Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast: Recent Episodes
Washington State House Democratic Caucus
Welcome to Capitol Ideas. This is where members of the majority Democratic caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives sit down at the Capitol and talk about ideas. Ideas like strong schools, enduring values, equity, affordable and accessible healthcare, tax fairness, thriving small businesses, inclusion, a clean environment. You know: good ideas.
We're grateful to have Speaker Laurie Jinkins as today's guest on Capitol Ideas, to share her perspective on the just-ended 2025 session of the Washington state Legislature. Her sixth year leading the House of Representatives was by far the most difficult she's encountered, and today she walks us through what turned out to be a session marked by landmark victories and sometimes-painful realities. If you're interested in Washington state legislative goings-on, this is a half-hour to savor.
Washington state lawmakers and staff were still celebrating the final gavel of the 2025 session when Rep. Chipalo Street sat down for his first appearance on Capitol Ideas. We covered everything from rent stabilization and safer streets to life as a professional soccer referee, and ended up with a half hour that goes by much too quickly.
As vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Mia Gregerson has a lot on her mind in the final 72 hours of the legislative session. The fact that we got her to sit down and share the Capitol Ideas mics makes this a special episode, all by itself.
Sen. Bill Ramos, who was Rep. Bill Ramos for six years before his election to the Senate last fall, died suddenly Saturday evening. Bill's voice being silenced is a loss for his 5th district, and for the people of Washington. Today's Capitol Ideas is a repost of a conversation that originally ran in early 2024.
This is the third legislative session for Rep. Julio Cortes, and his second visit to Capitol Ideas. Today he reflects on the difference between being a brand-new legislator and a veteran, talks about his journey from one capitol -- Mexico City -- to another, and explains his bills, his committee leadership and the work of the Latino Democratic Caucus...and does it all in 20 minutes!
Rep. Chris Stearns moved to Washington state many years ago because it was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen. Now he's Speaker Pro Tem of the state House of Representatives, and as of today he's a two-time visitor to Capitol Ideas. There are interesting things to learn if you'll hit the play button on this episode.
Rep. Strom Peterson agreed to chair a brand-new committee three years ago, a panel dedicated to chipping away at Washington's housing crisis. Today we'll talk about progress made by the House Housing Committee under his leadership, and plenty more.
Rep. Adam Bernbaum has been to a lot of places and done a lot of things, but Port Angeles is home and the Legislature is his new job. Hit the play button now to get to know a chamnpion of rural issues, a housing advocate, and a guardian of the taxpayer's purse, all in one.
When Janice Zahn immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child, she probably wasn't planning to find herself sitting at a desk on the floor of the Washington state House of Representatives. But here she is, and that's fortunate for all of us. Today's episode is a little longer than your typical Capitol Ideas, but it's justified. This is a good one.
Rep. Edwin Obras was appointed to a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives in December 2024, and for a lawmaker just getting his feet wet, he's made a splash. After a 30-year career in human services, he knows his way around the Capitol and already has bills poised to become law. You'll meet him today as we continue our conversations with the newest members of the House Democratic Caucus.
ORIGINAL EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Speaker emeritus Frank Chopp, who voluntarily switched his role to Rep. Frank Chopp at the end of the 2019 session, is the special guest on this episode of Capitol Ideas. The good things he's done for the Evergreen State are too numerous to list here, but if you listen to today's conversation, you'll notice a promise to include some items in the show notes. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that he played a pivotal role in: the state Housing Trust fund; the best minimum wage in the U.S.; paid family and medical leave; free college and university tuition for those who need it most; the Marriage Equality Act; the Dream Act; the Voting Rights Act; the Long-term Care Trust Act; the Education Legacy Fund; The College Bound Scholarship program; Apple Health for All Kids; Apple Health and Homes; and 20 years of state budgets that put people first.
Rep. Natasha Hill has an interesting story. Attorney. Commumnity activist. Civil rights fighter. Mom. She fought her way upstream to get here and is already making a difference. Get to know her in today's Capitol Ideas.
Capitol Ideas returns today after a brief hiatus while lawmakers burned the midnight oil in more than a week of marathon floor sessions. Today's idea-generator is Rep. Lisa Parshley of Olympia, interviewed on her 60th day as a state representative.
Few things in life are certain, but it's a sure bet you've never heard a Capitol Ideas like this one. A dozen Democratic lawmakers, from veterans to brand-new members, making observations about life, one of the busiest weeks of the session, and the enduring Democratic values that most Washingtonians share.
Today Capitol Ideas welcomes yet another member of the 2025 Class of House Democrats. Rep. Shaun Scott was sent here by his neighbors in the 43rd district, the heart of Seattle. He's a creator, a polymath, and a leader, and we've got him now.
This is the eighth Capitol Ideas of 2025, and the fourth to feature a lawmaker in their first session as a member of the Legislature, and the House Democratic Caucus. Hooray for new faces and new energy. Today's guest is Rep. Victoria Hunt of Issaquah in the 5th district. She's an environmental scientist, an educator, a former Issaquah councilmember, and vice chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee.
Washington's crying need for rent stability and affordable housing is more crucial than it's ever been, and Rep. Nicole Macri is once again a point person in the effort. We'll talk about these issues and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
It's been a couple of years since Rep. Davina Duerr stopped by the Capitol Ideas HQ for a conversation, and in legislative years that can be an eternity. We'll find out what we've missed in today's show.
Rep. Brianna Thomas has done a lot of things in her life, and they all led, in one way or another, to the day she was sworn in as Washington state's newest representative. Today we talk about some of those stops along the way, and what she has planned for this new experience.
Rep. Adison Richards works for the folks of Washington's 26th legislative district, a beautiful, seahorse-shaped piece of western Washington that stretches from Bremerton down to Longbranch and from Vaughan in the west to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Adison is new here but he knows how the place works, and he's putting that knowledge to work.
