Latest news with #WashingtonSenate
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Money allocated for irrigation project north of I-90
Apr. 30—MOSES LAKE — About $44 million in state funding will be allocated to a section of the Odessa Groundwater Replacement Project as part of the Washington Senate's capital budget. The budget was approved Sunday. The allocation comes with the proviso that it be spent on one section of the project, EL 22.1. The OGWRP project is designed to convert farms that use groundwater for irrigation to surface water. Most of the property that would be affected is considered to be part of the Odessa aquifer. The land that would be served by the new canal is east of Moses Lake and north of Warden in Grant and Adams counties. The irrigation water would be provided by the East Columbia Irrigation District, and Jon Erickson, ECBID development coordinator, said there are still some questions to be answered about how the irrigation district will and can proceed. "We don't have a clear direction on how to move forward," Erickson said. The allocation and the stipulations around it will be reviewed by the ECBID directors, beginning with their May 7 meeting, Erickson said. The EL 22.1 Landowners Association, which was involved in obtaining the funding, said the project is fully designed. "Construction would begin early next year, and the timing depends somewhat on when the public funding is made available," said an EL 22.1 spokesperson in response to an email from the Columbia Basin Herald. The project will receive about $40 million in matching funds from area farmers, according to a press release from Ninth District Senator Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. Schoesler said he worked with 13th District Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. "With this capital budget funding and the matching money from growers, this project is ready to start," Warnick said. "(The landowner group) is in the process of obtaining the matching funding and with the public funding now allocated, the private matching funding should happen in 2026," the spokesperson said. "(The private funding) could be used in later phases as the legislature included in the budget proviso that the EL 22.1 Project could be done in phases." The project would be the first in the groundwater replacement area north of Interstate 90, according to the landowner group. Some sections of the project south of I-90 can't have water delivered due to the need to widen the canal, which will require widening some bridges along the canal's course. Planning and design are underway on the first bridge, with construction scheduled to begin in October after the end of the irrigation season. The canal and bridges north of I-90 were widened about half a century ago, the EL 22.1 spokesman said, so there's capacity for additional water delivery. "Consequently, work on EL 22.1 can begin as surface water delivery is assured," the spokesman said.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers push tax increases in hopes of balancing Washington's budget
Apr. 22—OLYMPIA — Faced with a looming deadline, the Washington Senate passed a trio of bills over the weekend that would raise the capital gains tax on financial assets above $1 million a year, close certain tax exemptions and expand the sales and tobacco taxes. The legislation is part of a slate of tax increases Democrats unveiled last week as the state works to close an estimated $15 billion budget deficit. As legislators released the new revenue plan last week, Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, vice chair for finance of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, said the proposals find "a balance to meet our short-term need of addressing the budget shortfall and protecting the critical services on which our communities rely, as well as our long-term goal of reforming our outdated, unfair tax code." The bills passed the Senate this weekend along nearly party lines, with Republicans universally opposing the measures. Each bill the Senate passed this weekend received a hearing in the House Finance Committee on Monday morning and could be voted out of committee Tuesday. The largest piece of new revenue is a bill Democrats say would "modernize" the state's sales tax and bring in a projected $2.9 billion over the next two years and $4.7 billion over four years. The sales tax would be expanded to cover software development and other information technology services. The state's tobacco tax would expand to cover nicotine pouches, such as Zyn. Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, said Saturday that the state's sales tax has not been adjusted to keep up with a shift from a goods-based economy to a services-based economy. "The folks that can only afford to buy goods still pay, but the folks who can afford to pay for services increasingly are not," Liias said. "We are modernizing that with this bill." A proposal to raise the capital gains tax on assets over $1 million and bring in approximately $282 million over the next two years and $561 million over four years also has found support among Senate Democrats. Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, said the bill would "move us in the right direction towards tax fairness." "The impact of the modifications of the capital gains and estate taxes will impact only a small portion of the wealthy people in our state," Wilson said. The Senate also adopted a bill to repeal tax exemptions where the "public policy objective was not met" or the exemption is "legally obsolete." Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, said the legislation is "what responsible government efficiency looks like." "A thoughtful and better result," Salomon said. Among the exemptions targeted to be removed is one on the international business and occupation tax credit and the dentistry prepayment insurance premiums tax exemption. Tax exemptions listed to end in the bill were previously identified by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Following Saturday's votes, Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, the Senate Republican budget leader, said the three bills "are just part of the Democrats' effort to impose the largest tax increase in state history on the people of Washington." Senate Republicans attempted to bring their budget proposal to a vote on Saturday , saying the state can adopt a balanced budget and fund major programs without new taxes. The effort failed. "I realize our budget may not fully satisfy some of the special interests that are looking to the majority to deliver, but our plan respects the taxpayers — and with eight days left in this session, it also offers the surest way to finish our work on time," Gildon said. Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, the Republican's assistant budget leader, said the revenue proposals supported by Democrats will "take more money from the people who can least afford to lose it." With less than a week before the Legislature is set to adjourn, the House also is considering tax increases. The House Finance committee heard four other tax proposals on Saturday, which include increasing the state's business and occupation tax, and could bring the proposals to a full vote Monday evening. Still, it's unclear which of the proposals the Legislature will consider this week will ultimately make it over the finish line or how much they could raise. While Gov. Bob Ferguson has indicated he would not support an all-cuts budget, he has not said which tax he prefers, or how much new revenue he would support. Ferguson previously proposed approximately $4 billion in spending cuts on top of roughly $3 billion in cuts identified by former Gov. Jay Inslee. Citing concern over how the federal administration could impact the state, Ferguson released a statement on Thursday following the unveiling of the Democrats' revenue proposals that said in part that "raising $12 billion in taxes is unsustainable, too risky and fails to adequately prepare Washington state for the crisis that looms ahead." Ferguson added that the Legislature had made "progress on key issues" in the updated revenue proposals. "We will continue to work together to produce a budget that supports a strong economy, and the people of Washington," Ferguson said Thursday. The Legislature faces a Sunday deadline to adopt a budget to avoid a special session.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers in move forward with tax increase plans in hopes of balancing Washington's budget
Apr. 21—OLYMPIA — Faced with a looming deadline, the Washington Senate passed a trio of bills over the weekend that would raise the capital gains tax on financial assets above $1 million a year, close certain tax exemptions and expand the sales and tobacco taxes. The legislation is part of a slate of tax increases Democrats unveiled last week as the state works to close an estimated $15 billion budget deficit. As legislators released the new revenue plan last week, Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, vice chair for finance of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, said the proposals find "a balance to meet our short-term need of addressing the budget shortfall and protecting the critical services on which our communities rely, as well as our long-term goal of reforming our outdated, unfair tax code." The bills passed the Senate this weekend along nearly party lines, with Republicans universally opposing the measures. Each bill the Senate passed this weekend received a hearing in the House Finance Committee on Monday morning and could be voted out of committee Tuesday. The largest piece of new revenue is a bill Democrats say would "modernize" the state's sales tax and bring in a projected $2.9 billion over the next two years and $4.7 billion over four years. The sales tax would be expanded to cover software development and other information technology services. The state's tobacco tax would expand to cover nicotine pouches, such as Zyn. Sen. Marko Liias, D-Mukilteo, said Saturday that the state's sales tax has not been adjusted to keep up with a shift from a goods-based economy to a services-based economy. "The folks that can only afford to buy goods still pay, but the folks who can afford to pay for services increasingly are not," Liias said. "We are modernizing that with this bill." A proposal to raise the capital gains tax on assets over $1 million and bring in approximately $282 million over the next two years and $561 million over four years also has found support among Senate Democrats. Sen. Claire Wilson, D-Federal Way, said the bill would "move us in the right direction towards tax fairness." "The impact of the modifications of the capital gains and estate taxes will impact only a small portion of the wealthy people in our state," Wilson said. The Senate also adopted a bill to repeal tax exemptions where the "public policy objective was not met" or the exemption is "legally obsolete." Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, said the legislation is "what responsible government efficiency looks like." "A thoughtful and better result," Salomon said. Among the exemptions targeted to be removed is one on the international business and occupation tax credit and the dentistry prepayment insurance premiums tax exemption. Tax exemptions listed to end in the bill were previously identified by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee. Following Saturday's votes, Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, the Senate Republican budget leader, said the three bills "are just part of the Democrats' effort to impose the largest tax increase in state history on the people of Washington." Senate Republicans attempted to bring their budget proposal to a vote on Saturday , saying the state can adopt a balanced budget and fund major programs without new taxes. The effort failed. "I realize our budget may not fully satisfy some of the special interests that are looking to the majority to deliver, but our plan respects the taxpayers — and with eight days left in this session, it also offers the surest way to finish our work on time," Gildon said. Sen. Nikki Torres, R-Pasco, the Republican's assistant budget leader, said the revenue proposals supported by Democrats will "take more money from the people who can least afford to lose it." With less than a week before the Legislature is set to adjourn, the House also is considering tax increases. The House Finance committee heard four other tax proposals on Saturday, which include increasing the state's business and occupation tax, and could bring the proposals to a full vote Monday evening. Still, it's unclear which of the proposals the Legislature will consider this week will ultimately make it over the finish line or how much they could raise. While Gov. Bob Ferguson has indicated he would not support an all-cuts budget, he has not said which tax he prefers, or how much new revenue he would support. Ferguson previously proposed approximately $4 billion in spending cuts on top of roughly $3 billion in cuts identified by former Gov. Jay Inslee. Citing concern over how the federal administration could impact the state, Ferguson released a statement on Thursday following the unveiling of the Democrats' revenue proposals that said in part that "raising $12 billion in taxes is unsustainable, too risky and fails to adequately prepare Washington state for the crisis that looms ahead." Ferguson added that the Legislature had made "progress on key issues" in the updated revenue proposals. "We will continue to work together to produce a budget that supports a strong economy, and the people of Washington," Ferguson said Thursday. The Legislature faces a Sunday deadline to adopt a budget to avoid a special session.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WA legislators debate over police hiring grant as session nears close
The Brief The Washington Senate passed House Bill 2015 to support police hiring and public safety, but Gov. Bob Ferguson demands $100 million in funding, threatening to veto a budget that falls short. The bill proposes a 0.1% sales tax for public safety initiatives, leading to mixed reactions in a 30-19 vote due to concerns over affordability. OLYMPIA, Wash. - Legislators on Wednesday took a step toward meeting one of the governor's top priorities, but the step may not be big enough. Immediately after being sworn in earlier this year, Gov. Bob Ferguson made it clear he wanted to get $100 million for a police hiring grant program. "That idea was a cornerstone of my campaign for governor," he said in his inaugural address on January 15. "Any budget I sign must include this funding." Dig deeper The legislature made progress toward that goal with the Senate passing House Bill 2015 on Wednesday afternoon. The bill establishes a grant program to financially support local law enforcement agencies in hiring and retaining officers, but goes a step further by supporting mental health co-response, community outreach and other public safety efforts. "Because it takes everyone to make sure that each and every one of us remains safe. And that is what this bill does," said Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, during the Senate floor debate. Among the requirements for grant eligibility, agencies must receive funding from existing local criminal justice or public safety sales taxes, or from a new sales tax created by the bill. The new 0.1% sales tax would have to be approved by a local government, but only if the community has not rejected a criminal justice or public safety sales tax within the last year. Revenue from the tax would also be able to fund domestic violence services, diversion programs, public defenders and other activities. Lawmakers previously expressed a desire for increased funding beyond police, arguing more officers would mean more need for lawyers, court staff and other criminal justice system elements. Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, spearheaded an earlier attempt at a police officer hiring grant. He said the bill that passed out of the Senate is a good compromise that helps address a growing challenge in hiring police officers. What they're saying "We've got something that we can't just turn back the clock and fix one thing that's gonna fix everything. But this bill's a start," Holy said during Wednesday's debate. The bill passed on a 30-19 vote, with bipartisan support and opposition. While they want more police, some Republicans had concerns about opening the door to a new tax at a time of unaffordability "We need this infusion of public safety. We're so far behind, we need to do this–or allow this to be done, I would say, in order for citizens to be able to get the public safety that they deserve." said Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. "Unfortunately, I'm gonna have to vote no, because I believe that we should be doing this without the tax increase. The program relies on funding from the state operating budget. The House proposal released last month set aside $25 million over the next two years, while the Senate proposal offered no funding. The other side At a press conference earlier this month, Ferguson repeated his call for $100 million over two years, and said he would veto the budget if it falls short. The governor cited his prior experience as the state's attorney general in explaining his rationale. "At some point, I would just believe in saying to the other