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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Spec Sess Day 1: Shouting down a hearing

OLYMPIA -- Members of the "occupy" movement are interrupting the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on a plan to help the struggling Wenatchee Public Facilities District by demanding a "citizens arrest" of the Legislature.

Chairman Ross Hunter has tried several times to get a staff briefing on a proposal for bonds, only to have protesters shout over the top of staff.

Among their chants, which they punctuate with rounds of self-applause: "We need to work together. We need to tax the rich. Fund our schools."

They don't seem to understand that as long as they keep shouting, no one will work together on anything.

The meeting adjourned for about a half hour, then resumed with an explanation of HB 2126, a bill to keept Wenatchee PFD from defaulting on bonds.



Jim Camden
Jim Camden joined The Spokesman-Review in 1981 and retired in 2021. He is currently the political and state government correspondent covering Washington state.

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