Covington-Maple Valley Reporter

In an unprecedented move, South King County mayors representing every city whose communities touch the 47th Legislative District have united to endorse Joe Fain for re-election to the Washington State Senate.

Voters have the right to know who’s paying for a politician’s campaign. While campaign funders do not necessarily define a candidate or issue, we’ve seen throughout history how hidden campaign spending in other parts of the country has fueled a culture of corruption and self-dealing.

"I have incredibly grave concerns that we are creating a convoluted process for getting around a constitutional right," said Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn.

The Seattle Times

A brave few lawmakers in the House and Senate stood up for government transparency, countering their caucus leaders who insisted the Legislature should not be subject to the state Public Records Act.

State Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, said he turns down the money to dispel any notion that politicians welcome the special session so they can make a few extra bucks.

Fain, the GOP floor leader, is one of the few legislators in Olympia frequently during overtime sessions. Several others in leadership positions, including Senate budget writer John Braun, R-Centralia, and House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, also took no per diem early in the first special session.

Senate Bill 5064, introduced by Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, would designate school media as “public forums for expression” and make students responsible for determining content so long as it is not slanderous or libelous, unjustly invades privacy, violates federal or state law or encourages students to break school rules or commit crimes.

“It’s about expanding the culture of freedom of speech and freedom of the press so that more students have an appreciation of that early on,” Fain said. “Beyond that, we need watchdogs.”

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - One Washington senator believes that a financial incentive might help future lawmakers get their work done on time. Republican Sen. Joe Fain introduced a bill Tuesday that would prevent lawmakers from raising campaign funds for the same number of days that it takes them to adopt an operating, capital or transportation budget during any special session.

Members who declined per diem payments included legislative leaders such as House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle; Senate budget writer Andy Hill, R-Redmond; and Senate Floor Leader Joe Fain, R-Auburn.

Four Republican state senators on Friday introduced a bill giving Washington’s elected officials a chance to give up or give away their salary.
 

Kudos to a state senator from Auburn for coming up with a news-delivery platform for the attention-deficit generation.

“60 Minutes” is for fogeys. Joe Fain can tell you everything you need to know in 57 seconds.