House passes Equal Pay changes on Women's Day
House approves changes to state’s Equal Pay Act to make it harder for an employer to pay a woman less than a man doing a similar job.
Spin Control Jim Camden
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017
Pot store billboards shouldn't appeal to kids, Washington Senate says 1
Marijuana stores in Washington could be banned from putting anything on a billboard that would appeal to children or young adults.
Family hopes better driving laws come out of their tragedy 1
Eastern Washington family pushes Legislature to toughen laws against using a cell phone while driving.
Senate can't muster votes to pass constitutional amendment against income tax
Constitutional amendment against an income tax fails after opponents argue Legislature isn't likely to try one.
SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017
Are safe injection sites treatment options, or not?
Senate, House seem to disagree on whether Seattle's proposed safe-injection sites are part of a plan to treat opioid addiction.
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017
What should Washington name Highway 395?
House comes up for a name for U.S. 395 that doesn't sit well with some Republicans.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2017
Washington ranks high in new state survey
Let's get some big foam hands with all five fingers out for Washington, because we're Number 5.
TUESDAY, FEB. 28, 2017
Washington lawmakers -- Best friends to man's best friend?
Lawmakers pass greater protections for dogs.
Washington Senate passes REAL ID changes
Washington moved a step closer to having driver’s licenses that meet federal standards, but not before the national debate over immigration policy flared on the Senate floor.
MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
Senate Republicans vote for $30 billion in taxes they don't really support
In a bit of partisan theater, Senate Republicans vote yes on an estimated $30 billion in taxes that they really don’t support
SUNDAY, FEB. 26, 2017
Sunday Spin 4: What's in a name?
Sometimes you need a translation to figure out who and where in legislation.
Sunday Spin 3: Strap 'em in
Washington school children may soon be belted in on school buses.
Sunday Spin 2: Keeping an eye on things and people
Spokane might get help keeping track of property criminals.
SATURDAY, FEB. 25, 2017
Washington Senate OKs felony for DUI No. 4
Felony for fourth DUI passes Senate after lawmakers get a few boozy gifts.
THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017
Inslee orders Washington agencies not to become "mini ICE" agents
The Washington State Patrol and other state agencies will not help enforce federal immigration laws by routinely checking a person’s residency status, Gov. Jay Inslee said Thursday.
MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2017
Outside watchdog for Corrections Depart. could save Washington millions, senators told 1
Washington could save millions on lawsuits like the claim for the slaying of a teenager in a North Spokane tattoo parlor if it would spend money on an outside office to oversee the Department of Corrections, a Senate committee was told Monday.
Inslee, GOP lawmakers spar over the right way to handle possible changes to Obamacare 1
OLYMPIA – Legislative Republicans accused Gov. Jay Inslee of trying to scare people with the possible effects of repealing Obamacare. Inslee shot back that they should get fellow Republicans in Washington, D.C., to sign a pledge not to do anything to the law without a guarantee the replacement will be in place.
SUNDAY, FEB. 19, 2017
Sunday Spin 2: Strange bedfellows department
Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, and Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, are pretty far apart politically, but they managed to agree, albeit briefly, on the importance of a bill during a session of the House Judiciary Committee Thursday.
SATURDAY, FEB. 18, 2017
Sunday Spin: Need it or not, Washington might get official state fungus
Lawmakers might bestow special status on a mushroom.
Bills falling by the wayside after Washington Legislature's cutoff
Some bills that are all but dead: Ending capital punishment, creating a 51st state out of Eastern Washington or a right-to-work state out of Washington.
THURSDAY, FEB. 16, 2017
Washington Legislature won't be voting on licenses for assault weapons 19
OLYMPIA – Buying a semi-automatic assault weapon in Washington won’t require a special state license or a more extensive background check, although residents might be advised, but not required, to store their guns safely at home.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15, 2017
A closer look at 'zombie properties'
The original web version of this morning's story on the city's struggle with zombie properties came with a map that was a bit hard to read. We put an easier to read version inside the blog before switching it in the main story.
SUNDAY, FEB. 12, 2017
Sunday Spin 3: In memoriam
Legislators remembered former members who have died.
Sunday Spin 2: Demonstration was union made
Unions make showing of strength at right-to-work hearing.
A closer look at Senate GOP property tax shift for schools
Want a closer look at how the Senate Republicans' proposal to shift property taxes from local school districts to the state would affect your district? We've got the maps inside.
Jim Camden joined The Spokesman-Review in 1981 and retired in 2021. He is currently the political and state government correspondent covering Washington state.