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Opinion / A View From The State House

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 By Ron Muzzall    Opinion    May 17, 2023

More hope and less politics

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a column in this paper bringing attention to a different public health problem sweeping the nation. While maybe not as physically deadly, the...

 
 By Clyde Shavers    Opinion    May 17, 2023

2023 Legislative session wrap-up: Fighting for you

During the hectic, fluid and complex process of the 2023 legislative session, I wanted to keep our priorities front and center. I’ve been fighting to help our low-income and working families,...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    May 17, 2023

Serious progress on serious issues this session

I’m happy to report the Legislature finished the 2023 session with a balanced budget – and excellent transportation and construction budgets that will create jobs in the 10th district and...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    April 26, 2023

A tale of four bills

The 2023 legislative session ended on April 23. Over the last four months, we developed operating, transportation and capital budgets that will help our community and our state. I'll have more to say...

 

How our bills are becoming law

Our legislature reviews hundreds of proposed pieces of legislation during sessions. This year, with the help of our team, I have drafted and introduced twelve bills. Six passed the House and five...

 
 By Ron Muzzall    Opinion    April 12, 2023

Health Care: Why does it cost so much?

The facts about health care in the United States are eye opening. How can a nation that spends nearly twice as much as our economic peers still have so many problems? As the former ranking member of...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    April 5, 2023

Our democracy at work

Our town hall meetings aren’t that different from what happens in the House and Senate in Olympia. People share their opinions – sometimes softly, sometimes loudly. Yet the kind of dialogue we...

 

Protecting the environment with green hydrogen

The Skagit Valley’s environment and economy has been shaped over time by changes in our climate and land use. Some of these changes have resulted in devastating impacts to our communities, including...

 
 By Ron Muzzall    Opinion    March 22, 2023

Reproductive care is more than abortion

It seems that the efforts to enshrine reproductive access in the state constitution have been aborted, as the proposed amendments from the House and Senate failed to receive a Floor vote before our...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    March 15, 2023

Housing and workforce solutions

If we listen to each other with respect and work together, good things happen. I’m happy to report that we’re doing a lot of that this year in Olympia. With the legislative session at the halfway...

 
 By Clyde Shavers    Opinion    March 8, 2023

Passing student financial education and military support

As vice chair of the House Education Committee, I’ve been regularly meeting with students, teachers and administrators on every aspect of our education system. We’ve collaborated on special educat...

 
 By Ron Muzzall    Opinion    March 1, 2023

We owe it to the future

There seem to be a lot of “crises” in Olympia – a housing crisis, an opioid crisis, a public safety crisis, a climate crisis. Attaching this moniker has adverse effects on people by creating a...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    February 22, 2023

Workforce, housing crisis solutions

Last month, I wrote about the workforce shortage, which is holding back our economy and critical services like healthcare. The housing crisis is intertwined with our workforce shortage. Even if a...

 

Keeping veterans and seniors in their homes

The 10th legislative district has one of the largest populations of veterans in Washington state. Island County, for example, has more veterans per capita than any other county. Between Island, Snohom...

 

Ideology not making communities safer

There are lies, dang lies and statistics, but in the debate on fixing the failed "police reform" laws from 2021, it seems that no amount of research, pleading, facts or lived experience can overcome...

 
 By Dave Paul    Opinion    February 1, 2023

Reversing work shortage: an opportunity

Here in the 10th District and throughout the state, we face challenges that affect all our families, including: • A shortage of housing. • Lack of access to healthcare. • Businesses who can't...

 

Farmland and farming community protection

Washington has a proud history of agricultural leadership. Here in Skagit County, we have one of the largest and most diverse agricultural communities west of the Cascade Mountains. Island County is...

 

We need more accountability, not less

We deserve better, even if we don't demand it. The latest findings from the Washington state auditor's office are unfortunately just a snapshot of an obscure yet growing problem in our state...

 

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