The IMPACT

A panel of state government reporters review the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session. Guests: Claire Withycombe of The Seattle Times and Shauna Sowersby of McClatchy Newspapers (The Olympian, Tacoma News Tribune, and Tri-City Herald).

An inside look at the legislative compromise on staffing levels and background on the challenges facing nurses and hospitals in Washington. Guests: Katharine Weiss, Director of Government Affairs for the Washington State Nurses Association and Chelene Whiteaker, Senior Vice-President of Government Affairs for the Washington State Hospital Association.

From residential zoning to police pursuit policies and behavioral health capacity - a look at legislative priorities for local governments around Washington. Guests: Candice Bock, Director of Government Relations at the Association of Washington Cities and Eric Johnson, Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Counties.

An update on the legislative push to institute a new pay-by-mile road usage charge to fund transportation infrastructure. Guest: Reema Griffith, Washington State Transportation Commission

Discussing the implications of the state supreme court ruling that upheld the 2021 state capital gains tax. Interview guests: Andy Nicholas, Senior Fellow at the Washington State Budget and Policy Center and Mike Gallagher, President and CEO of the Washington Policy Center.

A look at the legislative debate over a bill to let DNR develop and sell carbon sequestration projects. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz weighs in on why her agency is seeking new options for state trust land management in the carbon markets.

Sunshine Week discussion focusing on different ways Washington's Public Records Act creates windows into the inner workings of state and local government. Guest: Paul Queary, editor and publisher of The Washington Observer (former AP editor/reporter and former political consultant).

A look at the outcome of Washington's first carbon credit auction in February. What it raised, how it works, and what it means to you. Q & A with Washington State Dept. of Ecology Director Laura Watson.

With a final recommendation due in June 2023, a new bill would hit reset on the controversial effort to choose a site for a new major airport. Guests: Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake and Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines.

A look at legislation to set aside $4000 for each child born into poverty in the state to assist with big investments later in life. Q & A with Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti about the Washington Future Fund proposal

A look at legislation aimed at improving conditions for salmon through riparian buffer zone recovery grants. Guests: Rep. Mike Chapman (D-Port Angeles) and Rep. Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda)

From tougher penalties to total paradigm shift, an overview of bills competing to replace Washington's soon to expire drug possession law. Guests: Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett) and Rep. Dan Griffey (R-Allyn)

The Impact - a panel of lawmakers discuss the impact of vehicle pursuit regulations put in place for law enforcement in 2021 and various bills to amend them or establish new policies. Guests: Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) and Rep. Eric Robertson (R-Sumner).

The Impact - a look at legislation that would add climate related considerations to local planning under the Growth Management Act. Interviews: Rep. Davina Duerr, D-Bothell, and Rep. Keith Goehner, R-Dryden.

The Impact - Q & A with the sponsors of a bill to allow duplex, triplex, and quadplex construction on residential lots in areas with single-family zoning. Rep. Jessica Bateman (D-Olympia) and Rep. Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia).

Impact host Mike McClanahan sits down with Governor Jay Inslee to discuss his priorities on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session.

2023 state minimum wage increase and new per-mile pay guarantee, plus other job protections for Uber and Lyft drivers. Featuring Bryan Templeton, Program Manager for Employee Standards at the WA Dept. of Labor & Industries.

A review of big state policy stories from 2022 and issues to watch in the 2023 Legislative Session. Featuring Laurel Demkovich with the Spokesman-Review and Jerry Cornfield with the Everett Herald.

Is Washington winning the war against murder hornets? An update on the status of the invasive Northern Giant Hornet in the Pacific Northwest with Sven Spichiger, Managing Entomologist for the WA Dept of Agriculture.

Looking back on the ten years since Washington voters approved I-502 to legalize and regulate the production, sale, and possession of marijuana. Featuring an extended one-on-one interview with Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board Chair David Postman.

An overview and discussion of the plan to convert Capitol Lake back into an estuary by removing a dam in the heart of downtown Olympia.

Voters in two counties and the City of Seattle will decide on whether to adopt an alternative voting system. The debate over ranked-choice and approval voting

A bipartisan panel of political consultants discuss key contests and trends to watch this election cycle. Guests include Sandeep Kaushik, a Partner at Sound View Strategies and Justin Matheson, NW Director at Axiom Strategies.

State political party leaders weigh in on November election predictions and priority contests. Interviews with Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski and Washington State Republican Party Chairman Caleb Heimlich.

The Impact: the debate over a proposed residential energy code change to mandate heat pumps instead of gas furnaces in new homes. Interviews: Dan Welch, M.Arch. CPHC, LEED AP, Bundle Design Studio Gordon Wheat, M.D., Olympia Physicians for Social Responsibility Andrea Smith, MPA, Building Industry Association of Washington