Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
129 episodes - English - Latest episode: 25 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
This week Rep. My-Linh Thai makes a return visit to Capitol Ideas. We'll hear about compassionate legislating, her unique approach to lawmaking that has its roots in her practice of Zen Buddhism.
June 09, 2021 23:45 - 22 minutes - 8.37 MBRep. My-Linh Thai is many things: a pharmacist, a mother, a PTA leader, a former school board director, a state representative, and an American citizen who came to the U.S. as a refugee from her native Vietnam at age 15. We'll talk about how all those experiences helped shape her philosophy of compassionate legislating, and how that approach to lawmaking makes her an effective member of the Legislature.
The 2021 legislative session might be adjourned for the year, but Capitol Ideas will still be here to bring you interesting, informative, and sometimes provocative conversations with the diverse cast of majority Democrats who get things done in Olympia. Our leadoff guest for the interim season is 29th-district Rep. Melanie Morgan.
May 20, 2021 21:30 - 20 minutes - 7.98 MBRep. Melanie Morgan makes an encore appearance in today's Capitol Ideas, and we'll talk about racial equity, the new Juneteenth state holiday, why passing bills is sometimes overrated, and reaching across the Cascades to make Washington's supposed east-west divide irrelevant.
Rep. Tarra Simmons is a survivor, and in this episode of Capitol Ideas you'll meet up with her on Day 99 of her legislative career. She's already well-established as an effective civil-rights champion, and today you'll find out why.
April 21, 2021 06:00 - 16 minutes - 5.93 MBBrand-new state Rep. Tarra Simmons is an attorney, a former nurse, and a familiar face at the Capitol from her years of advocacy for laws designed to extend the American dream to communities that haven’t always been at the front of the line, including but not limited to persons formerly or currently incarcerated. There's a reason for that, but if you want to learn more you'll just have to listen.
In just his second session, Rep. Jesse Johnson has shouldered the legislative load of reforming policing in Washington. He's taken giant strides this year, and we talk about them in this edition of Capitol Ideas.
March 20, 2021 02:15 - 17 minutes - 16 MBIn a tragic and tumultuous year, relations between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to serve have frayed beyond the breaking point. Police killings, brutally excessive uses of force, and militarization to the point where police officers resemble occupying forces...they've taken a toll. Rep. Johnson brought together citizens affected by police violence, law enforcement groups, lawmakers, and other interested parties to forge a solution. We'll talk about the results of his eff...
Rep. Shelley Kloba is back, and she's still working to protect your digital privacy. We'll talk today about the long and winding road she's traveling to try to make the people's personal data privacy bill of rights a reality.
March 02, 2021 00:45 - 17 minutes - 8.75 MBIt's been a little over a year since Rep. Shelley Kloba sat down for a conversation on Capitol Ideas. A lot has changed in that time, including the pandemic that forced us to record today's episode remotely. Something that hasn't changed is her commitment to the idea that you own your personal data, and it should be up to you how it's used and who uses it. We'll talk about that today.
Rep. Melanie Morgan is sponsoring HB 1395, the Equity in Farming Act, to widen opportunities in agriculture for Black African Americans, Indigenous People, and other potential farmers of color.
February 12, 2021 02:30 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBOf the thousands of farms in Washington, an agriculture-intensive state, fewer than 100 are owned by Black farmers. Rep. Melanie Morgan points to generations of systemic racism as a key reason for this underrepresentation, and is sponsoring legislation this year to enlist the state Department of Agriculture, schools, and other allies to help facilitate an increase in Black-owned family farms.
Healthy homes and clean buildings. Who could argue with that? Not Rep. Alex Ramel, who's sponsoring the Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings Act this session. Find out what it's all about in today's Capitol Ideas.
February 09, 2021 04:15 - 20 minutes - 6.64 MBRep. Alex Ramel introduced the Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings Act this session to put Washington on track to meet its carbon goals by mid-century. It's a key piece in a package of legislation designed to turn the tide on climate change and reduce the staggering quantities of carbon belched out into Washington skies by countless thousands of buildings using natural gas, mostly for heating that could be done almost carbon-free by electricity. We're kicking off the 2021 season of Capitol Idea...
