Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsWelcome to Capitol Ideas. This is where members of the majority Democratic caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives sit down at the Capitol and talk about ideas. Ideas like strong schools, enduring values, equity, affordable and accessible healthcare, tax fairness, thriving small businesses, inclusion, a clean environment. You know: good ideas.
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Episodes
Rep. Chris Stearns makes his first appearance on Capitol Ideas today, and you need to know him. He started out fast in his first two terms: vice chair of two key committees, sponsor of several successful bills, and an outspoken advocate of bipartisanship and civic health.
April 12, 2024 21:45 - 25 minutes - 35.4 MBBefore he was sent to be their voice in Olympia by the good people of the 47th district, Rep. Chris Stearns already had a full resume. He's an accomplished attorney working with tribes throughout the nation. He's done a stint with the federal Energy Department. He was a Democratic committee counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives. Now we've got him, and you'll meet him today.
Rep. Debra Entenman just wrapped up her sixth session in the House, working for her friends and neighbors in the 47th legislative district. That's a south King County district that contains parts of Kent and Auburn, all of Covington, Shadow Lake, and a handful of other fine communities, not to mention Emerald Downs. This is her first visit to the Capitol Ideas microphone, and it's a good one.
April 11, 2024 01:25 - 39 minutes - 53.8 MBThis is a good one. We say that every time, but seriously, you want to hear what Rep. Debra Entenman has to say about higher ed, civil rights, equity, school lunches, being a legislator, and lots more. Stick around.
Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins returns to Capitol Ideas today for her now-annual post-sine die visit. It's both a look-back and a glimpse into the future, with insights from the leader of the largest House majority in a generation.
March 25, 2024 04:20 - 32 minutes - 44.2 MBHit the PLAY button on Capitol Ideas today to hear an exclusive conversation with Washington state Speaker Laurie Jinkins. After five years at the helm of a growing Democratic majority, she shares her view of the just-concluded session and the 23-24 biennium, talks about some key legislative victories for the people of Washington, and surveys the work still to be done. All that, in just 30 minutes.
Rep. Sharon Wylie works for the good people of the 49th legislative district, and for the other 8 million or so Washingtonians as well. She co-chairs one committee, serves on two others, and gets things done. Here she is.
March 06, 2024 19:40 - 20 minutes - 27.5 MBAs co-chair of the House Committee on Controlled Substances and Gaming, Rep. Sharon Wylie is instrumental in shaping Washington's policies on one of the 21st century's most controversial issues. And that's just for starters. Open up today's episode of Capitol Ideas and meet a unique lawmaker.
Deputy House Majority Leader My-Linh Thai is a thinker, and what she thinks most deeply about are people. Their lives, their problems, what they want, what they need. That's a good trait for a leader. In today's Capitol Ideas we'll hear what's on her mind, and it's a lot.
February 28, 2024 06:55 - 20 minutes - 28.8 MBMy-Linh Thai contains multitudes. She's a state representative. An education leader. A pharmacist. Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State House of Representatives. A parent. A refugee, the first ever elected to the state House. Most of all, she's someone who cares about others, and that becomes clear when you look at the the legislation she's authored during her six years in Olympia, and when you hear her speak. You'll get the chance to do both in today's Capitol Ideas.
Rep. Dan Bronoske had been in the Legislature barely one term when his colleagues chose him to serve as deputy speaker pro tem of the state House of Representatives. A few minutes into today's Capitol Ideas it should be obvious why. Hit the play button and settle in to meet the firefighter, EMT, veteran, and dog lover who works for the people of the 28th legislative district, and everyone else in the Evergreen State.
February 25, 2024 04:55 - 31 minutes - 43.7 MBToday we'll spend a half hour with Lakewood state Rep. Dan Bronoske. If you tune in to TVW when the House is in session, there's a good chance you'll see him handling the gavel and presiding over the debate as deputy speaker pro tem. When he's not on the dais, he's working on bills to make life better for workers, people in crisis, students, retirees, veterans, families . . . in other words, all of us. You don't want to miss today's conversation.
Today we'll talk with Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self in a podcast recorded as the 2024 session of the Washington State Legislature headed into its final, hectic few weeks. Rep. Ortiz-Self chairs the largest House Democratic Caucus in recent memory, and doubles as chair of the Washington State Latino Democratic Caucus. Clearly, it's an interesting conversation, so stay tuned.
