Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard

Gov. Bob Ferguson is getting lots of requests to reject new taxes ahead of a Tuesday deadline for him to act on bills.

The plans combine cuts with billions in new taxes to solve a shortfall. It’ll now be up to Gov. Bob Ferguson to decide what will become law.

A state watchdog has spent months investigating allegations that financier Brian Heywood’s political committee violated campaign finance laws. This week, the panel will decide whether to refer the case to the attorney general.

With tax collections down and costs climbing, Washington’s outgoing governor tamps down expectations as he makes spending decisions in his final budget proposal.

They’re out with an ad portraying Brian Heywood as the villain behind proposals to undo priority policies for Washington Democrats. Heywood said he’s ready to fight back.

Supporters submitted 400,000-plus signatures in support of Initiative 2066. If approved, it would blow up key parts of a state law approved this year and recent building code changes.

Without changes to the public defense system, one local official warns a long-brewing “crisis will get worse, and more people will go unrepresented and their rights violated.”