Meet Davina Duerr: architect, Bothell city councilmember, and a first-year state representative from Washington's 1st legislative district.
March 13, 2020 03:50 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBRep. Davina Duerr was appointed last summer to the state House seat in the 1st district that came open when its previous occupant moved to the Senate to replace a departing member. This was her first session, but she's a quick study and, as you'll hear, she didn't sit in the back row and wait to be called on.
Last week the Legislature approved Senate Bill 5395, which makes sexual-health education part of the public-school curriculum in Washington. Today's special "Capitol Ideas" features Rep. Monica Stonier in a candid conversation about the campaign to defeat the bill, a campaign that was fueled by misinformation, disinformation, and personal insults that may have marked a new low in the Legislature.
March 10, 2020 19:15 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBDemocratic lawmakers have received thousands of emails, letters, phone calls, personal visits and, sadly, threats, in recent days from people hoping to derail Senate Bill 5395 (https://tinyurl.com/qqbg7dr). The House version of that bill, which requires age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual-health education to be part of the curriculum in public schools, was sponsored by State Rep. Monica Stonier of Vancouver. She visits "Capitol Ideas" today to talk about the actual content of the bill, the ...
Today’s Capitol Idea is election security, and Democratic state Rep. Gael Tarleton of Seattle is the Legislature's recognized authority on the issue. Today's conversation is longer than usual, but the topic is that important. Stick around.
March 06, 2020 05:12 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBGiven what’s gone on and is still going on in the world, ensuring the security and integrity of elections is about as important an idea as it’s possible to talk about in a representative democracy like ours. Rep. Gael Tarleton agrees, and she's been talking about it, and thinking about it, and doing something about it, for years. We've got her today, and what she has to say is worth listening to.
Democratic Rep. Mia Gregerson of SeaTac dropped by the "Capitol Ideas" studio this week to talk about her bill creating the Washington State Office of Equity. In 12 minutes, you'll know more than you do now!
March 04, 2020 01:20 - 12 minutes - 5.09 MBThere's equality . . . and then there's equity. State Rep. Mia Gregerson is one of many lawmakers with equity on their minds, and it's an important issue in the Washington Legislature this year. Today she talks to "Capitol Ideas" about her hopes for an Office of Equity, and why it would matter.
Well before Amy Walen (D-48th, Kirkland) took the oath of office to become a state representative in January 2019, she was a key player in Washington's efforts to reduce homelessness and increase supplies of affordable housing throughout the state. We'll talk about some successes, and some challenges she's faced, in today's "Capitol Ideas."
February 28, 2020 01:00 - 12 minutes - 5.18 MBBefore she became Rep. Amy Walen, today's guest on "Capitol Ideas" was Mayor Amy Walen of Kirkland. She has deep ties to her district on the east side of Lake Washington, and she brought her commitment to create affordable housing to Olympia. Reducing homelessness and boosting the state's inventory of affordable housing are key issues in the 2020 legislation, and Amy has several irons in that fire. We'll explore those efforts in today's conversation.
Spokane Rep. Timm Ormsby chairs the House Appropriations Committee and is head budget writer for the chamber. Today we talk with Timm not about the specifics of the newly released supplemental operating budget, but about the task, or privilege, of sitting in his seat and making decisions every day that could affect millions of Washingtonians.
February 25, 2020 21:45 - 16 minutes - 6.5 MBToday's "Capitol Ideas" is a sort of civics lesson, but more interesting than the ones you took -- or didn't take -- in high school. Chief House budget writer Rep. Timm Ormsby reflects on how a multi-billion-dollar state operating budget takes shape: the long days and even longer nights, the tough decisions, the unheralded bipartisanship and, again, more tough decisions. This is background you probably haven't heard before, and it's definitely worth 16 minutes of your time.
