There is no “acceptable site” for a big brand new airport anywhere in this region, and no amount of research, planning, or consultation can change that. The state could spend a fortune on more studies and outreach and it wouldn’t make a difference.
Monthly Archives: June 2023
Posted inPolicy Topics
Second Trump indictment lands, this one from federal charges filed by special counsel
The indictment charges that Trump unlawfully took and retained classified information that did not belong to him after exiting the White House, and that he lied about his actions and obstructed the federal government’s efforts to recover the documents, because he didn’t want to give them back.
Posted inElections
Attorney General Bob Ferguson leads 2024 WA gubernatorial field, new NPI poll confirms
25% of 773 respondents interviewed June 7th and 8th for NPI said that they preferred Ferguson for Governor. 17% said they favored Republican Raul Garcia. 10% say they’d vote for ultra MAGA Republican Semi Bird. 9% said they preferred another Democratic contender: Hilary Franz, the current Commissioner of Public Lands. Another 7% back a third Democratic candidate, State Senator Mark Mullet. 33% were not sure.
Posted inLitigation
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to weaken Voting Rights Act to sanction Alabama gerrymander
The decision, a big blow to the right wing, means that Alabama Republicans’ gamble that the Court would accept its invitation to further weaken the Voting Rights Act has failed. While Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Coney Barrett wanted to go along with Alabama, Roberts and Kavanaugh were not interested.
Posted inPolicy Topics
East Coasters, national media discover the poisonous, gloomy affliction of wildfire smoke
“Zero shade for the New Yorkers dealing with this — it’s awful — but it’s wild to see the way East Coast media is suddenly doing wall-to-wall coverage of something that’s been reality on the West Coast for a decade,” noted Rachel Alexander.
Posted inPolicy Topics
Seattle voters favor multifamily apartments anywhere in the city for social housing
65% of 651 likely special election voters surveyed by Change Research for NPI in advance of Seattle’s February 2023 special election said they are strongly or somewhat supportive of allowing multifamily apartment buildings to be built anywhere in the city to provide housing for people working in professions like teaching, while 30% said they were opposed. 5% said that they were not sure.
Posted inParty Politics
Caleb Heimlich to resign as Chair of the Washington State Republican Party
“It has been a tremendous honor to serve as the chairman of this great organization for five and half years, but for the sake of my family it is time to pass the torch to someone new,” Heimlich said.
Posted inElections
Christine Rolfes appointed to Kitsap County Commission; will leave State Senate
The longtime Washington State Senator will soon be leaving the Legislature to focus on her new responsibilities at the local level,
Posted inAppreciations & Remembrances
Don Bonker: 1937–2023
Read NPI’s obituary of contributor Don Bonker, a former United States Representative from Washington who served in Congress with distinction for many years.
Posted inLegislative Advocacy
Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (May 30th-June 2nd)
The week’s major votes included House and Senate passage of the so-called Fiscal Responsibility Act and Senate passage of a resolution to force students to repay loans that the Biden administration has tried to forgive.
Posted inElections
U.S. Senate sends bill to raise debt ceiling, satisfy Republican ransom demands to Biden
The so-called Fiscal Responsibility Act received yea votes from almost two-thirds of the Senate, passing 63–36. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, Ed Markey, and John Fetterman voted no, along with independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and seventeen Republican senators.
Posted inElections
Washington State Senator Mark Mullet launches 2024 gubernatorial campaign
“There is no candidate for governor at this point focused on the biggest challenges facing our state including affordable housing, reducing homelessness, creating jobs and making neighborhoods safe,” Mullet contends.