Category: Jay Inslee

Washington State’s Semiautomatic Weapon Ban Faces Multiple Legal Challenges

A law prohibiting the future sale of so-called “assault weapons” in Washington has drawn multiple lawsuits since the moment Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee inked his approval for the ban on Tuesday. The new law, which passed the Evergreen State’s Democrat-led legislature on largely party-line votes before it was approved by Inslee, bans the sale, manufacture,…


Washington State Legislature Passes Ban on ‘Assault Weapons’ as Governor Signals Support

Lawmakers in Washington state have approved a ban on so-called assault weapons. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he supports the legislation. State senators passed the ban in a 27-21 vote on April 8, about a month after the state’s House of Representatives advanced the measure in a 55–42 vote. “These weapons of war have no…


Idaho Governor Signs ‘Abortion Trafficking’ Bill Into Law

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has signed a law making it a crime to transport minor girls across state lines to receive abortions. The bill passed in the state House on March 7 by a majority vote of 57-12, with one abstention. Little signed the bill into law on April 5, taking effect in 30 days. In…


West Coast Leaders Sign Climate Agreement in San Francisco

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ramped up attacks on oil companies and vowed Oct. 7 to double down on aggressive clean energy plans while renewing a climate action agreement with Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. All four regions are facing droughts, excessive heat, and smoke from large wildfires, the leaders said. By signing an updated Pacific Coast…


Newsom Joins Oregon, Washington in Pact to Ensure Abortion Access

Gov. Gavin Newsom joined his counterparts from Oregon and Washington Friday to proclaim the states as safe havens for women seeking abortion following the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade—the landmark 1973 precedent which largely legalized the procedure nationwide. As a result of the Supreme Court ruling, each state now has the option…


Washington State Plans to Outlaw Most New Gas-Powered Cars

Washington state legislators passed a law to outlaw most new gasoline-powered cars in the next eight years. SB 5974, which was recently signed (pdf) by Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee, establishes that “all publicly owned and privately owned passenger and light duty vehicles of model year 2030 or later that are sold, purchased, or registered in…


Nearly 1,900 Washington State Employees Quit or Were Fired Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Nearly 1,900 Washington state workers were fired or quit over the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, officials said Tuesday. Before the mandate led to resignations and terminations, the state had approximately 63,291 workers. About 3 percent, or 1,887, left their jobs or were fired as of Oct. 18 due to the mandate, the state’s Office of…


Washington Governor Signs a Dozen Police Reform Bills

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed into law a dozen bills he says will boost law enforcement accountability and address “systemic racism” in the state, calling it a “moral mandate.” “These bills are all going to work in coordination with one another to create a system of accountability and integrity stronger than anywhere else…


Washington Gov. Inslee Sued Over New Capital Gains Tax

A good-government group is suing Washington state after Gov. Jay Inslee signed a controversial capital gains tax into law that it says violates the U.S. and state constitutions. The lawsuit comes as President Joe Biden pushes for big hikes in federal capital gains tax rates. Washington is one of a handful of U.S. states that…