A bill to move the state’s presidential primary election from May to the second Tuesday in March passed the State Senate yesterday. Secretary of State Kim Wyman requested the legislation in an effort to make Washington’s presidential primary more meaningful in the nominee selection process. SB 5333 also removes party declaration and would not allow write-in candidates. It now heads to the House for consideration.

The State Senate voted to ban holding an electronic device while driving. SB 5289, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center), repeals the current cell phone and texting law and simplifies the rules to disallow holding a cell phone, tablet or any other electronic device while operating a vehicle.

Sen. Guy Palumbo (D-Maltby) introduced a bill that he says would provide tax relief to small business while helping fund education. SB 5840 reforms the state’s B&O tax system by exempting the first $200,000 in gross revenue from all businesses while adding a 14% rate surcharge for businesses that gross more than $200,000. The proposal is said to raise more than $800 million in revenue each biennium.

Special meetings are being held in the State Senate over Sound Transit 3’s car tab fees, where Senators discussed how to lower the fees. “I’m optimistic we’re going to be able to move the car tab bill through… there’s such a strong outcry for relief,” Sen. Steve O’Ban (R-University Place) reported to KOMO news.

Sen. Tim Sheldon (D-Potlatch) has sponsored a bill that would allow motorcyclists to drive between traffic lanes when there are high levels of traffic congestion. This practice has been legalized in California. The lane-splitting bill has passed through the Senate and awaits a hearing in the House.

Tacoma schools are boosting attendance with letters. When students miss too many days of school, they send these “nudge” letters that show how many days the students have missed, alongside the district average. Lister Elementary in Tacoma had a 62% improvement in attendance for kids who received the letters.

“Desire-Not-to-Stop” an out-of-control streetcar managed by the Seattle Department of Transportation. The streetcar earned its name after losing power on First Hill and rolling, out of control, at 20 miles per hour until it was stopped by a curve in the tracks. There was a break in place, but the car overpowered it. This isn’t just embarrassing, it’s dangerous. As Jason Rantz, journalist from KIRO said, SDOT seems “to love the idea of a streetcar system; just not the safe and efficient operation of one.”

Yakima car tab fees may soon be rising. The State Supreme Court has facilitated the ability of the Yakima City Council to increase car tabs. A vote in January failed to pass through the Council as it did not receive a supermajority vote, but the City Council may now be able to approve a car tab tax increase without a supermajority if the money is used to “recover the costs of some city services,” such as repairing roadways.

The liberal pivot was at its finest when House Democrat leader Nansy Pelosi (D-CA) refused to criticize Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), for a lewd joke he made about Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Democrats are swift in condemning any hint of misogyny, with Pelosi having said Trump “wouldn’t even be allowed in a frat house.” Yet when the tables are turned, Pelosi loses all backbone, saying she would “look at what (her) colleague said there.” For the record, Rep. Richmond has apologized for his remarks – indicating they were intended to be defamatory.

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