OLYMPIA -- A series of panels, pro and con, opened the overflow hearing on the same-sex marriage bill this morning. Ken Hutcherson of the Antioch Baptist Church, an opponent of the bill, told members of a Senate panel who have already made up their mind…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature opened two overflow areas -- including the Senate gallery itself -- for the crowds who flocked to the capital to testify for and against a bill to legalize same sex marriage. "I will not tolerate any disruptions," Sen. Craig Pridemore, D-…
Writing about caucuses brings to mind one of the best fans of caucuses in Spokane, Jan Polek, who passed away earlier this month. Whenever I would rail about caucuses being a pain for a reporter to cover – which happened about every two years –…
If no one else has yet proposed this, might I suggest the news media stop paying attention to the results of the Iowa precinct caucuses…or any precinct caucuses, for that matter. That includes Washington. No offense, all you good party loyalists who are preparing for…
Former Mayor Mary Verner's salary and pension request, which was denied by the city, has raised questions from several readers who wonder how an elected leader can be eligible to start receiving a pension at 55 after eight years of service. Spokane's City Council and…
OLYMPIA – Nearly all medical insurance plans in Washington that offer maternity care would be required to cover abortions under a bill supporters described as a minor adjustment to adjust to new federal laws but opponents denounced as an infringement on religious liberties. HB 2330…
OLYMPIA -- Washington state's current primary system which has candidates stating their party preference rather than a party affiliation and sends the top two vote-getters to the general election is constitutional, a federal appeals court said today. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected claims…
OLYMPIA -- Rain, snow and sleet is keeping postal carriers from completing some rounds in and around the capital, but it isn't deterring a delegation from Spokane from lobbying for key projects and issues with legislators. A delegation of about 60 Spokane-area business and government…
OLYMPIA -- Supporters of a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in Washington state inched closer to passage today as one of the few "undecideds" said he would be voting yes. Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, said times have changed and "I believe we…
OLYMPIA -- Snow and ice around the state have prompted Gov. Chris Gregoire to declare a winter storm emergency, activating the National Guard and suspending rules for delivering milk from dairies. Gregoire's emergency declaration orders the adjutant general to activate whatever units necessary to help…
OLYMPIA -- The latest incarnation of a bill to add structure Washington's medical marijuana laws has supporters who don't like parts of it and opponents who do. People who operate clinics and dispensaries questioned the need for a voluntary registry of medical marijuana patients. Law…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature is attempting to muddle through with diminished numbers this morning in the midst of "snow-maggedon" in the South Puget Sound. It did stick to committee schedules this morning, although many hearings had fewer people present to testify because roads are so…
OLYMPIA -- A snowy day in the capital, but the Senate Health Care Committee does have a hearing on a medical marijuana bill this morning that is happening. Witnesses and senators were a bit late getting in, but they did get to Sen. Jeanne Kohl…
Spokane’s only tax revenue geared specifically for sidewalks won’t be diverted for street paving by the City Council’s new membership. The council last year narrowly approved a $20-per vehicle tab tax and mandated that 10 percent be spent on sidewalks while the rest be spent…
Rep. John Ahern, (center with back to the camera) addresses the March for Life rally on the north Capitol steps Tuesday. OLYMPIA -- A couple of inches of sloppy snow did not keep pro-life groups from participating in the annual March for Life this afternoon.…
If you've watched the Republican presidential candidates debate over the last several months, you may have noticed that they're all getting more comfortable and more animated as they get more practice. You can tell by the way they use their hands to make their points.…
OLYMPIA – A bipartisan group of legislators is pushing a dozen bills to combat human trafficking, particularly among teenage runaways they say are lured into prostitution. Among the targets of the legislation are ads for “escort services” that appear in the back of some newspapers…
OLYMPIA – State workers and public school employees in Washington are supposed to take an oath that they aren’t a member of the Communist Party or any other subversive organization. At least, that’s what state law has said since 1951, when the Subversive Activities Act…
OLYMPIA -- Although most of state government is off today, the Legislature has a work day scheduled. In keeping with the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the House has a resolution honoring the late civil rights leader it will pass this morning with some amount…
After dinging Rep. Andy Billig a bit below on proposed changes to voter registration, it only seems fair to note an excellent idea of his, which also got a hearing last week. The Spokane Democrat has a bill that would set the same $800 limit…
OLYMPIA – Washington voters have a very good track record of casting ballots – among the best in the country. Is it perfect? No. Could it be better? Yes. Are there people who should vote but don’t? Probably. Is it worth making major changes to…
OLYMPIA — For the first time in two decades, Sen. Lisa Brown said she won't be in the Capitol Monday on Martin Luther King Day. Although it's a state holiday, the Legislature is always in session and traditionally works on that day. Next Monday, however,…
OLYMPIA – A bipartisan group of legislators, backed by business and education reform groups, announced a push Thursday for charter schools and new teacher evaluations. The Washington Education Association immediately questioned where the money would come from for charter schools and how the evaluation systems…
OLYMPIA – One of the most popular ways to register to vote is to sign up when applying for a driver’s license. Unless you’re 16 or 17, the time when most drivers get their first license but are too young to vote. State Rep. Andy…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democratic leaders think they've narrowed a stack of possible reforms that some member wants to a smaller list they may be able to pass. The reforms would save at least $50 million in this budget cycle, and as much as $300 million…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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