We're back and today's "Capitol Ideas" features a visit from Rep. Lisa Callan. Lisa is a Democrat, of course, from Washington's 5th legislative district. Whether they know it or not, at-risk kids in the Evergreen state have a champion in Lisa, and we'll talk about why in the next 15 minutes.
February 18, 2020 22:30 - 15 minutes - 6.5 MBRep. Lisa Callan was an engineer helping to build the best airplanes in the world. She was a school board director. She was a lot of other things to admire, but now we've got her and she's a state representative from Issaquah, in Washington's 5th legislative district. Legislatively, 2020 has been the year of the child for Lisa. Listen in while we talk about that in this edition of "Capitol Ideas."
We're back and today's "Capitol Ideas" features a visit from Rep. Lisa Callen. Lisa is a Democrat, of course, from Washington's 5th legislative district. Whether they know it or not, at-risk kids in the Evergreen state have a champion in Lisa, and we'll talk about why in the next 15 minutes.
February 18, 2020 22:30 - 15 minutes - 6.5 MBRep. Lisa Callen was an engineer helping to build the best airplanes in the world. She was a school board director. She was a lot of other things to admire, but now we've got her and she's a state representative from Issaquah, in Washington's 5th legislative district. Legislatively, 2020 has been the year of the child for Lisa. Listen in while we talk about that in this edition of "Capitol Ideas."
Today's guest is House Majority Floor Leader Monica Stonier. That's a position we've all heard of, but who knows what it entails? You will after listening to this episode of "Capitol Ideas."
February 14, 2020 02:00 - 18 minutes - 6.95 MBRep. Monica Stonier joins us on “Capitol Ideas” today. The Vancouver Democrat serves as Majority Floor Leader for the Democrats in the Washington state House, and balances that leadership position with her duties as a representative of the people of Vancouver's 49th legislative district.
Rep. Dave Paul circles back to “Capitol Ideas” today, a year after his first visit. He talks about his freshman year in the House, and highlights some of the issues he’s taken on during that time.
February 11, 2020 17:00 - 12 minutes - 6.08 MBWe sit down today with Rep. Dave Paul, midway through his second session as the representative from Washington’s 10th legislative district. Dave is vice president of Skagit Valley College, so a lot of his work involves education, but he’s also active in veterans’ issues, transportation, the environment . . . and lots more. Give him 12 minutes of your time today, and you’ll meet a pretty interesting public servant.
Meet Rep. Jesse Johnson. He's the Legislature's newest member, and probably its youngest, but he comes to Olympia from Federal Way with an impressive public-service resume and an ambitious agenda.
February 06, 2020 16:00 - 15 minutes - 6.51 MBDemocratic state Rep. Jesse Johnson was sworn into office barely a month ago, but he's already as busy as a seasoned lawmaker. We'll hear about his background today, and his service on the Federal Way city council, and his plans to make Washington a better, more equitable, and more inclusive place to live, work, and raise a family.
Rep. Shelley Kloba visits "Capitol Ideas" today for an interesting and eye-opening conversation about data privacy, something that barely exists now but which she's determined to make a reality.
February 05, 2020 00:10 - 15 minutes - 7.39 MBDemocratic state Rep. Shelley Kloba is so concerned about our ability to keep prying technological eyes off of our private lives that she hosted a series of coffee-shop meetings with her constituents in the 1st legislative district to listen to their own concerns, and their ideas. The result is an omnibus data-privacy bill now moving through the Legislature. We'll talk about that today in "Capitol Ideas."
Rep. Tina Orwall joins "Capitol Ideas" today to talk about the dangers of ultrafine particles, microscopic pollutants that float down from jet airplanes as a byproduct of burning Jet A fuel, and efforts to site a new or expanded airport in Washington state to take some of the pressure of of SeaTac International Airport, which sits in the middle of her legislative district.
January 30, 2020 23:30 - 11 minutes - 5.62 MBDemocratic state Rep. Tina Orwall has learned a lot about ultrafine particles, tiny pollutants (800 times smaller than the thickness of an average strand of human hair). She spearheaded a recent study to find out how prevalent they are in her district, which includes one of the nation's busiest and fastest-growing airports. The results? They're very, very prevalent. She also talks about ongoing efforts to site a new or expanded regional airport to take some of the pressure off of SeaTac Inter...