Rep. Brandy Donaghy is vice chair of the House Transportation Committee, and that's just a quarter of her committee portfolio. She lives in Snohomish County and writes laws that make Washington a lot better place. Today we'll talk about some of her ideas for 2025.
It's been just a few days since Osman Salahuddin became 48th-district Rep. Osman Salahuddin. That could be one reason why this might be the most interesting podcasts you've heard in a long time.
Rep. Timm Ormsby chairs the House Appropriations Committee. 2025 is a budget year in Olympia. Those two facts alone make this a podcast worth your time.
Before he was sent to be their voice in Olympia by the good people of the 47th district, Rep. Chris Stearns already had a full resume. He's an accomplished attorney working with tribes throughout the nation. He's done a stint with the federal Energy Department. He was a Democratic committee counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now we've got him, and you'll meet him today.
This is a good one. We say that every time, but seriously, you want to hear what Rep. Debra Entenman has to say about higher ed, civil rights, equity, school lunches, being a legislator, and lots more. Stick around.
Hit the PLAY button on Capitol Ideas today to hear an exclusive conversation with Washington state Speaker Laurie Jinkins. After five years at the helm of a growing Democratic majority, she shares her view of the just-concluded session and the 23-24 biennium, talks about some key legislative victories for the people of Washington, and surveys the work still to be done. All that, in just 30 minutes.
As co-chair of the House Committee on Controlled Substances and Gaming, Rep. Sharon Wylie is instrumental in shaping Washington's policies on one of the 21st century's most controversial issues. And that's just for starters. Open up today's episode of Capitol Ideas and meet a unique lawmaker.
My-Linh Thai contains multitudes. She's a state representative. An education leader. A pharmacist. Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State House of Representatives. A parent. A refugee, the first ever elected to the state House. Most of all, she's someone who cares about others, and that becomes clear when you look at the the legislation she's authored during her six years in Olympia, and when you hear her speak. You'll get the chance to do both in today's Capitol Ideas.
Today we'll spend a half hour with Lakewood state Rep. Dan Bronoske. If you tune in to TVW when the House is in session, there's a good chance you'll see him handling the gavel and presiding over the debate as deputy speaker pro tem. When he's not on the dais, he's working on bills to make life better for workers, people in crisis, students, retirees, veterans, families . . . in other words, all of us. You don't want to miss today's conversation.
It's a tough job, and she loves it. Mukilteo state Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self chairs the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia, represents 160,000 of her friends and neighbors in the 21st legislative district, and has spent most of her professional career trying to make life better for children and their families. She also sponsors a whole lot of very good bills, and we'll talk about most all these roles in today's Capitol Ideas.
It's Day 39 of the 60-day 2024 legislative session in Olympia, and schedules are tight. We were lucky to grab 20 minutes with Rep. Tana Senn, and the luck is yours, as well. Her bills on emission-free school buses, adult family homes, firearm safety, and getting special-needs kids off on the right foot are moving toward the governor's desk, and we'll talk about all these and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
Now in the midst of his sixth year in the House, Rep. Bill Ramos makes a return visit to Capitol Ideas today. Bill chairs the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations, and has seats on the Transportation Committee and the Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry panel as well. That makes for a busy session, but today he stopped moving long enough to bring us up to speed on his priorities for the session and how his key bills are faring in this short, jam-packed legislative session.
Rep. Melanie Morgan champions equity in most everything she does, and she does a lot. Join us today for a conversation with Rep. Morgan, who in six short years in the Legislature has become a force to be reckoned with. Today's Capitol Ideas covers everything from agriculture to Black History Month -- and Black history -- to renewable energy and Washington's growing housing shortage.
Speaker emeritus Frank Chopp, who voluntarily switched his role to Rep. Frank Chopp at the end of the 2019 session, is the special guest on this episode of Capitol Ideas. The good things he's done for the Evergreen State are too numerous to list here, but if you listen to today's conversation, you'll notice a promise to include some items in the show notes. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that he played a pivotal role in: the state Housing Trust fund; the best minimum wage in the U.S.; paid family and medical leave; free college and university tuition for those who need it most; the Marriage Equality Act; the Dream Act; the Voting Rights Act; the Longterm Care Trust Act; the Education Legacy Fund; The College Bound Scholarship program; Apple Health for All Kids; Apple Health and Homes; and 20 years of state budgets that put people first.
Rep. Tina Orwall is one of the busiest people in Olympia. If she doesn't hold the record for the legislator with the greatest number of bills that became laws, she's in the running. And as the longtime Speaker Pro Tem of the state House of Representatives, she wields a firm gavel to run most House floor sessions. She's back today for another new episode of Capitol Ideas.
Meet Rep. Greg Nance. He's a native Kitsapian, if that's a word, lives on Bainbridge Island, is a non-profit leader with deep experience in youth-mentoring, education, and mental health care. He's a conservationist, an athlete, and now . . . a state lawmaker.
Ah, Sweet 16. If Capitol Ideas were a person and not a podcast, it would be ready for a driver's license. This experiment kicked off in 2009 and it's been here ever since. Today's conversation features House Majority Floor Leader Monica Stonier, who's been a guest more than once over the years. Today she'll talk about her leadership position, working across the party aisle, and sponsoring groundbreaking legislation to make Washington a better place to live, work, and raise a family..
Rep. Laurie Jinkins was chair of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee when her colleagues changed her title to Speaker of the House of Representatives at the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. Since then she’s led the House through a pair of unprecedented remote sessions necessitated by the pandemic, overseen the creation of an impressive number of landmark laws, sat at the head of the most diverse Democratic caucus in the history of the state, and backpacked all but 40 miles of the Washington section of the fabled Pacific Crest Trail. She’ll talk about all this and more in today’s special edition of Capitol Ideas.
