Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Ben Miksch, State and Federal Policy Associate

No last-minute deal came together, and so the automatic, across-the-board cuts to all government programs begin today. King County Housing Authority announced it has suspended issuing Section 8 vouchers, and we're scared to see how the cuts will play out across Washington.

Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Joaquin Uy, Communications Coordinator

Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy and Ben Miksch, State and Federal Policy Associate

Olympia was, if anything, even more frenetic than last week. Packed hearings spilled out into hallways, where advocates laid in wait hoping to snatch a moment of time with a legislator heading back to their office.

Benjamin Miksch, State and Federal Policy Associate

Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy

Activity in Olympia heated up this week with a lot of new bills introduced and with hearings and lobby days that drew massive crowds. The halls were once again packed, and people from all walks of life sat in hearing rooms and testified on bills that touch on an incredibly diverse set of issues.

Guest Blogger: Emily Alvarado, Policy Director with Housing Development Consortium Seattle/King County (HDC)

Sakara Remmu, Outreach and Mobilization Manager

There is a strong Pacific Northwest drizzle in the air, and Kent is quiet. It’s one o’clock in the morning on what would otherwise be a typical Friday. Except, this is anything but typical. Tonight was the One Night Count.

Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy

This year’s legislative session has gotten off to a slower, but perhaps more thoughtful, start. Many members of the legislature are new and many of the staff members, both partisan and nonpartisan, are new as well. The Governor’s Office is still hiring their lead staff and everything is taking longer than usual to settle.