Legislators have still not reached a budget agreement,  making today the start of week 2 of the Special Session in Olympia. A key issue in budget talks is the Democrats push for a capital gains tax. Seems everyone but Democrats realize the proposed capital gains tax is actually an income tax. The non-partisan legislative bill report found that, “Under the federal tax code, individuals and corporations pay tax on the net total of all their capital gains just as they do on other sorts of income.” See the full bill report here.

Gov. Inslee signs bill to allow marijuana stores to give free lockable storage boxes to deter kids and pets from accessing their product. The law also prohibits stores from marketing the boxes to incentivize purchase of other marijuana product or paraphernalia. 

The Department of Agriculture is now able to regulate production of and processing of marijuana-infused edibles, as per legislation Gov. Inslee signed into law last Thursday.

Seattle Councilmember Kshama Sawant contradicts previous calls to protest for May Day, claims “the march route does not include any freeways.” She also announced, “we stand together in advocating for peaceful and non-violent protest actions.” We assume this is in response to the Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead calling her battle cries, “reckless and irresponsible.” Sawant has been criticized more frequently lately for calling on citizens to protest everyday life in Seattle – including disrupting jobs and transportation routes.

Seattle Children’s Hospital and Microsoft are paying to use King County Metro Transit stops for their company-sponsored shuttles. Transportation officials hope the company shuttles using public transit stops will help with traffic decongestion but now worry about having enough curb space for passengers to load and depart shuttles.

Despite a report about expanding the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes showing no significant environmental impacts, Skagit County liberals are still fighting the upgrade. An upgrade to the refinery would reduce sulfur emissions during production and transfer of fuel products, along with other environmental benefits. Protests are to be expected as  Northwest liberals have never met a good idea they wouldn’t rally against.

Proposals for Key Arena renovation are scheduled to become public today. The proposals will include information regarding parking and traffic impacts, including the potential use of Westlake Center as a key transportation point in the Seattle Partners proposal and the development of an 850-stall parking garage in the Oak View Group proposal. The latter would need to secure funding from the Port of Seattle – but may be in luck as Seattle seems to have a blank-check policy when it comes to paying for transportation developments.

Construction on I-90 begins today, which will “cause major backups,” according to Spokane DOT spokesperson Ali Gilson. Lane reductions and traffic-related chaos will ensue until June 22^nd, save for Memorial Day weekend.

Spokane Schools have almost completed their $4 million security upgrades. The upgrades have been underway for the last two years.

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