February 21, 2024 04:00 - 22 minutes - 30.7 MBIt's a tough job, and she loves it. Mukilteo state Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self chairs the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia, represents 160,000 of her friends and neighbors in the 21st legislative district, and has spent most of her professional career trying to make life better for children and their families. She also sponsors a whole lot of very good bills, and we'll talk about most all these roles in today's Capitol Ideas.
This is a good one. Today's ideator on Capitol Ideas is Rep. Tana Senn from the 41st legislative district, which stretches from Mercer Island east to Samammish and from Newcastle up to Bellevue. She chairs the House Committee on Human Services, Youth and Early Learning, and it's a role she was born for.
February 16, 2024 01:50 - 22 minutes - 31.1 MBIt's Day 39 of the 60-day 2024 legislative session in Olympia, and schedules are tight. We were lucky to grab 20 minutes with Rep. Tana Senn, and the luck is yours, as well. Her bills on emission-free school buses, adult family homes, firearm safety, and getting special-needs kids off on the right foot are moving toward the governor's desk, and we'll talk about all these and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
Rep. Bill Ramos (D-5th, Issaquah) stopped by the Capitol Ideas headquarters this week for a while, and we're glad he did. What resulted is a conversation that ranges from illegal dumping on private land and illegible license plates to amending the state consitution and discussing who really pays gas taxes in Washington. Give us a half hour and we'll give you a fine conversation in return.
February 06, 2024 05:50 - 27 minutes - 27.7 MBNow in the midst of his sixth year in the House, Rep. Bill Ramos makes a return visit to Capitol Ideas today. Bill chairs the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations, and has seats on the Transportation Committee and the Community Safety, Justice, and Reentry panel as well. That makes for a busy session, but today he stopped moving long enough to bring us up to speed on his priorities for the session and how his key bills are faring in this short, jam-packed legislative session.
Every couple of years, Rep. Melanie Morgan stops by for a visit with Capitol Ideas. Today's conversation is a good one, and an important one. Equity, Black History Month, housing and homelessness, renewable energy, art, the dearth of Black farmers in Washington . . . you'll hear about all these and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
January 29, 2024 05:50 - 22 minutes - 30.1 MBRep. Melanie Morgan champions equity in most everything she does, and she does a lot. Join us today for a conversation with Rep. Morgan, who in six short years in the Legislature has become a force to be reckoned with. Today's Capitol Ideas covers everything from agriculture to Black History Month -- and Black history -- to renewable energy and Washington's growing housing shortage.
It's is a pretty special episode of Capitol Ideas today. Really. Our conversation is with Rep. Frank Chopp, the Seattle Democrat formerly known as Speaker of the House Frank Chopp. He's never been one to hog the spotlight, and this might be one of the most revealing conversations he's had in his legislative career, which began in January 1995 and is still going strong. Give it a listen and see if you don't agree.
January 24, 2024 03:30 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBSpeaker emeritus Frank Chopp, who voluntarily switched his role to Rep. Frank Chopp at the end of the 2019 session, is the special guest on this episode of Capitol Ideas. The good things he's done for the Evergreen State are too numerous to list here, but if you listen to today's conversation, you'll notice a promise to include some items in the show notes. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that he played a pivotal role in: the state Housing Trust fund; the best minimum wag...
Today we have a return visit from Speaker Pro Tem Tina Orwall. Rep. Orwall leads us through a day on the podium, and talks about her role as a champion of persons whose voices need to be heard on the floor of the House.
January 20, 2024 04:30 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBRep. Tina Orwall is one of the busiest people in Olympia. If she doesn't hold the record for the legislator with the greatest number of bills that became laws, she's in the running. And as the longtime Speaker Pro Tem of the state House of Representatives, she wields a firm gavel to run most House floor sessions. She's back today for another new episode of Capitol Ideas.
23rd-district Rep. Greg Nance is our guest on Capitol Ideas today. Greg is the newest member of the Washington State House of Representatives, having been appointed in September to fill a vacant seat in the 23rd legislative district. He's a unique individual with a story to tell, and you'll hear it right here.
January 12, 2024 22:40 - 22 minutes - 8.96 MBMeet Rep. Greg Nance. He's a native Kitsapian, if that's a word, lives on Bainbridge Island, is a non-profit leader with deep experience in youth-mentoring, education, and mental health care. He's a conservationist, an athlete, and now . . . a state lawmaker.
