The Speaker's Scoop

Washington State House Democratic Caucus
  • 5.0 (1)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A few minutes a week behind the scenes with Washington State Speaker of the House of Representatives Laurie Jinkins

  1. MAR 12

    A historic floor debate

    The House spent 26 hours debating passage of a Millionaires Tax on Monday and Tuesday this week, with the bill finally passing late Tuesday afternoon. Speaker Jinkins discusses how House Democrats stayed focused and motivated during the long debate, knowing they were fighting for a historic change to Washington's outdated, regressive tax system that will help working families and small businesses.

    5 min

  2. MAR 5

    Opposite House Cutoff Week

    As the session winds down and deadlines loom, Speaker Jinkins says she's staying focused not on the constraints of the clock or the calendar, but on who is being helped by the work done in Olympia.

    4 min

  3. FEB 26

    Opposite house policy cutoff, budgets, and the millionaires tax

    Lots of stuff happening in Week 7 of the legislative session. Speaker Jinkins touches on some of the big topics of the week, and discusses how despite different approaches to the state budget between the House and Senate, the underlying values of each chamber's budget proposal are pretty aligned.

    5 min

  4. FEB 20

    The Five O'clock Bill: Disappointment and Progress

    It's House of Origin Cutoff week in the Legislature and this year, the "five o'clock bill" didn't end up getting a vote on the House floor. Speaker Jinkins discusses the short-term disappointment, but also why she's optimistic about the long view for forward progress on the issue of juvenile rehabilitation.

    5 min

  5. FEB 12

    A key week in the legislative session

    This is the week when the House of Representatives shifts gears and moves from holding public hearings on bills to debating and voting on many of those bills on the House floor. In today's podcast, Speaker Laurie Jinkins talks about this process, about how bills earn a coveted spot on the crowded House docket, and about how she and the other 97 members of the House paid tribute to Seattle Seahawks fans by designating December 12 (12/12, get it?) as Day of the 12s in the Evergreen State.

    4 min

  6. FEB 5

    Affordability: Everything is connected

    With H.R. 1, the federal government has created a disaster with regards to health care access and affordability, food assistance, and more here in Washington state. This is on top of the Trump Tariffs and inflation that are also hitting Washingtonians' pocketbooks. Speaker Jinkins discusses how many of the bills before the Legislature to address local affordability concerns are actually connected to these federal actions, including the newly-introduced Millionaires Tax.

    5 min

  7. JAN 29

    Protecting Washingtonians

    Another US citizen was killed by federal agents in Minnesota last week, and communities here and across the country are living in fear from harmful and malevolent actions by ICE. Speaker Jinkins discusses what bills are currently being considered in the Legislature to protect Washingtonians and our first responders from federal overreach.

    7 min

  8. JAN 22

    Setting the tone for the 2026 session

    Washington House Speaker Laurie Jinkins talks about the tone she is setting for the 2026 session, which started with her opening day remarks on January 12. As House Democrats work to protect Washington values from harmful federal actions and policies, Speaker Jinkins believes it's also important to be honest with Washingtonians about what's at risk from the bad things coming out of the other Washington.

    3 min
See All (22)

About

A few minutes a week behind the scenes with Washington State Speaker of the House of Representatives Laurie Jinkins

Information

  • Creator
    Washington State House Democratic Caucus
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Washington State House Democratic Caucus
  • Show Website
    The Speaker's Scoop