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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With the 2025 Legislature concluding its first week, much of the pomp and circumstance was expected. What was pleasantly surprising was the tone and tenor of the new governor, Bob Ferguson. His first speech to the Legislature was a refreshing contrast to what we have seen from outgoing, former-Gov. Jay Inslee.
Gov. Ferguson openly agreed with and seemed to support many past and present Republican proposals on public safety, streamlining the permitting process for new housing construction, reimbursing farmers for their fuel tax exemption from the climate tax, and budget priorities, saying we can’t tax our way out of the current budget shortfall.
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises was this quote from Ferguson:
“I’m not here to defend government. I’m here to reform it.”
Quite a difference from the status quo we saw from Inslee the past 12 years! To read my op-ed on the new governor’s speech, click here.
I know talk is cheap and we must “Trust but Verify.” But the new governor should be given every opportunity to work across the aisle when we can agree. And when we can’t, Republicans will hold the line on the issues and policies important to our constituents. We will also hold him accountable for his comments and commitments made during his speech.
Anti-Second Amendments bills
Not surprisingly, several anti-gun bills have been introduced and are already moving through the legislative process. Some are scheduled for a public hearing in the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee this upcoming Tuesday, Jan. 21. Click here to see the list and additional links to testify remotely or through written submission. Let your voice be heard, folks!
Calling all Pages!
Teaching the next generation about our form of government, civic responsibilities and engagement, and the rights and liberties our Founding Fathers fought to protect is vital to the survival of our Republic. The Washington State Page program is an excellent way for students under 17 to gain this firsthand experience, all while earning $65/day. Click here to learn more about the Page program, the requirements, process, and a FAQ. Click here for the Page application.
Keep in touch
There are several ways to keep in touch with me throughout the legislative session. You can email, call, or write to my Olympia office. My contact information is at the end of this update. In addition, continue to check my website for my weekly, three-minute Capitol Report and other media, including news releases, op-eds, and the occasional video.
You can also have our Capitol Buzz (daily e-clips from media sources around the state) sent to your inbox each day. You can subscribe to our “The Week Ahead” publication that gives advance notice of upcoming committee and floor action and our news aggregator “The Ledger.” Click here for more information.
Thank you for once again for allowing me to serve you in Olympia. It continues to be the honor of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmick
