Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, joined Ari Hoffman on Seattle’s KVI Radio where she warned Puget Sound Energy customers will be forced to pay thousands of dollars in higher energy prices and conversion to electricity because of a bill majority Democrats passed that’s on the governor’s desk for his signature. Dye, the ranking Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee, says House Bill 1589 paves the way for Puget Sound Energy to eventually discontinue natural gas services.

03-06-24 - RADIO: Dye warns KVI natural gas bill will be expensive for Puget Sound Energy customers

Rep. Keith Goehner and Rep. Mike Steele give listeners an overview of the 2024 legislative session on the last day of session before adjournment. They discuss the three budgets - capital, transportation and operating, as well as what happened with initiatives. The legislators also talk about some of the disappointments and successes of the session.

03-07-24 - RADIO: Reps. Goehner and Steele talk budgets, initiatives, successes and disappointments

SUGGESTED LEAD: A Republican lawmaker warns energy prices will soar with passage of the Democrats decarbonization plan. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: House Bill 1589 aims to assist Puget Sound Energy, the state’s largest utility, to meet carbon emission reduction goals by moving away from natural gas in favor of electricity. Representative Mary Dye, ranking Republican on the House Environment and Energy Committee, fought with other Republicans against the measure.

DYE: “The utility is responding to the Clean Energy Transformation Act, to the Climate Commitment Act – and they’re responding to the laws and this is their answer. We’re going to make sure that our ratepayers will pay the cost of the clean energy transformation.”

SCOTT: Dye says the legislation would escalate overall costs of living for every Washingtonian.

DYE: “The cost, total, to the residential customers in the Puget Sound Energy service territory, will be anywhere between seven and 10 billion dollars.”

SCOTT: The measure barely passed the House, 50-45, with seven Democrats joining all Republicans in voting against it. It’s been delivered to the governor for his signature.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

03-12-24 - RADIO REPORT: A Republican lawmaker warns Democratic legislation will raise utility costs

SUGGESTED LEAD: A bill signed into law closes a loophole and improves protections for victims of domestic violence. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: Authored by Republican Representative Gina Mosbrucker, House Bill 2048 received the governor’s signature on Wednesday, ensuring the Department of Corrections supervises repeat domestic violence offenders and prevents victims from being stalked and abused.

MOSBRUCKER: “We’ve heard from victims who said why – I knew they were getting out. I went through that secondary trauma of knowing they were going to be released and then they would come directly to that victim-survivor and family member and start the process all over again.”

SCOTT: Mosbrucker says the most dangerous times in a domestic violence survivor’s life are when they try to leave their abuser and when that offender has been released from custody. 

MOSBRUCKER: “They were getting out and going straight to the victim and the survivor – angry – angrier than ever and putting them in harm’s way.”

The bill takes effect June 6th.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-13-24 - RADIO REPORT: Governor signs Rep. Mosbrucker’s domestic violence supervision bill

House Republican Leader Rep. Drew Stokesbary joins Ari Hoffman on Seattle's KVI Radio to reflect on the successes and disappointments of the recently completed 2024 legislative session.

03-12-24 - RADIO: Rep. Drew Stokesbary reflects on 2024 legislative session with KVI's Ari Hoffman

SUGGESTED LEAD: A Republican lawmaker’s bill to extend property tax exemptions for seniors and disabled persons is awaiting the governor’s signature. Nic Scott reports.

SCOTT: In an effort to create more affordable housing on properties across the state, detached accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, have become popular. Now, legislation authored by Representative Keith Goehner of Dryden, would extend a property tax exemption to those who qualify for ADUs detached from a primary residence.

GOEHNER: “It will help them save some money – puts more money in their pockets because they won’t have to be making that full property assessment that they’ve been bound by before.”

SCOTT: House Bill 2375 adds the tax exemption for qualified seniors and disabled persons living in detached ADUs.

GOEHNER: “Whether its attached or detached, and it’s a senior citizen or a disabled person that is already getting a property tax exemption, they should be entitled to that exemption on that detached ADU.” 

SCOTT: Goehner credits a constituent for the idea behind the legislation that brings together affordable, independent housing options and property tax fairness.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-14-24 - RADIO REPORT: Property tax exemption expanded for senior and disabled persons

SUGGESTED LEAD: The governor signs legislation to improve water use in the Columbia Basin Project area. Nic Scott reports. 

SCOTT: Representative Mary Dye authored the bill that aims to improve the use of state water resources for farming. House Bill 1752 allows the Bureau of Reclamation to request a change in the number of acres that may be irrigated in the Columbia Basin Project area. 

DYE: “With the technology that we install in the fields, we know exactly how much water is going into that soil and the plants get exactly what they need when they need it. So, we’re not wasting water – we’re being very precise with the way we use our water.”

SCOTT: Dye says by replacing failing deep wells with a new surface water delivery system, farmers could use cell phones and field sensors to determine where and when to irrigate.

DYE: “We’re not your grandpas farmer – we’re something new and different – and the water that we use goes to feed a hungry world in the most efficient manner possible.”

SCOTT: Dye says the crops grown in the Columbia Basin produce the equivalent of the annual groceries purchased by nearly nine million Americans.

Nic Scott, the state Capitol.

3-15-24 - RADIO REPORT: Eastern Washington farmers to benefit from greater access to water resource

Rep. Dan Griffey and Rep. Travis Couture of the 35th District join Hanna Scott to talk failures and solutions for the fentanyl crisis in the first episode of the Washington House Republicans Fix Washington podcast.

03-23-24 - PODCAST: Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture

Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, joins Hanna Scott to discuss our state’s crime and affordability crises. The 20th District representative talks about House Republican solutions to the problems and missed opportunities from the 2024 legislative session.

04-26-24 - PODCAST - Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Rep. Peter Abbarno

Former House Republican Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, announced earlier in the year he would not seek re-election to his 2nd District seat. Hanna Scott sat down with Rep. Wilcox on March 7, the evening of sine die (2024 session adjournment) to have the lawmaker reflect on his career in the Legislature.

05-03-24 - PODCAST - Fix Washington with Hanna Scott: Rep. J.T. Wilcox

This is the official SoundCloud account of the Washington State House Republicans in Olympia, Washington. (www.houserepublicans.wa.gov)

New tracks tagged #Legislative News