House Floor Leader Monica Stonier is the guest on today's Capitol Ideas, the first episode of Season 16 of the official podcast of the Washington State House Democratic Caucus. Don't miss it.
January 10, 2024 06:59 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBAh, Sweet 16. If Capitol Ideas were a person and not a podcast, it would be ready for a driver's license. This experiment kicked off in 2009 and it's been here ever since. Today's conversation features House Majority Floor Leader Monica Stonier, who's been a guest more than once over the years. Today she'll talk about her leadership position, working across the party aisle, and sponsoring groundbreaking legislation to make Washington a better place to live, work, and raise a family..
Today’s Capitol Ideas features an exclusive conversation with Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins. The Speaker gives an overview of the just-concluded 2023 regular session of the Legislature, talks about her approach to the position she’s now held for four years, discusses the vital issue that will require the Legislature to meet during the upcoming special session, and gives us a preview of an adventure that awaits her during the interim.
May 08, 2023 19:51 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBRep. Laurie Jinkins was chair of the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee when her colleagues changed her title to Speaker of the House of Representatives at the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. Since then she’s led the House through a pair of unprecedented remote sessions necessitated by the pandemic, overseen the creation of an impressive number of landmark laws, sat at the head of the most diverse Democratic caucus in the history of the state, and backpacked all but 40 mile...
The Capitol Ideas spotlight today is on Rep. Steve Bergquist, the Renton Democrat who serves as one of the vice-chairs of the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. We recorded this a few days before the final operating budget was approved, so rather than talk about the destination, today we'll outline the journey. It's a budget travelogue.
April 27, 2023 08:45 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBIf the Washington state operating budget were part of the Marvel universe, today’s episode of Capitol Ideas might be the origin story. We’re about to hear from Representative Steve Bergquist, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, in a conversation recorded just a few days before the House and Senate both voted to approve that nearly-seventy-billion dollar two-year spending plan.
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, today's guest on Capitol Ideas, chairs the House Education Committee. She's done that for a long time. Her Democratic colleagues keep putting her in that seat session after session, because she's very good at her job. Give today's episode a listen and you'll understand why.
April 23, 2023 09:40 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBWhat's the state of public education in Washington three years after we first encountered the word coronavirus? We'll hear about that and more from Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, veteran chair of the House Education Committee on today's Capitol Ideas.
Rep. April Berg of Mill Creek, in her third session as a state representative, chairs the House Finance Committee. She makes an in-person appearance on Capitol Ideas today, two years after debuting on Zoom during the pandemic summer of 2021.
April 07, 2023 09:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBRep. April Berg has done a lot. In today's Capitol Ideas we'll get to know the lawmaker who chairs one of the Legislature's key standing committees, and we'll find out what she's learned during her three years in the House.
Rep. Emily Alvarado is in the Capitol Ideas studio today. She's a first-year lawmaker from the 34th district, a long-time housing activist and the new vice chair of the House Housing Committee, and she knows her stuff. Enjoy this one.
April 03, 2023 17:00 - 23 minutes - 19.1 MBToday's Capitol Ideas touches on Washington's housing crisis, abortion rights in a post-Dobbs world, equity for foster youth, and plenty more. The guest is Rep. Emily Alvarado, and that means this is a high-energy, solidly informative, and very entertaining conversation.
Rep. Mari Leavitt stops by Capitol Ideas in today’s episode. If you’re here for variety, this is your day; we’ll talk about making the state more military-friendly, mitigating the effects of climate change, pushing back against the scourge of fentanyl in street drugs, and more.
March 31, 2023 06:15 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBRep. Mari Leavitt’s 28th legislative district might have the heaviest concentration of military families in Washington, and as the daughter of a Vietnam vet, she’s got a special place in her heart for those constituents. In today’s Capitol Ideas you’ll hear about her bill to help newly arrived military spouses resume their careers in the Evergreen State. She’ll talk about her plan to save lives during increasing extreme weather events. And we’ll discuss her goal of making life more difficult ...
We’ll hear from Rep. Vandana Slatter in today’s Capitol Ideas, and it’s a good one. Vandana happens to be sponsoring some of this session’s most significant pieces of legislation, bills that will, if they ultimately become law, have a lot to do with the future of Washington state.
