By the Washington Policy Center’s count, more than 1,125 bills and other measures have been introduced ten days into the 2019 legislative session. Within those stacks of bills are two initiatives to the legislature worth keeping your eye on. Initiative 976, which would once again set annual license fees for vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds at $30 and Initiative 1000, which would restore race-based affirmative action to state law without the use of quotas or preferential treatment. (Washington Policy Center)

If you’ve spent any time commuting on I-405 through Bellevue or I-5 by Tacoma, you didn’t need a study to tell you this. The Puget Sound region ranked as 9^thworst by one study, with another ranking Washington as the worst place for drivers in the contiguous U.S. One study by Wallet Hub of the best and worst states to drive in, penciled Washington in at number 48. (Seattle Times)

After a staffer from Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda’s office tweeted an obscenity at the deputy mayor, they supposedly resigned. The strange thing is, the staffer is still on the job…despite having “resigned” in November of last year. That staffer, as recently as last week was introduced by his still boss, Councilmember Mosqueda. Resignation must mean something different inside Seattle City Hall. (My Northwest)

According to one analyst, taxpayers need to fork over $14.9 million over the next two years to avoid a toll-rate increase on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. If the Legislature fails to provide the funds, the State Transportation Commission would start a rate-setting process to determine how much tolls would climb, according to Carl See, a senior financial analyst. (The News Tribune)

Assuming she runs for re-election, Seattle City Councilmember Debora Juarez will now face a credible challenger. Ann Davison Sattler, a former Seattle SuperSonics employee, attorney, and Mom, jumped into the race yesterday to address the number of challenges Juarez and the council have failed to fix. “I’m running because the city council is not solving the problems facing our neighborhoods such as homelessness, substance abuse, and public safety. It’s time to put new players on the court.” (KING 5)

Reps. Matt Shea and Bob McCaslin (R-Spokane Valley) have reintroduced legislation to split Washington state along the Cascades and create the state of Liberty from the eastern side. The group behind the effort has already designed a state bird and says that a state constitution is in the works. It’s unlikely the bill will make it out of Olympia and even if it did, it would have to go to Congress to approve the new state. (YakTriNews.com)

After being paid $25,000, investigators can confidently say there was in fact no bullying on the Spokane City Council. After complaints surfaced, an investigator looked into seven employees’ concerns regarding City Council President Ben Stuckart and Councilmembers Karen Stratton, Candace Mumm and Kate Burke. “The report was crystal clear, it’s just some people feeling that we’re not nice enough and that our tone isn’t right, and I can’t adjust how people feel about that,” Stuckart said. (Spokesman Review)

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