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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Dec. 2012

SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 2012

SATURDAY, DEC. 22, 2012


Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and David SoHappy Sr., at Geiger Corrections Center on March 6, 1988 (Dan Pelle)

When Inouye came to Spokane

Inouye and David SoHappy Sr., at Geiger Corrections Center in March 1988. Spokesman-Review photo by Dan Pelle. The passing of Sen. Daniel Inouye this week generated some memories from long-time Democrat Tom Keefe, who reminded Spin Control of the time the Hawaiian senator came to…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 20, 2012

Speaker of the House Tom Foley shoots a buffalo gun at the Spokane Valley Rifle and Pistol Range in this 1994 photo. Foley met with club members in an attempt to counter an anti-Foley NRA ad campaign that had begun in the 5th District of Washington state. (File)

What's unusual about this photo?

S-R photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings Today's story about assault-weapon bans had this photo from the 1994 campaign of then House Speaker Tom Foley shooting a buffalo rifle at a local shooting range. It's one of my favorite photos from the campaign, in part because there…

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Senate passes bill to rename Spokane VA

Spokane's Veterans Affairs Medical Center moved a step closer to getting a new name today as the Senate passed a bill to name it after two local Medal of Honor winners. The Northwest Spokane facility would become the Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, 2012


Council OK for Spokane tent city unlikely 

A homeless advocate's proposal to create a large tent city beneath Interstate 90 won't be getting approval from Spokane City Hall any time soon, City Council President Ben Stuckart predicts. Stuckart said this week that he asked his fellow council members if they’d be interested…

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TUESDAY, DEC. 18, 2012

Gregoire budget: Combination of cuts and taxes

OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed two “lame-duck” budgets Tuesday for her successor and the next Legislature to consider next year. One cuts programs to stay within the revenue the state expects to collect; the other adds some programs it may need to improve public…

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MONDAY, DEC. 17, 2012

OLYMPIA -- Members of the Electoral College, including Rick Lloyd of Spokane Valley, center,  sign paperwork casting Washington's electoral votes for Barack Obama for president. Also in the picture, from left, are Grifynn Clay, Kathleen Lawrence and Maria Ehsam and Georgia Spencer.  (Jim Camden)

News flash: Obama wins Washington

Rick Lloyd of Spokane Valley, center, and other members of Washington's Electoral College sign paperwork to cast the state's electoral votes for Barack Obama. OLYMPIA – Forget what the news media told you six weeks ago. Barack Obama was elected to his second term as…

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Senate Dems: How about we split power?

OLYMPIA — Senate Democrats offered a power-sharing agreement to counter last week's proposal by Republicans and two defecting members of their party. They called for co-leaders for the Senate and co-chairmen for all committees. But the top Republican and the Democrat the coalition wants to…

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Murray to Tom: You don't control Senate 

OLYMPIA -- The Senate will have two claimants to the title of "majority leader" when the Legislature convenes on Jan. 14 Senate Democratic Leader Ed Murray of Seattle said Republicans will need more than a press conference and a logo on their stationary to be…

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SATURDAY, DEC. 15, 2012

Sunday spin: A Senate of 49 kings and queens

OLYMPIA – To hear supporters tell it, a new power-sharing coalition in the state Senate could usher in a Legislative session of compromise and moderation, with a positive response to Rodney King’s famous question: Can’t we all just get along? Forgive a professional skeptic, but…

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FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 2012

Flags to half-staff for Connecticut victims 

OLYMPIA -- As state leaders weigh in with shock, sadness and support for the families of the Connecticut shooting victims, Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered state flags lowered to half-staff through Tuesday. Gregoire called the shootings in Newtown, Conn., "incomprehensible" adding "all Washingtonians stand with me…

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THURSDAY, DEC. 13, 2012

Spokane to close its IMAX at end of year 

The IMAX at Riverfront Park only will be open for six months. The Spokane Park Board on Thursday voted unanimously to close the theater after Dec. 31. It will open for six months in the spring. Park officials estimated that shortening the schedule would save…

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OLYMPIA -- Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, holds up charts during a press briefing in his office that show chart indicating where state government has reduced spending on social programs.   (Jim Camden)

Hargrove: Coalition isn't sharing power

Sen. Jim Hargrove shows charts that indicate where state government has reduced spending on some social programs. OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats don't know yet whether they will accept an offer to lead six legislative committees in the coming session, Sen. Jim Hargrove said today. The…

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Baumgartner No. 2 on budget panel

OLYMPIA -- Sen. Mike Baumgartner would serve as vice chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee next year under the proposed "coalition" majority in that chamber. The Spokane Republican, who is halfway through his first term, said he thinks the coalition of the Senate's…

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Cantwell to head Indian Affairs Committee

Sen. Maria Cantwell will be the chairwoman of the Indian Affairs Committee in the new Congress. Democrats announced their expected committee assignments for next year, which are essentially done deals for everything but a pro forma vote at the beginning of the session. Cantwell has…

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WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 2012

Gov race most expensive in WA history 

OLYMPIA -- Even without the final spending tallied, this year's governor's race was the most expensive in state history and outside independent groups spent a record amounts trying to convince residents to vote against Jay Inslee and Rob McKenna. Post-election reports filed this week with…

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TUESDAY, DEC. 11, 2012

Gallup poll: Feds should back off in pot states 

The federal government should back off enforcement of federal marijuana laws in stateslike Washington that have legalized the drug, a solid majority of people told a recent Gallup poll. Nearly two-third -- 64 percent of all adults surveyed in late November -- told pollsters they…

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Stuckart's home burglarized a second time 

Spokane City Councilman Ben Stuckart used first-hand experience when arguing at Monday's council meeting that the city should hire more cops. Two weeks ago, when he and his wife were in Seattle, someone knocked in the back door of their home. It was the second…

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MONDAY, DEC. 10, 2012


Coalition in Senate: A coup or exciting pact? 

OLYMPIA -- Reaction to the announcement of a new coalition to run the Senate is decidedly mixed. Republicans, not surprisingly, are hailing the decision of two Democrats to join hands with the 23 GOP members and create a brave new world of legislative leadership. State…

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OLYMPIA -- Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler of Ritzville answers a question about the new coalition leadership being proposed for the Senate. Sens. Rodney Tom, a Bellevue Democrat who is the proposed majority leader, Sen. Ann Rivers, R-LaCenter and Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, are behind Schoesler. (Jim Camden)

Coalition would give GOP Senate control

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, answers a question at the press conference announcing plans for a coalition to run the Senate. OLYMPIA -- If the math holds, Republicans and a pair of Democrats will control the state Senate in 2013. The 23 Republicans voting as a…

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Senate to run by coalition? 

OLYMPIA -- Senate Republicans say they will announce a "coalition" this morning that will run the chamber in the 2013 session. They've scheduled a 10:30 a.m. press conference with a bipartisan group of senators to announce how the coalition will work. Technically, Republicans are the…

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



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