Member Opinions

The numbers are staggering. More than 252,000 Washingtonians are out of work. Just last month, more than 75,300 people filed for unemployment. At the same time, Washington is struggling with... ...

Feb. 25, 2009

In my Republican response to the governor’s State of the State address last month, I said the Legislature should cut non-essential services and set spending priorities to close a projected... ...

Feb. 18, 2009

What does the proposed Highway 522 expansion between Monroe and Maltby have to do with the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle? Unfortunately, everything if Gov. Gregoire has her way. For... ...

Feb. 17, 2009

These past few years, we’ve heard stories and watched television shows and movies dedicated to the theory of climate change. As representatives in the Washington State Legislature, we’re proud to... ...

Feb. 13, 2009

Here we go again. Last year, Seattle-centric legislators decided it would be a good idea to tax families on the engine size of their cars. The measure, Senate Bill 6900,... ...

Feb. 9, 2009

A constituent recently asked me not to vote for a salary increase for legislators. He noted, “I have not had a raise in four years.” Similar comments are voiced from... ...

Feb. 4, 2009

The state laws that you and I live by are not always conceived by policy makers in Olympia. Some of the best legislation begins at the grassroots level by citizens... ...

Jan. 28, 2009

One of the founding principles upon which governments in civilized societies are based is the notion of public safety. If a like-minded group of people can’t band together and keep... ...

Jan. 14, 2009

More than 230 years ago, when countries were ruled by rich and powerful nobles and kings, 56 men from 13 North American British colonies dared to assert that “all men... ...

Jan. 14, 2009

When lawmakers convene next Monday, Jan. 12, for the scheduled 105-day legislative session in Olympia, they will be faced with solving a record budget deficit exceeding $5.7 billion. In terms... ...

Jan. 7, 2009