March 27, 2023 09:15 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBToday’s Capitol Ideas is a wide-ranging conversation with 48th-district Democratic Rep. Vandana Slatter, chair of the House Committee on Postsecondary Education and Workforce. Two of her key bills, the creation of the Washington Climate Corps and the My Health, My Data Act, account for most of the episode, and this is one you won’t want to miss.
Today’s Capitol Ideas features a conversation with Rep. Davina Duerr of Bothell. Davina chairs the House Local Government Committee in Olympia, and that’s a key position in the state’s attempts to ease Washington’s housing crisis. We’ll talk about that and lots more, so stick around.
March 20, 2023 22:00 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBWashington needs between 150,000 and 250,000 additional housing units of all kinds to fully solve its housing crisis over the next several years. That’s a tall order, and a number of bills aimed at the issue will go through the House Local Government Committee. The new chair of that committee is Rep. Davina Duerr of Bothell, in Washington’s 1st legislative district. Davina is an architect, and a former member of the Bothell City Council. She’s got ideas, and we’ll hear what some of them are t...
Today Capitol Ideas features a special interview with Reps. Tana Senn and Liz Berry, founders of the Moms Caucus in the House Democratic Caucus. We'll talk about why they did that, what they've accomplished, and how their priorities are faring in the 2023 session.
March 04, 2023 04:45 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBThe current group of majority House Democrats in Washington state features more of just about everything. More women. More people of color. More WOMEN of color. And more mothers of young children. That last "more" is what we'll talk about today. Our guests are Reps. Tana Senn and Liz Berry, who got together in 2021 and organized the Moms Caucus. The Moms have had a strong influence on legislation, and they've had some fun. We'll talk about all that and more on today's Capitol Ideas. For a loo...
Today's guest is 29th-district state Rep. Sharlett Mena. It's her first session as a lawmaker, but she's paid her dues in both Washingtons already and knows her way around. Don't miss it.
March 01, 2023 08:00 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBCapitol Ideas is pleased to introduce Rep. Sharlett Mena. She's done policy and communications work in the Washington state Senate, Gov. Inslee's administration, and the U.S. Congress. We've got her now, as a brand-new state representative and member of the House Democratic Caucus. Today she talks about her life, her values, her legislative priorities, and more.
Today's Capitol Ideas is something different. It's not a lawmaker being interviewed; it's Rep. Marcus Riccelli interviewing a legislative page, Claire Poulsen, about her week at the Capitol. This one's fun. Check it out.
February 27, 2023 00:20 - 8 minutes - 7.99 MBTeens who take part in Washington's legislative page program have a unique experience. They come to Olympia from all over the state, sponsored by a lawmaker, and spend a week learning about state government while helping out with everything from delivering important papers to carrying the flags in opening ceremonies in the House and Senate. In today's special Capitol Ideas, Spokane Rep. Marcus Riccelli interviews high-school freshman Claire Poulsen about her week as a page. For more informati...
Meet Rep. Julio Cortes. Even before joining the Legislature six weeks ago, Julio established a long resume of public service. He has an interesting story, and you'll hear it in this installment of Capitol Ideas.
February 24, 2023 00:20 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBA few days ago Capitol Ideas introduced Rep. Mary Fosse, and today we'll follow up with her seatmate from the 38th district, Rep. Julio Cortes. Julio brings a unique life story to the Legislature -- immigrant, public servant, athlete, social worker -- and we'll talk about all that and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
The ideas in Capitol Ideas today come from Rep. Mary Fosse (D-38th, Everett). She’s hit the ground running in her first session, working for her district and the whole state. You can meet her today.
February 21, 2023 00:20 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBToday we’ll spend some time on Capitol Ideas with Rep. Mary Fosse of the 38th legislative district up in Snohomish County. This is Mary’s first session in the House but as a longtime community activist, a member of the Everett City Council, and a former legislative staffer, she knows how the place works. We’ll talk about that, and more, in today’s episode.
House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon drops by Capitol Ideas today for a conversation about several of the things he cares about: affordable housing, climate change, workforce development, the homelessness crisis in Washington, the value of listening, and smart, efficient use of the state's operating budget. Stay tuned.
