SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

Councilmember Dunn speaks out as lone vote against $1 million pledge to help women seeking out-of-state abortions

Jul 7, 2022, 2:52 PM

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn...

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn

King County is devoting $1 million in emergency funding to help with the potential flood of abortion-seeking women in the Pacific Northwest, with the full council passing the ordinance almost unanimously.

Councilmember Reagan Dunn was the only one to vote no on the ordinance.

King County Council pledges $1 million to help those seeking abortions from out of state

“Nothing at all has changed in Washington State. The Supreme Court gave the state local control, nothing’s changed,” Dunn said on the Dori Monson Show on KIRO NewsRadio. “But activists in King County now want to spend your tax dollars to try and provide those services to people in other states who aren’t paying taxes here.”

$500,000 of the emergency fund is for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund, and the other $500,000 will go to Public Health for Seattle and King County.

“I don’t support government funding of abortions, and the taxpayer shouldn’t be on the hook for that,” Dunn continued. “And it’s particularly troubling here for me because King County taxpayers are now paying for not just services outside of King County, but for services and transportation outside the borders of Washington State.”

The Dori Monson Show cited the two most significant concerns for Americans currently are rising costs with inflation and gas prices continuing to climb.

“I mean, 70% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck right now. Folks are hurting out in the real world. Gas prices are through the roof,” Dunn said. “And it’s very frustrating. So, folks, let your voice vote be heard here. Give me some backup. I can’t do this alone. It’s tough sledding on the county council.”

King County tackles short and long term plans to restrict local gun violence

King County Council recently met to discuss precautions over future extreme weather and plans to increase gun safety across the area.

Listen to Dori Monson weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

FILE - The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone in front of an image generated by ChatGPT's Dal...

Associated Press

OpenAI delays latest model over security concerns, as industry faces new safety pressures

OpenAI said Monday it was delaying the release of a new artificial intelligence model out of security concerns voiced by its researchers, the latest in the company’s effort to decelerate the pace of the technology’s advance. OpenAI’s decision to hold back the model, called GPT-6.1 Astra, comes amid a broader push within the industry to […]

1 minute ago

spokane wildfires ferguson...

Aaron Granillo

Ferguson seeks major disaster declaration after Spokane wildfires

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has requested a federal major disaster declaration that could unlock an estimated $128.9 million for wildfire survivors and community recovery efforts in eastern Washington.

5 minutes ago

FILE - Tthe Department of Justice headquarters building in Washington is photographed early in the ...

Associated Press

Second prosecutor resigns from Justice Department ‘grand conspiracy’ probe targeting Trump foes

WASHINGTON (AP) — A lawyer who backed President Donald Trump’s false 2020 election claims has resigned from a Justice Department investigation into whether former government officials conspired against the Republican president, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday. Kurt Olsen’s resignation from the so-called “grand conspiracy” probe represents further turmoil in a meandering […]

14 minutes ago

costco tariff refund...

Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill Show

‘It should pass through Costco back into our pockets’: Jake, Spike weigh in on Costco’s tariff refund

Costco's massive tariff refund — totaling more than $180 million — led KIRO hosts Jake Skorheim and Spike O'Neill to debate who should really receive it.

51 minutes ago

Seattle City Light minimum wage...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle minimum wage rising to more than $22 an hour in 2027

Seattle workers can expect a pay increase in the new year, as the city’s minimum wage will rise to $22.14 an hour on Jan. 1.

1 hour ago

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during the POW/MIA National Recognition Day Ceremony at the P...

Associated Press

Hegseth says national security, military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms

The U.S. National Security Agency and other military intelligence and cybersecurity forces will guard election systems during the November midterms, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday. Military cybersecurity experts have routinely helped monitor systems and deter potential hackers since election equipment was designated “ critical infrastructure ” in 2017. But Hegseth’s announcement comes after President […]

1 hour ago

Councilmember Dunn speaks out as lone vote against $1 million pledge to help women seeking out-of-state abortions