Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
Washington State House Democratic Caucus
Welcome to Capitol Ideas. This is where members of the majority Democratic caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives sit down at the Capitol and ...
Today's guest on Capitol Ideas: Rep. Janice Zahn from Washington's 41st legislative district. She started on day 10 of the 2025 session, and is making her mark. Public servant, engineer, immigrant -- she's a lot of things, and you'll hear about it right now.
When Janice Zahn immigrated to the U.S. with her family as a child, she probably wasn't planning to find herself sitting at a desk on the floor of the Washington state House of Representatives. But here she is, and that's fortunate for all of us. Today's episode is a little longer than your typical Capitol Ideas, but it's justified. This is a good one.
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27:58
Yes, it's another first-year member of the House Democratic Caucus! Today's Capitol Ideas features a conversation with Rep. Edwin Obras of Seatac in Washington's 33rd legislative district, a diverse south King County district that includes SeaTac International Airport and a whole lot more.
Rep. Edwin Obras was appointed to a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives in December 2024, and for a lawmaker just getting his feet wet, he's made a splash. After a 30-year career in human services, he knows his way around the Capitol and already has bills poised to become law. You'll meet him today as we continue our conversations with the newest members of the House Democratic Caucus.
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Washington state House Democrats and countless Washingtonians whose lives he touched are mourning the death of Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp this past weekend. Today's Capitol Ideas is a reprise of a January 2024 episode featuring his first and, sadly, final Capitol Ideas conversation.
ORIGINAL EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Speaker emeritus Frank Chopp, who voluntarily switched his role to Rep. Frank Chopp at the end of the 2019 session, is the special guest on this episode of Capitol Ideas. The good things he's done for the Evergreen State are too numerous to list here, but if you listen to today's conversation, you'll notice a promise to include some items in the show notes. Here, in no particular order, are some of the things that he played a pivotal role in: the state Housing Trust fund; the best minimum wage in the U.S.; paid family and medical leave; free college and university tuition for those who need it most; the Marriage Equality Act; the Dream Act; the Voting Rights Act; the Long-term Care Trust Act; the Education Legacy Fund; The College Bound Scholarship program; Apple Health for All Kids; Apple Health and Homes; and 20 years of state budgets that put people first.
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Rep. Natasha Hill from the excellent city of Spokane makes her Capitol Ideas debut today, and it's a good one. She's the seventh new Democratic member of the class of 2025 to show up on the mics, with three more to go! Don't touch that dial.
Rep. Natasha Hill has an interesting story. Attorney. Commumnity activist. Civil rights fighter. Mom. She fought her way upstream to get here and is already making a difference. Get to know her in today's Capitol Ideas.
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Today's edition of Capitol Ideas presents yet another new member of the House Democratic Caucus. That would be Rep. Lisa Parshley of the 22d district: veterinarian, scientist, public servant. Stay tuned.
Capitol Ideas returns today after a brief hiatus while lawmakers burned the midnight oil in more than a week of marathon floor sessions. Today's idea-generator is Rep. Lisa Parshley of Olympia, interviewed on her 60th day as a state representative.
About Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast
Welcome to Capitol Ideas. This is where members of the majority Democratic caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives sit down at the Capitol and talk about ideas. Ideas like strong schools, enduring values, equity, affordable and accessible healthcare, tax fairness, thriving small businesses, inclusion, a clean environment. You know: good ideas.
Listen to Capitol Ideas: The Washington State House Democratic Caucus Podcast, 5-4 and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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