Latest from The Spokesman-Review

• Spin Control: Special session another little death

  December 18, 2011 in City on Page B3 OLYMPIA – In trying to come up with a pithy description for the late special session, I couldn’t shake the memory of a particularly annoying greeting adults seemed to enjoy … 2

• State Senate approves partial budget fix

  December 15, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Realizing it wouldn’t find $2 billion in budget savings in 30 days, the Legislature settled Wednesday on a fourth of that in 17 days, and called it quits … 3

• Gregoire: Deep cuts elusive in special session

  December 8, 2011 in City OLYMPIA – Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire acknowledged legislators are unlikely to pass some $2 billion in budget cuts she proposed in this special session. The governor also sees no chance … 3

• School officials object to proposed state cuts

  December 8, 2011 in News on Page A1 OLYMPIA – School officials from across Washington urged legislators to reject plans to cut four days out of the school year or reduce payments designed to help poor districts keep … 9

• House passes event center bailout

  December 6, 2011 in City on Page A6 OLYMPIA – The Washington House of Representatives passed a bill that would loan a troubled public facilities district $42 million, but only after limiting the way cities and counties involved … 4

• Judge orders release of petitioners’ names

  October 17, 2011 in City OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The 138,000 people who signed petitions to force a vote on a 2009 domestic partnership law are unlikely to face harassment if their names are disclosed … 36

• Editorial: Lawmakers must adjust to worsening forecasts

  August 12, 2011 in Opinion on Page A11 Washington’s ongoing budget challenges threaten to take the “special” out of special session. Although Gov. Chris Gregoire has not yet decided whether to summon lawmakers back to Olympia, she has …

• Panel takes aim at state tax breaks

  July 15, 2011 in City on Page A7 OLYMPIA – A special panel is recommending the Washington Legislature end three tax breaks and review eight others the state offers to various businesses or consumer groups. The Joint Legislative …

• Budget cushion sinks

  June 17, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – The state’s most likely revenue outlook for the next two years dropped slightly Wednesday as the state’s chief economist revised his projections downward about $183 million because of … 4

• Trying to ‘get through it,’ Gregoire signs unpopular budget

  June 16, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Washington state has a plan to spend some $32 billion on programs, services and salaries over the next two years, leaving a cushion of about $725 million in … 4

• Legislation to regulate bail bonds fails

  June 6, 2011 in City on Page A6 SEATTLE – An effort to tighten up the state’s largely unregulated bail-bond industry quietly died in the waning days of the legislative session because of an ideological dispute between law …

• Hundreds of votes missed

  June 4, 2011 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – With the Legislature more than a week adjourned, the government watchdog group Washington Votes has released its annual statistics about the number of bills introduced and passed, the …

• State funds will help Second Harvest improve safety, services

  May 31, 2011 in City on Page A5 A few months ago 50 volunteers, including many servicemen and -women from Fairchild Air Force Base, gathered in Spokane’s Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse and distribution center. Their job was …

• Spin Control: List of Legislature non-stories plentiful

  May 29, 2011 in City on Page B2 If there were a 12-step program for reporters to curb our addiction for stories we know aren’t going anywhere, I’d sign up in a heartbeat after the late, not-so-great legislative …

• Session had its winners, losers

  May 29, 2011 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – In a legislative marathon that stretched 30 days longer than expected, the 2011 Washington Legislature may have produced an extra helping of winners and losers. How big the … 3

• More to session than budget

  May 28, 2011 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – At times, it may have seemed that the only issues the Washington Legislature worked on during the past session were budgets and medical marijuana. Those things did take …

• Tuition flexibility good news to colleges

  May 26, 2011 in City on Page A5 SEATTLE – There’s a very good reason Washington’s university presidents aren’t tearing down the governor’s door this week to complain about a proposed half-billion-dollar cut in state dollars for the … 2

• $32.2 billion operating plan earns bipartisan support

  May 26, 2011 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – After 135 days of sweating, arguing and compromising over the state’s fiscal problems, the Legislature passed budgets Wednesday to keep state government running for the next two years, … 26

• Budget passes Senate with bipartisan support

  May 25, 2011 in Region OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Senate has easily approved a new budget plan for Washington state, passing the measure in the final hours of the 30-day special session.

• State sending millions for Spokane-area projects

  May 25, 2011 in News, City The House of Representatives gave overwhelming support this morning to some $2.8 billion in public works projects — from new facilities for universities to sewers in small communities — paid … 5

• Money for Spokane medical school in budget

  May 25, 2011 in City on Page A14 OLYMPIA – The state’s $2.8 billion capital budget will include $35 million to start construction on a new medical school in Spokane. Legislative leaders announced Tuesday afternoon they have reached …

• All departments take hits in lawmakers’ budget deal

  May 25, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Legislative leaders unveiled their latest – and likely final – version of the 2011-’13 operating budget they described as painful but sustainable and moved quickly to pass it … 27

• State will allocate money for Spokane medical school

  May 24, 2011 in News, City The Legislature will release a Capital Budget for 2011-13 at 3:15 p.m. that will include $35 million to start construction of a new medical school in Spokane at the Riverpoint … 36

• Deal reached on deep state spending cuts

  May 24, 2011 in News, City Legislative leaders unveiled a new version of the 2011-13 operating budget they described as painful but sustainable. A deal on the capital budget and changes to the state’s debt limit … 10

• Deal cinches workers’ comp changes

  May 24, 2011 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – After tying the Legislature in knots for much of the last three months, changes to the state’s century-old workers’ compensation sped through both houses Monday with comfortable margins. …

• Workers’ comp gets an overhaul

  May 23, 2011 in City on Page A6 OLYMPIA – An agreement on offering settlements to injured workers could remove one of the main obstacles to the Legislature passing a budget for the next two years. Gov. Chris …

• Spin Control: Film industry tax breaks fine, but tie them to reviews

  May 22, 2011 in City on Page B7 OLYMPIA – The Senate agreed last week to extend tax breaks for film companies that shoot movies and TV shows in Washington. That makes good economic sense, considering a movie …

• Workers’ comp deal reported near to break legislative logjam

  May 22, 2011 in City on Page B7 OLYMPIA – Legislators may reach a deal sometime today on one of the key stumbling blocks to passing a budget and adjourning, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said Saturday …

• Legislature grinds toward compromise

  May 21, 2011 in City OLYMPIA – Legislators may reach a deal sometime Sunday on one of the key stumbling blocks to passing a budget and adjourning, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said this …

• Senate extends tax incentive for film companies

  May 20, 2011 in City on Page A5 OLYMPIA – With signs emerging the Washington Legislature might at least make an effort to finish work by next Wednesday’s deadline, the Senate Thursday extended a tax break for movies …

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