LATEST BLOGS
Gray wolf conservation classification open for public comment
Gray wolves returned to our landscape in 2007. Since then, they have settled into the Northeast portion of the state with 30 of the 37 recognized packs in Washington residing there.
This week the Washington State Department of Fish & Wildlife announced the opening of a rulemaking regarding gray wolves. The department is asking for public input on changing the state’s conservation status of gray wolves from “endangered” to “sensitive.”
A recent study of gray wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park further erodes the claims of activists, noting the wolf population in the park did not create a total habitat restoration. Researchers from Colorado State University studied different parts of the national park over a 20-year period and discovered that factors beyond gray wolf reintroduction matter in habitat restoration discussions.
Read the entire blogSeattle Times editorial rightly asks lawmakers to discuss WA Cares, I-2124
"Out of the gate, the proponents of the mandatory long-term care plan for Washington employees seemed more fixated on being the first state in the nation to create such a plan than on implementing sound policy, assessing whether it was needed or residents even wanted it," The Seattle Times editorial board wrote in an editorial published today. It added, "Aside from being a mandate that the majority of the people of Washington didn’t ask for, the plan, known as WA Cares, had other problems."
Indeed. There are so many problems with WA Cares that the long-term-care law creating the program has been amended in several different ways since 2019, and a state commission overseeing the newish social program has a list of recommendations for additional changes.
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HB 2331 would defund schools that do not adopt controversial curriculum mandated by the state
The state House of Representatives may soon vote on HB 2331, a bill to defund school districts refusing to adopt controversial curriculum materials mandated by the state.
Since 2019 the state legislature has passed laws encouraging school districts to teach the false and divisive Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in public schools. Many local schools object to adopting textbooks and materials that promote harmful ideas to children. HB 2331 would give the state superintendent the power to cut state funding if he does not approve of the classroom materials chosen by local schools.
HB 2331 would effectively repeal the state law that says local schools should choose textbooks and materials that are best for children. The bill would further damage the reputation of public education as a place which serves all children, regardless of race and background, on an equal and respectful basis.
Many parents are concerned about the radical leftwing political shift in schools. The families of 46,000 students have already left public education. The bill would tell families that their local school is not responsive to the community, adding to the trend of families leaving the public system.
For more information, see our Legislative Memo on this bill.
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