Illness sidelines chair of key WA budget committee

By: Jerry Cornfield

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: January 30, 2026

Words: 299

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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With a veteran Washington state lawmaker out due to illness, House Democrats are reworking leadership of a key budget committee.

State Rep. Steve Tharinger, D-Port Townsend, who chairs the Capital Budget Committee, has not attended this year’s legislative session in person due to medical issues requiring hospital care and post-hospitalization follow-up. He declined to publicly disclose the condition.

Rep. Lisa Callan, D-Issaquah, is steering the committee in his absence. She will be the …

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