Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Clark: Unmarked police car bill solves no one’s problems

  May 12, 2011 in City on Page A5 I’ve long held the belief that if Olympia’s electricity came from brainpower the Statehouse would be in a perpetual gloom. Even so, I’m confident there’s still enough wisdom at the … 58

• Wash. House budget proposal passes key committee

  April 7, 2011 in City A House committee has approved the Democratic majority’s state budget proposal aimed at closing an estimated $5 billion deficit for the next two years. 3

• Legislature OKs deficit reduction plan in one-day session

  December 12, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Washington state lawmakers quickly approved a plan to shrink the state’s $1.1 billion deficit in a one-day special session Saturday, a preview of heavier budget-balancing work that lies … 34

• Interpreter services for patients face cut

  December 12, 2010 in City on Page B7 SEATTLE – About 70,000 Washington residents who do not speak English fluently may lose access to interpreters during medical visits under a proposed budget cut. The proposed $2 million cut … 2

• Special session starts Saturday

  December 10, 2010 in City on Page A7 OLYMPIA – State lawmakers will convene a weekend special session to substantially cut the state’s $1.1 billion budget deficit, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced Thursday. The bipartisan agreement will reduce the … 2

• Budget-patching soda tax starts today

  July 1, 2010 in City on Page A5 That six-pack of diet soda will cost an extra 12 cents starting today. It’s possible you won’t pay it, but someone will.

• New Washington law encourages drug OD 911 calls

  June 7, 2010 in City A new law that takes effect Thursday in Washington aims to encourage people to report drug overdoses. 1

• Editorial: Convening lawmakers again should be last option

  June 6, 2010 in Opinion on Page B8 Before Gov. Chris Gregoire calls the Washington Legislature back to Olympia for another special session, she should reflect on what happened in the first one. Unable to fix the state’s … 2

• Second special session might be needed, Gregoire says

  June 2, 2010 in City OLYMPIA — Washington may need another special session of the Legislature if Congress doesn’t come through with some $480 million in higher payments for Medicaid, Gov. Chris Gregoire said today. 3

• New food taxes start Tuesday

  May 30, 2010 in City on Page B1 If you drink bottled water or beer, eat candy or chew gum, this weekend would be a good time to stock up. Those items – or at least some brands … 6

• Gregoire signs budget bill

  May 5, 2010 in City on Page A6 OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a new spending plan Tuesday designed to close an estimated $2.8 billion gap in the state’s operating budget with what she called a “fair … 1

• Gregoire signs new state budget into law

  May 4, 2010 in City Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed the Legislature’s new operating budget, which bridges an estimated $2.8 billion deficit in the state’s general fund.

• Spin Control: Drafting in dark messed up soda tax

  May 2, 2010 in City on Page B2 OLYMPIA – Not to be a nag about the value of public hearings for important stuff government wants to do to us, but legislators’ penchant for closed-door, back-room discussions of … 2

• New $1 cigarette tax starts Saturday in Washington

  April 30, 2010 in City The new dollar-a-pack tax on cigarettes tax effect Saturday in Washington. While lawmakers are hoping to raise more money, the state Health Department says this could prompt more smokers to … 21

• Washington state furlough law enacted

  April 28, 2010 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – Thousands of state workers will take 10 days off without pay over the next 14 months under a law signed Tuesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The new law … 6

• Governor signs tax increases

  April 24, 2010 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire signed two major tax increases Friday, insisting the state had no choice but to raise taxes on a wide range of businesses and consumer … 4

• Gregoire signs package of tax hikes

  April 23, 2010 in City OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire signed two major tax increases Friday, insisting the state had no choice but to raise taxes on a wide range of businesses and consumer goods … 28

• No real winners, but some didn’t lose as much

  April 18, 2010 in City on Page B3 OLYMPIA – Most years when the Legislature goes home, the winners and losers are pretty obvious. You count the scars and tote up the pork. This year, everyone has scars … 2

• Late maneuvers cap debate-filled session

  April 14, 2010 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – By the time the Legislature wrapped up 90 days of heated and sometimes confusing debate over taxes and spending early Tuesday, it had raised taxes on a wide … 4

• Washington tax may send smokers east

  April 14, 2010 in City on Page A1 Cigarettes soon will cost about $8 a pack as Washington legislators add another $1 in taxes. The higher state taxes – which brings the total on every pack to $3 … 34

• Eyman files rollback initiatives on newly passed taxes

  April 13, 2010 in Region Initiative activist Tim Eyman wants voters to roll back several of the tax increases that were just approved by the state Legislature. 25

• Budget plan gets OK

  April 13, 2010 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Democrats in the Legislature filled a $2.8 billion gap in the state operating budget with an array of new taxes, spending cuts and money from Uncle Sam. Despite … 1

• Pine Lodge prison to close under spending plan

  April 12, 2010 in City OLYMPIA — Democratic legislators released their spending plan with a combination of cuts and assumed tax hikes, designed to fill a $2.8 billion hole in the state’s operating budget. 8

• ‘Enough’ Senate votes to pass taxes anticipated

  April 12, 2010 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – State senators are expected to vote sometime today on the same $667.7 million tax package that passed the House of Representatives on Saturday, and vote as well on … 2

• Washington House OKs tax plan

  April 11, 2010 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – Democratic leaders began pushing a package of some $668 million in higher taxes through the Legislature on Saturday, suspending rules as they tried to beat the Tuesday deadline … 15

• Fixed menu for budget might leave a bad taste

  April 11, 2010 in City on Page B3 OLYMPIA – When talking about the Legislature, it’s easy to get wrapped up in parliamentary details and arcane political jargon. To avoid that, here’s a simple way to look at …

• House approves tax plan

    April 10, 2010 in Region OLYMPIA – Democratic leaders began pushing a package of some $668 million in higher taxes through the Legislature Saturday, suspending rules as they tried to beat the Tuesday deadline to … 3

• Gregoire: ‘Time’s up’ on session

  April 10, 2010 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – The Legislature returns today with time running out in its special session and only two options to fix its unbalanced budget, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Friday: Pass an … 17

• State sales tax won’t rise

  April 8, 2010 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – Legislative Democrats and Gov. Chris Gregoire appeared close to a deal Wednesday on a package of taxes that would fill part of the state’s budget hole and end …

• Legislature nearing deal on tax package

  April 7, 2010 in City OLYMPIA – Legislative Democrats and Gov. Chris Gregoire appeared close to a “deal” Wednesday on a package of taxes that would fill part of the state’s budget hole and end … 3

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