A centrist who moves people of both parties toward policies that make sense for their community and the whole state is a lawmaker voters should treasure. The people of the 47th Legislative District have such a leader in  Joe Fain, who should be reelected to the state Senate in November for a third four-year term.

Republican state Sen. Joe Fain, the prime sponsor of the measure that passed last year, said Microsoft's decision was "a really powerful step forward."

By applying the plan to contractors and vendors around the country, "it really creates a pressure for those state legislatures to make a similar decision that Washington made."

“He knows our community and listens to our input because he and his wife and two small children live here in Auburn and he is very active in the community. Please join me in voting for Joe Fain both in August and November.”

“Joe is the community advocate and bipartisan leader our community needs. While the rest of our nation’s politics sometimes seems to be crashing down around us, Joe’s is a steady and thoughtful hand that brings people together to get things done. This primary election I’m voting for our Sen. Joe Fain, and I hope you’ll join me.”

Republican Senator Joe Fain of Washington State has an MBA and an undergraduate degree in Political Science. He’s been in the Senate since 2010 and has  been both the Minority and Majority floor leader. Joe was the prime sponsor of the landmark legislation to create a statewide paid family and medical leave program by convening a bipartisan group of lawmakers and business and labor leaders.  

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.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Fain to strengthen consumer protections for active-duty military and their families and reduce costs for disabled veterans to add adaptive equipment to their vehicles was recently signed by Gov. Jay Inslee.

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.

Senator Joe Fain discusses his plan for property tax relief with KVI’s John Carlson.

Given the recent controversies over the credibility of and respect for our free and independent press, there has never been a more important time to ensure our future journalists are trained in a culture where they are supported to independently and responsibly practice their craft.

New legislation allowing service members to cancel or suspend a service contract because of deployment or move Thursday passed the state Senate.

Auburn Reporter

The Legislator Award, part of Forefront’s 2017 Champions of Change Awards, honors the critical role that lawmakers and elected officials play in suicide prevention.

“Acts of White supremacy by the KKK or by some domestic incarnation of Nazism are not quirky brands of minority beliefs that need protection. They are acts of violence that demand our unified condemnation.”

Joe Fain, Republican state senator for Washington. Prime sponsor of a bill that passed into law last week, guaranteeing paid family leave in the state. 

Rep. Pat Sullivan and Sen. Joe Fain, legislators from the 47th District, were two of the principal negotiators who helped find the final pieces of the McCleary puzzle.

The Washington Legislature on Friday approved a paid family leave program that offers workers paid time off for the birth or adoption of a child or for the serious medical condition of the worker or the worker’s family member.

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.

Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn and the Senate majority floor leader, said passing the bill was a priority for him this year, as well as for Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, the new chairwoman of the Senate Health Care Committee.

“I want to lower barriers to contraception for a number of reasons,” Fain said. “One, so that women can have more control over those choices, but also because there are plenty of times that women and young woman in particular need that medication for other reasons related to medical care.”

“It’s really difficult if you’re tethered to a three-month supply.”

State lawmakers should be commended for passing new protections for victims of sexual assault.

“The public should have a reasonable right to privacy online,” Fain said. “We wouldn’t tolerate the government selling our information because we visited a particular park, or a company selling our information because we looked through its shop window at the mall. We deserve the same right to consent in our digital lives as well.”

Republican Sen. Joe Fain, sponsor of the legislation, said Senate Bill 5256 aligns sexual assault protection orders with other orders for crimes such as domestic violence, stalking or harassment.

"There's no reason why these victims should be treated any differently," Fain said. "He or she should have the opportunity to protect themselves permanently, not just temporarily."

Dragging a class of high school students 42 miles from their South King County classroom to the state Capitol is rarely an option during the busy school year.

But this week an Auburn High School journalism class did manage to speak directly with Joe Fain, their state senator, about legislation they were tracking in Olympia thanks to video conference technology.

District legislators – Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, and Reps. Mark Hargrove, R-Covington, and Pat Sullivan, D-Covington – fielded questions from more than 200 people who packed a room at the Golden Steer Steak ‘n Rib House for the town hall meeting.