side, 'This is our bottom line,'" he explained. "Anyone who ever worked with me, any entities we had a lawsuit against knows, I did not deviate from those bottom lines." The governor's office did not reply to a request for updated comment Thursday afternoon. The funding amount for the grant program could change as the House and Senate negotiate the final budget. The bill is back in the House after the Senate made some amendments. Both the bill and the budget will have to pass out of the legislature by April 27. Albert James is a television reporter covering state government as part of the Murrow News Fellowship program – a collaborative effort between news outlets statewide and Washington State University. The Source Information in this story comes from original reporting by Murrow News Fellow Albert James. Missing WA grandmother's remains found buried under shed These 2 WA trails rank among best in US, new study finds Reddit: Seattle crosswalk hacked with voice message mocking Jeff Bezos 37 earthquakes recorded in Okanogan County, WA, over the past week Auburn, WA business employee, co-owner speak out after building burns during police search Comedian Jeff Dunham previews his upcoming Tacoma Dome show Seattle woman arrested for pit bull attacks: 'Let him do his thing' To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Permit-to-purchase clears Washington Senate, heads back to House
Apr. 15—OLYMPIA — Legislation requiring residents to obtain a permit before purchasing a firearm has cleared another hurdle after the Washington Senate backed the proposal Monday in a party-line vote. A version of the bill previously cleared the House of Representatives, but the proposal will return to the House after the Senate adopted amendments. The updated bill must clear the House chamber before heading to Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk. "This is not about us versus them, this is about safety," Sen. Manka Dhingra, D-Redmond, said Monday. "It's about ensuring that our children are not accidentally shot, which has been happening more and more. It's about making sure that guns are not lying in a closet. It's about making sure that people actually know how to handle a gun when they get it." If adopted, the bill would require a potential buyer to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm and prove that the purchaser has completed a firearms training course, among other requirements. Proponents of the bill have argued that 12 other states have adopted similar legislation and that it has been shown to reduce gun violence. "It has also curbed illegal gun trafficking, and it makes sure that our firearms in this state are in the hands of responsible gun owners," Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, said on the Senate floor Monday. "It is ultimately about saving lives. That is the most important mission." According to Liias, the 12 states that previously implemented permit-to-purchase have seen an 11% decline in firearm homicides in urban counties and 56% fewer mass shootings. Liias said the process to obtain a permit before purchasing a firearm is "designed to be relatively simple." Liias added that the system would be checked annually to ensure that the holder remains legally eligible for the permit, adding a "critical safety layer." Detractors, though, fear the new live-fire training requirements to obtain a permit would result in backlogs at firing ranges and with the Washington State Patrol, which will oversee the implementation of the new permit. Jeremy Ball, owner of Sharpshooting Indoor Range and Gun Shop, previously told The Spokesman-Review that "without a massive, massive, investment from Washington state in order to develop these programs and execute them, it's going to be at an extreme cost." "And the premise of them doesn't really make sense anyways," Ball said after the bill cleared the House last month. Under the bill, an applicant would need to prove that they have completed a certified live firearm safety course in the previous five years, or that they are exempt from the requirement. The permit would also need to be renewed every five years. Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney, said on the Senate floor that the bill will likely "generate litigation immediately," adding that similar legislation has been challenged in other states. "So it's not just 'Yes, everything is going full speed ahead on this.' This is a controversial issue," Holy said. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the bill is an "assault on the hardworking taxpayers." In his remarks, Schoesler cited several other proposals to increase fees in Washington that have been introduced, including increasing the price of a yearly Discover Pass to use state parks and hunting licenses. "There is absolutely no way that that average taxpayer out in Othello isn't going to get hit trying to legitimately buy a firearm, upgrade a firearm," Schoesler said. "There's absolutely no way." The bill, Schoesler said, will also create unnecessary delays and referred to the bill as "poorly designed." The proposal is among several gun and ammo-related pieces of legislation lawmakers have considered this session, though many others failed to gain traction and will not advance in 2025. Bills that would have imposed a new 11% tax on ammo and banned the bulk sale of ammunition died in committee earlier this session. Lawmakers also are considering a bill to restrict open carry of firearms in areas "where children are likely to be present," which includes playgrounds, zoos, transit centers, county fairgrounds when the fair is open to the public and certain state and local public buildings. The bill would require warning signs to be posted where weapons are prohibited. The legislation previously cleared the Senate and is under consideration in the House.
