OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire acknowledged legislators are unlikely to pass the $2 billion in budget cuts she proposed in this special session and sees no chance they'll ask voters to approve a temporary half-cent sales tax increase in March. In a conversation with reporters…
OLYMPIA -- There have been some complaints about the activity, or lack of it, so far in the special session. But while the Senate has yet to vote on anything of substance, and the House has managed only a vote on an emergency bailout of…
Ever wonder if Democrats and Republicans watch different things on TV. Other than MSNBC or FOX news, neither did we. But someone did, and a research firm set out to find out if there was a difference. Turns out there is. You can see the…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature continues its "special but we're in no real hurry" session with a series of committee hearings today and no votes on either floor. No word on when, if at all, Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposed budget cuts will get out of either…
OLYMPIA – School officials from across the state urged legislators to reject plans to cut four days out of the school year or reduce payments designed to help poor districts keep pace with richer ones. The Legislature should consider other ways to cut education costs,…
Former Councilman Mike Allen's lead over incumbent Richard Rush grew by three to 91 on Wednesday after a recount of the Spokane City Council election for the city's south district. The race was recounted by machine because the result from the first count was within…
70 years after a day will live in infamy. OLYMPIA -- Flags at the state's World War II Memorial, which features the names of all Washington residents killed in the war etched in the bronze blades to form the shapes of soldiers, sailors and airmen.…
The campaign of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has won the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, Romney's campaign announced today. McMorris Rodgers will serve as Romney's chairwoman in Washington, his campaign said in a news release.
A hand recount of 10 precincts in the state Senate race between Mike Padden and Jeff Baxter gets underway on Wednesday. Baxter, who is paying for the recount, won't say at this point why he's seeking the recount. But there is one unusual thing about…
Some folks at Fox Business seem to think so. Are they right, or is this a real stretch? Click on comment to weigh in.
Spokane County Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said this afternoon that sorting ballots for recounting took longer than expected. Therefore, the Spokane City Council recount between Richard Rush and Mike Allen and the 4th Legislative District Senate race between Jeff Baxter and Mike Padden won't start…
OLYMPIA -- A union that represents some of the workers who will lose their jobs at state liquor stores is suing to block Initiative 1183, which will begin dismantling the state control of liquor sales next year. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 21…
Land along the steep Monroe Street hill in North Spokane will be able to hold up 30 homes or apartments per acre under a plan approved Monday by the City Council. The council voted 6-1 late Monday to change the comprehensive plan to allow up…
OLYMPIA -- The panel trying to redraw boundaries for the state's congressional and legislative boundaries made some progress over the last week -- they've gone from "impasse" to "bottle necks." But members couldn't promise when they'd have a final plan, and acknowledge they are running…
OLYMPIA -- Although Spokane County has some recounting to do, state officials certified the election results Monday for the Nov. 8 election. Anyone paying any attention knows how things came out: Initiative 1183, that gets the state out of the liquor business, passed big time.…
Spokane County election officials expect to start and complete on Tuesday the first two of the three recounts they need to complete to finish work from the November election. Elections Manager Mike McLaughlin said the office plans to count the ballots from the Spokane City…
OLYMPIA -- The House passed a bill that would loan a troubled public facilities district $42 million to avoid default, but only after limiting the way cities and counties involved can raise taxes. On a 56-33 bipartisan vote, the House passed HB 2145, which would…
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire's administration is beginning to show a certain frustration with the slow pace of the Legislature in its 30-day special session. Office of Financial Management Director Marty Brown today sent all 147 legislators an e-mail saying the state is burning through…
OLYMPIA – It may be pointless to offer advice that hasn’t been requested, but should some leader of the “Occupy” movement ask I’d be happy to give it. This assumes, of course, that this is a movement and has a leader, the first of which…
OLYMPIA -- A Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee expressed serious doubts Friday the Legislature would pass a new budget before time ran out on the special session. And the chairman of the committee did nothing to contradict him. At the start…
Spokane City Councilman Richard Rush will get a hand recount afterall. The incumbent councilman who trails former Councilman Mike Allen by 88 votes submitted a check this afternoon to the Spokane County Election's Office for $6,240 to pay for a full manual count of ballots…
OLYMPIA -- Legislative action will be at a minimum today. The Senate has only a pro forma session at noon. Pro forma is Latin for "we aren't really doing anything." None of its committees are meeeting, either. Senators who want to go home can beat…
OLYMPIA -- State Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, is doubling down on Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposal to raise the state sales tax by a half-cent for three years to help rescue state programs from the chopping block. Shin introduced a bill to raise the sales tax…
OLYMPIA -- Legislators have until Dec. 28 to find ways to close the projected $1.4 billion budget gap, and maybe ask voters to raise the state sales tax to save some programs. Some legislators of both parties have expressed doubt that they can do it…
Gregoire at press conference: Show me some real reforms. OLYMPIA -- Most Washington businesses will see lower unemployment taxes and many will have no increase in their workers compensation rates in 2012. Gov. Chris Gregoire, announcing the new rates for next year, said they represent…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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