OLYMPIA -- Two days left in the session, and there are still some significant differences to resolve over budget, and a policy issue or two.Gov. Chris Gregoire signaled Tuesday that she's bracing for a special session, saying it's more important to get things done right…
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire jabbed back at her Idaho counterpart Tuesday over whose state is better from business.Washington’s got a better rating in Forbes Magazine for being business friendly and doesn’t have a personal or corporate income tax, she said during a press conference.Idaho…
OLYMPIA -- A bill that would allow craft distilleries like Spokane's Dry Fly Distillery to grow as much as three times larger moved through the Senate this morning on final passage.The bill allows the small liquor makers that have started to spring up around the…
OLYMPIA -- Three days remain for the Legislature to finish work on a budget, and pass it.The House of Representatives passed a tax package late Monday night, but while it has the same number as the bill the Senate passed Sunday, SB 6143, it is…
Spokane hasn't had much of a chance to show off its new snow plan this winter thanks to mild temperatures. It has, however, earned props for its snow plow Web site. Over the past couple of rough winters, Spokane created an online interactive map so…
OLYMPIA -- Patients at state mental institutions who have been judged criminally insane will be limited in the reasons that they can leave for field trips or other reasons.The House of Representatives gave final passage Monday to House Bill 2717, which is designed to prevent…
OLYMPIA – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is suggesting Washington businesses come over to his side of the border if taxes go up like they have in Oregon.In a “love letter to our neighbors,” Otter argues that Idaho has a better plan than other states for…
OLYMPIA -- With four days left in the regular session, both houses have full days scheduled.The Senate is off over the lunch hour while their Ways and Means Committee meets to clear up some bills that have fiscal impact. But both chambers are saying they…
OLYMPIA -- With not a vote to spare, Senate Democrats approved an $805 million tax package that includes hikes in sales and business taxes, sending it to the House for an almost certain overhaul.After four hours of debate and parliamentary maneuvering Saturday, and two more…
OLYMPIA -- Lt. Gov. Brad Owen said rules don't allow dividing up a bill. It could result in "logistical chaos."Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, then moves to table, and Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, asks for a roll call vote.Motion fails, 17-31 on a party-line vote.Vote on…
OLYMPIA -- The state Senate appears to be almost done debating the merits or demerits of the Democrats' tax bill.Now there's just one question to answer: Will they take one vote on the entire bill, or, as Sen. Don Benton just requested in a motion,…
OLYMPIA – Republicans have argued for weeks the governor should declare a financial emergency and reopen the contracts with the state employees unions, cutting pay and benefits to help balance the budget. Workers in private industry all over the state are taking pay cuts and…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate recessed Saturday afternoon without voting on their major tax package, after more than four hours of contentious, and occasionally heated debate..Democrats were one vote shy of the constitutional majority they need to pass the bill because one member Sen. Paull Shin,…
OLYMPIA -- A move to put the tax package on the ballot in November is proposed by Republicans.Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake,said the package should be called "the kitchen sink bill...As in sink Washington." A recent poll says people overwhelmingly think suspending Inititiative 960 was…
OLYMPIA -- Sen. Joe Zarelli suggests an incentive to make sure the temporary sales tax temporary.If it doesn't go away in 2013, legislators don't get their per diem.Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, says in "the spirit of bipartisanship" he was supporting the amendment, even though he…
OLYMPIA -- This is the biggie, the three-tenths of 1 percent increase in the sales tax for the next three years.Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, says Democrats are always saying the sales tax is the most regressive, and yet they want to raise its. She…
OLYMPIA--Republican offer an amendment to strip out an increase to the business and occupation tax on service businesses.The Senate Democrats' proposal raises the current rate of 1.5 percent on gross receipts to 1.75 percent on one of the largest categories of businesses.How big? Sen. Joe…
OLYMPIA -- Republicans try to strip out a provision that puts the state sales tax on bottled water.Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, says previous debates have been "pretty esoteric" about things "that really don't direct the lives of individuals. This one does.""Here is a $30 million…
OLYMPIA -- Republicans are offering an amendment to take away a tax on property management firms. Right now those companies have an exemption to the business and occupation tax on salaries.Sen.Chris Marr, D-Spokane, agrees, saying it will cause rents to go up as the tax…
OLYMPIA -- Republicans tried unsuccessfully to strip out changes on tax exemptions for solar projects.Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, said the Legislature is trying to encourage solar energy projects, and should keep the exemption.Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, says it's designed to spread money around among…
OLYMPIA -- Republicans ask to strip out theprovisions that make top corporate officers liable for unpaid taxes of a terminated or insolvent Limited Liability Corportion.Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, says that will just result in businesses setting up their LLCs in another state.Sen. Tracey Eide, D-Seattle,…
OLYMPIA -- Sen. Don Benton offers an amendment to strip out a provision that gets rid of the exemption from the real estate excise tax for homes sold from foreclosure.On normal sales, the real estate excise tax, or REET, is paid by the seller. But…
OLYMPIA -- Sen. Val Stevens argues the tax falls unfairly on "direct sellers" like Avon ladies, and offers an amendment to strip provisions on the business and occupation tax changes out of that.Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, says she should read her own amendment, because she…
OLYMPIA--Sen. Don Benton offers an amendment that argues rules giving the Department of revenue authority to go after companies avoiding taxes are too broad."It gives the department the ability to go on witchhunts throughout the business community, it's another job killing tactic," Benton says.Other Republicans…
OLYMPIA -- Opening salvo in the Senate debate over a package of tax increases to help ballot the state's operating budget.Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, argues the whole bill is unconstitutional because it contains too many subjects. It's logrolling, he contends.This bill contains 21 different taxes…
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