NPI's Cascadia Advocate

Offering commentary and analysis from Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, The Cascadia Advocate provides the Northwest Progressive Institute's uplifting perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Monthly Archives: May 2021

Sound Transit debuts spacious new Siemens S700 light rail vehicles in revenue service

Excerpt: The new vehicles are roomier, brighter, and have more storage space. They will join the fleet as Sound Transit rapidly expands light rail network with many new stations, starting with the three Northgate Link stations in 2021.
Written by:Bobby Aiyer
Categories:Policy Topics, Public Planning
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Book Review: “We See It All” is a good study of current local police capabilities

Excerpt: Read David A. Johnson's review of Economist journalist Jon Fasman's new book exploring elements of technology and practices in modern policing in the United States.
Written by:David A Johnson
Categories:Civil Liberties, Media & Culture, Policy Topics
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Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (May 10th-14th)

Excerpt: The week's major votes included House passage of two major bills (the Comprehensive Debt Collection Improvement Act and Pregnant Workers Fairness Act) plus Senate nullification of a Trump banking rule.
Written by:Voterama in Congress
Categories:Legislative Advocacy, Series & Special Reports
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President Biden congratulates Washington for adopting overtime pay law for farmworkers

Excerpt: It's not often that the President of the United States issues a statement weighing in on the passage of a law at the state level. As Biden's comments make clear, this issue is really, really important to him.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Economic Security, Policy Topics
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Garbage in, garbage out: Here’s why KING5’s recent 2022 U.S. Senate polling is worthless

Excerpt: Republicans can dream, but history suggests that when the fall of 2022 rolls around, Washington voters will likely return Patty Murray to the Senate.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Elections
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“Consequential” 2021 legislative session is what voters across Washington State wanted

Excerpt: Recent elections have produced a responsive state government attuned to the needs and wishes of the people: a state government that is more policy-oriented than politics-oriented. We're getting action instead of theater.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Legislative Advocacy, Open Government, Party Politics, Policy Topics, Public Service
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Power-obsessed Mitch McConnell wants to decide what does not get done in America

Excerpt: The Kentucky Republican cares not for governing. He evinces no interest in taking the hand dealt by America’s voters and trying to solve or get a jump on the nation’s problems.  He is instead about power, hanging onto his position as a top Republican.
Written by:Joel Connelly
Categories:Legislative Advocacy, Open Government, Party Politics, Policy Topics
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Biden-Harris administration says yes to suspending patents on coronavirus vaccines

Excerpt: The United States has decided to join most of the world community in endorsing a policy of suspending patents on coronavirus vaccines, in a win for global health.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Policy Topics, World Commmunity
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PCC Community Markets members just voted to elect two PCC workers to the co-op’s board

Excerpt: Donna Rasmussen and Laurae McIntyre are longtime PCC members and employees who are concerned about PCC's future, just as our team at NPI is.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Economic Security, Policy Topics, World Commmunity
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DONE! Governor Jay Inslee signs bill to levy a capital gains tax on the wealthy into law

Excerpt: ESSB 5096 was NPI's top priority for the 2021 legislative session, having been originally requested by the governor over six and a half years ago. Now it's the law of the land!
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Legislative Advocacy
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All Washingtonians will benefit from our new state capital gains tax, even those who pay it

Excerpt: Read NPI's rejoinders to a long list of bad arguments that right wing Republicans have been making against our new state capital gains tax on the wealthy.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Legislative Advocacy
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Meet the 2021 Seattle mayoral candidates: Former Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Excerpt: In this installment of our series spotlighting the people running for mayor of Seattle, we get to know Bruce Harrell, a former Councilmember who served several terms as one of Seattle's lawmakers, and was mayor for five days in 2017.
Written by:Ruairi Vaughan
Categories:Elections
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Joe Manchin’s latest comments suggest his grasp of U.S. constitutional law is lacking

Excerpt: In a recent interview with a West Virginia radio station, Senator Joe Manchin spoke of letting the people of America vote on the question of D.C. statehood, which isn't possible because constitutional amendments don't get ratified by popular vote.
Written by:Andrew Villeneuve
Categories:Elections, Legislative Advocacy
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Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (April 26th-30th)

Excerpt: The week's major votes included Senate passage of a resolution to restore EPA's ability to regulate methane emissions from the oil and gas industry along with a water infrastructure funding bill. Several Biden nominees were also confirmed.
Written by:Voterama in Congress
Categories:Legislative Advocacy, Series & Special Reports
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