The IMPACT

An overview of the "bare-bones" transportation budget that passed, the carbon bills linked to a bigger package, and the potential for a special session. Guests include House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey (D-Tacoma) & Ranking Republican Andrew Barkis (R-Olympia), and Senate Transportation Committee Chair Steve Hobbs (D-Lake Stevens) & Ranking Republican Curtis King (R-Yakima).

A press panel recap of the 2021 session - expanded programs, controversial tax, greener gasoline, new rules for police and more. Panel includes Jerry Cornfield, The Everett Herald and Sara Gentzler, McClatchy (The Olympian, Tacoma News Tribune, Bellingham Herald, Tri-City Herald).

Democrat and Republican legislators debate the impact of the capital gains tax and environmental legislation from 2021. Guests include Sen. June Robinson (D-Everett), Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver), Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-West Seattle), & Rep. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake).

The state auditor and the head of ESD weigh in on the audits into large scale unemployment fraud and delays for legitimate claims. Guests include Acting Commissioner Cami Feek, Employment Security Department, and Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy.

Cost? Availability? The situation facing parents seeking child care now; Budgeting for disaster- a paradigm shift in how we pay to fight forest fires. Guests include Deeann Burtch Puffert, CEO of Child Care Aware of Washington, and Hilary Franz, State Commissioner of Public Lands.

A defense attorney and a former prosecutor debate the impact of the state drug law ruling. Guests include Larry Jefferson, President of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Russell Brown, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.

A bipartisan panel of House budget leaders debate the proposed 2021-23 Operating Budget. Guests include Rep. Timm Ormsby (D -Spokane), Chair, House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn), Ranking Member, House Appropriations Committee.

Debating direct sales of electric vehicles, Q & A with an EV manufacturer and a dealership owner; lawmakers discuss zero-emission vehicle policies. Guests include Matthew Phillips, Car Pros Automotive Group, WSADA , Daniel Witt, Lucid Motors, Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline) House Consumer Protection and Business Committee and Rep. Chis Corry (R-Yakima) House Consumer Protection and Business Committee...

Invasive Species Spotlight: Zebra Mussels, Murder Hornets, Toxic Sap. Sunshine Week 2021 - impact of cameras in State Capitol & WA Supreme Court. Guests include Justin Bush, Executive Coordinator, Washington Invasive Species Council, Judge Marlin Appelwick, Washington Court of Appeals, (Former State Legislator), George Erb, Washington Coalition for Open Government, WWU Journalism Department (Forme...

The debate over capital gains tax intensifies after Senate passage; lawmakers discuss banning certain police tactics & overturned drug law. Guests include Misha Werschkul, Washington State Budget and Policy Center and Kriss Sjoblom, Washington Research Council, Sen. Jamie Pedersen, (D-Seattle), Chair, Senate Law and Justice Committee and Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley), Ranking Member, Senate...

Former AG on upshot of ruling that eliminated drug possession law, UW Medicine expert weighs in on vaccine strategy and COVID variant risk. Guests include Rob McKenna, former Washington Attorney General, and Keith Jerome, MD PhD, Head of Virology Division, UW Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology.

Judgement Day for policy bills. Press panel update on what's moving or stalled in Olympia and an overview of the session so far. Guests: Laurel Demkovich, The Spokesman-Review, Joseph O' Sullivan, The Seattle Times.

State lawmakers debate legislation to create personal data privacy rights with respect to companies that collect customer data. Guests include Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, and Rep. Shelley Kloba, D-Kirkland

House Finance Committee leaders debate proposed capital gains and wealth tax bills and other tax related topics. Guests: Rep. Noel Frame (D-Seattle), House Finance Committee Chair, Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-Kalama), House Finance Committee Ranking Member.

Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz on her crusade for dedicated wildfire funding in Washington. Three county test of earthquake early warning system planned around anniversary of 2001 Nisqually quake. Guests: Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Maximilian Dixon, Geologic Hazards Supervisor, Washington State Emergency Management Division.

House Transportation Committee leaders debate gas tax increase, funding challenges, and proposed projects. Guests: Rep. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma and Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia.

Key lawmakers debate possible solutions to eviction and foreclosure concerns, landlord-tenant challenges, and skyrocketing home prices. Guests include: Senate Housing and Local Government Committee Chair, Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-Bellevue), and Ranking Member, Sen. Phil Fortunato (R-Auburn).

Legislative leaders on top priorities, session restrictions, COVID response, business aid, housing, taxes and more. Guests include House Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) and Senate Republican Leader John Braun (R-Centralia).