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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Coalition would give GOP Senate control

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)
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)

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 block with two Democrats mean a 25 vote majority over the remaining 24 Democrats. The 25 are offering the 24 a piece of the action. 

The 24 may refuse.

For the full story, click here. 



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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