Sen. Jim McCune sent this bulletin at 06/30/2026 12:17 PM PDT
PO Box 40402, Olympia, WA 98504 | 360.786.7602 | Jim.McCune@leg.wa,gov
FOR ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT MY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT: Matthew Smith | matthew.smith@leg.wa.gov | 360-786-7602
Interim Report | June 30, 2026
Faith and freedom for America’s 250th birthday celebration
Washington and America's Christian heritage should not be ignored
Dear friends and neighbors,
As we approach the historic 250th anniversary of our nation's birth, it is a profound time to reflect on the foundations that have sustained us.
This edition of my newsletter features a column I wrote discussing the vital importance of recognizing America’s and Washington’s Christian heritage as we celebrate this incredible milestone.
Also see the critical updates regarding the latest revenue forecast, the role that illegal immigration is playing in the overspending behind Washington's current budget crisis, and the latest on several state transportation and building projects in our district.
Please know that even though we are currently in the interim period between legislative sessions, I am still hard at work for the people of the Second District. If you have questions or concerns about our state government, or ideas for how we can build a better Washington, feel free to contact my office anytime.
Sincerely,
Sen. Jim McCune, 2nd Legislative District
Commentary:
America has religious roots that should be celebrated during 250th
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States, our communities are entering a historic season of reflection.
…I encourage all Washingtonians to seek out and participate in their local Semiquincentennial events. It is vital that we honor every voice that cried out for liberty. However, we must also ensure that we do not lose sight of the most influential “voice” of all: the deep, Christian conviction that served as the foundational framework of the American experiment.
History is often treated like a buffet where we can pick and choose the parts that suit modern sensibilities. But you cannot honestly tell the story of 1776 without acknowledging that the Founders’ belief in human rights was rooted in a theological reality.
Democrat overspending puts state budget in jeopardy after latest revenue forecast
The June 2026 revenue forecast confirms what we have warned about for years: Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. A temporary spike in capital-gains taxes provided a brief cushion for this fiscal year, but the broader economic reality is concerning.
Slower job growth and lower personal income have dragged down the state’s underlying economic revenue projections by nearly $1 billion since February. The Democrat majority in the Legislature has consistently overspent, permanently expanding government during boom years. Because of its refusal to live within the state's means, lawmakers now face a looming budget shortfall for the upcoming 2027–29 biennium.
For Washington taxpayers, this is likely to mean an unstable state budget while local families stretch their own dollars to handle high inflation and skyrocketing costs at the pump. We do not need new tax increases to balance the books. We need a real commitment to stop the overspending and protect your hard-earned tax dollars.
Budget crisis made worse by illegal immigration
While Democrats in Olympia claim there is no money left to support core government functions, a look at the state operating budget reveals hundreds of millions of limited state general-fund tax dollars are being purposefully diverted away from citizens to fund parallel safety nets for non-citizens. Because federal law bars undocumented immigrants from receiving federal welfare, Governor Ferguson and his legislative allies are forcing Washington taxpayers to pick up the costs instead.
To address both the fiscal and public-safety impacts of this crisis, I intend to offer two legislative changes during the 2027 legislative session to roll back the restrictive provisions of the state’s 2019 sanctuary law, known as the Keep Washington Working Act.
Delivering local infrastructure wins for the Second District
Bucoda town hall. (Photo by Steven Baltakatei Sandoval)
While the state operating budget faces immense strain, your hard-earned tax dollars are successfully coming back home through the two other state budgets. Over the interim, key transportation and capital investments secured for the 2nd Legislative District have moved into critical new phases of development.
On the transportation front, Phase 2 of the SR 510 Yelm Loop advanced this spring, keeping the $63 million project firmly on track to clear heavy traffic from local neighborhood roads.
Simultaneously, peak construction season is underway along the bottlenecked Interstate 5 Nisqually Delta area and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord corridor, where more than $118 million allocated this biennium is actively funding vital structural engineering to ease your daily commute.
At the community level, funding from te 2026 supplemental capital budget is now hitting the ground. These targeted "bricks and mortar" investments include essential well improvements for the city of Roy, critical Main Street stormwater upgrades and a new town hall roof in Bucoda, and window and floor renovations at the Benston Hall Senior Center in Graham. These structural upgrades are about protecting our rural heritage and ensuring the 2nd District remains a safe, vibrant place to live and work.
BREAKING NEWS:
Note: During the 2026 Legislative Session, I supported legislation honoring women in sports and their right to be protected in their private spaces (SR 8647 and IL26-638).
U.S. Supreme Court approves state efforts to protect women's sports
By Jackson Thompson Fox News, Published
Click here to watch video.
The Supreme Court has established a new nationwide precedent that allows states to protect women's sports.
The justices ruled in favor of West Virginia and Idaho on Tuesday against trans athletes who sued to gain access to girls' sports. The states were backed by the law firm Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), while the trans athletes were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Cooley Legal.
In the highly-anticipated rulings in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the high court upheld state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.
While we are still in the interim period between legislative sessions, I represent you year-round. My office remains open to assist with questions about state agencies or concerns regarding the direction of our government.
