Carleen Johnson

Auburn

Staff Reporter at The Center Square

Mom to 3 amazing kids. I love Jesus & journalism!

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Articles

Wealth tax resurrected in Washington state

5 days ago | washingtonexaminer.com | Carleen Johnson

Democrats in the Washington State Senate resurrected a wealth tax on Friday, with the Ways & Means Committee giving a scaled-back version of the legislation a do-pass recommendation on a party-line vote out of executive session. The initial version of Senate Bill 5797, sponsored by Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, set a tax rate of $10 per $1,000 value on certain financial assets, such as stocks and bonds, over $50 million.
Washington Parents Network files Title VI complaint against Reykdal

6 days ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – On Friday morning, Washington Parents Network filed a complaint against Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
WATCH: ‘The budget blackout continues’: WA GOP frustrated by Dems’ tax hike proposals

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – With just 10 days remaining in session, majority party Democrats in the Washington State Legislature have yet to reveal their final budget proposals. Meanwhile, Republicans remain largely powerless to stop an onslaught of tax hikes as part of Democrats’ revenue plan to deal with a projected operating budget shortfall of $16 billion over the next four years.
WATCH: Rep. Walsh wants to bring DOGE to Washington state

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – Rep. Jim Walsh, D-Aberdeen, has introduced House Bill 2076 that would create the Washington Department of Government Efficiency, or WA DOGE, to identify outdated rules, eliminate waste and crack down on agencies operating beyond their legal authority. The proposed department is inspired by President Donald Trump’s federal Department of Government Efficiency helmed by Elon Musk. On Saturday, HB 2076 was referred to the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee.
WATCH: Hundreds rally in Olympia against proposed tax increases

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – Hundreds of frustrated Washingtonians rallied on the steps in front of the Legislative Building in Olympia on Tuesday afternoon – Tax Day – to let majority party Democrats know they don’t approve of a bevy of proposed tax increases. The rally, which drew an estimated 300 people, was hosted by political action committee Let’s Go Washington.
WATCH: Republicans silenced as WA House passes bill amending parents' rights

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) - After hours of intense debate on the House floor Monday, majority Democrats pushed though one of the most contentious bills of the 2025 legislative session. House Democrats also for the first time used a controversial new rule to silence minority Republicans. “We knew this day might come, but to see it unfold during the Parental Rights initiative – backed by nearly half a million voters – is a disgrace, ” said Republican Deputy Minority Leader Rep.
Bill to electronically track sexually violent predators in WA signed into law

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – A bipartisan bill to keep communities in Washington state safe from sexually violent predators has been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson. House Bill 1457, sponsored by Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, and Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, requires electronic monitoring of sexually violent predators granted conditional release.
WA Senate passes bill that partly revises parents’ bill of rights initiative

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – The Washington State Senate on Friday approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296, one of this session’s most controversial and divisive pieces of legislation, on a 30-19 party-line vote. Majority party Democrats contend the bill will provide safeguards for K-12 students. Minority Republicans worry it could penalize schools and infringe on parental rights by undermining Initiative 2081, which lawmakers passed last year.
Amended rent cap bill faces uncertain fate in Washington House

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Carleen Johnson

(The Center Square) – Republicans in both chambers of the Washington State Legislature aren’t holding their collective breath that an amendment adopted in a rent cap bill that cleared the Senate late Thursday will be included in a final version after it goes back to the House of Representatives. Engrossed House Bill 1217 passed the Senate after being amended to increase the annual rent hike limit from 7% to 10% plus the consumer price index, meaning it has to go back to the House for concurrence.
Cases of infanticide may be harder to investigate under Washington state bill passed by Legislature - The Daily Chronicle

1 week ago | chronline.com | Carleen Johnson

There was emotional testimony on the House floor Wednesday as lawmakers debated and eventually passed a bill that repeals the crime of “concealing a birth” and removes coroner jurisdiction over stillbirths, abortions and premature infant deaths unless other criminal acts are suspected.