An attempt to approve Senate Joint Resolution 101 — dubbed the “Silence the Voters Amendment” by critics — fell eight votes short on March 30th, 2023, which means the proposed constitutional change won’t be sent to Idaho voters.
Monthly Archives: March 2023
Posted inPolicy Topics
ACCOUNTABILITY: Donald Trump indicted!
Trump’s lawbreaking predated his four years in the White House, continued while he occupied the Oval Office, and continued even after he left. Yet until March 30th, 2023, he had only been the subject of investigations and no charges. That has changed. The logjam has broken; we have an indictment.
Posted inElections
Montana Republican legislators are working on switching cities to even-year elections
Bipartisan momentum for even year elections across the United States is growing, judging by an effort underway in Montana by Republican legislators to move city and municipal elections to higher turnout presidential and midterm years.
Posted inPolicy Topics
64% of Washington voters want legislators to fund universal, no-cost school meals for kids
64% of 874 likely 2024 voters interviewed March 7th and 8th by Public Policy Polling for NPI said they strongly or somewhat supported universal no-cost school meals, while a total 33% said they were strongly or somewhat opposed.
Posted inPublic Service
National Democrats find they have a lot they can learn from Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
She has held office fewer than three months, but the 3rd Congressional District’s Representative Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez (MGP), D‑Washington, is emerging as a role model and media magnet in the Democrats’ Class of 2022.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (March 20th-24th)
The week’s major votes included House passage of the Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations with ASEAN Act and Senate confirmation of Gordan P. Gallagher to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for Colorado. The Senate also rejected numerous Republican amendments to a bill to repeal the Iraqi invasion use of force authorization.
Posted inPolicy Topics
“Pro-life” Idaho Republican Governor Brad Little just signed a firing squad execution bill
Idaho Republicans are most definitely not trying to change their state’s laws to abolish executions. They could be, but they are choosing not to be. It’s a choice.
Posted inLitigation
A roundup of reaction to the Supreme Court’s Quinn ruling upholding WA’s capital gains tax
Read what elected officials, advocacy organizations, and other think tanks are saying about the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision upholding the capital gains tax on the wealthy.
Posted inLitigation
VICTORY! Washington State Supreme Court upholds new capital gains tax on the wealthy
The Court voted 7–2 in favor of finding that Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5096 (the law that created the capital gains tax) is indeed an excise tax. The majority opinion, authored by Associate Justice Debra L. Stephens, also rejected the Quinn plaintiffs’ other arguments, affirming the law’s constitutionality.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Seattle voters love ST3’s Ballard and West Seattle light rail extensions, but will they love the alignment Sound Transit’s board picks?
81% of likely February 2023 special election voters in Seattle support light rail to Ballard and West Seattle, which is in design. Sound Transit would be wise to keep that in mind when making alignment decisions that our region will have to live with for decades.
Posted inPolicy Topics
68% of likely Washington voters support enacting a permit-to-purchase law for guns
68% of 874 voters interviewed across the state from March 7th-8th support the policies proposed by Representative Liz Berry (D‑36th District: Seattle) and dozens of her House colleagues in House Bill 1143, which is now under consideration in the Senate. 29% are opposed and 3% said they were not sure.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Gem State win: School privatization schemes fail in Idaho’s Republican-run Legislature
A right wing effort to authorize the diversion of public tax dollars into privately run schools has collapsed in the Republican-dominated Idaho State Legislature, in a significant victory for public education and progressive organizations working to protect and strengthen the commons of the Gem State.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Two-thirds of Seattle voters concerned about tree loss with housing density increasing
68% of 651 likely February 2023 special election voters interviewed from January 26th-30th for NPI by Change Research said they were concerned about tree and canopy loss, while 30% said they were not. Only 1% were not sure.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Joe Biden heads to Ottawa: He and Canada’s Justin Trudeau have much to talk about
The two leaders are expected to talk about the depth to which they should intervene in Haiti, and what to do about gangs running rampant. Biden and Trudeau are both committed to action on climate.