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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

What presidential primary?

State lawmakers have killed next March's presidential primary, but what was expected to be a quick, mild-mannered vote turned into an 11th-hour fight in the state Senate.
Most lawmakers -- Democrats and Republicans both -- voted to cancel the primary, since the national Democratic Party doesn't count it when they choose their nominee. And for Republicans, well, it's probably a very, very safe bet that George W. Bush will be the GOP candidate.
Senate Republicans, however, balked at cancelling the primary. It brings candidates and advertising cash to Washington, they said, and woe to lawmakers who take away a public election.
Senate Democrats, who said the primary's largely a meaningless beauty contest, won the battle. Taxpayers save the cost of running the election: $6 million.


Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.