February 18, 2023 10:45 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBWeek five of Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon's first session as Majority Leader of the Washington state House of Representatives coincided with policy cut-off, arguably the busiest week of the year. He still agreed to spend some time with Capitol Ideas, and now is your chance to get to know a remarkable leader.
Police vehicular chases, sentencing reform, impaired driving, bipartisanship . . . all these and more are high on Rep. Roger Goodman’s 2023 legislative agenda. Get the details in today’s Capitol Ideas.
February 13, 2023 06:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBRep. Roger Goodman returns to Capitol Ideas today, seven years after his last appearance. As chair of the newly renamed House Community Safety, Justice, and Re-entry Committee, he’s busier than ever. Find out what he and his committee are working on in the 2023 legislative session in today’s conversation.
Rep. Darya Farivar comes to the Legislature with a background as an advocate and activist. Barely into her first session as a lawmaker, it took her no time at all to assume those roles in Olympia. You'll meet her today.
February 09, 2023 08:45 - 24 minutes - 9.58 MBThe Nothing About Us Without Us Act is Rep. Darya Farivar's highest-profile bill in her first year as a lawmaker, but it's not her only one. Get to know the 46th district's new representative, the first Iranian-American woman ever elected to the Legislature and a fighter for the underrepresented, in this Thursday edition of Capitol Ideas.
Rep. Shelley Kloba, sponsor of the People's Privacy Act, drops by Capitol Ideas to talk about online privacy, data mining, home-grown marijuana, affordable housing, and more.
February 06, 2023 07:30 - 21 minutes - 6.44 MBYou might not know who she is, but Rep. Shelley Kloba probably cares more about your online privacy than you do . . . because she knows how little you've got. One of her big bills this session is the People's Privacy Act, and you'll learn why it's important in this episode of Capitol Ideas.
Today we'll meet up with Rep. Marcus Riccelli of Spokane. He's the new chair of the House Healthcare Committee, former Majority Whip, the driving force behind the creation of the Elson Floyd Medical School at WSU, and prime sponsor of some of the 2023 Legislature's key bills.
February 03, 2023 08:45 - 16 minutes - 6.44 MBRep. Marcus Riccelli dropped by the Capitol Ideas studio to talk about free school meals, protecting reproductive freedom, chipping away at the healthcare workforce shortage, and more.
The housing crisis in Washington state might be the most pressing issue facing the 2023 Legislature in Olympia, and Rep. Strom Peterson chairs the House Housing Committee. He discusses housing and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
January 30, 2023 05:05 - 16 minutes - 6.35 MBRep. Strom Peterson (D-21st, Edmonds) visits Capitol Ideas to talk about public safety, octopus farming, and his bipartisan approach to easing the housing crisis. This is one you don't want to miss.
Rep. Clyde Shavers is in his first year as a state lawmaker. In fact, he's in his first month. We'll meet him in this episode of Capitol Ideas and find out who he is, what his legislative priorities are, and what it's like to start his legislative career by being named vice chair of a key House committee.
January 27, 2023 07:20 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBToday we're talking with 10th-district Rep. Clyde Shavers: Annapolis grad, former naval officer, and brand-new state representative.
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self chairs the House Democratic Caucus, which in November was handed its largest majority in years. We'll find out how she balances her leadership duties with her job of representing the people of Washington's 21st legislative district in today's Capitol Ideas.
January 18, 2023 07:20 - 18 minutes - 7.82 MBRep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is a school counselor, a mental-health counselor, a state representative, and chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia. Not surprisingly, she's passionate about education and young people. Give Capitol Ideas 15 minutes today and you'll hear all about it. And more.
41st-district Rep. My-Linh Thai has a new title: She was recently chosen by her colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus to serve as Deputy Majority Leader. Along with that spot in the senior leadership of her caucus comes the responsibility to head up the Democratic majority's commitment to make equity a key consideration in every piece of legislation that reaches the House floor. She'll talk about that, and how she plans to approach her new job, in today's Capitol Ideas.
January 13, 2023 07:20 - 17 minutes - 7.07 MBRep. My-Linh Thai came to America from her native Vietnam at 15. Years later she became the first refugee elected to serve in the state House of Representatives, and she began the 2023 session with a new title: Deputy Majority Leader. You'll meet her today, and you'll be glad you did.
Democratic State Rep. Timm Ormsby of Spokane chairs the House Appropriations Committee in Olympia. Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter has kept Timm's office running smoothly for 15 years. Today, they visit Capitol Ideas to talk about their respective jobs, one another, and the challenges and rewards of public service.
April 01, 2022 07:20 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBBack in 2009, Washington State Rep. Timm Ormsby and Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter were featured on the third-ever episode of a brand-new podcast called Capitol Ideas, talking about the teamwork necessary in a legislative office. We circle back today to find out what's changed, and what hasn't, now that 13 years have passed and, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Timm is the chamber's head budget writer.
Rep. Jesse Johnson is vice chair of the House Public Safety Committee and has been a central figure in several major legislative initiatives during the current biennium. The Federal Way Democrat's recent announcement that he'd be leaving the House at the end of the year took most everyone by surprise, and we'll talk about that decision, and his legacy, in today's Capitol Ideas.
March 28, 2022 19:50 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MBDespite a tenure of just three years in the House, Rep. Jesse Johnson has been one of the Legislature's busiest and most respected members almost from the day he was first sworn in to fill a vacancy in the 30th district in January 2020. He's leaving the House at the end of his current term to play a bigger role in the life of his newborn son. In this special Capitol Ideas, Jesse reflects on his brief time as a lawmaker, the accomplishments he's most proud of, and work yet to be done.
Today we're spending some time with Rep. Lisa Callan. She's from Issaquah, in the 5th district, and is a fighter for children, youth, and families, among many other things. We'll focus on those three very important priorities in today's Capitol Ideas.
March 23, 2022 20:45 - 31 minutes - 28.6 MBRep. Lisa Callan co-chairs the Legislature's Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group. She sits on the House Children, Youth, and Families Committee. Are you seeing a pattern here? If you're a child, a youth, or a member of a family, chances are excellent Lisa has sponsored successful legislation during her time in the House that makes your life better. Stick around for a half hour and get acquainted with someone who plays an important role in your life, whether you know it or not.
We're joined today by Speaker Pro Tem Tina Orwall. In that role, Tina presides over most floor sessions of the Washington Stte House of Representatives. As Rep. Tina Orwall, she sponsors some of the most impactful bills of any of the 147 members of the Legislature.
March 22, 2022 00:00 - 34 minutes - 46.9 MBRep. Tina Orwall, today's guest, is a powerhouse of a legislator. She has a tendency to sponsor successful bills, and a look at those bills reveals where her priorities lie: justice for those who have suffered sexual assault or trafficking, veterans' issues, suicide prevention, jobs and economic development, safety for persons experiencing behavioral health crises, foster youth, and adoptee rights, to name just a few. Tina is also Speaker Pro Tem of the Washington State House, handling the ga...
Rep. Mike Chapman hails from up in Port Angeles at the top of the Olympia Peninsula. He chairs the House Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. He's a busy guy, but we snagged him for today's episode of Capitol Ideas. Stay tuned; you'll be glad you did.
March 17, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutes - 37.9 MBFor this week's Capitol Ideas we're heading up to the Olympic Peninsula to hear from Rep. Mike Chapman, the six-year veteran of the House who chairs the House Rural Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee. Mike is a former law-enforcement professional, served four terms as a Clallam County commissioner, and lives in Port Angeles when he's not in Olympia. Today's topics range from the college-loan crisis to the origins of Washington's short legislative sessions to getting thi...
Today's special episode of Capitol Ideas features a behind-the-scenes conversation with Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins. You don't want to miss this one.
March 03, 2022 09:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBWhat's it like to occupy the highest office in the Washington state House of Representatives? Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins knows. What's that job entail? And how is she committed to making Washington a better, healthier, safer, and more equitable home for everyone in the state? You'll find out in today's special Capitol Ideas.
Today's show is the first of a pair of podcasts featuring top Democrats in the state House, starting with a conversation with House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan. He's leading the effort to make college more affordable by establishing a one-percent college-loan program run by the state. Tune in to hear more.
February 28, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBIt's always a good day when House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan drops by the Capitol Ideas HQ. Now in his 12th year as Majority Leader, Rep. Sullivan is busy with budget negotiations and countless other duties, but high on his priority list is getting his one-percent college-loan program approved in the Senate and signed by Gov. Inslee. It's been a multi-year effort and this looks like the year.
Today we'll meet Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley and hear about her sponsorship of the Doulas for All Act, House Bill 1881.
