Gov. Jay Inslee announced plans yesterday for a $675 million boost to the state’s mental health system in his proposed budget. Of the large investment, $56 million of it would be sent to Western State Hospital for improvements. It deserves to be noted, however, that under Inslee’s mismanagement, Western State lost over $50 million in federal funding. (Seattle Times)

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is angry, and he’s letting people know it (oh no!). He publicly admonished members of a task force on preventing mass school shootings for leaving out restrictions on the size of ammunition magazines in their final recommendations. “In the likely event Washington state experiences another mass shooting made more violent due to a high-capacity magazine, the people of this state will ask why this group did not recommend a limit on high-capacity magazines,” Ferguson said. (Everett Herald)

The state Dept. of Labor & Industries is proposing to raise the salary threshold for overtime, to the chagrin of the business community. Business leaders are concerned about how the change will affect career progressions. “The problem as far as cost goes is when we complicate and start mandating the rules to employers and companies…there is a cost to doing that,” Yakima Chamber of Commerce CEO Verlynn Best said. “Sometimes the cost is that rather than scheduling someone for an eight hour shift I may reschedule them for six hours.” (Lens)

The Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District Board ratified a new 25-year lease Mariners lease at Safeco Field. The vote wasn’t a sure thing, with now-public text messages showing some conflict among King County councilmembers. Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles texted a staffer that “the whole thing is bizarre. Still cannot figure out why Joe (McDermott) and Claudia (Balducci) are being so rigid.” The facilities district approved the lease 5-4. (KING 5)

Spokane County Commissioners passed a resolution to require public negotiations between the county and employee unions. Open negotiations would provide transparency in the bargaining process. Commissioner Al French said, “This resolution guarantees that the public can witness where millions of their public dollars are being spent and how they are negotiated.” (Washington State Wire)

The Spokane City Council approved putting a property tax increase on the February ballot. The additional tax, which is expected to raise $5.8 million, would go toward public safety funding. The measure was opposed by Mayor David Condon. (The Spokesman-Review)

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