During the special session, both chambers approved a Joint Resolution asking Congress to pass the Main Street Fairness Act, which would require Internet retailers to collect sales tax from their customers, just like brick-and-mortar stores do, and remit those taxes to the appropriate states. Could…
Although the Legislature is on break, new legislation continues to pop up. Among ideas is a proposed constitutional amendment from Sen. Dan Swecker of Rochester and other Republicans like Mark Schoesler of Ritzville and Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla. It requires any initiative that starts…
OLYMPIA -- Protesters who set up an "Occupy Olympia" encampment in a park below the Capitol Campus were evicted overnight. But a handful broke into an abandonned building a few blocks away in a brief effort to try establishing "squatters rights." Police surrounded the building,…
OLYMPIA – Washington should abolish the Liquor Control Board and see if a private company can do a better job of managing the state Lottery, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday. It should also spread some of the efficiency standards and cost-cutting measures successful in business,…
The Occupy Olympia encampment last week in Heritage Park. OLYMPIA -- Members of Occupy Olympia, who have be encamped in Heritage Park below the Capitol Building for about three months, must leave by midnight, a state agency said today. Protesters have set up tents, signs…
A former dean of Gonzaga University Law School is among Democrats considering a campaign against Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers next year. Dan Morrissey, who served as dean from 2001-04 and now teaches corporate law at the school, said he is exploring his prospects for a…
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane and Minority Leader Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla hug and other senators applaud as the gavel comes down to adjourn the special session. OLYMPIA -- Unable to find $2 billion in savings over 30 days, the Legislature agreed…
OLYMPIA -- Newly elected Sen. Mike Padden of the Spokane Valley received his traditional hazing by colleagues today as the Senate wound down toward adjournment of the special session. After passing a $480 million partial fix to the budget and some bills necessary to make…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate passed a $480 million "downpayment" on the $2 billion needed to close the gap in the state's General Fund budget. On a 42-6 vote, members of both parties sent to Gov. Chris Gregoire about a fourth of the cuts and accounting…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate is beginning debate on the "early action budget" which closes about $480 million of the state's budget gap. It's the same budget approved Tuesday evening in the House. Senate Ways and Means Commitee Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said some people call…
OLYMPIA -- Some strong signs that this could be the last day of the Legislature's emergency session on the budget: Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, in the Senate wings before the morning session started: "Looks like a good day for sine die." ' The…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature could be rolling toward adjournment later today if budget writers' plans come to pass. And pass. The $480 million supplemental budget passed by the House Tuesday evening -- the down payment or partial down payment or bite of the apple or…
Spokane County's three Republican county commissioners are asking Mayor-elect David Condon to strongly consider Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich's offer to be the city's interim police chief. The three signed a letter to Condon's transition team saying that with Chief Anne Kirkpatrick retiring, it makes sense to…
OLYMPIA -- The House of Representatives gave overwhelming support to a $480 million trim of the state's troubled General Fund budget, despite complaints by Republicans that it was too little and disappointing. On an 86-8 bipartisan vote, the House members agreed this evening to a…
OLYMPIA -- Bad teachers and principals could be fired at the end of a school year if they don't improve under a series of education reforms proposed today by Gov. Chris Gregoire. State universities would also set up "laboratory" schools in failing schools across the…
OLYMPIA -- Despite misgivings that it was too meager, the House Ways and Means Committee gave overwhelming support to a $480 million change in the state's financially strapped budget. Committee Chairman Ross Hunter, D-Medina, called it a downpayment. Rep. Gary Alexander of Olympia, the Republican…
Mayor-elect David Condon likely will have to win a second term if he wants to tinker with the pay and benefits of nearly half of the City Hall work force. The Spokane City Council on Monday approved three-year contract extensions for Local 270 of the…
OLYMPIA -- Legislative budget negotiators have twin proposals to reduce the state's fiscally challenged General Fund budget by about $480 million. The "Early Action Supplemental Budget" -- which consists of matching bills in the House and the Senate -- involve a series of administrative cuts,…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate Ways and Means Committee posted a substitute budget on its web site that has their proposal for making a first stab at addressing an estimated $1.4 billion budget gap. We haven't reached the bottom line yet, but it's only a partial…
OLYMPIA – Washington Republicans are exorcised over a wrinkle in state election laws that restricts some candidates, but not others, from raising money during a legislative session. Their concern is logical, although not necessarily consistent. It goes like this: No state elected official can raise…
News commentator Bill O’Reilly has been bugged by holiday activities in and around the Capitol for several years, ever since the state allowed atheists to place a sign in the building in 2008. In a recent newscast, he was asking a couple of Culture Warrior…
Spokane City Councilman Richard Rush said this afternoon that he has decided against paying for a hand recount in his race against Mike Allen. Rush said after further consideration of the results of the machiine recount, as well as the hand recount that was completed…
(This post was updated at 4 p.m. Saturday.) City Adminstrator Ted Danek said Friday that the membership of Local 270, the city's largest union, voted overwhelmingly this week to approve a three-year contract extension. The contract currently expires at the end of 2012. The proposal…
OLYMPIA -- Legislators will try to fill some of the looming budget gap next week, but won't come close to the $2 billion in cuts Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed last month. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said she expects a budget proposal to be introduced…
Mayor-elect David Condon tonight released the names of about 80 people who will serve on five committees that make up his transition team. Here are the names, pretty much cut and paste from the announcement (except a couple spelling fixes): Public Safety Captain, Nancy Isserlis;…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
| Dec. 2011 | Nov. 2011 | Oct. 2011 | Sept. 2011 |
| Aug. 2011 | July 2011 | June 2011 | May 2011 |
| April 2011 | March 2011 | Feb. 2011 | Jan. 2011 |
