Hey.
Can we send this out and encourage people to sign up and ask questions.
It would be great to have someone ask Jim about this language ” His legislative focus revolves around critical issues such as fostering family-wage job creation, ensuring adequate funding for schools, and safeguarding the interests of taxpayers, property rights, and gun rights. Jim is particularly dedicated to diversifying the economies of the coastal communities within his district, striving to introduce new opportunities for his constituents. Recognizing the importance of an effective local school system, he believes it plays a vital role in securing a comprehensive economic recovery. Jim is committed to bipartisan collaboration and seeks common-sense solutions in the Legislature.”
Maybe ask for a few examples of bipartisan collaboration and economic progress.
From: Rep. Jim Walsh <RepJimWalsh@updates.leg.wa.gov>
Sent: Monday, March 3, 2025 8:48 AM
To: purcellpublicaffairs@msn.com<purcellpublicaffairs@msn.com>
Subject: Upcoming town hall, restoring trust in WA elections, and celebrating the end of some bad bills
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.Upcoming town hall, restoring trust in WA elections, and celebrating the end of some bad bills Home | About Jim | News & Media | Email Updates | The Ledger | ContactDear Friends and Neighbors,Before diving into other updates, I want to invite you to a 19th District Virtual Town Hall with Sen. Jeff Wilson, Rep. Joel McEntire, and me on Thursday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. This live Zoom event is your chance to hear the latest on the legislative session and ask questions about the issues that matter most to you.Click here to register.Restoring trust in Washington’s elections Concerns about Washington’s voter registration system are growing. The state’s Motor Voter Law—which automatically registers individuals to vote when they apply for or renew a driver’s license—lacks the safeguards needed to ensure only eligible voters are added to the rolls. Gaps in the Department of Licensing’s (DOL) implementation have led to vulnerabilities, including the registration of non-citizens.That’s why I’ve introduced HJM 4007, urging the U.S. Department of Justice to audit and review Washington’s voter registration system. This proposed request to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi is an essential step toward transparency and accountability.State agencies responsible for voter registration have given conflicting answers on who ensures only eligible voters are added to the rolls. The Department of Licensing and the Secretary of State’s Office point fingers at each other, while the Governor’s and Attorney General’s offices offer little clarity. The result? No one is truly enforcing the law.As an all-mail-in voting state, Washington depends on an accurate and secure voter registration system. However, ongoing inconsistencies and a lack of oversight have shaken public confidence in our elections. HJM 4007 calls on the DOJ to audit the process and recommend corrective actions to ensure full compliance with state and federal law.This isn’t about politics—it’s about making sure our systems work as they should. An independent audit will bring clarity and help restore trust in our elections. If approved by the Legislature,HJM 4007 will be sent to the president, the U.S. attorney general, congressional leadership, and each Washington state congressional delegation member.Deadlines and bad bills defeatedWe’re nearing the halfway point of session, and the clock is ticking. Some bad bills are already “dead”—but in Olympia, nothing stays buried until the final gavel falls. Over the next several days, the action shifts to the House and Senate floors, where lawmakers will debate, amend, and vote on bills ahead of the House of Origin Cutoff on March 12. By 5 p.m. that day, any bill that hasn’t cleared its original chamber is dead—unless it’s labeled “necessary to implement the budget” (NTIB), meaning it can be revived at any time.That said, we can take a victory lap as a handful of bad legislative proposals have seemingly met their demise:House Bill 1881 – Bureaucratic red tape for hospitals: This bill would have buried healthcare providers—especially in rural areas—under unnecessary government red tape, giving the Attorney General sweeping power to interfere in private healthcare decisions. Instead of improving care, it would have driven up costs, blocked expansions, and forced hospitals to cut services or shut down.Senate Bill 5312 – Weakening protections against child predators: This bill would have weakened protections against online predators by slashing the sex offender registration requirement to five years and cutting supervision to just three years for those caught in Net Nanny sting operations—proactive law enforcement stings that have led to over 300 arrests since 2015. These individuals were actively seeking minors for exploitation but were arrested before they could act. Reducing oversight erodes deterrence, undermines law enforcement, and puts communities at risk.House Bill 1504 and House Bill 1386 – Targeting law-abiding gun owners: HB 1504 sought to force gun owners to purchase liability insurance for every firearm, adding a costly and unnecessary financial burden. Meanwhile,HB 1386 would have slapped an 11 percent excise tax on guns, ammo, and parts, making self-defense, hunting, and recreational shooting more expensive while doing nothing to stop criminals.Senate Bill 5382 – Aka the initiative killer: This bill was a blatant attempt to make it harder for citizens to propose their own laws. It would have thrown out legitimate voter signatures over minor discrepancies and added extra red tape for petition gatherers—effectively silencing grassroots efforts before they even started.These bad proposals are off the table for now, but plenty of other troubling bills are still moving through the Legislature. To see some of what’s still in play, be sure to visit the Stop Bad Billswebpage.Thank you!It’s an honor to represent the 19th District and stand up for the values we share. I’ll keep fighting to hold government accountable, stop bad policies, and push for solutions that strengthen our communities and the state.Thank you for staying engaged. Reach out anytime with your thoughts, questions, or concerns. Sincerely, Jim Walsh |