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

Spin Control archive for March 2012

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012

Sunday Spin: The bill-signing dam breaks

OLYMPIA – In the list of threats a Washington governor can hurl at a recalcitrant Legislature, “I won’t sign your bills” has proven to be among the least menacing. Gov. Chris Gregoire kept threatening not to sign bills if the Legislature didn’t cough up a…

Continue reading this post »

FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2012

More bills signed: Eyeglasses and Discover Passes

OLYMPIA – Charities like the Union Gospel Mission can soon resume distributing used eyeglasses to people who can’t afford to buy them, under a bill signed into law Friday. The legislation, which protects charities like the Mission and the Lions Club International from lawsuits for…

Continue reading this post »



Hewitt to have surgery

OLYMPIA -- Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt will undergo surgery Monday to remove a tumor from his thymus. Senate Republicans announced this afternoon that Hewitt will have surgery in Seattle for the recently discovered tumor. With the Legislature still struggling to solve a problem with…

Continue reading this post »


THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012


Gregoire to sign boatload of bills

OLYMPIA -- In the lists of possible inducements a governor can offer to legislators to break a deadlock, "I won't sign your bills" might rank pretty near the bottom. Or so it would seem today as Gov. Chris Gregoire prepares to sign 112 of the…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2012

TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012

McLaughlin ad pulled off TV

The campaign to extend two taxes to pay for the expansion of the Spokane Convention Center and Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena has pulled a TV ad featuring Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin. Citizens for Jobs Now has developed a series of commercials each featuring two…

Continue reading this post »



MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012

McLaughlin will challenge Brown

Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin confirmed this evening that she will run against state Senate Democratic Majority Leader Lisa Brown. She plans to make her official announcement at a press conference on Tuesday. McLaughlin has been on the record as considering a run against Brown for months.…

Continue reading this post »


Condon condemns casino

Spokane Mayor David Condon has added his name to the list of local leaders opposed to the Spokane Tribe of Indians’ proposal for a casino on the West Plains. Condon joins Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and state Senate Democratic Majority Leader Lisa Brown…

Continue reading this post »


Brown running, McLaughlin may jump in Tuesday 

OLYMPIA – Lisa Brown, the top-ranking Democrat in the Senate, will seek another four years in central Spokane’s 3rd District. Brown, who was widely expected to seek re-election to another term, was first elected to the Legislature in 1992 and now serves as Senate Majority…

Continue reading this post »


Stand-your-ground statute? Not in WA or ID

OLYMPIA – In Washington and Idaho, there is no statute that gives a person the right to “stand your ground” and use deadly force in public when faced with a perceived threat. Both states have fairly standard laws covering justifiable homicide or self-defense, particularly when…

Continue reading this post »


Special Session Day 15: Halfway over?

OLYMPIA -- Today is Day 15 of the Legislature's 30-day Special Session, so we are at the midway point of...what? Top budget writers reportedly continue meeting behind closed doors to look for a way to craft a budget that doesn't spend more than the state…

Continue reading this post »

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2012

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012

Of planes and automobiles

OLYMPIA – Jet planes may someday fly on fuel made Eastern Washington grain, cars will sport license plates celebrating 4-H and rhododendrons and drivers licenses will last longer but be more expensive under bills signed Friday. A $100 fee for electric cars, an easier alternative…

Continue reading this post »


OLYMPIA -- "It's a law," Gov. Chris Gregoire proclaims after signing the Heath Insurance Exchange legislation on March 23 at the Group Healthl Clinic in Olympia. (Jim Camden)

Health exchange bill signed

Gregoire signs Health Insurance Exchange bill. OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire and other Democratic officials marked Friday’s second anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act – which Republicans prefer to call Obamacare – with a signing ceremony of their own. Gregoire signed legislation…

Continue reading this post »


Spokane's own Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ...

... At least according to Inlander readers. Former Mayor Mary Verner took second place in the Inlander's annual reader survey in the category, "best local villain." That's a tumble for a woman who usually polled well when the Inlander asked readers for their favorite politician.…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2012

Budget idea not a gimmick, gov's office says

OLYMPIA -- A proposal to free up about $238 million for the state's troubled operating budget reported earlier today isn't a gimmick, it's a "business modernization proposal" that is made possible by the change of technology from hand-written account books to electronic funds transfers. Basically,…

Continue reading this post »



WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012

Marshallese could be caught in food aid "limbo land" 

OLYMPIA – For 15 years, Washington has helped thousands of people the federal government wouldn’t, providing food assistance to legal immigrants struggling to survive in America. That includes residents of the Marshall Islands who come to this country seeking jobs and medical care after the…

Continue reading this post »


Special Session Day 10: No budget agreement yet

OLYMPIA -- Discussions between the Legislatlure's top budget writers are "going good," one of the participants said Wednesday, but don't get your hopes up for a compromise soon. "We haven't reached an agreement," Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said before Senate Democrats gathered for an afternoon…

Continue reading this post »

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



Blog Archives

March 2012
31 30 29 28 27
26 24 23 22 21
20 19 17 16 15
14 13 12 10 09
08 07 06 05 03
02 01