Happy New Year from the Washington state House Democrats. A new year means a new legislative session, and a new season of "Capitol Ideas." This year's season premiere features Rep. Melanie Morgan, a first-term lawmaker from Parkland in Washington's 29th district.
January 16, 2020 20:00 - 14 minutes - 6.27 MBDemocratic state Rep. Melanie Morgan visits "Capitol Ideas" in this first episode of 2020 and the first of the current legislative session. Morgan, who was recently elected by her fellow Democrats to serve as deputy majority floor leader in the House, talks about rental reforms, school nutrition, the push to establish a new Office of Equity in Washington, and her efforts to designate an official state dinosaur.
"Capitol Ideas" returns today with a short sit-down with Rep. Beth Doglio, Democrat from Olympia. Beth has been a climate warrior since before that term was coined, and that mostly what we discuss in this episode.
December 19, 2019 21:00 - 18 minutes - 16.8 MBDemocratic state Rep. Beth Doglio visits "Capitol Ideas" in this episode to talk about climate action, housing, transportation, and other priorities as we approach the January 13 opening of the 2020 legislative session.
In this installment of "Capitol Ideas," Washington state Representative Mari Leavitt, a Democrat representing Pierce County's 28th legislative district, looks back at her first year in the Legislature and offers a preview of the upcoming 2020 session.
October 22, 2019 19:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBDemocratic state Rep. Mari Leavitt was a military kid who grew up to be a small-business owner, the deputy director of Pierce County Human Services, a PTSA leader and, with a doctorate in community college leadership, a college administrator for more than two decades. Today we talk about that journey and how she's putting her experience to good use representing her constituents in Washington's 28th legislative district in Pierce County.
Rep. Eric Pettigrew chairs the majority House Democratic Caucus in the Washington state Legislature. What does that mean? Find out in today's "Capitol Ideas."
August 20, 2019 23:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBAs chair of the House Democratic Caucus in Olympia, Rep. Eric Pettigrew is responsible for keeping 57 strong-minded individuals moving in relatively the same direction for the good of the state and their constituents. As a representative of Washington's 37th legislative district, one of the most diverse in the state, he advocates for issues that matter to that district. Add in the fact that he presided over the election of Washington's first new House Speaker in two decades, and you've got a ...
Two of Rep. Mike Pellicciotti's favorite words are accountability and transparency, especially as applied to government, the election process, and the private sector. We'll talk about all these and more in this first Capitol Ideas podcast of the 2019 legislative interim.
May 10, 2019 00:00 - 14 minutes - 13 MBFederal Way state Rep. Mike Pelliccioti came to the Legislature with a background as a criminal prosecutor, and the characteristics that spell success in that profession -- tenacity, doggedness, a mind for strategy an unswerving belief that things can, and should, be better -- have served him and his constituents well. You'll meet him today.
First-year state Rep. Lisa Callan came to Olympia with a computer engineering background, a burning desire to help Washington kids thrive and learn, and a commitment to erase state route 18's well-deserved reputation as a traffic nightmare. You'll meet her today.
April 06, 2019 01:00 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBAs a Boeing engineer, Lisa Callan helped create the best airplanes in the world. Now that she's a member of the majority Democratic Caucus in the Washington state House of Representatives, she's putting her creative skills to use to help build a better Washington. In this edition of Capitol Ideas, she talks about being a brand-new lawmaker, fixing a nototious traffic chokepoint in her district, giving Washington kids the best schools around, and more. Give her 16 minutes; you'll be glad you did.
Washington state Rep. Jeff Morris is one of the Legislature's top thinkers in the field of energy, and today we'll talk about how smart, efficient appliances are going to change our lives.
March 27, 2019 04:00 - 15 minutes - 6.61 MBFor Rep. Jeff Morris, the future can't get here soon enough. Today we'll talk about energy -- how we get it, how we waste it, where the industry is heading and how his legislation that gives a thumbs-down to inefficient appliances is a first step to saving money, and lots of it. Plus, you'll learn what vampire power is. That's a bonus.
