So how many are needed?

Wednesday, January 18

WA lawmakers consider minimum wage requirement for incarcerated workers
There are 2,200 incarcerated people across Washington who have jobs. They’re employed in prison facilities. They might be welders, food service workers, carpenters, or janitors. You may have bought something created by an incarcerated person, like your license plate. Altogether, Washington’s Department of Corrections generated $68.8 million in revenue last year. But only a small portion of that money makes it into the incarcerated workers’ wages. At most, inmates can make $2.70 an hour. A new proposal by State Rep. Tarra Simmons (D-Bremerton) would raise that minimum wage to match Washington’s at $15.74 an hour. Simmons’ proposal is built on the argument that current wages are an exploitative but legal loophole which needs closing. Continue reading at KUOW. (Matthew Ansley)

A smart way for legislators to help save local news
Many things are needed to sustain local news outlets in Washington state. That includes extending and expanding a business and occupation tax break the Legislature created to save jobs in the essential local news industry. This is straightforward, relatively low cost and has strong public support, as evidenced by public comments last week in Olympia and earlier hearings. Legislators should get this done, by approving a timely proposal by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, state Sen. Mark Mullet and state Rep. Gerry Pollet. In Senate Bill 5199 and House Bill 1206, they propose exempting publishers from the tax until 2035 and expanding this break to digital-only news sites. “Newspapers are vital to a healthy democracy and we have seen too many close and lay off employees,” Pollet said in the joint announcement. “We can and should do everything we can to help preserve newsrooms across the state. Exempting them from the state B&O tax is an important step to support a robust free press.” Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Daniel Kim)

This is how Washington legislators seek to limit rent gouging statewide
A pair of bills being introduced in Olympia this legislative session are aimed at limiting the steep rent hikes that tenants have been seeing recently in communities across Washington state. Such rent stabilization is part of several measures in the state House and Senate that aim to ease housing costs and reduce homelessness, said state Rep. Alex Ramel, a Bellingham Democrat and House majority whip. Ramel is sponsoring House Bill 1389 to cap rent increases at 3% to 7% annually, based on inflation, and he discussed it during an online briefing Tuesday, Jan. 17, that addressed the housing crisis. He was joined at the briefing by state Rep. Nicole Macri, D-Seattle, whose companion measure outlines how Ramel’s bill would be enforced. Since mid-2021, when a statewide eviction ban ended, Macri said Washington residents have been reporting what she called “predatory” monthly rent increases that amount to hundreds of dollars and sometimes more. “Folks are being driven into homelessness and even more are being driven out of our communities,” said Macri, whose 43rd District covers downtown Seattle and some of its northern neighborhoods. Continue reading at Bellingham Herald.

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Associated Press
Fentanyl fuels record homeless deaths in Seattle area
Washington State Court Ok’s Albertsons’ Merger $4B Dividend

Auburn Reporter
Effort begins to lower the legal limit for driving drunk (Lovick)

Axios
Washington lawmakers want to curb “bonkers” rent hikes (Trudeau)
Seattle sees steepest rent declines among major U.S. metros

Bainbridge Island Review
Signature move important for each vote in Kitsap validation process

Bellingham Herald
Accountability measures limiting police chases could be rolled back under new bills (Rule, Lovick)
This is how Washington legislators seek to limit rent gouging statewide (Ramel, Macri)

Capital Press
Washington needs outside help to meet green-energy law (Nguyen)

Columbian
Days of gillnetting on lower Columbia River may be numbered (Van De Wege)

Everett Herald
Shoppers, restaurants, bakeries bedeviled by soaring egg prices

News Tribune
Editorial: What Pierce County will talk about in ’23: Ed Board takes on airport, police chases, more

New York Times
Microsoft to Lay Off 10,000 Workers as It Looks to Trim Costs

Northwest Asian Weekly
Swearings-in of AAPI officials

Olympian
Washington could join Utah as strictest states for blood alcohol levels while driving (Lovick)

