KUOW Blog
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Arguments surrounding Inslee's State-of-the-State: Today So Far
Shortly after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee delivered his 2023 State-of-the-State address, state Republicans began commenting. It's not all battle lines that are being drawn as lawmakers look to the current legislative session, but that doesn't mean there isn't a gap between Washington's red and blue.
This post originally appeared in KUOW's Today So Far newsletter for January 12, 2023.
There's a pretty simple formula when reporting most political news stories. Set up opposing sides, document their jabs at each other, cover the triumphs, and in the end you'll either have a tale of victory or a tragedy.
It's actually the same formula for a lot of sports writing, talk radio, or Marvel films. The downside to this sort of coverage is that it relies on conflict and battle. It's easy to fall into reporting the battle because, honestly, conflict actually is what's happening between Republicans and Democrats most of the time. Sadly, battle-laden headlines are certain to get attention, just as lines will form for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vo. 3" in May.
Consider Gov. Jay Inslee's 2023 State-of-the-State address this week. The issues he leaned into, such as housing and homelessness, are the same issues Republicans are highlighting and are expected to be hot topics in the Legislature this session. Of course, there are battle lines drawn over how to exactly fix such problems. It's important to note these lines, but it's just as important to go beyond them and find where work may actually progress, and where we can expect the same old friction.
Inslee's address didn't offer anything new. It was mostly a hype event for his budget and the work state Democrats have done in recent years. It was similar to past State-of-the-State addresses: this is what is going well, and these are our challenges, that's why you should support my agenda, and Washington is so wicked awesome (my version, not his exact words).
Republicans wouldn't refer to such problems as "challenges," however. The GOP response was delivered by Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno of Centralia, who came out swinging with the argument that such challenges are actually failures that have grown under Inslee's leadership, as well as under Democratic control of the Capitol. Like the governor's presentation, the rhetoric here wasn't anything new. The GOP response was essentially a list of the same challenges, along with: Washington's problems have only gotten worse, also freedom, American dream, your children, and Washington is so wicked awesome (again, my version, for the sake of brevity).
The GOP argument is logical, to a point. Washington has had some very negative outcomes, from homelessness to housing, and the environment, despite the rhetoric many promote. And Democrats do maintain a majority at the state level. We want to be good on climate change issues, but our carbon output is up. In 2005, King County said it was going to end homelessness within 10 years and, well, that didn't happen. And despite how often Seattleites say they will hang out with you, they don't call, and they don't text. Did they even mean what they said when they told you they wanted to hang out soon?!
Gov. Inslee also has a logical argument. When Washington Republicans say crime is up, for example, they often point to police accountability laws passed in Washington, recently. But those laws cannot account for the crime across the United States where Washington's laws don't extend. You'll find a mix of blue and red states with similar crime issues. When it comes to climate change, much of the Democrats' big carbon plans have only come online recently. The cap and invest program doesn't even start until next month.
It might be helpful to note that our problems have continued amid something else that has persisted over the years — the rhetoric of pointing fingers, tribalism, and calling out people who aren't on your team. This level of rhetoric doesn't rise above the maturity of two kids who have been ordered to stay on their side of the car during a long road trip, but insist upon screaming over who crossed the line first. Unlike that car trip, however, I don't think we have enough Benadryl to chill folks out at the Capitol. We're more likely to hear party jabs, instead of, "Hey, we don't agree, but let's find a way to make things work because we are elected officials after all and should at least try to do our jobs."
Perhaps this is why more and more of Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z are turning away from party affiliation and checking the box for "independent."
There will remain a divide between Republicans and Gov. Inslee in the session ahead on some issues. At a GOP press conference Tuesday, state Republican leaders (Rep. J.T. Wilcox, Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, Sen. John Braun, Sen. Judy Warnick, and Rep. Abbarno) showed as much. Republicans continue to disagree with Democrats' approaches on public safety. Rep. Wilcox said it was the one part of Inslee's address that he reacted very negatively to. Sen. Braun commented that Washington law protecting abortion rights has been in place for decades and does not see any need to establish a state constitutional amendment for this issue, as Inslee has promoted. Braun further said he would talk about approaches to gun safety if Democrats "are serious," but then also said that the real issue is larger and wants to talk about mental health and substance abuse. Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson are pushing a series of measures, including a ban on assault weapons.
