Where’s the Emergency, Governor?

Senator Mike Padden

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2022 session train keeps chugging along, and the end of the line is in sight. We have exactly one week to go until the scheduled end of this year’s regular session. Tomorrow is the final cut-off deadline to approve bills that originated in the House of Representatives, and for the House to approve bills that originated in the Senate. After that, only bills that are “necessary to implement the budget” can be considered.

This week we’ll discuss some of the pushback to the majority party’s proposals for updating the state operating budget. Budget leaders from the Senate and the House must reconcile those proposals to produce one supplemental budget that can be agreed upon by both chambers AND gain the governor’s approval.

As all of this legislative action continues, we also reached a rather grim milestone, as Washingtonians have entered a third year of living under Governor Inslee’s perpetual state of emergency. The Freedom Caucus is pressing the majority party to stand up for the separation of powers, our constitution, and the people of this state. You can read more about those efforts below.

Change is coming, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

As always, it’s an honor to serve as your state senator.

Best Regards,

Senator Mike Padden