If the Washington state operating budget were part of the Marvel universe, today’s episode of Capitol Ideas might be the origin story. We’re about to hear from Representative Steve Bergquist, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, in a conversation recorded just a few days before the House and Senate both voted to approve that nearly-seventy-billion dollar two-year spending plan.
What's the state of public education in Washington three years after we first encountered the word coronavirus? We'll hear about that and more from Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, veteran chair of the House Education Committee on today's Capitol Ideas.
Rep. April Berg has done a lot. In today's Capitol Ideas we'll get to know the lawmaker who chairs one of the Legislature's key standing committees, and we'll find out what she's learned during her three years in the House.
Today's Capitol Ideas touches on Washington's housing crisis, abortion rights in a post-Dobbs world, equity for foster youth, and plenty more. The guest is Rep. Emily Alvarado, and that means this is a high-energy, solidly informative, and very entertaining conversation.
Rep. Mari Leavitt’s 28th legislative district might have the heaviest concentration of military families in Washington, and as the daughter of a Vietnam vet, she’s got a special place in her heart for those constituents. In today’s Capitol Ideas you’ll hear about her bill to help newly arrived military spouses resume their careers in the Evergreen State. She’ll talk about her plan to save lives during increasing extreme weather events. And we’ll discuss her goal of making life more difficult for the backroom pill factories poisoning Washington’s kids.
Today’s Capitol Ideas is a wide-ranging conversation with 48th-district Democratic Rep. Vandana Slatter, chair of the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce. Two of her key bills, the creation of the Washington Climate Corps and the My Health, My Data Act, account for most of the episode, and this is one you won’t want to miss.
Washington needs between 150,000 and 250,000 additional housing units of all kinds to fully solve its housing crisis over the next several years. That’s a tall order, and a number of bills aimed at the issue will go through the House Local Government Committee. The new chair of that committee is Rep. Davina Duerr of Bothell, in Washington’s 1st legislative district. Davina is an architect, and a former member of the Bothell City Council. She’s got ideas, and we’ll hear what some of them are today.
The current group of majority House Democrats in Washington state features more of just about everything. More women. More people of color. More WOMEN of color. And more mothers of young children. That last "more" is what we'll talk about today. Our guests are Reps. Tana Senn and Liz Berry, who got together in 2021 and organized the Moms Caucus. The Moms have had a strong influence on legislation, and they've had some fun. We'll talk about all that and more on today's Capitol Ideas. For a look at the Moms Caucus priority bills, copy this into your browser: tinyurl.com/f5uhy5pa
Capitol Ideas is pleased to introduce Rep. Sharlett Mena. She's done policy and communications work in the Washington state Senate, Gov. Inslee's administration, and the U.S. Congress. We've got her now, as a brand-new state representative and member of the House Democratic Caucus. Today she talks about her life, her values, her legislative priorities, and more.
Teens who take part in Washington's legislative page program have a unique experience. They come to Olympia from all over the state, sponsored by a lawmaker, and spend a week learning about state government while helping out with everything from delivering important papers to carrying the flags in opening ceremonies in the House and Senate. In today's special Capitol Ideas, Spokane Rep. Marcus Riccelli interviews high-school freshman Claire Poulsen about her week as a page. For more information and a link to the application to be a page, visit https://leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx. And for a short video on the page experience, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjNt5JuL0aY
A few days ago Capitol Ideas introduced Rep. Mary Fosse, and today we'll follow up with her seatmate from the 38th district, Rep. Julio Cortes. Julio brings a unique life story to the Legislature -- immigrant, public servant, athlete, social worker -- and we'll talk about all that and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
Today we’ll spend some time on Capitol Ideas with Rep. Mary Fosse of the 38th legislative district up in Snohomish County. This is Mary’s first session in the House but as a longtime community activist, a member of the Everett City Council, and a former legislative staffer, she knows how the place works. We’ll talk about that, and more, in today’s episode.
Week five of Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon's first session as Majority Leader of the Washington state House of Representatives coincided with policy cut-off, arguably the busiest week of the year. He still agreed to spend some time with Capitol Ideas, and now is your chance to get to know a remarkable leader.
Rep. Roger Goodman returns to Capitol Ideas today, seven years after his last appearance. As chair of the newly renamed House Community Safety, Justice, and Re-entry Committee, he’s busier than ever. Find out what he and his committee are working on in the 2023 legislative session in today’s conversation.
The Nothing About Us Without Us Act is Rep. Darya Farivar's highest-profile bill in her first year as a lawmaker, but it's not her only one. Get to know the 46th district's new representative, the first Iranian-American woman ever elected to the Legislature and a fighter for the underrepresented, in this Thursday edition of Capitol Ideas.
Rep. Marcus Riccelli dropped by the Capitol Ideas studio to talk about free school meals, protecting reproductive freedom, chipping away at the healthcare workforce shortage, and more.
Rep. Strom Peterson (D-21st, Edmonds) visits Capitol Ideas to talk about public safety, octopus farming, and his bipartisan approach to easing the housing crisis. This is one you don't want to miss.
Today we're talking with 10th-district Rep. Clyde Shavers: Annapolis grad, former naval officer, and brand-new state representative.
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is a school counselor, a mental-health counselor, a state representative, and chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia. Not surprisingly, she's passionate about education and young people. Give Capitol Ideas 15 minutes today and you'll hear all about it. And more.
Rep. My-Linh Thai came to America from her native Vietnam at 15. Years later she became the first refugee elected to serve in the state House of Representatives, and she began the 2023 session with a new title: Deputy Majority Leader. You'll meet her today, and you'll be glad you did.