Opioids: The life and death of a young man, and a plan to fix Ricky's Law in the Legislature.
March 22, 2019 04:00 - 20 minutes - 7.79 MBThis special edition of Capitol Ideas focuses on the opioid epidemic and features two interviews: One with Debra Maher, whose son, Sean, died of a heroin overdose last year despite his eligibility to be involuntary committed to treatment under the terms of Ricky's Law, and the second with Rep. Lauren Davis, who helped create Ricky's Law before her election to the Legislature in 2018, and who is now sponsoring legislation to address the situation that allowed Sean to fall through the cracks, d...
Freshman lawmaker Amy Walen comes to House of Representatives in Olympia fresh off a stint as mayor of Kirkland, and she brought with her the can-do, let's-fix-that attitude that characterizes good local government. Today on Capitol Ideas she'll talk about what she plans to do and how she plans to fix what needs fixing.
February 26, 2019 04:20 - 13 minutes - 5.93 MBRep. Amy Walen is the 48th-district's newest legislator, but she knows her way around government. She's a former Kirkland city councilmember, and before her swearing in as a Democratic state representative she was mayor of that thriving King County city on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. She's CEO of a car dealership, practiced law in Australia, cares about housing and transportation and the environment and firearm violence, and if you give us 13 minutes today, you'll be glad you got to...
Deputy House Majority Leader Larry Springer is a business owner himself, and a few years ago created the House Democratic Caucus Business Roundtable. It's become an important part of how lawmakers vet prospective new laws, and we'll talk about it today.
February 20, 2019 21:00 - 9 minutes - 4.06 MBRep. Larry Springer works for the people of the 45th legislative district, a King County district that comprises Duvall and Woodinville, and parts of Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish. He’s deputy majority leader of the House of Representatives, has been a member of that body since 2005, and for more than 30 years he’s owned and operated a retail wine store in Kirkland. That last fact is key to today's conversation. Give it a listen.
House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan has a solution to the student loan crisis that is dooming today's college students to a lifetime of debt.
February 05, 2019 00:00 - 11 minutes - 4.74 MBHouse Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) was instrumental in solving the state's shortfall in basic-education funding, and now he's turned his attention to higher ed. In the 2019 session he's the force behind the Washington Student Loan Program, a low-cost, state-funded, self-sustaining program that could save generations of students from being indentured to high-interest creditors for much of their adult lives.
Rep. Dave Paul is a college vice president, a husband, a dad, an environmentalist, and an idealist: All good things for a newly minted representative from one of Washington's most beautiful districts, the 10th. You can get to know him better right here.
January 29, 2019 22:40 - 12 minutes - 5.13 MB10th-district state Rep. Dave Paul showed up in Olympia with a long list of goals, and it's likely he'll accomplish a lot of them. In this brief conversation he touches on higher education, naturally, but also veterans' issues, tourism, the economy, the environment, electric cars and ferries, and more.
When My-Linh Thai took the oath of office in Olympia a couple of weeks ago, she became Rep. My-Linh Thai -- the first refugee to serve in the Washington state Legislature. It that piques your interest, give a listen.
January 29, 2019 03:00 - 20 minutes - 4.66 MBRep. My-Linh Thai is a lot of things: a pharmacist, a successful businesswoman, a former member of the Bellevue school board . . . and, incidentally, a refugee who fled Vietnam with her family at age 15 and found a home in the U.S. She's the first refugee to be elected to the Washington state Legislature since statehood -- in other words, ever -- and she's got a story to tell.
Before Lauren Davis became the new state representative from the 32nd district in King/Snohomish counties, she was almost single-handledly responsible for the passage of Ricky's Law, a life-saving change in the way Washington deals with victims of substance-abuse disorder, alcoholism, and behavioral illness. Listen to her story.
