Senate Democrats are even going after their beloved electric vehicle drivers, to squeeze every last tax dollar out of taxpayers. A proposal could double registration fees for electric vehicles to make up for the fact EV drivers don’t pay gas tax. “That’s enough that it will pay for roads, also we will have enough to pay for infrastructure buildouts… so charging stations being able to give people incentives to buy electric vehicles by providing a tax exemption,” said Sen. Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens). (KIRO 7)

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have decertified a program at the state’s Rainier School for people with developmental disabilities which will cost the state $12 million in federal funding. The Thurston County facility was cited for failing to meet basic safety and health requirements. Last year, Western State Hospital, the state’s largest psychiatric facility, was decertified by the same agency costing $53 million in federal funding. (KOMO News)

After former liberal state Senator Kevin Ranker was accused of sexual assault, lawmakers in Olympia promised drastic steps to help create a safer work environment at the Legislature. Months later, the Legislature still hasn’t created or staffed independent offices to receive and review workplace complaints. “If you take the elevator here, you’ll see these signs that say, code of conduct, respectful workplace and there’s also a website,” Rep. Gina Mosbrucker (R-Goldendale). (Seattle Times)

Despite vehement objection from Republicans, House Democrats rammed through Inslee’s socialized medicine plan, sending the bill over to the Senate. The proposal would create a state insurance option, which will increase costs, reduce insurance plans, and eliminate providers. “This is an illusion of care,” said Rep. Joe Schmick (R-Colfax), ranking Republican on the House Health Care and Wellness committee. (MyNorthwest)

As if Kent residents didn’t have enough reasons to be disappointed in the abysmal management of Sound Transit, the transit agency could demolish the new Dick’s Drive In in the city. The land would be used to build a big staging area to store their trains in the South End. Sound Transit says this option would save the taxpayers money…which we all know is a big concern for an agency notorious for wasting millions and millions and millions of dollars. (MyNorthwest)

The Washington State Auditor found that the Battle Ground School District didn’t handle Title I funds correctly. The audit found that the district didn’t follow federal rules for allocating the funds which caused $36,032 to be questioned. Federal Title I funds are intended to support low-income students. Aside from this issue, the district received an otherwise clean audit according to its Chief Financial Officer. (Columbia)

The remaining Columbia County Commissioners will meet today to choose former Commissioner Norm Passmore’s successor. Passmore resigned in January because he and his wife were relocating to Oregon. The commissioners will interview Kaye Eaton, Thomas Konan and Ryan Rundell who were chosen by Columbia County Republican PCOs to fill the seat. (Union-Bulletin)

The Harrah Elementary School has stood for 82 years, and after all that time students in the Mt. Adams School District will be getting an upgrade. The new school will be built on 70 acres of farmland adjacent to the east town limits and will house students from kindergarten through eighth grade. “They’ve been anticipating this for years, so it’s really exciting,” Superintendent Curt Guaglianone said of the community. “During our board meeting when we announced it — when the board says, ‘Yes, we’re purchasing this land. Yes, we’re going to build this school’ — we had three people in tears.” (Yakima Herald)

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