Back in 2009, Washington State Rep. Timm Ormsby and Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter were featured on the third-ever episode of a brand-new podcast called Capitol Ideas, talking about the teamwork necessary in a legislative office. We circle back today to find out what's changed, and what hasn't, now that 13 years have passed and, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Timm is the chamber's head budget writer.
Despite a tenure of just three years in the House, Rep. Jesse Johnson has been one of the Legislature's busiest and most respected members almost from the day he was first sworn in to fill a vacancy in the 30th district in January 2020. He's leaving the House at the end of his current term to play a bigger role in the life of his newborn son. In this special Capitol Ideas, Jesse reflects on his brief time as a lawmaker, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and work yet to be done.
Rep. Lisa Callan co-chairs the Legislature's Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. She sits on the House Children, Youth, and Families Committee. Are you seeing a pattern here? If you're a child, a youth, or a member of a family, chances are excellent Lisa has sponsored successful legislation during her time in the House that makes your life better. Stick around for a half hour and get acquainted with someone who plays an important role in your life, whether you know it or not.
Rep. Tina Orwall, today's guest, is a powerhouse of a legislator. She has a tendency to sponsor successful bills, and a look at those bills reveals where her priorities lie: justice for those who have suffered sexual assault or trafficking, veterans' issues, suicide prevention, jobs and economic development, safety for persons experiencing behavioral health crises, foster youth, and adoptee rights, to name just a few. Tina is also Speaker Pro Tem of the Washington State House, handling the gavel and guiding debate during most floor sessions. She makes a return visit to Capitol Ideas today.
For this week's Capitol Ideas we're heading up to the Olympic Peninsula to hear from Rep. Mike Chapman, the six-year veteran of the House who chairs the House Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. Mike is a former law-enforcement professional, served four terms as a Clallam County commissioner, and lives in Port Angeles when he's not in Olympia. Today's topics range from the college-loan crisis to the origins of Washington's short legislative sessions to getting things by forging bipartisan alliances.
What's it like to occupy the highest office in the Washington state House of Representatives? Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins knows. What's that job entail? And how is she committed to making Washington a better, healthier, safer, and more equitable home for everyone in the state? You'll find out in today's special Capitol Ideas.
It's always a good day when House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan drops by the Capitol Ideas HQ. Now in his 12th year as Majority Leader, Rep. Sullivan is busy with budget negotiations and countless other duties, but high on his priority list is getting his one-percent college-loan program approved in the Senate and signed by Gov. Inslee. It's been a multi-year effort and this looks like the year.
If you know what doulas are and the valuable services they provide, you'll enjoy this conversation with Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley. If doula is a new word for you, you just might get even more out of today's episode. Rep. Harris-Talley (D-Seattle) is sponsor of the Doulas for All Act, legislation that could transform the birthing process for countless families. To keep up with progress on the bill, visit https://bit.ly/3H1AMdb.
This is your chance to get to know Rep. Brandy Donaghy. Brandy, who lives in Everett and represents Washington's 44th legislative district, is a Navy vet, community educator, and emergency-preparedness expert who was appointed in December to the House seat vacated when Rep. John Lovick accepted an appointment to the state Senate.
Current estimates put Washington's housing shortage at about 250,000 units, and today's guests, Rep. Jessica Bateman and Sen. Mona Das, are sponsoring legislation that would open the door for construction of tens of thousands of affordable homes -- duplexes, triplexes, quads and sixplexes -- in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes only. Bateman and Das explain how HB 1782 and SB 5670 could begin to reverse decades of sprawl, housing inequity, and greenhouse gas pollution, and the homelessness crisis that has mushroomed in recent years. To keep up with progress on the bills, visit https://bit.ly/3B0VXKY or https://bit.ly/3GwU8GC, respectively.
The first Capitol Ideas guest of 2022 is Rep. Tana Senn. Tana is from Bellevue, is a Democrat, of course, and is one of the state's leading advocates for kids, young adults, and families. She's sponsoring an important bill about preventing youth homelessness this session, and we'll talk about it today. If you want to see the bill and track its progress, visit https://bit.ly/32pDTNQ.
Long before joining the House Democratic Caucus in 2021, Jessica Bateman, both as a private citizen and as a member of the Olympia city council, was a fighter -- for climate action, affordable housing, and affordable and accessible health care, for social justice, equity, and kids at risk. Now that she's representing the 22nd legislative district as a state representative, Jess fights for those same issues, but in a larger arena. We'll talk about all this and more in today's special edition of Capitol Ideas.
Growing up in Marysville, Rep. Emily Wicks knew that somehow, someday, she wanted to work for her friends and neighbors. Since her appointment to fill a vacant seat in the state House in 2020, and her subsequent election victory, she’s been doing just that as a state representative. In this edition of Capitol Ideas we’ll hear about those premonitions, what she’s been doing since they came true, and what her plans are for 2022 and beyond.
Meet Rep. April Berg of Mill Creek, in the heart of Washington's 44th legislative district. She hasn't learned her way around the Capitol, because her first session was conducted remotely. But she's learned how to succeed as a legislator, and how to be an effective voice for her constituents. Give her 18 minutes today, and she'll give you a fresh look at the future of your Legislature.
Rep. My-Linh Thai is many things: a pharmacist, a mother, a PTA leader, a former school board director, a state representative, and an American citizen who came to the U.S. as a refugee from her native Vietnam at age 15. We'll talk about how all those experiences helped shape her philosophy of compassionate legislating, and how that approach to lawmaking makes her an effective member of the Legislature.
Rep. Melanie Morgan makes an encore appearance in today's Capitol Ideas, and we'll talk about racial equity, the new Juneteenth state holiday, why passing bills is sometimes overrated, and reaching across the Cascades to make Washington's supposed east-west divide irrelevant.
Brand-new state Rep. Tarra Simmons is an attorney, a former nurse, and a familiar face at the Capitol from her years of advocacy for laws designed to extend the American dream to communities that haven’t always been at the front of the line, including but not limited to persons formerly or currently incarcerated. There's a reason for that, but if you want to learn more you'll just have to listen.
