You know taxes are too high when even Speaker Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) agrees that Sound Transit’s car tab taxing formula needs to be fixed. The Seattle Times ed board wrote, “This should be done without ‘paying off’ Sound Transit, as other lawmakers and the agency have suggested, or cutting parking facilities that were promised to voters who approved Sound Transit 3.” Of course, Chopp doesn’t support as big of a correction as legislative Republicans do. (The Seattle Times)

Over 5,000 people showed up for the 2018 March for Life in Olympia. Noreen McEntee Hobson, the president of the organization, spoke to a large crowd holding signs in support of the unborn on the steps of the capitol yesterday. (The Olympian)

“It’s time for the Legislature to act like they work for the people, not the other way around.” The News Tribune rightly said the recent decision by a Thurston County Superior Court judge “is a resounding victory for the public’s right to know.” (The News Tribune)

Unfortunately for transparency, the Legislature will appeal that public records ruling to the state Supreme Court, spending more taxpayer dollars against openness. Court spokesperson Wendy Ferrell said the decision to take the case directly or assign it to an appeals court will likely take several months. (The Seattle Times)

The City of Seattle’s Human Resources Department has been called a “toxic” work environment by former employees, who allegedly suffered health issues including anxiety, panic attacks, frustration “and even fear.” (Crosscut)

Battle Ground is changing over 2,300 streetlights to LED bulbs to help save energy, thanks to grants from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board’s Relight Washington Program, as well as Clark Public Utilities’ Energy Savings Incentive program. (The Spokesman-Review)

Longview resident Naomi Parker Fraley, aka Rosie the Riveter passed away last weekend at 96 years old. An image of Fraley flexing above the words, “We can do it!” inspired women working in WWII production – and will inspire future generations, as her legacy lives on. (The Columbian)

The race for Washington’s 5th Congressional seat is narrowing down to just two candidates after Eric Agnew, an Independent, took his name out of the running. That leaves Democratic candidate (and former state Senate Majority Leader) Lisa Brown facing incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R). (The Spokesman-Review)

Establishing a statewide tourism agency | SB 5251 | “I have a lot of tourism in my district, so I am very much concerned about the fact that we don’t have a statewide tourism promotional program going on [while] most states around us spend $10 million, $20 million, $30 million to promote their state,” said Sen. Dean Takko (D-Longview). (The Lens)

Decriminalizing charges of driving with a suspended license | SB 6189 & HB 2481 | “I think individuals, especially lower-income people, living paycheck to paycheck need to be able to go to work and pay their fines… so you want to make sure you’re not inhibiting a person’s ability to comply with the law,” Sen. Joe Fain (R-Auburn) said of the bill – which would remove the threat of jail time from by changing the consequences from a misdemeanor to a traffic infraction with a $250 penalty. (The Seattle Times)

Abolishing the death penalty | HB 1935 & SB 5354 | These bills are by the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who has gained the support of King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. “I think that the criminal justice system would be stronger without the death penalty,” Satterberg said. Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe opposes the idea, as well as arguments against the cost of the death penalty, saying, “I certainly reject the notion that the death penalty doesn’t have value. I think people who think it doesn’t have value simply don’t know where to look.” (MyNorthwest)

Washington State Equal Pay Act | HB 1506 | “When you’re starting to talk about these new jobs of the 26^th Century in IT related fields where there hasn’t been a lot of maturity in terms of employer/employee relations relative to other industries that have really built up the country, there is a lot of growth that needs to happen in terms of supporting worker rights,” Rep. Jesse Young (R-Gig Harbor) said. (MyNorthwest)

Renaming the cancer research endowment authority to the Andy Hill cancer research endowment | SB 5375 | 48-0-0-1 Senate vote, 94-1-0-3 House vote

Concerning the addition of services for long-term placement of mental health patients in community settings that voluntarily contract to provide the services | HB 2107 | 95-0-0-3 vote

Renaming State Route 395 the Thomas S. “Tom“ Foley Memorial Highway | HB 4002 |73-22-0-3 vote

Renaming Blanchard State Forest the “Harriet A. Spanel-Blanchard State Forest” | HJM 4010 | 88-7-0-3 vote

Concerning business practices by marijuana retailers that may mislead the public as to the ownership of a retailer | HB 2335 | 93-2-0-3 vote

Modifying marijuana product labeling requirements | HB 2474 | 88-7-0-3 vote

Concerning the minimum monthly salary paid to Washington state patrol troopers and sergeants | SB 6149

Extending the existing state property tax exemption for residences of senior citizens and disabled persons to local regular property taxes | HB 2597

Concerning public-private partnerships for alternative public works contracting | HB 2726

Protecting temporary workers | HB 2849

Limiting industrial insurance benefits for injuries or diseases caused by use of intoxicating liquor or drugs | HB 2697

Protecting survivors of domestic assault from employment discrimination | HB 2661

Creating a graduated reentry program of partial confinement for certain offenders | HB 2638

Reducing the use of certain toxic chemicals in firefighting activities | HB 2793

Concerning background checks for persons providing child care services | SB 6404

Providing public assistance to certain victims of human trafficking | SB 5818

Concerning local authority to address affordable housing needs through regulation of rent and associated charges | SB 2583

Providing local governments with options to preserve affordable housing in single-family neighborhoods | HB 2480

Concerning zoning regulations relating to accessory dwelling units | HB 2503

Concerning electronic monitoring of domestic violence perpetrators | SB 6292

Adding domestic violence harassment to the list of offenses for which a person is prohibited from possessing a firearm | SB 6298

Concerning provisions governing firearms possession by persons who have been found incompetent to stand trial and who have a history of one or more violent acts | SB 6297

Concerning the creation of a countywide port district within a county containing no port districts | HB 1347

Establishing a clean, efficient, renewable energy standard | SB 6253

Concerning the energy independence act | HB 2402

Applying campaign contribution limits to candidates for all special purpose districts authorized to provide freight and passenger transfer and terminal facilities | HB 2647

Establishing a matched student loan repayment program for rural medical doctors | HB 2598

Concerning mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect | HB 2509

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