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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia archive for March 2005

FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2005

Drink up...

One of the most interesting things Gov. Christine Gregoire mentioned in a meeting last week with the Spokesman-Review's editorial board was that until a week and a half ago, her budget proposal included a tax on soda pop.It's not a new idea. Former Gov. Gary…

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MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2005

Welcome to our e-mail in-box...

"Gregoire budget reverses some cuts to state's most vulnerable""New taxes, gimmicks in Gregoire budget disappoint Republican fiscal leaders""Governor's budget a `half step' in the right direction""Gregoire breaks campaign pledge, moves to raise taxes""Gregoire plays budget shell games to avoid vote of the people""Gregoire budget contains…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2005

Of monkeys and fear...

"Sure we monkeyed with it. Both sides of the aisle monkeyed with it. But we did it with fear and trepidation." -- Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, acknowledging the fact that both Republicans and Democrats have stretched the state's spending limit in recent years.

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A tax menu...

Late last November, the state Department of Revenue prepared a document called "Estimated Impact of Major Revenue Alternatives" for lawmakers.The five-page document is essentially a menu of 156 possible tax increases: if you do X, it generates $Y.Here are a few of the examples that…

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Re: the ratio of generals to privates...

"Some of it has been favoritism, some of it has been empire-building, and some of it has been `Well, we think they should have higher status.'" -Tim Welch, spokesman for the Washington Federation of State Employees, on the union's theory of why the state's Washington…

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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2005

Getting a tax break -- and then some...

"It turns out that in our zeal to look out for taxpayers, we've sometimes given them two tax exemptions for one activity."Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, urging colleagues to vote to repeal a dozen outdated and redundant tax breaks.Among them: an exemption from penalties for late…

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Batting one in...

After four years of watching every bill he proposed founder and die, Rep. John Ahern this week managed a victory.The House of Representatives has passed his House bill 1453, which would erase any statute of limitations for first- and second-degree rape of a child. State…

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MONDAY, MARCH 7, 2005

What was left on the cutting-room floor...

As legislative deadlines hit, more and more bills are getting killed. Here, for example, is a sampler of (largely-Republican) bills that have died in the Senate:-SB 5905: To allow immediate eviction of tenants committing crimes or "unlawful civil disruptions."-SB 5078: Canceling all voter registrations and…

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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2005

But sorry, still no Prada...

Want to give your favorite state elected official or state worker a nice gift, but just can't seem to find anything under $50?You're in luck. The state House of Representatives is considering HB 2089, which would raise the bar for such gifts to $75. As…

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Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.



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