In a tragic and tumultuous year, relations between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to serve have frayed beyond the breaking point. Police killings, brutally excessive uses of force, and militarization to the point where police officers resemble occupying forces...they've taken a toll. Rep. Johnson brought together citizens affected by police violence, law enforcement groups, lawmakers, and other interested parties to forge a solution. We'll talk about the results of his efforts today.
It's been a little over a year since Rep. Shelley Kloba sat down for a conversation on Capitol Ideas. A lot has changed in that time, including the pandemic that forced us to record today's episode remotely. Something that hasn't changed is her commitment to the idea that you own your personal data, and it should be up to you how it's used and who uses it. We'll talk about that today.
Of the thousands of farms in Washington, an agriculture-intensive state, fewer than 100 are owned by Black farmers. Rep. Melanie Morgan points to generations of systemic racism as a key reason for this underrepresentation, and is sponsoring legislation this year to enlist the state Department of Agriculture, schools, and other allies to help facilitate an increase in Black-owned family farms.
Rep. Alex Ramel introduced the Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings Act this session to put Washington on track to meet its carbon goals by mid-century. It's a key piece in a package of legislation designed to turn the tide on climate change and reduce the staggering quantities of carbon belched out into Washington skies by countless thousands of buildings using natural gas, mostly for heating that could be done almost carbon-free by electricity. We're kicking off the 2021 season of Capitol Ideas by letting Ramel, a Democratic lawmaker from the 40th legislative district, tell us how the HHCB Act works, and why it needs to.
Rep. Davina Duerr was appointed last summer to the state House seat in the 1st district that came open when its previous occupant moved to the Senate to replace a departing member. This was her first session, but she's a quick study and, as you'll hear, she didn't sit in the back row and wait to be called on.
Democratic lawmakers have received thousands of emails, letters, phone calls, personal visits and, sadly, threats, in recent days from people hoping to derail Senate Bill 5395 (https://tinyurl.com/qqbg7dr). The House version of that bill, which requires age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual-health education to be part of the curriculum in public schools, was sponsored by State Rep. Monica Stonier of Vancouver. She visits "Capitol Ideas" today to talk about the actual content of the bill, the disinformation campaign that was mounted against it, and the "debate" that featured Republican lawmakers using language on the House floor that caused TVW, the state's public affairs television service, to post onscreen parental warnings.
Given what’s gone on and is still going on in the world, ensuring the security and integrity of elections is about as important an idea as it’s possible to talk about in a representative democracy like ours. Rep. Gael Tarleton agrees, and she's been talking about it, and thinking about it, and doing something about it, for years. We've got her today, and what she has to say is worth listening to.
There's equality . . . and then there's equity. State Rep. Mia Gregerson is one of many lawmakers with equity on their minds, and it's an important issue in the Washington Legislature this year. Today she talks to "Capitol Ideas" about her hopes for an Office of Equity, and why it would matter.
Before she became Rep. Amy Walen, today's guest on "Capitol Ideas" was Mayor Amy Walen of Kirkland. She has deep ties to her district on the east side of Lake Washington, and she brought her commitment to create affordable housing to Olympia. Reducing homelessness and boosting the state's inventory of affordable housing are key issues in the 2020 legislation, and Amy has several irons in that fire. We'll explore those efforts in today's conversation.
Today's "Capitol Ideas" is a sort of civics lesson, but more interesting than the ones you took -- or didn't take -- in high school. Chief House budget writer Rep. Timm Ormsby reflects on how a multi-billion-dollar state operating budget takes shape: the long days and even longer nights, the tough decisions, the unheralded bipartisanship and, again, more tough decisions. This is background you probably haven't heard before, and it's definitely worth 16 minutes of your time.
Rep. Lisa Callan was an engineer helping to build the best airplanes in the world. She was a school board director. She was a lot of other things to admire, but now we've got her and she's a state representative from Issaquah, in Washington's 5th legislative district. Legislatively, 2020 has been the year of the child for Lisa. Listen in while we talk about that in this edition of "Capitol Ideas."
Rep. Monica Stonier joins us on “Capitol Ideas” today. The Vancouver Democrat serves as Majority Floor Leader for the Democrats in the Washington state House, and balances that leadership position with her duties as a representative of the people of Vancouver's 49th legislative district.
We sit down today with Rep. Dave Paul, midway through his second session as the representative from Washington’s 10th legislative district. Dave is vice president of Skagit Valley College, so a lot of his work involves education, but he’s also active in veterans’ issues, transportation, the environment . . . and lots more. Give him 12 minutes of your time today, and you’ll meet a pretty interesting public servant.
Democratic state Rep. Jesse Johnson was sworn into office barely a month ago, but he's already as busy as a seasoned lawmaker. We'll hear about his background today, and his service on the Federal Way city council, and his plans to make Washington a better, more equitable, and more inclusive place to live, work, and raise a family.
Democratic state Rep. Shelley Kloba is so concerned about our ability to keep prying technological eyes off of our private lives that she hosted a series of coffee-shop meetings with her constituents in the 1st legislative district to listen to their own concerns, and their ideas. The result is an omnibus data-privacy bill now moving through the Legislature. We'll talk about that today in "Capitol Ideas."
Democratic state Rep. Tina Orwall has learned a lot about ultrafine particles, tiny pollutants (800 times smaller than the thickness of an average strand of human hair). She spearheaded a recent study to find out how prevalent they are in her district, which includes one of the nation's busiest and fastest-growing airports. The results? They're very, very prevalent. She also talks about ongoing efforts to site a new or expanded regional airport to take some of the pressure off of SeaTac International, which is bursting at the seams.