Peninsula Daily News
Four flu deaths on Peninsula
Jefferson County drafts guidelines for remaining Rescue Plan funding

Seattle Times
Lawsuits target WA group home, ‘juvenile Alcatraz’ for troubled boys
A smart way for legislators to help save local news (Mullet, Pollet)

Spokesman Review
Legislature considers bill to ban assault weapons in Washington

Yakima Herald-Republic
Editorial: Trailer-park rent increases beg new rules

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Jaywalking remains illegal in Washington, but a legislator is pushing to repeal it (Saldaña)
‘Never thought it would come to this’: Thousands of seniors losing insurance
9 sites across Washington that feature derogatory word for Native American women to be renamed

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Legislators hear testimony on banning sale of assault weapons
Lawmakers debating free school meals for all students

KOMO 4 TV (ABC)
Proposed gun laws expand liability for firearm manufacturers, retailers

KUOW Public Radio
WA lawmakers consider minimum wage requirement for incarcerated workers (Simmons)
A push to lower Washington’s blood-alcohol level to .05 for drivers (Lovick)

KXLY (ABC)
‘100% preventable’: WA lawmakers thinking of lowering blood-alcohol limit

Web

Crosscut
WA Democrats hid messages on Chinese American History Month Bill (Leavitt, Valdez, Jinkins, Pedersen, Duerr, Ramos, Gregerson, Stonier, Morgan)
WA has 530 bridges in ‘poor’ condition – and limited repair money

MyNorthwest
Free school meals bill introduced in WA state house (Riccelli, Nobles)

Tuesday, January 17

Special education spending, oversight top priorities for WA lawmakers
This year, Washington state lawmakers are making big promises to fund and improve the education services that help roughly 158,449 disabled kids around the state. After two years of dousing educational pandemic fires, lawmakers say they are returning to unfinished business — gaps in oversight regarding these critical services, and gaps in funding. “We’ve done so much policy work and so a lot of the focus is on making sure that we’re funding what we know we need,” said Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane. Lawmakers will decide how the state spends its remaining cut of Washington’s $2.6 billion in pandemic-era education relief funds. And they’ll also discuss whether to buffer financial losses caused by falling enrollment, which the state’s top education official, Chris Reykdal, doesn’t expect will bounce back anytime soon. Continue reading at Seattle Times. (Kylie Cooper)

As death toll rises, push to lower the legal limit for driving drunk begins
Lawmakers set out Monday to lower the legal limit for driving drunk in Washington. The move comes as deadly crashes involving drivers who had been drinking alcohol are at levels not seen in more than a decade. Washington recorded 670 traffic fatalities in 2021 of which 202 people died in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver — the highest number since 2009, according to data compiled by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission. At the proposed legal limit, Washington would join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation. Several speakers said since Utah enacted the change in 2019, it has had fewer crashes involving impaired drivers and fewer fatalities but no increase in arrests. And the revised standard didn’t hurt the bottom line of the hospitality and tourism industries, they said. Continue reading at Everett Herald. (Monroe Police Department)

Foam dock floats, laundry filters, hotel shampoo amongst newest bids to reduce plastic pollution
Everywhere they look, Pacific Northwest scientists find teeny-tiny plastic pollution. Broken down particles are in our water, falling out of the air, in salmon, shellfish and in our own bodies. Scientists, environmental advocates and Democratic lawmakers in Olympia and Salem have seen enough to make them seek more regulations. In Olympia, several Washington legislators are copying ideas previously passed by Oregon including holding manufacturers responsible for reducing their plastic packaging and increasing recycling over time. A freshman Democrat from Tacoma, state Rep. Sharlett Mena, proposed to ban those little plastic toiletry bottles and wrappers in hotels in favor of refillable bulk dispensers. And there’s a new try to pass a bottle bill for Washington, which would entail a 10-cent deposit and redemption system for most plastic, metal and glass beverage containers. Continue reading at KNKX. (Tom Banse)