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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for May 2011

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire practices opening and covering herself with a fire shelter  Tuesday at a training session with the Department of Natural Resources. The training session is necessary for being on site at a wildfire or forest fire. (Jim Camden/The Spokesman-Review)

Fire danger light this season 

Gov. Chris Gregoire opens a fire shelter during the annual training and test required for being on site at a wildfire or forest fire. OLYMPIA -- With snow still on the mountains and plenty of rain this spring in the lowlands, the danger of wildfires…

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SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2011

FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011

2011 WA Lege: In other action...

OLYMPIA – At times, it may have seemed that the only issues the Washington legislature worked on during the past session were budgets and medical marijuana. Those things did take considerable amounts of time during the last four months, but lawmakers passed 444 different pieces…

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THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011


WA Lege: The day after

OLYMPIA -- It is the day after the night before at the Capitol. Not quite a ghost town 12 hours after the gavel came down for the legislative session, but very little trace of what was here for the last four and a half months.…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2011


Senate passes operating, capital budgets

OLYMPIA -- The Senate gave strong bipartisan support to the state's $32.2 billion operating budget for 2011-13, and near unanimous suppoort to the $2.8 billion Capital Budget. Senators praised one another for crossing party lines and working together to work out compromises on a budget…

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Medical marijuana: Rolling out another one

OLYMPIA -- With prosects for medical marijuana legislation dead in the Legislature, a group unhappy with what's left of the cannabis law post-veto will try to get it on the November ballot so voters can dump it. Steve Sarich of CannaCare filed Referendum 73 with…

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Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, argues for a vote against the Capital Budget bond bill which contains $1.1 billion in projects around the state. (Jim Camden/The Spokesman-Review)

Spec Sess Day 30: House passes Capital Budget

Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, argues against the Capital Budget supported by some $1.1 billion in bond sales. OLYMPIA -- The House of Representatives gave overwhelming support this morning to some $2.8 billion in public works projects -- from new facilities for universities to sewers…

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TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2011



Legislative leaders discuss deal on the 2011-13 operating budget on May 24, 2011. From left, Sen. Mike Hewitt, Sen. Lisa Brown, Sen. Joe Zarelli, Sen. Ed Murray, Rep. Ross Hunter, Rep. Pat Sullivan. (Jim Camden/The Spokesman-Review)

Spec Sess Day 29: One budget out, another on the way 

Legislative leaders announce proposed 2011-13 general operating budget Tuesday. OLYMPIA -- Legislative leaders unveiled their latest -- and possibly final -- version of the 2011-13 operating budget they described as painful but sustainable. A deal on the capital budget and changes to the state's debt…

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MONDAY, MAY 23, 2011


Workers comp passes Senate

OLYMPIA – After tying the Legislature in knots for much of the last three months, changes to the state’s century-old workers compensation sped through both houses Monday with comfortable margins. It passed the House 69-26, and the Senate 35-12. The changes, which also have the…

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Shea idea key to workers comp deal

OLYMPIA -- A key piece to the puzzle of making changes to the state's workers compensation system came from Rep. Matt Shea, who suggested negotiators drop the idea of "lump sum" payments in favor of structured settlements. Shea, R-Spokane Valley, suggested a system that is…

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Workers comp bill passes House 69-26

OLYMPIA -- Major changes to the state's workers compensation system passed the House Monday on a 69-26 vote. Most proposed amendments were ruled out of order by Speaker Frank Chopp, and debate centered around whether injured workers would be helped or hurt by a change…

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Murray: 'No surprises' in budget

OLYMPIA -- Budget negotiators continue to hold tight on the details of the general operating budget while insisting there is no problem with the agreement. It's at the printer, will be distributed Tuesday to members at 9 a.m. and to the news media at 10…

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The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



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