Democratic state Rep. Melanie Morgan visits "Capitol Ideas" in this first episode of 2020 and the first of the current legislative session. Morgan, who was recently elected by her fellow Democrats to serve as deputy majority floor leader in the House, talks about rental reforms, school nutrition, the push to establish a new Office of Equity in Washington, and her efforts to designate an official state dinosaur.
Democratic state Rep. Beth Doglio visits "Capitol Ideas" in this episode to talk about climate action, housing, transportation, and other priorities as we approach the January 13 opening of the 2020 legislative session.
Democratic state Rep. Mari Leavitt was a military kid who grew up to be a small-business owner, the deputy director of Pierce County Human Services, a PTSA leader and, with a doctorate in community college leadership, a college administrator for more than two decades. Today we talk about that journey and how she's putting her experience to good use representing her constituents in Washington's 28th legislative district in Pierce County.
As chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia, Rep. Eric Pettigrew is responsible for keeping 57 strong-minded individuals moving in relatively the same direction for the good of the state and their constituents. As a representative of Washington's 37th legislative district, one of the most diverse in the state, he advocates for issues that matter to that district. Add in the fact that he presided over the election of Washington's first new House Speaker in two decades, and you've got a full plate. We'll talk about all this and more in today's "Capitol Ideas."
Federal Way state Rep. Mike Pelliccioti came to the Legislature with a background as a criminal prosecutor, and the characteristics that spell success in that profession -- tenacity, doggedness, a mind for strategy an unswerving belief that things can, and should, be better -- have served him and his constituents well. You'll meet him today.
As a Boeing engineer, Lisa Callan helped create the best airplanes in the world. Now that she's a member of the majority Democratic Caucus in the Washington state House of Representatives, she's putting her creative skills to use to help build a better Washington. In this edition of Capitol Ideas, she talks about being a brand-new lawmaker, fixing a nototious traffic chokepoint in her district, giving Washington kids the best schools around, and more. Give her 16 minutes; you'll be glad you did.
For Rep. Jeff Morris, the future can't get here soon enough. Today we'll talk about energy -- how we get it, how we waste it, where the industry is heading and how his legislation that gives a thumbs-down to inefficient appliances is a first step to saving money, and lots of it. Plus, you'll learn what vampire power is. That's a bonus.
This special edition of Capitol Ideas focuses on the opioid epidemic and features two interviews: One with Debra Maher, whose son, Sean, died of a heroin overdose last year despite his eligibility to be involuntary committed to treatment under the terms of Ricky's Law, and the second with Rep. Lauren Davis, who helped create Ricky's Law before her election to the Legislature in 2018, and who is now sponsoring legislation to address the situation that allowed Sean to fall through the cracks, despite the fact that his was precisely the kind of case that Ricky's Law was designed to deal with.
Rep. Amy Walen is the 48th-district's newest legislator, but she knows her way around government. She's a former Kirkland city councilmember, and before her swearing in as a Democratic state representative she was mayor of that thriving King County city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. She's CEO of a car dealership, practiced law in Australia, cares about housing and transportation and the environment and firearm violence, and if you give us 13 minutes today, you'll be glad you got to know her.
Rep. Larry Springer works for the people of the 45th legislative district, a King County district that comprises Duvall and Woodinville, and parts of Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish. He’s deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, has been a member of that body since 2005, and for more than 30 years he’s owned and operated a retail wine store in Kirkland. That last fact is key to today's conversation. Give it a listen.
House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) was instrumental in solving the state's shortfall in basic-education funding, and now he's turned his attention to higher ed. In the 2019 session he's the force behind the Washington Student Loan Program, a low-cost, state-funded, self-sustaining program that could save generations of students from being indentured to high-interest creditors for much of their adult lives.
10th-district state Rep. Dave Paul showed up in Olympia with a long list of goals, and it's likely he'll accomplish a lot of them. In this brief conversation he touches on higher education, naturally, but also veterans' issues, tourism, the economy, the environment, electric cars and ferries, and more.
Rep. My-Linh Thai is a lot of things: a pharmacist, a successful businesswoman, a former member of the Bellevue school board . . . and, incidentally, a refugee who fled Vietnam with her family at age 15 and found a home in the U.S. She's the first refugee to be elected to the Washington state Legislature since statehood -- in other words, ever -- and she's got a story to tell.
In this installment of "Capitol Ideas" we meet Rep. Lauren Davis, midway through her second week as a state representative. With a resume that begins with Head Start teacher and goes on to include international development work in West Africa, advanced studies in Ghana as a Fulbright fellow, several non-profit startups and a stint with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it's hard to accept that she is one of the youngest members of the Washington state Legislature. For all that, her most personal and crucial work has involved helping people recover from alcoholism and drug addiction, and that's mostly what we talk about today. This is one you don't want to miss.
Today's "Capitol Ideas" is a relatively brief but powerful introduction to Rep. Debra Lekanoff, who became the Washington's first Native American state representative after 40th-district constituents tapped her for the job last fall. The new lawmaker from Bow, a tiny community in Skagit County, is part of the most diverse Democratic majority in state history, and her story is a good one.
As a school and mental health counselor, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self knows more about the dark side of childhood than most of us, but on that job and as a state lawmaker, she's in a unique position to understand problems, and to solve them. That's what today's "Capitol Ideas" is all about.
Few lawmakers can match Representative Tana Senn's passion and effectiveness as a voice for children and families in the Legislature. Today we're talking about how and why she came by that distinction, and we'll get a glimpse of her goals for the 2019 session as the new chair of the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee.
Rep. Mike Chapman represents one of Washington's most rural districts, and he's leading an effort to create good jobs and increase access to higher education in his and other districts from Seattle, Tacoma, and the other cities along the I-5 corridor who have prospered as the state recovers from the Great Recession. He talks about that effort today on "Capitol Ideas."
