Keith Wagoner

Read full report here With goal of ‘reducing incarceration,’ governor and Legislature create new public safety risks As if new restrictions on law enforcement weren’t enough, an effort by Washington lawmakers to empty prison cells and return convicted felons to the street is creating new public safety risks across the...

Dear Neighbor, I have recently heard from some of you regarding the payroll tax to fund long-term care that will be implemented next year. I know many of you have questions and concerns regarding this new tax so I wanted to provide you with information based on some of the...

Dear Neighbor, Finally! The 2021 legislative session has come to an end. While there were some positive outcomes during this mostly virtual session – the poor policies that made it to the governor’s desk far outweigh the good things we achieved. We completed the 105-day session only after enacting record...

Senate Republican leaders released the following remarks as the 2021 legislative session came to a close as it prepared for the traditional “Sine Die” adjournment.   Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia: “Throughout this session Republicans have consistently offered ideas and taken positions that come from listening to the people....

Dear Neighbor, As we enter the final month of the 2021 legislative session, our attention shifts to passing state budgets. In odd years, the legislature creates three separate two-year budgets: An operating, transportation and capital budget. Today I’m going to address the operating budget. 2021 Operating budget – you name...

Dear Neighbor, While there have been many ups and downs this legislative session, today I want to share some good news with you. We’re moving to phase 3! Weeks after our entire state made it to phase 2 of Governor Inslee’s Roadmap to Recovery plan, he announced that all of...

Dear Neighbor, I send you this newsletter urgently on a Saturday, not because I want to, but because you need to know what your state government is doing outside of business hours. This session, I have shared details of the proposed income tax. Senate Bill 5096 was introduced which would impose a 7%...

Dear Neighbor, It is not every day that I agree with our governor, but today is one of those days. Recently, he stated that our schools should begin to reopen and with the recent announcement that teachers and childcare workers can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, I believe it is imperative...