OLYMPIA -- Late Wednesday evening, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane and Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla wait for the vote on the 2011-13 operating budget worked out in a series of compromises between both parties.
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…
OLYMPIA -- Linda Chesnut thought there might be a bit of tension in the Capitol Building Wednesday and decided she should try to do something about it. So the licensed masseuse from Body Matrix Massage set up a special chair in the hallway between the…
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…
OLYMPIA -- The red blur moving through the hall between the House and Senate chambers a few minutes ago was Gov. Chris Gregoire, shuttling between Speaker Frank Chopp's office and Majority Leader Lisa Brown's with a list of bills in hand. Bills that apparently legislative…
OLYMPIA -- A problem with a section of the general operating budget could require an amendment before the bill goes to a vote in the Senate today. Which means the amended bill would have to come back the House for another round of voting --…
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…
OLYMPIA -- While the Final Days didn't begin with the Rapture at 6 p.m. Saturday as predicted, the final day of the special session has arrived. The list of things to do is long. Expect the day to be likewise. The House starts with a…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
