Phil Fortunato

Before the 2020 legislative session, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, advocated for a special session to address the $30 car tab legal challenge that placed the needed tax-relief measure on hold. Now, Fortunato’s “clean” bill to avoid single-subject concerns that precipitated the Initiative 976 lawsuit will receive a public hearing...

Greetings from Olympia, It has been a busy three weeks in Olympia. Early on, the Senate took to the floor to push through legislation that was left over from last session. Unfortunately, not much of what was passed will help address the pressing issues of homelessness, rising costs of health...

Last year, legislative Democrats approved $26 billion in new taxes over the next decade. One the proposals in that package included an increase in the regressive business and occupation (B&O) tax on everything from health-care providers to housing services. Despite the state Department of Revenue indicating the bill violates four...

It’s verbal camouflage. Just like Initiative 976 that is tied up in the courts because of a “confusing” title, the Senate just approved a bill over my objection that “reforms” the state’s regressive business & occupation tax. What it really did is just make sure more small businesses are paying...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, has introduced legislation, Senate Bill 6651, to preempt efforts by local jurisdictions that undo the state’s carefully crafted landlord tenant laws concerning evictions. In an extraordinary and arguably unconstitutional move, a Seattle City Council committee approved a policy sponsored by Seattle City Council Member Kshama...

On the news of the recent shootings in Seattle, some are reflexively saying ‘we need more gun control!’ They skip over the fact that the 2 criminals had 65 arrests but were still on the streets. What can be done? I’ve got some answers.

  Read more about my Housing & Homelessness Package here.

State Sen. Phil Fortunato is disappointed that Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental budget proposal seeks to raid the state’s constitutional rainy-day fund to the tune of over $300 million. Fortunato, R-Auburn made this statement regarding how the governor’s proposal could leave Washington vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn. “In...

Late Tuesday, the state’s Transportation Commission took a nonbinding vote recommending that the Legislature consider implementing a mileage tax to replace stagnating gas tax revenues. State Sen. Phil Fortunato, who is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and on the mileage tax pilot work group, voiced sharp criticism of...