Ferguson sounds optimistic, bipartisan note in inaugural speech
During his first remarks to the state and the legislature after taking office Wednesday, Gov. Bob Ferguson at times like a traditional Democrat.
“I’m in politics because I believe in the power of government to improve people's lives,” the newly-minted governor said.
And at times he sounded more like a Republican.
“Few things frustrate me more than bureaucracy that creates delays, confusion, or extra hurdles when people and businesses need questions answered and results delivered,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson reminded lawmakers that he has proposed $4 billion in spending cuts to help balance the next two-year budget. He says that’s in addition to $2 billion in cuts proposed by his predecessor, former Gov. Jay Inslee.
Ferguson devoted some of his remarks to calling out lawmakers from both parties to let them know he’ll support bills they have introduced. That includes a proposal by Spokane Republican Sen. Jeff Holy to budget $100 million for a grant program to help local and tribal police hire and train more officers.
The new governor also evoked the state’s history and his predecessors in office, from Elijah Ferry to Clarence Martin. All, he said, shared visions for hope during difficult times.
Ferguson singled out Dan Evans, the former Republican governor who recently passed away. He said he admired Evans’ approach when it came to working with legislators from both parties.
“Let us have a bias toward action,” Ferguson said. “Let us listen to one another without consideration for party so that the strongest argument prevails. That is how we do our best work.”
Spokane Valley state Senator faces backlash for post
The Washington State Democratic Party is condemning newly sworn-in Spokane Valley State Senator Leonard Christian over a recent Facebook post.
In the post, made on Jan. 11, Christian attached a photo of a U-S Bank sign that contains both English and Chinese.
The caption reads "I was driving around the Bellevue area yesterday. I found it surprising to see a US bank sign written in Chinese. Anyone else think this is just wrong???"
According to the city of Bellevue, Chinese is the second most commonly spoken language after English in the community.
In a statement, Washington Democratic Chair Shasti Conrad called the post "xenophobic" and "deeply painful for those of us in Washington’s growing and vibrant Asian American communities."
Conrad called for Christian to apologize for the post and for the Senate Republicans to condemn the rhetoric.
"That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard," Christian said in his own statement. "What I’m concerned about is Chinese influence over the U.S. economy. This isn’t about hate, this is a matter of me doing my job."
According to a 2024 report from the Asian American Foundation, about 40% of Asian residents in Snohomish, Pierce and King Counties say they experienced anti-Asian hate within the last year.
‘Never Trumper’ Vance weighs options for GOP’s future
Former Washington GOP chairman Chris Vance is not pleased with the direction of his former party under Donald Trump. He tried forming a third party. He endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024. Neither effort succeeded.
In a conversation with SPR News, Vance said he’s not giving up.
“I don't think I'll ever get out of politics,” Vance said. “I've been doing politics my entire life. I don't think I'm ever going to abandon the goal of trying to advance Reaganite, traditional conservatism.”
Vance said there’s no place for people like him in the current Republican Party. He sees two options: form a new party, or strengthen a faction within the GOP to re-assert some control over the party’s trajectory and priorities.
“I would support either option, but there seems to be a lot more momentum towards creating a faction to do battle within the Republican Party rather than create a new party. But you never know,” he said.
Vance also offered some optimism for conservatives and liberals disappointed or frustrated by the outcome of November’s election: no presidency lasts forever. Between now and 2028, he said, there will be competition to select the next person to carry the Republican banner.
“People are going to be lining up to run for president, and there's going to be a war within both parties on where do we go from here, and my side needs to get ready for that war and try and nominate, four years from now, somebody who's not from MAGA,” Vance said.
SPR listeners can hear more from Chris Vance on Inland Journal from SPR News, today at noon on 91.1 KPBX. The episode can also be streamed online.
Future of WA wildlife commission in doubt
The commission that oversees Washington’s fish and wildlife policy could get overhauled – or even dissolved entirely.
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, made up of nine volunteers, has disagreed publicly the last few years over questions such as, should gray wolves stay classified as endangered species, or can black bears be hunted in the spring?
Their job has gotten harder as the state’s human population has grown and the climate has changed. A new report calls the commission dysfunctional and politically polarized.
Some commissioners even agree.
“There have been certain times in the last couple of years when the notion of abolishing the commission has had a certain appeal to me,” retired fisheries biologist Steve Parker said at the panel’s January 10 meeting.
But Parker added he doesn’t think getting rid of the commission is right.
“This gives us a chance…for a little self-examination,” Parker told his colleagues.
The commission will take it up in a committee next month.
Bill aims to reduce government regulation in Idaho
Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle introduced the legislature’s newest effort to cut red tape Wednesday.
Moyle’s bill directs state agencies to cut state laws over the next few months.
He says he wants agencies to find “outdated” and “unnecessary” language in state code by September 1.
Lawmakers would then look over the sections flagged by bureaucrats and decide to keep or delete them next year.
Idaho code is divided into 27 separate volumes in printed form. Despite the size, Moyle says this fall’s deadline won’t be overly burdensome on agencies.
"If you give them too much time, like we all do, we procrastinate," Moyle said. "I want to get this done soon, and I think this will help push them to get this done sooner."
Over the last several years, state lawmakers have been significantly cutting and rewriting Idaho’s administrative rules and regulations.
A House committee introduced Moyle’s bill unanimously.
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Reporting was contributed by Doug Nadvornick, Owen Henderson, Scott Greenstone and James Dawson.