As protocol dictates, the Legislature sends a delegation to the governor, telling the state's chief executive that it is in session and ready to do business.The delegation just returned with office down the steps in the Capitol, carrying Gov. Chris Gregoire's message:"Good luck, Godspeed, and…
State reps have filed into their chamber and a bagpiper led the flags into the Senate chamber after a roll call. The Pledge of Allegiance has been said, the Star Spangled Banner sung, benedictions offered, with a wish for "creativity for a seemingly impossible situation."The…
Every year, the newspaper gets requests from readers for updates on a particular bill or topic making its way through the Legislature. With thousands of bills introduced each session, there's no way we can publish updates on every bill.Most go nowhere, anyway. A few hundred…
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray heads up a congressional trip to China this week, and has decided to blog about it.This is not some travel-blog that talks about the best Peking Duck and sight seeing spots. The trip involves meetings between U.S. and Chinese officials on…
Washington's most active initiative sponsor dismissed a suggestion that he run for office rather than run initiative campaigns.Tim Eyman also rejected Gov. Chris Gregoire's suggestion that Washington could go the way of California and be "initiatived to death.""One or two initiatives a year, tops, ever…
Gov. Chris Gregoire plans to propose tax cuts as well as tax increases tomorrow when she makes her State of the State address.Speaking at an impromptu press conference about three hours before the Legislature formally opens, Gregoire repeated she will propose closing some as yet…
OLYMPIA – There are two relatively famous quotes that come to mind as the Legislature rumbles toward opening day on Monday.One is the standard axiom, that no man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session. That line has probably been…
Those reading Thursday's post (directly below) about Gov. Chris Gregoire's press conference on tougher bail laws and other changes to combat the rash of police officer shootings might be asking "What else did she have to say?"Here's you chance to find out. The complete press…
OLYMPIA – Judges should be able to deny bail to criminal suspects who are thought to be “inherently dangerous” to the public, Gov. Chris Gregoire and representatives of the state’s law enforcement system said Wednesday.Gregoire said she will ask the Legislature to give voters the…
State Attorney General Rob McKenna says he'll take Tuesday's ruling that felons in prison have a right to vote up to the U.S. Supreme Court.McKenna, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed all said Wednesday they opposed the decision, handed down Tuesday in…
OLYMPIA -- There is a tradition, before the Legislature starts, to gather the leaders of the two parties and the two houses and give the news media a preview of the upcoming session.During that session, there is also a tradition, for a member of the…
The results of the November election were on display for the first time Monday in the Spokane City Council chambers.The three council members who won seats in November, Nancy McLaughlin, Jon Snyder and Amber Waldref, were sworn in by City Clerk Terri Pfister. The brief…
Local politics for the double 0’s, or whatever we call the last decade, started with a promise of a new millenium and a broken campaign promise. It ended of lots of zeroes behind red-hued numbers -- the difference between what our governments expect to take…
When 84-year-old Kay Mita got a jury summons, he regarded it as a sign the government was acknowledging a six-decades-old injustice. His first day of jury service, however, turned out to be the last day of his life.Now the widow and son of a juror…
Whatever you think of the outcomes, Spokane city leaders have tackled several issues that could shape the city for decades to come. What do you think was the most important news at City Hall in 2009? What was the top news in 2009 at Spokane…
Washington state will loan the Spokane Housing Authority more than $2.5 million to help turn the old Hillyard High School into apartments for homeless and low-income residents.The loan is among some $22.5 million in loans and grants from the state Commerce Department’s Housing Trust Fund…
As the national media craft year-end rememberances of those who passed in 2009, it's worth mentioning three who transformed Spokane.The three men who served in the top spot at Spokane City Hall stretching from 1963 until 1991 died in just the last five months.Two of…
The U.S. Supreme Court will take a peek at whether those names on the Referendum 71 petitions are public records or private info.The Washington Secretary of State's office, which says they are public records, announced today the Supremes have put the Ref. 71 issue on…
Everybody's going to be asking the Legislature for something in the coming months. TVW takes a look at what the Legislative Youth Action Council will be seeking in this recent video.OK, at 38 minutes, it's longer than it needs to be. But it shows young…
Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered state flags lowered to half staff today in honor of Pierce County Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell, who died yesterday of wounds suffered in answering a domestic violence call. They'll stay lowered for a week, through close of business on Jan. 5.Western…
Monday’s City Council meeting was the last with Al French as a member.French is finished with his second term representing northeast Spokane. Term limits prevented him from running again, but he has announced his candidacy for the Spokane County Commission.
In honor of the holidays, Spin Control lays off politics to brighten our readers’ spirits with the annual Christmas Quiz. It’s a tradition that dates back at least to the last time Christmas was on a Sunday and there were no good topics for a…