VANCOUVER – Washington voters unhappy with their state government won’t see much change unless they stop a 28-year string of Democrats in the governor’s office, the Republican attorney general contended in a debate here Wednesday night. “I’m not the one who’s been in Olympia for…
Why do you think the two-thirds majority is undemocratic when voters have approved it repeatedly Inslee: I believe in democracy. It gives people who vote no more power than people who vote yes. McKenna: Voters are going to have the fourth opportunity, likely to pass…
Governor of VA said you'd do to Washington what Walker did to Wisconsin McKenna; He's talking about fiscal issules Balance the budget, restore solvency. He knows Washington is different from Wisconsin.I support collective bargaining. I've been trying to get this debate to talk about fiscal…
What two or three policies of the governor would you reverse to help us avoid endless deficits? Inslee: We should be using leaner management. I have not been the person who has not been in Olympia for the last seven years. I'm not beholden to…
I've disclosed five years of my tax returns. Other politicians have released Why do you feel you're exempt from this expectation? McKenna: I'm exempt from many of your expectations. I've disclosed my finances for 16 years. Top issue is not jobs or education for you,…
Inslee: I do not support raising taxes. I do support looking at some older corporate loopholes that were approved 60 years ago and may not make sense now. We are going to continue to grow, and as we grow we get older, demand additional health…
Why is the cost of liquor so high? Inslee: I wish people would have listened to me (on last year's initiative.) It's maybe a lesson that when we get initiatives we need to think really hard and not just listen to TV commercials. McKenna: We're…
Where do you stand on coal ports McKenna: The state does not get to stop coal shipments, that's government by federal law. They need to go through strict environmental standards. . . People in ports are hurting, they're desperate for good-paying jobs, they want these…
Would you be brave enough raise taxes for education? McKenna: The voters have been very clear on not supporting higher taxes. Not raising tax rates is not the same as raising tax revenues. Revenues are projected to go up. We need to prioritize. (Democrats) running…
Inslee: I'm glad the lawsuit was rejected by the Supreme Court...Breast cancer survivors can get access to health care. On Medicaid expansion, we know everyone is paying about $1,000 a year to pay for people who don't have insurance...a hidden tax in our insurance bill.…
Inslee: Building the bridge is one of the most direct things we can do. I want to build a working Washington. I want to get up every single morning figuring out how to jump start the economy. I have a plan on the internet. It's…
VANCOUVER -- Do you support the new bridge over the Columbia River and how will you pay for it? Rob McKenna: Everyone agrees the crossing is too important to jeopardize. important for regional and national commerce. ... How it's going to be paid for. The…
VANCOUVER -- Waiting for Paul Ryan to finish his speech to the GOP convention before the debate goes live on Portland television.
OLYMPIA -- A trial judge quickly rejected an effort to keep President Barack Obama off Washington's general election ballot, saying such "birther" allegations have been around for years, and rejected for years as well. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Thomas McPhee dismissed the challenge brought…
VANCOUVER -- Jay Inslee and Rob McKenna are set to debate at 8 p.m. at the Washington State University campus here. Organizers are checking the lights and sound levels and tossing out practice questions. First question: What will you do about the Columbia River crossing.…
Democrat Rich Cowan and Republican Mike Baumgartner seem to have a shared problem of getting the incumbents they want to unseat to debate with them as many times as they want. Or at all. Cowan, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives against…
Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee have their first post-primary debate tonight in Vancouver, at the Washington State University branch campus there. Word is the auditorium for the one-hour debate is relatively small -- about 200 seats -- and expected to be full. Vancouver hasn't been…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