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Leavenworth gets Prime screen time in 'Somebody I Used to Know'
The trailer for the film "Somebody I Used to Know" dropped early Thursday. Viewers from around Washington state may notice a familiar feature among the promotional footage — Leavenworth.
Good times around the maypole, reindeer, giant pretzels and other Bavarian delights make a brief appearance in the rom-com trailer, also featuring Alison Brie ("Community," "GLOW"), Jay Ellis ("Top Gun: Maverick"), Danny Pudi ("Community," "Star Trek Beyond," and generally an amazing dude), and Kiersey Clemons ("Dope," "Justice League," "Sweetheart").
RELATED: Highway to the danger zone passes through the Pacific Northwest
The rom-com was written by Brie and her husband Dave Franco. It's being distributed by Amazon Studios. According to the film's credits, it has two main filming locations, including Estacada, Ore. and Leavenworth, Wash.
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Period tracking apps would have to follow new WA health privacy laws if this bill passes
Social media lit up with an ominous warning last year, after the Supreme Court rescinded the constitutional right to an abortion: Stop using period tracking apps.
That’s because health information people provide to period tracking apps and other health sites are not protected by federal privacy laws like HIPAA.
Some lawmakers in Washington state want to change that, and have introduced a bill around how consumer data is shared.
Democratic Rep. Vandana Slatter represents Washington's 48th legislative district, which covers much of the Eastside, including Redmond, Bellevue, and Kirkland. She is sponsoring HB 1155, which addresses the collection, sharing, and selling of consumer health data.
"Someone can actually track you, and target you, in some way that can be really harmful," Slatter said.
Slatter said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion rights piqued her interest in health data privacy. Her proposed measure would make it illegal to sell any type of health data.
Republican Jim Walsh said he supports protecting a person's privacy, but said this bill focuses too much on what he calls hot button issues.
"Why do we need to use incendiary language, like about abortion?" Walsh said.
HB 1155 is set to be presented to the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee. Its companion bill in the state Senate, SB 5351, is sponsored by Sen. Manka Dhingra who represents District 45
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At long last, Adrian Diaz sworn in as Seattle’s new police chief
After 29 months running the Seattle Police Department, Adrian Diaz said he was relieved and happy to be officially sworn in as Seattle’s next chief of police at City Hall on Thursday. His oldest son Alex pinned the badge onto his uniform as supporters applauded.
Mayor Bruce Harrell appointed Diaz as interim chief after Carmen Best’s resignation in 2020, as tensions flared in Seattle about police handling of demonstrations and the evacuation of the East Precinct.
Harrell noted that the city launched a national search to fill the job permanently.
“It says something when we hire from within,” Harrell said, noting that Diaz has been promoted up through Seattle Police ranks since joining the department in 1997.
Diaz said since he became interim Seattle Police chief, the department has made progress on priorities, including investing in officer wellness and recovering firearms used to commit crimes.
“We’ve revamped our crowd management response, including adding public outreach engagement teams, and we’re also identifying alternative responses to policing,” he said.
To communities that distrust or fear the police, Diaz said he’s proud that use of force by Seattle Police officers has dropped 50 percent since 2015, and complaints against officers have also seen a substantial drop.
Diaz said he’s glad to see that the city’s record-breaking violent crime statistics since 2019 are also starting to taper, including aggravated assaults, robberies, and homicides.
“August was a very, very busy month for our homicides,” he said. “We’ve actually revamped a lot of what we’re trying to do, putting officers in different places, and maybe that is hopefully seeing some of that decline. Even into the month of January.”
Harrell said he and the police chief are aligned on Seattle Police priorities.