This is Rep. Shelley Kloba's second visit to "Capitol Ideas." She's that good. Today she'll talk about easing Washington's transportation crisis, improving special education in our K-12 schools, fine-tuning the rules surrounding recreational cannabis, and perhaps most interesting of all, how and why she got into public service.
Outside the Legislature, Rep. Nicole Macri has devoted her career to, in her words, "ensuring that people have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy homes that they can afford." It's not surprising that she brought that focus to Olympia when she was elected in 2016. Nicole is back for a new session, and today she talks about how she'll be approaching the issue, and others, in 2019.
State Rep. Gerry Pollet isn't shy about the need to upgrade special education in Washington's K-12 schools. In this fast-paced conversation he outlines the key problems and offers a set of legislative solutions.
We got to visit today with Rep. John Lovick, the 44th-district Democrat who serves as Speaker Pro Tem in the state House of Representatives. He was a state patrol office for more than 30 years, a state representative for nine, a county sheriff, a county executive, and then a state representative again. We talk about that and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
Today’s guest is 40th-district State Representative Jeff Morris. In this first of a two-part conversation, Jeff talks about some high-tech developments that have him interested, and how they're going to change life in Washington state.
Today’s guest is 40th-district State Representative Jeff Morris. In the conclusion of our two-part conversation, Jeff talks about some high-tech developments that have him interested, and how they're going to change life in Washington state.
Today’s guest is 11th-district State Representative Zack Hudgins, and the topic is voting. More to the point, we’ll talk about plans that Zack and others have to make it easier for qualified voters to cast their votes, and to make sure those votes count. As chair of the House Committee on State Government, Elections, and Information Technology, he’s in a pretty good position to achieve those goals.
DNA evidence gathered from victims of sexual assault can be law enforcement's most effective tool in identifying rapists, solving cold cases, and preventing future attacks. But when Washington state rep. Tina Orwall toured a police evidence locker several years ago, she saw untested kits gathering dust and stacked high on shelves. Her subsequent research led to a disturbing discovery: Washington alone had more than 6000 untested kits, and nationwide nearly half a million kits had never been tested. In today's Capitol Ideas podcast, she'll talk about her successful efforts to have those kits tested and the results used to ID rapists, and to prevent the situation from repeating itself.
Today's Capitol Ideas features a talk with Rep. Christine Kilduff about what she calls "the glue" that holds our society, and our legislative bodies, together: plain, civil behavior. It's an endangered species in today's Washington, D.C., but, with some notable exceptions, seems to be holding its own in Olympia.
The last time she was featured on Capitol Ideas, today's lawmaker was Representative Monica Stonier of the 17th legislative district. That was almost three years ago. Since then Monica lost her reelection bid, moved into the 49th, and resumed her public-education career as a middle-school instructional coach. Two years go by. A seat unexpectedly opens up for a 49th-district rep, Monica goes for it . . . and here we are, about to review her second time around as a freshman lawmaker.
This story started a long time ago, and it's looking like the end might possibly be coming into sight. The I-5 bridge spanning the Columbia River between Vancouver and Portland turned 100 years old this past Valentine's Day. Efforts to agree on and pay for a replacement have been going on for years, but as Washington state Representative Sharon Wylie explains, it's complicated. In this edition of "Capitol Ideas," she traces the past and points toward a promising future.
Today we look at a pair of bills sponsored by Rep. Noel Frame (D-Seattle). One would shortcut the currently cumbersome route college students with disabilities have to take when transferring between schools. The other looks at a high-tech alternative to college textbooks that can cost hundreds of dollars for a single course. Rep. Frame is joined by Washington Student Association members Anna Nepomuceno (UW-Tacoma) and Maresa Miranda (WSU-Vancouver).
Washington state pumps about 95 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. That's more than twice the targeted volume for the year 2050, and we're behind schedule to meet that goal. Burien Democrat Joe Fitzgibbon chairs the House Environment Committee in Olympia, and he's introduced a bill to speed up the process by taxing carbon polluters at a rate of $15 a ton. We'll talk about his bill, and why it matters, in this edition of "Capitol Ideas."
Violence against Muslims, Jews and people of color continues to increase, and one conversation about it doesn't seem to be enough. This week Rep. Derek Stanford and Aneelah Afzali, director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network, pick up where the last "Capitol Ideas" left off.
Overt acts of anti-Semitism are increasingly common around the U.S. and here in Washington state. Mosques are burned and vandalized. People who look vaguely Middle Eastern are targeted by violent xenophobes, and racist bullies do what racist bullies do. Is hate the new black? We hear today from a lawmaker and a rabbi to get their take on increasing threats to America's sustaining values, and what they're doing about it.
Rep. Joan McBride, Democrat from Kirkland, has worked with GOP Rep. Terry Nealey (Dayton) since last year on an effort to bring Washington's Public Records Act into the 21st century. In this bipartisan Capitol Ideas conversation, they talk about how they managed to craft bills that so far have the support of stakeholders on all sides of the issue.
Rep. Kristine Reeves works for, as she says, "the 137,000 people of the 30th district." That’s mostly south King County with a little bit of Pierce, and it includes Federal Way, Des Moines, Milton, Algona and Pacific and part of Auburn. She was sworn in as a brand new lawmaker on January 9, 2017.
Rep. Brian Blake works for the people of the 19th legislative district in southwest Washington. It’s a place where people fish not just for fun, but for a living, where the timber industry has employed generations of tough men and women, and where agriculture thrives. A former logger himself, Brian lives in Aberdeen, and in the Legislature he chairs the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Today we’re going to hear Representative Zack Hudgins talk mostly about an issue that’s on a lot of minds lately: cybersecurity. Zack has a professional background in the tech industry, and long before the word “hack” entered the average person’s vocabulary, he was looking at ways to keep online data safe and private.
