"After careful thought and consideration I have decided that this year will be my last year serving as a state legislator. Therefore, I will not be seeking re-election to the Washington State Senate. "It has been an honor and privilege to represent the 46 th Legislative District for the past...
Senate Democrats Blog
Ken Jacobsen
Statement from Sen. Jacobsen on his retirement from the Legislature
Monday, May 17 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
Blog: Federal health care reform
Thursday, March 25 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
This week Congress passed the biggest piece of legislation that our country has seen since Medicare passed in 1965. The very next day, Attorney General Rob McKenna announced that he would be joining a host of other AGs around the country in challenging this measure in court. Gov. Gregoire, the Speaker...
News: Forestry conservation incentives bill protects public resources and private working forest lands
Monday, March 15 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
The Legislature unanimously passed ESHB 2541 (companion bill was SB 6256), the forestry conservation incentives bill last week, which recognizes the multiple conservation values that occur for the public from a vibrant working forest land base, as well as an important source of jobs and revenue to the...
News: Senate passes bill to help preserve falconries in Washington
Friday, February 19 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
Falconers would be able to raise money for their 3,000-year-old sport through a new fee program under legislation passed today by the Senate. “Falconry is an art. Falconers must train a bird to fly free, hunt for prey and willingly return to captivity,” said Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle ...
Present state initiative process hinders state governing
Friday, February 12 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
Note: this opinion editorial was originally published by the Mercer Island Reporter and other local weekly newspapers In 1912 some simple language amended our State’s constitution and created the initiative process. Ninety-eight years later, the process has rendered our state almost ungovernable...
News: Sen. Jacobsen introduces bill to create Washington Food Policy Council
Monday, January 11 2010 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
Citing concerns with the safety and sustainability of our food chain, Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, introduced legislation today to create the Washington Food Policy Council. “There is no single entity tasked with monitoring our food system; it falls to different federal, state and local agencies...
News: 4th graders’ work pays off; Olympic marmot becomes state endemic mammal
Thursday, May 14 2009 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
OLYMPIA — An exercise in democracy came to fruition today when Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law a bill proposed by the fourth-grade students of Wedgwood Elementary School in Seattle. The students had contacted Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, to propose a bill declaring the Olympic marmot the endemic...
News: Butternut tree dedication honors MLK, George Washington Bush
Friday, April 24 2009 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
OLYMPIA – The dedication of a Bush butternut tree in honor of George Washington Bush and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. drew a diverse crowd of community leaders, historians, lawmakers and church leaders today to the Capitol Campus. “We are here to honor two great men, a century apart, on whose...
News: 4th graders’ work pays off; Olympic marmot closer to being state endemic mammal
Wednesday, March 11 2009 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
OLYMPIA — The fourth-grade students of Wedgwood Elementary School in Seattle contacted Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, to propose a bill declaring the Olympic marmot an endemic mammal to Washington. In response, Jacobsen introduced Senate Bill 5071 and invited the class to come testify in favor of...
News: Jacobsen bill would prohibit electronic billboards, improve safety
Wednesday, February 25 2009 - Ken Jacobsen | Permalink
OLYMPIA — Electronic billboards take three times longer to observe than the amount of time it takes for an accident to occur. That is why Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, has introduced Senate Bill 6102 to prohibit the construction of digital billboards until January 2012. “We’re hearing...