Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast

DNA 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 a...

The 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...

This 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...

Today 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 Nepom...

Washington state pumps about 95 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year. That's more than twice the targeted volume for the year 2050, and we're behind schedule to meet that goal. Burien Democrat Joe Fitzgibbon chairs the House Environment Committee in Olympia, and he's introduced a bill to speed up the process by taxing carbon polluters at a rate of $15 a ton. We'll t...

Violence against Muslims, Jews and people of color continues to increase, and one conversation about it doesn't seem to be enough. This week Rep. Derek Stanford and Aneelah Afzali, director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network, pick up where the last "Capitol Ideas" left off.

Overt acts of anti-Semitism are increasingly common around the U.S. and here in Washington state. Mosques are burned and vandalized. People who look vaguely Middle Eastern are targeted by violent xenophobes, and racist bullies do what racist bullies do. Is hate the new black? We hear today from a lawmaker and a rabbi to get their take on increasing threats to America's sustaining values, and what...

House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) might be the most dedicated advocate for public schools in Olympia, and he's a leader on the state’s education-funding task force. But like every lawmaker, he’s also answerable to the constituents in his home district. In this case, that’s the 47th, and in today’s brief conversation he touches on both of these roles.

Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland).

Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma).

Rep. Tana Senn, D-Mercer Island).

Rep. Marcus Riccelli (D-Spokane).

Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver) talked with Capitol Ideas a few days before being sworn in as a brand-new state lawmaker, after more than a decade as a classroom teacher and teaching coach. What was that transition like, and what did she learn in her first two years? Listen in and find out.

House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan (D-Covington) talks about House Democratic priorities, what's passed, and what hasn't, as the clock ticks down on the first half of the 2014 session.

Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) talks about the fight to ensure that reproductive parity continues to be a Washington tradition.

By most any measure, the House Appropriations Committee is one of the plum assignments, and one of the key decision-making groups, in the Washington State Legislature. Rep. Timm Ormsby is vice chair of the committee, and today he reflects on just what that means.

Our guest today is state Representative Tina Orwall. Tina represents Washington’s 33rd legislative district, a South King County district that includes Sea-Tac, Des Moines, Normandy Park and large parts of both Burien and Kent. Before running for office in 2008, Tina focused her energy on strategic planning in health care and workforce development, affordable-housing efforts, advocacy for military...

Our guest today is state Representative Laurie Jinkins. Laurie represents Washington’s 27th legislative district, a vaguely mushroom-shaped piece of northern Pierce County that includes most of Tacoma and all of Ruston, and stretches from Fife in the east to Highway 16 in the west. Representative Jinkins is midway through her first two-year term in the House. Before running for office in 2010, Lau...

Welcome to the first Capitol Ideas podcast of 2011. It’s a new year, a new session, and we’re speaking today with a new member of the Legislature, Washington state Representative Cindy Ryu. Cindy was elected in November to represent the state’s 32nd legislative district, a north King and south Snohomish county district that stretches from Edmonds in the northwest all the way down to Kirkland in th...

We’re speaking today with state Representative Mike Sells. Mike represents Washington’s 38th legislative district, a fast-growing Snohomish County district that includes Everett, Marysville and Tulalip. Mike is vice chair of the House Higher Education, and he’s also a member of the Transportation and General Government Appropriations committees. We spoke recently in his Everett office.

State Rep. Tina Orwall represents Washington's 33rd Legislative District, including the communities of Des Moines, SeaTac, and Normandy Park, as well as parts of Burien and the west half of the city of Kent. The Democratic freshman serves as vice chair of the House Human Services Committee and is a member of the chamber’s education and capital-budget panels as well.

One of the most pressing, most expensive, and most controversial projects in Washington state today is the proposed replacement of the State Route 520 floating bridge that spans Lake Washington. It’s a bridge that’s used by more than 150,000 people every day, connecting the city of Seattle with Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond and other cities on the east side of the lake. Replacing the bridge will be...

Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-Spokane) and Legislative Assistant Shannon Waechter give a behind-the-scenes look at how a legislative office works.