February 19, 2022 02:45 - 22 minutes - 20.2 MBIf you know what doulas are and the valuable services they provide, you'll enjoy this conversation with Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley. If doula is a new word for you, you just might get even more out of today's episode. Rep. Harris-Talley (D-Seattle) is sponsor of the Doulas for All Act, legislation that could transform the birthing process for countless families. To keep up with progress on the bill, visit https://bit.ly/3H1AMdb.
We're joined today on Capitol Ideas by brand-new state Rep. Brandy Donaghy (D-Everett), appointed just before the 2022 legislative session began.
February 12, 2022 02:45 - 13 minutes - 19.1 MBThis is your chance to get to know Rep. Brandy Donaghy. Brandy, who lives in Everett and represents Washington's 44th legislative district, is a Navy vet, community educator, and emergency-preparedness expert who was appointed in December to the House seat vacated when Rep. John Lovick accepted an appointment to the state Senate.
Today's Capitol Ideas takes a special look at easing the affordable-housing crisis in Washington by filling in the "missing middle." Featured guests are Rep. Jessica Bateman and Sen. Mona Das.
February 06, 2022 01:15 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBCurrent estimates put Washington's housing shortage at about 250,000 units, and today's guests, Rep. Jessica Bateman and Sen. Mona Das, are sponsoring legislation that would open the door for construction of tens of thousands of affordable homes -- duplexes, triplexes, quads and sixplexes -- in neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes only. Bateman and Das explain how HB 1782 and SB 5670 could begin to reverse decades of sprawl, housing inequity, and greenhouse gas pollution, and...
Youth advocate, veteran state legislator, and chair of the House Children, Youth, and Families Committee Tana Senn helps kick off a new year of Capitol Ideas.
January 22, 2022 02:30 - 18 minutes - 17 MBThe first Capitol Ideas guest of 2022 is Rep. Tana Senn. Tana is from Bellevue, is a Democrat, of course, and is one of the state's leading advocates for kids, young adults, and families. She's sponsoring an important bill about preventing youth homelessness this session, and we'll talk about it today. If you want to see the bill and track its progress, visit https://bit.ly/32pDTNQ.
Rep. Jessica Bateman is one of a record-sized group of Democratic women serving in the state House in 2021-22, and at the halfway point in her first two-year term she's exhibiting the kind of leadership and legislative savvy her 22nd-district constituents expected when they tapped her to be their voice in the Capitol. You'll meet her today, and you'll be glad you did.
September 02, 2021 08:15 - 31 minutes - 12.1 MBLong before joining the House Democratic Caucus in 2021, Jessica Bateman, both as a private citizen and as a member of the Olympia city council, was a fighter -- for climate action, affordable housing, and affordable and accessible health care, for social justice, equity, and kids at risk. Now that she's representing the 22nd legislative district as a state representative, Jess fights for those same issues, but in a larger arena. We'll talk about all this and more in today's special edition o...
Today on Capitol Ideas we’ll spend some time with Rep. Emily Wicks of Everett, who’s midway through her first term working for the residents of Washington’s 38th legislative district. If you looked up the word irrepressible in your Funk and Wagnall’s, there might be a picture of Emily in the margin. That’s a good thing, and today you’ll find out why on Capitol Ideas.
August 07, 2021 09:45 - 23 minutes - 8.68 MBGrowing up in Marysville, Rep. Emily Wicks knew that somehow, someday, she wanted to work for her friends and neighbors. Since her appointment to fill a vacant seat in the state House in 2020, and her subsequent election victory, she’s been doing just that as a state representative. In this edition of Capitol Ideas we’ll hear about those premonitions, what she’s been doing since they came true, and what her plans are for 2022 and beyond.
Rep. April Berg just wrapped up her first session as a legislator, going five for five in getting her bills to the governor's desk to become law. That's like hitting for the cycle in a baseball game, then coming out in the ninth and adding a grand slam. You'll meet her in this edition of Capitol Ideas.
August 03, 2021 01:25 - 18 minutes - 6.57 MBMeet Rep. April Berg of Mill Creek, in the heart of Washington's 44th legislative district. She hasn't learned her way around the Capitol, because her first session was conducted remotely. But she's learned how to succeed as a legislator, and how to be an effective voice for her constituents. Give her 18 minutes today, and she'll give you a fresh look at the future of your Legislature.