“Chief Diaz will continue to be an instrumental partner as we move to the next phase of reform, enhance officer recruitment efforts, ensure accountability, and drive innovative efforts to develop diversified emergency responses,” he said.
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Pushback begins for Washington's latest gun safety proposals
A Republican Washington state senator is voicing concerns about new gun safety measures being proposed this upcoming legislative session.
One of those measures would ban the sale of semi-automatic firearms.
Republican Senator Phil Fortunato says banning these types of guns will not improve safety, and argues that the proposal infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens.
“We go after the drunk driver. We don't go after the vehicle," Fortunato said. "We go after the driver that committed the crime. That's what we need to focus on. It's not it's not the firearm. It's the person pulling the trigger.”
"It's not that style of a firearm that they use — that's immaterial. It is the shooter. And we we need to be stopping those people and protecting our children."
Another measure that is being proposed would make gun manufacturers and dealers take steps to keep guns out of dangerous people’s hands. Fortunato said this bill is an attempt to bankrupt the gun industry.
The gun control legislation is backed by Governor Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
There are three main proposals put to lawmakers this year: a ban on assault weapons; accountability measures for gun manufacturers and sellers; and a new permit program to purchase a gun.
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2022 was record year for whale sightings in Salish Sea
The Pacific Whale Watch Association says 2022 was a record year for whale sightings in the Pacific Northwest, specifically of transient orca and humpbacks.
The news comes after 2021 was noted as a great year for whale sightings in Puget Sound.
Four hundred humpback whales were photographed in the Salish Sea last year. That's the largest number recorded in at least the past century, according to the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration.
Orca also showed up in record numbers. The Orca Behavior Institute reported more than 1,200 sightings, which is double the number recorded in 2017.
RELATED: K-pod has a new baby orca for the Salish Sea
Researchers say increased seal, sea lion, and porpoise populations are attracting more orca (aka Biggs killer whales) to the Salish Sea. They, unlike the southern resident orcas, feed on marine mammals.
When it comes to the endangered southern resident orcas, researchers tell KING 5 News that they were spotted in the Salish Sea about 60 days more than in the past, in 2022.
Researchers credit the 1972 Marine Mammals Protection Act and the implementation of whale watching and noise restrictions for the increased sightings.
RELATED: Captains of big ships eased up on the throttle during trial slowdown to help endangered orcas
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Bellevue district will consider consolidating some elementary schools
Members of the Bellevue School Board will be briefed Thursday on proposals aimed at helping the district deal with its declining enrollment numbers.
A letter sent to families says one plan calls for consolidating three elementary schools with the largest declines to date. Read the full letter below. In short, a total of seven schools are up for consolidation, including: Ardmore, Eastgate, Enatai, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Woodridge, and Wilburton.
A series of sessions and open houses for the community will be held over the upcoming month. A final recommendation to the board will be presented to members Feb. 9.
Dear BSD Families:
There will be a presentation to the Board on Thursday, January 12, 2023, with options to address declining enrollment. A series of staff engagement sessions and open houses for impacted families and community members will be held over the upcoming month.
The proposal will consider shifts to consolidate three of the seven elementary schools identified below to stabilize elementary enrollment. These schools have experienced the greatest enrollment decline to date and include Ardmore, Eastgate, Enatai, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Woodridge and Wilburton elementaries. A direct message was sent to community members at the impacted schools with dates and times for their open houses.
We recognize that any potential scenarios may cause disappointment and concerns for students, staff, and families in our community. The district is focused on ensuring that our students are supported, and the educational process will continue for them – especially following the pandemic and learning recovery efforts led by BSD administrators and educators. There is no right answer, only the best possible answer to this challenge we face together, acknowledging that the impacts will be felt deeply. Bellevue, like many school districts, both locally and nationally, is faced with some difficult decisions on how to responsibly manage the fiscal fallout of these enrollment shifts. On January 12, BSD will share some potential scenarios with the Directors of the Bellevue School Board at the study session of regularly scheduled Board Meeting which aim to address declining enrollment and share opportunities to engage all stakeholders in providing final recommendations.