House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) might be the most dedicated advocate for public schools in Olympia, and he's a leader on the state’s education-funding task force. But like every lawmaker, he’s also answerable to the constituents in his home district. In this case, that’s the 47th, and in today’s brief conversation he touches on both of these roles.
Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver) talked with Capitol Ideas a few days before being sworn in as a brand-new state lawmaker, after more than a decade as a classroom teacher and teaching coach. What was that transition like, and what did she learn in her first two years? Listen in and find out.
House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) talks about House Democratic priorities, what's passed, and what hasn't, as the clock ticks down on the first half of the 2014 session.
Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) talks about the fight to ensure that reproductive parity continues to be a Washington tradition.
By most any measure, the House Appropriations Committee is one of the plum assignments, and one of the key decision-making groups, in the Washington State Legislature. Rep. Timm Ormsby is vice chair of the committee, and today he reflects on just what that means.
We have a return visit today with state Representative Eric Pettigrew. Eric represents Washington’s 37th legislative district, which follows the southwestern shoreline of Lake Washington from south Seattle’s Capitol Hill down to Renton. The last time he was on “Capitol Ideas,” in the summer of 2010, Eric was chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee. His resume and job description have changed significantly since then, and that’s where we’ll start today.
Our guest today is state Representative Tina Orwall. Tina represents Washington’s 33rd legislative district, a South King County district that includes Sea-Tac, Des Moines, Normandy Park and large parts of both Burien and Kent. Before running for office in 2008, Tina focused her energy on strategic planning in health care and workforce development, affordable-housing efforts, advocacy for military veterans, developing public-private partnerships. In Olympia, she serves as assistant speaker pro tem of the House of Representatives, presiding over much of the floor action in that chamber. As a member of House leadership she’s got a seat on the Rules Committee, which decides which bills will make it to the House floor, and her policy committees include Early Learning and Human Services, Education Appropriations and Oversight, and Judiciary. And to make sure she doesn’t find herself with any spare time, she co-chairs the Joint Committee on Veterans’ and Military Affairs. If you’ve listened to Capitol Ideas for a while, you may remember Tina’s first visit in the summer of 2010.
Our guest today is state Representative Laurie Jinkins. Laurie represents Washington’s 27th legislative district, a vaguely mushroom-shaped piece of northern Pierce County that includes most of Tacoma and all of Ruston, and stretches from Fife in the east to Highway 16 in the west. Representative Jinkins is midway through her first two-year term in the House. Before running for office in 2010, Laurie was – and still is -- deputy director of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, managing its daily operations. She’s served as Washington state’s assistant secretary of health, and as a young law-school graduate she worked as assistant state attorney general in Tacoma. She’s also a board member, director or member of far too many civic organizations to mention. In Olympia, Laurie is vice chair of the House Healthcare and Wellness Committee, and sits on the transportation, capital budget and environment committees as well.
Welcome to the first Capitol Ideas podcast of 2011. It’s a new year, a new session, and we’re speaking today with a new member of the Legislature, Washington state Representative Cindy Ryu. Cindy was elected in November to represent the state’s 32nd legislative district, a north King and south Snohomish county district that stretches from Edmonds in the northwest all the way down to Kirkland in the southeast. In between, the district includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Shoreline, Cindy’s home. Representative Ryu is new to the statehouse, but this isn’t her first taste of public service. She’s a former president of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, and served on that city’s city council for two years before her election as mayor in 2008. Two months ago she became the first Korean-American woman elected to serve in the state House of Representatives.
We’re speaking today with state Representative Sherry Appleton. Sherry represents Washington’s 23rd legislative district, which comprises the bulk of Kitsap County, including Poulsbo, where she lives, as well as Bainbridge Island, Silverdale, Kingston and East Bremerton. She was elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 2004 and is currently vice-chair of the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee, and is a member of the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Health Care and Human Services Appropriations committees.
We’re speaking today with state Representative Mike Sells. Mike represents Washington’s 38th legislative district, a fast-growing Snohomish County district that includes Everett, Marysville and Tulalip. Mike is vice chair of the House Higher Education, and he’s also a member of the Transportation and General Government Appropriations committees. We spoke recently in his Everett office.
State Rep. Tina Orwall represents Washington's 33rd Legislative District, including the communities of Des Moines, SeaTac, and Normandy Park, as well as parts of Burien and the west half of the city of Kent. The Democratic freshman serves as vice chair of the House Human Services Committee and is a member of the chamber’s education and capital-budget panels as well.
Seattle State Rep. Eric Pettigrew is an eight-year veteran lawmaker representing Washington's 37th legislative district. It's a distinctly urban district and one of the state's most diverse, stretching from Seattle's busy waterfront seaport east to the shores of Lake Washington, and south to Renton, comprising nearly a dozen separate neighborhoods (Rainier Valley, Madrona, North Beacon Hill, Rainier Beach, Mt. Baker, Leschi, Columbia City, southern Capitol Hill, Skyway and Hillman City).
Zack Hudgins of Tukwila represents Washington's 11th legislative district. He's floor leader for the majority Democrats in the Washington State House of Representatives, and in today's "Capitol Ideas," he reviews the 2010 session, looks forward to 2011, and talks about the diverse district he serves.
One of the most pressing, most expensive, and most controversial projects in Washington state today is the proposed replacement of the State Route 520 floating bridge that spans Lake Washington. It’s a bridge that’s used by more than 150,000 people every day, connecting the city of Seattle with Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond and other cities on the east side of the lake. Replacing the bridge will be a massive project, and as a lawmaker whose district includes the eastern terminus of the bridge, Rep. Larry Springer is a key member of the Legislature’s 520 Work Group. That’s what we’re going to talk about today.
Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) and Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter give a behind-the-scenes look at how a legislative office works.