Rep. Jim Walsh: ‘We’re running some pretty awful bills on the floor’

In a candid interview on The John Curley Show, Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19th District) expressed his frustration and exhaustion over the current legislative session, describing it as a “10-day sprint” filled with contentious bills. “We’re running some pretty awful bills on the floor,” Walsh said, noting the long hours and intense debates that characterize this period.

Despite his evident fatigue, Walsh insisted that the difficulty of the session was not the issue. “I love these floor fights,” he said. “What the current makeup did, though, is that the guys on the other side of the aisle, they’re just crazy arrogant, and they’re just running every bad idea they’ve had in the last 20 years.”

More from MyNorthwest: Sen. Patty Murray to skip Trump’s address to Congress Tuesday night

Walsh criticizes motor voter law

Walsh recently called for a federal review of Washington’s motor voter law, which automatically registers individuals to vote when they obtain or renew a driver’s license. He criticized the implementation of the program, claiming it lacks necessary controls and due diligence. “Anybody who doesn’t affirmatively say no to registering to vote gets registered to vote, and that includes illegal immigrants,” Walsh argued.

He cited a lawsuit in Clark County involving nearly 500 affidavits from individuals allegedly not eligible to vote in the district. “We know the problem is non-zero. We just don’t know how deep it goes,” Walsh said. He has filed a House Joint Memorial requesting the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the state’s automatic voter registration program.

Walsh acknowledged potential skepticism about involving federal authorities, given the political climate. “Everybody’s going to try to spin this one way or the other. All I’m trying to do is get real answers to the depth of the problem,” he said.

The representative emphasized the need for accountability among state agencies involved in voter registration, accusing them of finger-pointing and failing to ensure proper registration processes. “No one is doing the due diligence,” Walsh stated.

As the legislative session continues, Walsh remains committed to addressing what he sees as significant flaws in the voter registration system, despite the challenges and opposition he faces.

Jason Rantz: Democrats rejected a ban on child porn in libraries. That’s who they are.

Follow @https://twitter.com/jcurleyshow