January 25, 2019 04:30 - 11 minutes - 4.66 MBIn this installment of "Capitol Ideas" we meet Rep. Lauren Davis, midway through her second week as a state representative. With a resume that begins with Head Start teacher and goes on to include international development work in West Africa, advanced studies in Ghana as a Fulbright fellow, several non-profit startups and a stint with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it's hard to accept that she is one of the youngest members of the Washington state Legislature. For all that, her most...
Rep. Debra Lekanoff is the first Native American woman elected to serve in the Washington state House of Representatives since the state's establishment 130 years ago. Today we'll find out who she is, and why we're lucky to have her.
January 17, 2019 03:30 - 11 minutes - 4.96 MBToday's "Capitol Ideas" is a relatively brief but powerful introduction to Rep. Debra Lekanoff, who became the Washington's first Native American state representative after 40th-district constituents tapped her for the job last fall. The new lawmaker from Bow, a tiny community in Skagit County, is part of the most diverse Democratic majority in state history, and her story is a good one.
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self is a school and mental health counselor, and she learns things about the lives of children every day that even their friends and family might not know. Today's "Capitol Ideas" is an eye-opener.
January 10, 2019 00:50 - 16 minutes - 7.7 MBAs a school and mental health counselor, Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self knows more about the dark side of childhood than most of us, but on that job and as a state lawmaker, she's in a unique position to understand problems, and to solve them. That's what today's "Capitol Ideas" is all about.
Rep. Tana Senn has just been elected by her fellow legislators to chair the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee, and as you'll hear, it might just be a job she was destined for.
January 08, 2019 23:30 - 17 minutes - 11.6 MBFew lawmakers can match Representative Tana Senn's passion and effectiveness as a voice for children and families in the Legislature. Today we're talking about how and why she came by that distinction, and we'll get a glimpse of her goals for the 2019 session as the new chair of the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee.
Rep. Mike Chapman dropped by today to talk about leading Washington's bipartisan, bicameral quest to make rural economic development a legislative success story.
January 08, 2019 00:30 - 12 minutes - 5.43 MBRep. Mike Chapman represents one of Washington's most rural districts, and he's leading an effort to create good jobs and increase access to higher education in his and other districts from Seattle, Tacoma, and the other cities along the I-5 corridor who have prospered as the state recovers from the Great Recession. He talks about that effort today on "Capitol Ideas."
Rep. Shelley Kloba makes a return visit to "Capitol Ideas" to talk about special education, cannabis, transportation, and more.
January 07, 2019 20:45 - 14 minutes - 6.1 MBThis is Rep. Shelley Kloba's second visit to "Capitol Ideas." She's that good. Today she'll talk about easing Washington's transportation crisis, improving special education in our K-12 schools, fine-tuning the rules surrounding recreational cannabis, and perhaps most interesting of all, how and why she got into public service.
Rep. Nicole Macri has devoted her life to, in her words, "ensuring that people have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy homes that they can afford." That's what we'll talk about in today's "Capitol Ideas."
January 07, 2019 18:00 - 13 minutes - 5.52 MBOutside the Legislature, Rep. Nicole Macri has devoted her career to, in her words, "ensuring that people have the opportunity to live in safe, healthy homes that they can afford." It's not surprising that she brought that focus to Olympia when she was elected in 2016. Nicole is back for a new session, and today she talks about how she'll be approaching the issue, and others, in 2019.
State Rep. Gerry Pollet isn't shy about the need to upgrade special education in Washington's K-12 schools. In this fast-paced conversation he outlines the key problems and offers a set of legislative solutions.
January 04, 2019 21:00 - 12 minutes - 5.15 MBState Rep. Gerry Pollet isn't shy about the need to upgrade special education in Washington's K-12 schools. In this fast-paced conversation he outlines the key problems and offers a set of legislative solutions.
Speaker Pro Tem John Lovick drops by to talk about education, school safety, transportation, jobs . . . and working in the public sphere for nearly five decades, including two separate stints in the state House.
May 05, 2018 02:00 - 12 minutes - 8.51 MBWe got to visit today with Rep. John Lovick, the 44th-district Democrat who serves as Speaker Pro Tem in the state House of Representatives. He was a state patrol office for more than 30 years, a state representative for nine, a county sheriff, a county executive, and then a state representative again. We talk about that and more in today's Capitol Ideas.
