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The Washington legislature opened its 2020 session on Monday in Olympia, Washington. Many legislature members marched into the Washington State Legislature’s session wearing white to honour the women’s suffrage movements. Soon after, Democratic Representative Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma was sworn in as the house speaker. She became the first woman and the first lesbian to take up this role, the Herald Net reported. … Read More

Washington state’s first female speaker of the House was sworn when lawmakers returned to the Capitol to convene their 60-day legislative session. … Read More

Hours after she was sworn in on a historic first day of the 2020 legislative session Jan. 13, House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, talked live with KNKX All Things Considered host Ed Ronco. It was part of our special KNKX Connects to Olympia broadcast in the Temple of Justice on Jan. 13. They discussed legislative priorities, including gun-control bills, what her swearing in means for representation in state government — and some pretty neat bipartisan socks. … Read More

Monday’s opening ceremonies for the state’s 60-day legislative session generated more than the usual blend of pomp and circumstance in Olympia. At noon, representatives from Washington’s 49 legislative districts filed into House chambers to watch history made. … Read More

Every year since 2012, Jinkins has sponsored a bill to create a capital-gains tax in Washington. The bills have never gone anywhere. On Monday, Jinkins will assume the most powerful position in the House, the one who crafts and controls the agenda. … Read More

enate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) today extended congratulations to Rep. Laurie Jinkins on becoming the first female and openly lesbian Speaker in Washington state history. “This is a significant moment for the Washington State Legislature and our entire state. It signals a more inclusive future – not only in the halls of government but for households across the state. … Read More

House members chose Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) as their new leader, replacing longtime speaker Frank Chopp. Jinkins is the first woman to serve in that role. … Read More

State Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma on Monday became the first woman and first lesbian to serve as Speaker of the Washington House of Representatives. … Read More

State Rep. Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma was elected speaker during a Wednesday caucus meeting and vote after Frank Chopp, the state's longest-serving speaker, announced he was stepping down from his leadership position but would remain in the Legislature. … Read More

Washington House Democrats have selected Rep. Laurie Jinkins to serve as the state's first woman speaker of the House. The historic vote today in SeaTac ushers in a new era in Washington politics following a 20-year reign by Frank Chopp of Seattle, who was the state's longest serving speaker of the House. Chopp stepped down as speaker at the end of the 2019 legislative session. … Read More