For the past several months the Bellevue School District has shared information with our learning community about the enrollment challenges the district is projected to experience. In November, we shared the BSD Demographic and Enrollment Future Trends study which laid the foundation for understanding the varied factors that impacted the past and predict future levels of BSD enrollment. In December, we shared the Planning for Our Future presentation by Deputy Superintendent, Melissa deVita, that shared information on the potential impact of declining enrollment. In December and January, we partnered with the Bellevue Education Association and building leaders on this topic and continue to meet regularly.
A final recommendation to the Board is tentatively set for the regularly scheduled Board meeting on February 9, 2023.
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Seattle, Kent schools' lawsuits against social media giants have a 'scientific basis,' expert says
Seattle Public Schools and the Kent School District are suing social media companies for the role their platforms have played in a youth mental health crisis. The lawsuits claim Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have violated Washington's public nuisance law and exploited students.
The districts seem to be the first in the nation to take on such a case.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, director of the Center for Child Health Behavior and Development at Seattle Children's Research Institute, says the scientific basis of the complaints is sound.
"I can't speak to the legal grounds for the suit," Christakis says. "But many of us who have been researching the effects of media on children have been concerned for a long time about the negative effects on children's emotional and mental health, as well as other developmental outcomes."
RELATED: Washington superintendent has an eye on Seattle schools' social media lawsuit
Like the school districts, Christakis argues the companies have known the harm they cause but have chosen profits over public health.
Now, the districts want compensation to cover the costs of addressing mental health in schools.
Christakis says that makes sense when you consider the role schools play in addressing students' mental health needs.
"If you look at spikes in emergency department visits, for example, for mental health crises, there's a very clear, seasonal distribution with spikes in the fall and spikes in the early winter in January," he says. "Not coincidentally, that represents a return to school from summer vacation and a return to school from winter break.
"It's perfectly reasonable to suggest that [schools] need additional resources, not just to treat these children but to identify them early and perhaps even to put preventive strategies into place."
The social media platforms and their parents companies have broadly argued they have safety measures in place for youth using their apps.
Christakis acknowledges the districts' lawsuits only get at part of the problem: after the alleged harm has been done to students.
He says families should try to be as aware of how their kids spend their time in the virtual world as they are about how their time is spent in the real world. But even that approach has limitations.
RELATED: Could the U.S. ban TikTok for everyone?
"It's very difficult for a parent to know what their child is looking at online," Christakis says. "But Instagram knows it, Facebook knows it, TikTok knows it. And instead of alerting parents or caregivers or teachers or pediatricians that, hey, this child is looking at a lot of suicide videos, they just feed that child more of the same content."
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No bones about it: Students seek a Washington state dinosaur designation
You’ve probably heard of state flowers or state trees. In addition to such flora, Washington soon could have more state fauna – a dinosaur. A bill in the Washington House could pave the way for the prehistoric state symbol.
The ongoing quest to name a state dinosaur began in Amy Cole’s fourth grade classroom in 2019. Cole again supported a bill to designate the state dino during a public hearing Wednesday in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations.
In 2019 As a first-year teacher at Elmhurst Elementary School in Parkland, Washington, Cole began a lesson on how government works.
“We talked about the importance of voting and being registered to vote,” Cole said at a public hearing for House Bill 1020. “And then in our textbook, there was one tiny, quick fact about a Massachusetts classroom that petitioned for the ladybug to be their state insect.”
Inspiration struck.
“I saw those wheels start turning,” Cole said of her students, “and I ran with it.”
Partially in honor of Cole’s dino-decorated classroom, the students decided to petition lawmakers to name Suciasaurus rex as Washington’s state dinosaur.
In 2012, paleontologists with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle accidentally unearthed a 17-inch femur bone at Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands. Scientists couldn’t determine exactly which dinosaur the left leg bone belonged to; however, they believed it likely was a theropod dinosaur, a type of carnivorous dino that includes the Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor.