Rep. Jeff Morris on Moore's Law and the Internet speeds you've always dreamed of (part two of two).
January 18, 2018 22:55 - 7 minutes - 5.53 MBToday’s guest is 40th-district State Representative Jeff Morris. In the conclusion of our two-part conversation, Jeff talks about some high-tech developments that have him interested, and how they're going to change life in Washington state.
Rep. Jeff Morris on Moore's Law and the Internet speeds you've always dreamed of (part one of two).
January 18, 2018 22:55 - 8 minutes - 5.81 MBToday’s guest is 40th-district State Representative Jeff Morris. In this first of a two-part conversation, Jeff talks about some high-tech developments that have him interested, and how they're going to change life in Washington state.
Rep. Zack Hudgins on expanding and protecting access to the polls
January 09, 2018 17:45 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBToday’s guest is 11th-district State Representative Zack Hudgins, and the topic is voting. More to the point, we’ll talk about plans that Zack and others have to make it easier for qualified voters to cast their votes, and to make sure those votes count. As chair of the House Committee on State Government, Elections, and Information Technology, he’s in a pretty good position to achieve those goals.
Rep. Tina Orwall talks about how technology and science can help put rapists behind bars . . . if only we'll make use of them.
October 11, 2017 22:30 - 12 minutes - 8.26 MBDNA evidence gathered from victims of sexual assault can be law enforcement's most effective tool in identifying rapists, solving cold cases, and preventing future attacks. But when Washington state rep. Tina Orwall toured a police evidence locker several years ago, she saw untested kits gathering dust and stacked high on shelves. Her subsequent research led to a disturbing discovery: Washington alone had more than 6000 untested kits, and nationwide nearly half a million kits had never been t...
Rep. Christine Kilduff on the importance of civility, respect, and bipartisan cooperation and compromise in politics, and in life.
August 04, 2017 23:50 - 14 minutes - 9.5 MBToday's Capitol Ideas features a talk with Rep. Christine Kilduff about what she calls "the glue" that holds our society, and our legislative bodies, together: plain, civil behavior. It's an endangered species in today's Washington, D.C., but, with some notable exceptions, seems to be holding its own in Olympia.
Rep. Monica Stonier works for the good people of Washington's 49th legislative district. A few years ago she was sent to Olympia by the 17th district, then took a two-year break. Today we talk about her experience as a two-time freshman.
June 15, 2017 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.08 MBThe last time she was featured on Capitol Ideas, today's lawmaker was Representative Monica Stonier of the 17th legislative district. That was almost three years ago. Since then Monica lost her reelection bid, moved into the 49th, and resumed her public-education career as a middle-school instructional coach. Two years go by. A seat unexpectedly opens up for a 49th-district rep, Monica goes for it . . . and here we are, about to review her second time around as a freshman lawmaker.
Rep. Sharon Wylie talks about the efforts to replace the aging bridge on I-5 connecting Washington with Oregon.
June 07, 2017 02:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBThis story started a long time ago, and it's looking like the end might possibly be coming into sight. The I-5 bridge spanning the Columbia River between Vancouver and Portland turned 100 years old this past Valentine's Day. Efforts to agree on and pay for a replacement have been going on for years, but as Washington state Representative Sharon Wylie explains, it's complicated. In this edition of "Capitol Ideas," she traces the past and points toward a promising future.
Rep. Noel Frame: Making college a little more humane, a little less expensive
March 22, 2017 23:10 - 16 minutes - 10.8 MBToday we look at a pair of bills sponsored by Rep. Noel Frame (D-Seattle). One would shortcut the currently cumbersome route college students with disabilities have to take when transferring between schools. The other looks at a high-tech alternative to college textbooks that can cost hundreds of dollars for a single course. Rep. Frame is joined by Washington Student Association members Anna Nepomuceno (UW-Tacoma) and Maresa Miranda (WSU-Vancouver).