Washington Attorney General Nick Brown told South Sound business leaders on Tuesday, Dec. 16 that his office is pressing ahead on consumer protection and public safety work while accelerating legal challenges to actions by the Trump administration that he said are harming Washington.

Brown was the keynote speaker at the South Sound Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition (SSCCLC) Breakfast held at Emerald Downs in Auburn Tuesday morning, where organizers and lawmakers repeatedly referenced recent catastrophic flooding and the strain it has placed on families, employers and local governments across south King County.

The coalition represents more than 3,200 businesses in the South Sound region that employ more than 185,000 people and generate more than $100 billion in economic activity.

In his remarks, Brown described the Attorney General’s Office as the second largest law firm on the West Coast, with 830 lawyers and more than 900 staff in 13 offices statewide. He said the office is focused on issues including organized retail theft, misleading business practices, antitrust enforcement and data breaches, and he urged business leaders to contact his office with concerns.

Brown Cites 47 Lawsuits Against Trump Administration

Brown also said his office has filed 47 lawsuits against President Trump and his administration this year, calling it “three times” the number of cases Washington brought in 2017. He said his office has “successfully protected” $15 billion in what he described as threatened cuts to climate resiliency programs in Washington, along with $20 million under the federal Victims of Crime Act and about $150 million for school districts.

“I think most people understand that my predecessor in this role, now Gov. Ferguson, was not shy about suing the administration during the first Trump administration,” Brown said. “We just filed our 47th lawsuit against the president and the administration.”

Bipartisan Legislative Panel

A central feature of the program was a bipartisan legislative panel representing all four caucuses in the Washington State Legislature and featuring:

  • Sen. Tina Orwall (D) of the 33rd Legislative District
  • Sen. Chris Gildon (R) of the 25th Legislative District
  • Rep. Chris Stearns (D), of the 47th Legislative District
  • Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R), of the 31st Legislative District

All four pointed to budget pressures heading into the 2026 legislative session, with Orwall calling it “a difficult session” and Gildon predicting another fight over how to respond to a shortfall.

 

Gildon said lawmakers approved about $12 billion in taxes last session and argued that most of the burden fell on businesses and ordinary residents. He said proposals such as a wealth tax would not address near term budget gaps and suggested lawmakers could pursue other taxes that produce revenue quickly.

Stokesbary also emphasized affordability and criticized what he described as late session tax proposals, including a sales tax on services. He said those policies can have unintended impacts on hospitals, citing temporary staffing, custom software and security services as examples.

Stearns spoke about energy costs and said he supports advanced technology and new energy sources, including work he said he has done on a feasibility study for small modular nuclear reactors.

Orwall said her priority is supporting families and businesses affected by flooding and said she is working on legislation aimed at helping small nonprofits and other small businesses. She said small businesses are the state’s “economic engine” and asked for feedback on what relief measures should be pursued.

Organizers also highlighted transportation as a priority and asked lawmakers whether flooding and road damage would worsen the transportation budget. Stokesbary said he expects the transportation budget to remain difficult, while Stearns said lawmakers have made strides on projects and acknowledged ongoing challenges.

The breakfast was organized by the SSCCLC, a regional partnership of chambers from across South King County and neighboring Pierce County communities. The coalition brings together local chambers to coordinate advocacy, share policy priorities, and present a unified business voice on issues affecting economic growth, workforce development, transportation and public safety throughout the South Sound.

Learn more about the SSCCLC here: https://www.sscclc.org

Video

Below is video of the breakfast, as filmed and edited by Scott Schaefer (running time 57-minutes, 44-seconds):