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Eye On Olympia archive for Oct. 2007

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31, 2007

More Curtis reactions...

State GOP Chairman Luke Esser:“Representative Curtis did the right thing by resigning today, as it was clear he could no longer effectively represent either the Republican Party or his constituents. We wish the Curtis family all the best as they work to rebuild their lives.…

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Rep. Buri signs off...

Today is Rep. David Buri's last day as a state lawmaker. Buri, R-Colfax, is stepping down to work as Eastern Washington University's liaison -- a lobbyist, essentially -- with the Legislature and government agencies.From an e-mail to constituents today:I have always felt that while I…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 30, 2007

Documents released in Curtis case...

From S-R staff writer Bill Morlin today:A state legislator who yesterday insisted he was “not gay” was being blackmailed by a young man he had engaged in “sexual activities” with after the two met at a Spokane Valley adult bookstore last week, court documents filed…

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New poll data on ballot measures...

Referendum 67 – a battle between insurers and lawyers which over a new law allowing triple damages when insurers wrongly deny a claim – is apparently being won by the lawyers. A new poll sponsored by a University of Washington research center, 48 percent of…

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THURSDAY, OCT. 25, 2007

"An iron fist in a velvet glove"...

Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers last month sent a letter to a mental health center, sharply criticizing the agency's "hostile bargaining position" in negotiations with unionized employees."Your agency is funded largely through the state's budget," read the Sept. 22 letter, requested by Service Employees International…

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Gregoire: reaction to Rossi...

Comments from Gov. Chris Gregoire, speaking to reporters shortly after Dino Rossi announced that he'll again challenge her for governor:"All we have to do is ask ourselves: Are we better off as a state today than we were three years ago?" she said. "You bet…

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As expected, Rossi's in...

Speaking in Issaquah a few minutes ago, former GOP candidate for governor Dino Rossi said, yes, he'll run again against Democratic incumbent Chris Gregoire."Washington State needs new leadership for a new era," he told cheering supporters and family members. "And that journey starts today."Rossi said…

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 24, 2007


Democrats' web ad: Rossi, what's wrong?

As mentioned in the story linked to below, the state Democratic Party today posted a sort of short video counterpoint to the arguments -- bad economy, bad business climate -- made by Rossi in 2004.The highlights: kudos for the state in a recent Forbes article…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 23, 2007


MONDAY, OCT. 22, 2007

Is Dino jumping in?

Dino Rossi has scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon in Spokane to announce he's running for governor next year, a Rossi '08 page on the Internet says.The listing is posted on Facebook, and Rossi can't be immediately reached for comment. But the Spokane Double…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 16, 2007

There will always be an Olympia...

From Monday's Olympian story by staff writer Matt Batcheldor:"Those elected will help determine whether the city needs yet another plan for developing downtown or whether the existing dozen or so plans are adequate."The paper went back and looked at 14 such studies, dating back to…

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FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 2007

I-960 wrap-up...

Next in our series of what-the-heck's-this-thing-on-the-ballot stories: Tim Eyman's latest measure, Initiative 960:After two high-profile failures last year, initiative promoter Tim Eyman is returning to his time-tested formula: beating the drum against taxes."There's no decision they make in Olympia that is more important than taking…

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THURSDAY, OCT. 11, 2007

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 10, 2007


Stealth supporters?

Tonight in SeaTac, Republicans will gather for a $100-a-head fall dinner themed "Run, Dino, Run." Speaking will be Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, chairman of the Republican Governors Association. The AP's Dave Ammons, via the Seattle P-I, had a good preview here.State GOP Chairman Luke Esser…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 9, 2007

New Chief Clerk of the House...

House Speaker Frank Chopp has chosen policy director Barbara Baker as the new chief clerk of the House.Baker replaces Rich Nafziger, who's moving over to the Senate, where he'll be chief of staff for the Democratic caucus.Baker has worked for the House since 1996, serving…

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MONDAY, OCT. 8, 2007

FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 2007

THURSDAY, OCT. 4, 2007



What Bush's SCHIP veto means to state coffers...

President Bush's veto of a bill expanding children's health insurance means that Washington loses $28 million it had hoped to put toward children's health coverage over the next year, according to Jim Stevenson, a spokesman for the state's Medicaid program. But unlike in some states,…

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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3, 2007

Career job site takes a break...

As Adam Wilson notes at his blog, the online application system on the state-run www.careers.wa.gov website has been disabled for a week while Department of Personnel staff apparently work hard to update it.Notice: Our online job application is currently unavailable while we make improvements. the…

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Earmarks, get your earmarks here...

The federal Office of Management and Budget has created this interesting website to track earmarks in budget legislation. Earmarks, depending on whether you're getting one, are either critical local infrastructure projects or shameless political pork.A simple search for, yes, "Spokane" turns up ten earmarks, mostly…

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



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