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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Jan. 1, 2010

MONDAY, JAN. 18, 2010

Gregoire wants new preschool standards

OLYMPIA -- Washington state should help low-income residents get their children into the preschool of their choice, but establish standards for facilities that help prepare 3- and 4-year-olds for kindergarten, Gov. Chris Gregoire said today.It also must have a stronger system for K-12 schools to…

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WA Lege Day 6: Not a holiday

The Legislature does not have the day off for Martin Luther King's Birthday. It's in session today, and has a full complement of hearings.But people who have the day off use this day to lobby the Legislature, either by visiting their favorite senator or representatives…

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SATURDAY, JAN. 16, 2010

WA Lege Week 1: Can words describe it?

OLYMPIA – With only a week down in the legislative session it’s too soon to make solid predictions about anything meaningful. It’s not too soon, however, to predict that the quality of rhetoric can only get better.That’s because it probably can’t get worse.There have been…

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FRIDAY, JAN. 15, 2010



WA Lege Day 5:TGIF schedule?

A relatively quiet day at the Capitol, with short sessions expected in the House and Senate in the morning and a full afternoon of hearings.The Veterans Coalition has meetings, and will be dropping by legislative offices.Gov. Chris Gregoire will be in Spokane for the Figure…

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THURSDAY, JAN. 14, 2010


Lege to Spokane group: Don't get yer hopes up

OLYMPIA – A Spokane-area delegation on its annual pilgrimage to the state capital got a consistently downbeat message this week: Don’t expect money for new programs or projects."The message is being reinforced: There is no money," Spokane Mayor Mary Verner said. It's a message that…

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WA Lege Day 4: Hearings, hearings, hearings

The Legislature is in full hearing mode.Which is not the same as saying that everyone is in listening mode. But hearings are scheduled throughout the day.Meanwhile, about 50 folks from the Spokane area continue their peregrination to Olympia to lobby for locally important programs and…

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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13, 2010

Marijuana: Legalize or decriminalize? 

OLYMPIA – While the Legislature wrestles with a huge budget shortfall that generates hearings on everything from closing state institutions to raising college tuition, the most heavily attended hearing Wednesday involved a non-budget item.Marijuana. Should the state legalize it, or turn it into a civil…

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Be charitable but careful

The Washington Secretary of State's office is urging caution in making donations to relief operations for victims of the earthquake in Haiti."Often, scammers use tragedies like these to say they are helping a cause and to pocket the donations of generous people. Don’t be fooled!"…

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Guilty but mentally ill 

Gov. Chris Gregoire will back legislation to allow defendants in Washington to be found guilty but mentally ill, and to be sent to prison instead of a mental hospital.Persons who have already been found not guilty by reason of insanity would face a new Safety…

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WA Lege Day 3: Today's schedule

The Lege has floor sessions at 10 a.m., and hearings off an on all day. Nothing as dramatic as the "State of the State", but more talk about, what else, the budget. There will also be some discussion about bills that would legalize marijuana. And…

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Today's fun video: Sinking of the what?

A reference in last night's post on the Republicans throwing around nautical metaphors may have had many readers going "Huh? Sinking of the What?"The song is actually "The Legend of the USS Titanic", and while it was a staple of late night pirate radio in…

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TUESDAY, JAN. 12, 2010

GOP gets nautical on "ship of state" 

Legislative Republicans searched for the right metaphor to describe their situation regarding the state budget Tuesday.They say they've got lots of good ideas, if the governor and majority Democrats would only listen. Gov. Chris Gregoire said she'd listen to any ideas from anyone, called for…

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Serious days ahead -- Gregoire 

"Too many familes today are getting layoff notices. Watching unpaid bills pile up. Losing health care..." Gov. Chris Gregoire told the Legislature. "Let's not waste their time or the crisis.""Let's provide the decisive, compassionate leadership Washingtonians want and deserve."Rounds of applause, and the governor is…

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"Our communities are safer" -- Gregoire

Communities are safer because the state gave law enforcement help to deal with sex offenders. Highways are safer because of tough DUI enforcement.But more needs to be done, Gov. Chris Gregoire said."Our families aren't safe...when a man convicte of the brutal murder of an elderly…

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Cuts, taxes and federal aid--Gregoire

"Later today I will present a budget I can support. It counts on new revenue of about $750 million and cuts of almost $1 billion. The revenue will come from new federal dollars, new taxes or both," Gov. Chris Gregoire said."We mujst have a responsible,…

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Gregoire: Instead of all those cuts...

After ticking off the effects of the cuts she proposed in December, Gov. Chris Gregoire suggested the long-term costs would be too high.We can make cuts that will write off a generation of kids...We can make the cuts and waita for higher dropout rates and…

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Budget reflects our values -- Gregoire

Gov. Chris Gregoire says her December budget was balanced, but "unfair, unwise."It eliminates hospice care 2,500 patients, maternity care for 50,000 at-risk moms, eliminates health care for 70,000 individuals, 16,000 children, early learning for 1,500 kids, does away with all-day kindergarten, college aid for 12,300…

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Make agencies accountable

State residents "don't want to drive across town to brick-and-mortar government offices," Gov. Chris Gregoire says. She wants more online applications, computer kiosks to apply for permits. Department of Licensing is closing or modifying 26 offices. Different state agencies are sharing data, using one scientist…

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