Week in Review: legislature, e-scooters, and taxes

Bill Radke discusses the week’s news with McClatchy’s Shauna Sowersby, Seattle Times Elise Takahama, and political analyst Joni Balter.

On Tuesday, Governor Jay Inslee announced that he purchased 30,000 doses, or a three-year supply of the abortion pill mifepristone. Inslee said that he plans on stockpiling it in case court rulings make abortion nationwide more limited. In addition to the medication, lawmakers are introducing legislation that would allow state officials to distribute the medication to health care facilities and providers. Are they just about serving Washingtonians, or also subverting other states’ laws?

On Wednesday, the State House voted to ban assault weapons in Washington state. It now heads to the Senate. It would go into effect immediately if passed in the Senate and signed by Governor Inslee. Supporters cited mass shooting statistics, while those opposing the bill said this is inflammatory to law abiding gun owners. Exceptions to the bill include Washingtonians who already own an assault rifle, and anyone who inherits one. Will it pass the Senate?

A bill that would allow public school employees who are survivors of domestic violence to be exempt from public disclosure requirements is facing some opposition in the Legislature. Opponents say that because the bill makes all employee information private, the public wouldn’t be able to know if the law is even being used appropriately, while supporters say that it offers necessary protection for domestic violence survivors. All public employees are subject to disclosure of public records under the Washington State Public Records Act unless there is an exemption. What’s the state of legislative transparency?

Prosecutors have charged suspect Patrick Cooney with murder and assault in the fatal shooting of Elijah Lewis, in Seattle last weekend. Lewis was a community organizer heavily involved in Africatown Community Land Trust and the Central District. He was shot and killed, and his nephew was shot in the calf and injured, Saturday afternoon. Police say a traffic altercation happened between Cooney, on a scooter, and Lewis' vehicle. What happened in this incident?

Seattle city leaders are considering a capital gains tax for the city. This follows last month's state supreme court ruling that upheld a statewide capital gains tax. The state's 7 percent capital gains tax applies to profits from the sale of capital assets above the value of $250-thousand dollars. Real estate is exempt from the tax. What effects would that have?

After receiving criticism from council members after missing a deadline to lay out a plan for the creation of policing alternatives like a third public safety department and a more immediate team that would respond to calls for such things as wellness checks, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell continues to receive criticism for moving too slow on the projects. Is Harrell purposely slow-walking police alternatives? Why or why not?