The goal of SJR 101 is to stymie any future use of the people’s initiative power to let voters consider policies that go unconsidered in the state Legislature, which has been dominated by militant right wing Republicans for years.
Monthly Archives: February 2023
Posted inElections
Book Review: 100% Democracy makes the case for adopting universal voting in the U.S.
Read NPI’s review of 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting, by writer E. J. Dionne Jr. and Miles Rapoport, a former Secretary of State.
Posted inElections
Once upon a time, Washington cities had the freedom to choose their election timing
It used to be that many cities in Washington had the power to choose when their elections would be held. That’s right: they once had the same freedom our bill proposes to give them! Learn about the history of the statute.
Posted inLitigation
Whichever way the Supreme Court decides the Quinn case, it will be making public policy
Read NPI alum Patrick Stickney’s assessment of the oral argument in Quinn et al v. State of Washington et al, the right wing legal challenge to Washington State’s new capital gains tax on the wealthy.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy, Series & Special Reports
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (February 13th-17th)
The week’s major votes included Senate confirmation of eight Biden judicial nominees and passage of a resolution condemning China’s recent effort to send a surveillance balloon across the United States.
Posted inPublic Service
For over a century, the Pacific Northwest has been a leader in electing women to Congress
Meet many of the women from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska who have blazed a trail for America’s future in the United States Congress.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
NPI’s legislation to allow cities and towns to switch their elections to even-numbered years gets a “do pass” recommendation
A proposed state law developed by NPI and Senator Javier Valdez (D‑46th District: Seattle) that would give cities and towns the freedom to switch their elections to even-numbered years passed out of the Senate State Government & Elections Committee on February 17th with a “do pass” recommendation, keeping the bill alive for further consideration.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Seattle social housing initiative (I‑135) ahead in early returns with 21.23% turnout so far
A Seattle initiative that proposes to set up a public development authority to build publicly financed, publicly controlled housing projects is ahead in early returns, King County Elections’ initial February 2023 special election tabulation shows.
Posted inElections
It’s Special Election Day in Seattle and other Washington jurisdictions: Have you voted?
Find resources for the February 14th, 2023 special election in Washington State in this Cascadia Advocate post.
Posted inMedia & Culture
Seattle Times endorses NPI’s legislation to repeal statewide “advisory votes”
Titled “Boot confusing advisory votes from WA ballots,” this is a fresh contender for our team’s favorite Seattle Times editorial. It’s well written, has compelling opening and concluding passages, and the logic that holds it together is sound.
Posted inPublic Service
Senator Maria Cantwell: A workhorse for the people and the Pacific Northwest in Congress
Cantwell, sixty-four, is not one of the usual suspects seen on networks’ Sunday morning talk shows or shouting over talk radio. She gets stuff done by mastering details, quiet work with colleagues and by serving on a trio of A‑list Senate committees where legislation is put together.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (February 6th-10th)
The week’s major votes included House passage of a Republican bill to scrap the United States’ requirement that foreign tourists be vaccinated against COVID-19 and Senate confirmation of DeAndrea Gist Benjamin to be a judge on the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Posted inElections
Senate State Government Committee hears NPI’s bill to give cities and towns the freedom to switch their elections to even years
Read our recap of the February 10th, 2023 public hearing on Senate Bill 5723, prime sponsored by Senator Javier Valdez at NPI’s request and cosponsored by half of the Senate Democratic caucus.
Posted inPolicy Topics
A plurality of special election voters in Seattle disapprove of how their schools are being run
41% of six hundred and fifty-one February 2023 special election voters interviewed by Change Research for NPI last month said they somewhat or strongly disapproved of the way the Seattle Public Schools are currently being run. 28% said they somewhat or strongly approved, and 31% were not sure.