Gregoire's beating Rossi 48 percent to 45 percent in the earliest returns. Also, local guy John Aiken Jr. can take heart: among the 8 much-lesser-known contenders for governor, he's currently in the lead, with a statewide 2 percent.
More top-two predictions from The Moderate Washingtonian blog, including NE WA races:(Central Spokane)3rd House District #1:Alex Wood [D] 55%John Waite [I] 19%(Spokane Valley area)4th House District #2:Diana Wilhite [R] 32%Tim Hattenburg [D] 29%(A crescent around western Spokane)6th House District #1:Don Barlow [D] 47%Kevin Parker [R]…
Barring effective write-in challenges, lots of state lawmakers are getting a free ride to re-election this year.Two dozen state lawmakers, including local Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville and Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, are running without even a token opponent on the ballot.Among them:-Rep. Al O'Brien, D-Seattle,-Rep.…
Also with the rainy-Monday-morning-coffee: a rant from Stevenl at Olympia's Olyblog community blog.In comments that I suspect a lot of people can empathize with -- and more so as Nov. 4 nears -- Stevenl bemoans the flood of glossy political postcards, radio and TV ads,…
The Coalition Against Assisted Suicide sent out a note this morning thanking "members of the media for permanently refraining from accessing KVI's John Carlson for Coalition information."Huh?It turns out that some folks are confusing retired health care executive John Carlson -- the guy heading up…
Following Utah's decision to save an estimated $3 million by switching to a four-day work week for state workers, Gov. Chris Gregoire said in an e-mail to employees this afternoon that she's considering the same thing.Gregoire recently asked state workers to send their money-saving ideas…
Survey USA's latest Washington poll shows the governor's race "too close to call," with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi 50 percent to 48 percent, with a remarkable 1 percent undecided.The poll suggests that Gregoire is particularly strong with women (54 percent),…
By random selection, it says, the state Liquor Control Board has picked the 15 independently-owned grocery stores that will be allowed to offer free wine and beer samples to customers, starting this fall.Another 15 chain stores will be picked soon.State lawmakers were extremely wary of…
Trying to trump Gov. Gregoire's recent announcement of a hiring freeze and other budget-trimming measures, Republican challenger Dino Rossi says he'd:-launch a year-long hiring freeze,-and shrink consulting contracts 20 percent, travel 10 percent and supply purchases 10 percentRossi says the state should not only hire…
Citing the high cost of gas, food and housing, hundreds of state workers converged on the Washington Capitol on Tuesday to call for larger pay raises."We ain't nobody's working slave, we deserve a real pay raise," the crowd of about 500 Washington Federation of State…
...as I try to work the kinks out of a new computer system.
In a coup for incumbent superintendent of public instruction Terry Bergeson, the state Labor Council endorsed her yesterday at the group's annual convention in Vancouver. The state teachers' union, the Washington Education Association, is supporting a challenger, Randy Dorn.(Locally, the Labor Council also endorsed legislative…
State Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, is chronicling her travels to the Philippines and China on this blog.Under a post entitled "They Called Me Brave," Roach recounts seeing military maneuvers during a pre-China visit to the Philippines:The military was walking down the street. I didn't think…
More on why endorsements are rarely news:The Association of Washington Business recently announced its "automatic endorsements" for incumbent lawmakers, based on their voting records.All 35 lawmakers listed had something in common: Every single one is a Republican.Then yesterday, Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington (yes, the exclamation…
Gov. Chris Gregoire is running two new TV ads, both tailored to Eastern Washington voters.Both tout jobs and Gregoire's work hashing out an agreement to slightly draw down Lake Roosevelt in order to provide more water for farmers, municipalities and -- in unusually dry years…
Gov. Chris Gregoire is calling on state agency heads, colleges and other statewide elected officials to stop filling new staff vacancies and to cut the gasoline used by state vehicles, among other budget-trimming moves."Even though Washington's economy remains healthy, a weakening national economy has affected…
The state Commission on Judicial Conduct today decided to censure -- or officially call on the carpet for a in-person reprimand -- former Federal Way Municipal Court Judge Collen Hartl.Hartl violated the code of judicial conduct, both sides agreed, when she had a sexual encounter…
Staff writer Carley Dryden has a story today about the Whitman County city of Pullman possibly following in Seattle's footsteps and instituting a 20-cents-each tax on plastic shopping bags.Washington State University professor Elizabeth Siler's promoting the idea, after counting 55 plastic bags littering a stretch…
In a case where the 11 petitioners are all known as John Doe, the state Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this morning that unsubstantiated allegations of teacher sexual misconduct can be withheld from public disclosure.School districts can investigate any complaints, the court said, and when the…
As I wrote in the post below, the private Economic Opportunity Institute is proposing a Washington state "high incomes" tax aimed at people making at least $100,000 a year.The group also looked at a couple of other tax increases, each of which would add hundreds…
Months after Washington passed a "toxic toys" bill aimed at limited lead, phthalates and cadmium levels, Congress is reportedly poised to pass a bill setting national standards for lead and phthalates in toys and other childrens' goods.According to the Washington Toxics Coalition, a U.S. House…
For years, lawmakers have been saying that someone should take a look at Washington's hundreds of tax breaks – some dating back to the Great Depression and further – and see if they're really still justified.Well, someone is. The state's Joint Legislative Audit and Review…
The state's "Climate Action Team" came to Spokane last week, seeking input on ways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Washington.On the way, they stopped at an Ellensburg-area wind farm. They met at the Spokane Convention Center, awarded high marks for its green, energy-efficient design. And…
The Spokesman-Review's editorial board today endorsed an independent state House candidate, John Waite, over longtime state Rep. Alex Wood, a Spokane Democrat. Incumbent Wood, a former radio show host, has plenty of experience. He's served in the Legislature since 1997. He prides himself on being…
The initiative factory run by Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan and Mike Fagan has turned out a new prototype: a tax refund program that -- unless voters say otherwise -- would permanently hold state, city and county governments to growing less than the rate of inflation.The…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
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