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“The Impact”: Housing Affordability Debate; Bills Target Transit Taxes

Mike McClanahan profile by Mike McClanahan

This week on “The Impact”:

There are different perspectives on what steps the state should or should not take to address the lack of affordable housing in Washington and the increase in homelessness.  With a legislative deadline looming, that clash of opinions led to a lively debate on set.

 “For every 100 extremely low income people in our state there’s only 29 available and affordable homes for them,” said Michele Thomas, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.

“The reason the for profit and the market rate builders can’t build for affordability factors is because we can’t afford to do it, it doesn’t pencil,” said Jan Himebaugh, Government Affairs Director, Building Industry Association of Washington.

Last week we interviewed Democratic House Transportation Committee Chair Jake Fey of Tacoma. This week we sat down with Pierce County Republican Senator Steve O’Ban to discuss his plan to lower high vehicle taxes.

“If there’s anything that I’ve heard the most about as a state senator it’s the unfairness of the ST3 car tab tax,” said Sen. Steve O’Ban, R – Pierce County.

We’ll also give you an update on the status of bills that could mean big changes for healthcare in Washington.

Click here to watch “The Impact” – February 20th, 2019