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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

Down to the wire

OLYMPIA -- Gov Jay Inslee and his wife Trudy watch action on the floor of the Senate on the last evening of the legislative session. (Jim Camden)
OLYMPIA -- Gov Jay Inslee and his wife Trudy watch action on the floor of the Senate on the last evening of the legislative session. (Jim Camden)

Gov. Jay Inslee and his wife Trudi watch floor action in the Senate on the last night of the session.

OLYMPIA -- With time running out, the Legislature agreed to let military veterans attend Washington's public college on in-state tuition, and extended a fee on documents to help programs for the homeless.

A pair of bills that had wide support but seemed mired in the parliamentary mud became unstuck tonight. The veterans tuition bill, described by Rep. Sherry Appleton, D-Poulsbo as a "tiny token" of thanks for service to the country, passed the House 96-0. It had passed the Senate unanimously in January.

A few minutes later, the extension of the $40 filling fee on documents like home purchases passed the Senate 41-8, was sent quickly to the House, where it passed 74-22. Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, described it as a bill on "a rocky path to a good outcome." The fee has been in place since 2005, and was extended until June 30, 2019.



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