LEGISLATURE 2025-26 / DAVE PAUL: Mass Layoffs, Soaring Rents, & Attacks on Rights
State Representative Dave Paul (D-Oak Harbor) posted this to his legislative website on Fri., Mar. 21, 2025.
Dear neighbors,
Recently, I hosted a bipartisan town hall with State Sen. Ron Muzzall. The good news: we had a record turnout for the event. The bad news: our room wasn’t big enough! I know many people who were not able to participate were disappointed—and I’ll make sure our next venue can accommodate a much larger crowd.
Clearly, our district is very concerned about the chaotic cuts and directives by the President. Many of our neighbors have been directly impacted, from farmers not receiving USDA grants to veterans who are very concerned about increased wait times for services because of mass layoffs at the Veterans Administration. Other community members who work for the Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other federal agencies have lost their jobs.
Given this environment, it’s not surprising that nearly half of the questions posed at the Town Hall related to the dysfunction in Washington D.C., including attacks on women and members of the LGBTQ community, threats to the democratic process, and the impact of cuts to Medicaid and other programs to our community—and the state’s budget.
Participants also expressed concerns over the cost of housing in our community and welcomed efforts to increase housing stock—and rein in the cost of skyrocketing rents. There were also several questions about protecting women’s reproductive rights and addressing climate change.
I know these are very trying times for our nation. It was very good to hear from so many engaged community members last weekend, and I’ll continue to work to protect our community at the state level. And we’ll make sure our next venue is larger!
If you want to stay informed beyond our events, check out my latest video update, where I share stories from my constituent meetings this session. Your feedback directly influences my priorities, so please keep reaching out with your concerns and ideas.
Another way to stay connected is by supporting local journalism. Independent reporting fosters open discussions, ensures transparency, and keeps us informed on critical issues. In my first article for La Conner Community News, I discuss why local news is essential to a healthy democracy. I encourage you to read it and continue supporting community news outlets.
As always, it’s an honor to serve as your state representative. Let’s keep working together for a stronger Washington.
Sincerely,
Dave Paul