Even though scientists couldn’t attach the femur to a specific type of dinosaur, they nicknamed the discovery Suciasaurus rex after the island on which scientists found it. As of now, Suciasaurus rex remains the first and only dinosaur discovered in Washington state.
This dinosaur likely roamed the earth 80 million years ago, which is at least 12 million years before the T. rex arrived, said Jason Zolle, staff counsel for the Office of Program Research for the state House of Representatives.
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3 key takeaways on the Seattle schools lawsuit against big tech
The impact of social media on kids is again under sharp scrutiny.
State and federal officials are investigating whether children and teens are more vulnerable to social media addiction and messaging that promotes dangerous habits such as self harm and disordered eating.
Now, schools are ringing alarm bells.
Seattle Public Schools on Friday filed a 91-page lawsuit against the companies behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube in a federal district court.
The public school district alleges that students are being recommended harmful content online, exacerbating a mental health crisis, and social media companies are allowing it to happen.
Here's what you need to know about the lawsuit.
The school system accuses social media platforms of increasing students' anxiety and depression
Seattle Public Schools alleges that the very design of these platforms, which seek to maximize the amount of time users spend on them, is flawed and dangerous–particularly to kids.
They argue that the longer people stay on social media, the more ads those companies sell and thus the more money they stand to make. And some features, such as push notifications, are designed to draw users in, making it hard to ignore, especially for kids, the school district alleges.
It also references studies that suggest teens who spend a lot of time using screens are more likely to receive diagnoses of depression or anxiety, encounter cyber bullying and not get enough sleep.
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'It is not too late': GOP responds to Inslee's 2023 State-of-the-State address
Washington's Republicans and Democrats may agree on which issues and challenges are most urgent in the state, but if there was one point made clear in the GOP response to Gov. Jay Inslee's State-of-the-State address Tuesday, they don't agree on what to do about them.
The address focused on a handful of core issues, providing a preview of hot topics the Legislature will pick up this session: homelessness, housing, behavioral health, climate change, public safety, and education. In turn, Inslee hyped aspects of his proposed budget under consideration by lawmakers this session.
RELATED: Gov. Jay Inslee's 2023 State-of-the-State address
Republican Rep. Peter Abbarno offered the GOP’s take on the status of Washington.
“There are those in power who, year after year, sell us a future based on fear,” Abbarno said. “They would have us believe the status quo is the best we can hope for, because for many of us, that is all we have ever known for a decade of the same people promising change that never comes. But I don’t believe that. I believe that by charting a new course, based on real solutions, that Washington’s best years are ahead of us and that we have it within our power to leave this beautiful state better off for our children and grandchildren.”
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6 points covered in Gov. Inslee's 2023 State-of-the-State address
Gov. Jay Inslee countered Washington’s many challenges with optimism in the state’s ability to overcome them, while also praising lawmakers’ recent work, during his 2023 State-of-the-State address Tuesday.
“Because of that work, I can proudly report that the state of our state is strong,” Inslee said.
Tuesday was the first time the governor delivered the annual State-of-the-State address in person at the Capitol in Olympia since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The address was given virtually in 2021 and 2022.
RELATED: Washington GOP counters Inslee's 2023 State-of-the-State address
The address focused on a handful of core issues, providing a preview of hot topics the Legislature will pick up this session: homelessness, housing, behavioral health, climate change, public safety, and education. In turn, Inslee hyped aspects of his proposed budget under consideration by lawmakers this session.
RELATED: 6 issues atop the agenda for the 2023 Washington Legislature
Leaning most heavily into the issues of housing and homelessness, at the core of Inslee's address was a list of priorities, arguing that Washington should be a state where:
- Where everyone is housed
- Where our schools are safe from gun violence, and students receive the mental and educational support they need
- Where the existential crisis of climate change is met by unmatched innovation; Where communities feel welcoming and safe to all
- Where all people have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom
- Where people struggling with mental health or substance use no longer fall unseen and unheard through the cracks
Washington's homelessness
“States across the country are seeing an increase in homelessness, and Washington is one of them. Why? There are multiple reasons. Though some people face behavioral health challenges or chemical addiction issues, the fundamental, underlying challenge is that we don’t have enough housing. It’s a difficult irony of having a strong economy. Well-paid workers flock here for jobs, forcing lower-paid workers to compete for housing. When there’s not enough housing for all, rents and prices skyrocket beyond what many can afford. Until we fix our housing crisis, thousands of people will remain homeless.”
“Again, until we fix our housing crisis, thousands of people will remain homeless.”
Housing
Inslee said that Washington is currently short 81,000 housing units and that the state needs another million over the next 17 years. He is proposing a $4 billion referendum aimed at speeding up construction of new housing units, including shelters, affordable housing, and supportive housing. The governor argues that the money “will turn into true assets that, once built, will provide a pipeline of affordable housing for tens of thousands of more people every year.”
RELATED: Inslee proposes billions for housing, would need voter OK
The referendum also proposes changes to the state’s ability to build housing. Inslee argued that residential zoning often prevents developers from constructing more dense housing structures, which are often more affordable options.
“We must finish the job we started last session to address middle housing and increase housing density within our communities," Inslee said. "There is a way to do this that respects the unique character of our towns and cities, while also responding to the reality that we are a growing, changing state.”
Climate
The governor highlighted climate efforts out of Olympia in recent years, such as the Climate Commitment Act in 2021, and a cap and invest program.
RELATED: Why Inslee says Washington can still meet carbon pollution goals
“We’ve passed several landmark policies that are transitioning us to clean transportation, clean electricity, and clean buildings," Inslee said. "Just last week, our clean fuel standard and cap-and-invest programs went into effect.”
“Now, our focus must shift to implementation and investment,” he said, further commenting that aspects of Washington environment are still under threat, pointing to the state’s efforts around salmon recovery. “Unfortunately, climate change will continue increasing the temperatures of our waters and killing salmon … let’s boldly continue our fight against climate change and salmon extinction this year.”
Public safety
“That phrase, ‘public safety,’ evokes different meanings and ideas among people. We need to escape the trap that public safety is about any one thing – mental health, gun safety, drug treatment, or law enforcement. The fact is, we need them all. One thing we know is that gun violence is a significant driver of increased crime. This isn’t a surprise considering the gun lobby has worked for decades against commonsense gun safety measures.”
Inslee urged lawmakers to advance gun safety proposals, such as a new requirement that gun buyers complete firearm safety courses; holding firearm manufacturers accountable when their products are used in crimes; a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons.
RELATED: Washington governor, AG unveil 3 gun safety proposals
Included in his statements on public safety was a call to hire and train more police officers, sourced from within local diverse communities. Inslee added that 911 is not always the appropriate response to every emergency and praised the state’s efforts toward alternatives, such as the 988 system (a suicide and crisis hotline).
Education
Inslee noted the Legislature’s previous investment in school funding, “so they can hire more nurses, counselors, psychologists, and social workers.”
“I’m also hopeful we can increase funding for special education. I’ve proposed more than $120 million to better support school districts as they meet the needs of every student they serve, no matter how complex the needs. All told, my budget proposal increases K-12 spending by $3 billion. We know that circumstances have been difficult for students, educators, paraeducators, school bus drivers, and others who work in our schools."
Abortion rights
“The Dobbs decision last year on the national level upended decades of precedent that assured people across the country had at least some measure of constitutional protection for abortion care and contraception. That protection is gone for more than half the people in our country. And the new Republican majority in Congress this weekend made further abortion restrictions one of their top priorities.
"So, in Washington state, we are fighting to make sure that right remains protected. We must protect patient data and privacy. We must protect access from the threat of health care consolidation and cost barriers. We must protect patients and providers from persecution by vigilantes and activist politicians in anti-choice states. And we must pass a constitutional amendment that expressly establishes a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in Washington state.”
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