No 50-cent tax hike on cigarettes. No four-minute Keno in bars. And children can keep scarfing down Skittles, Paydays and gobstoppers tax-free.House and Senate negotiators, after nearly three weeks, have at last decided how much they have to spend. Their agreed-upon $23 billion budget includes…
"I suppose it's not a sin." Gov. Gary Locke, asked if a proposed sales tax on candy could be considered a "sin tax," like those on liquor.
Want to see how much a specific state employee is paid? You can look up their salary data by clicking here and then clicking on the agency where they work. The data includes people who work at Washington State University, Eastern and local community colleges.If…
"Think of 23 thousand stacks of a million dollars." Rep. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, describing the state's two-year, $23 billion operating budget.
"Things are going to have to be done in a new way. We know that tomorrow is the first day of the rest of our lives." State Secretary of Transportation Doug MacDonald, vowing to improve the agency's accountability to taxpayers as it spends a proposed…
"I will enjoy not hearing that song anymore." Rep. Jeff Gombosky, who chairs the House tax committee, complaining about lawmakers singing The Beatles' song "The Tax Man" to him, over and over.
Setting up a facedown with the state Senate, Democrats in the state House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget late Saturday night that includes more than $270 million in new taxes and revenue.``I stand with a caucus who dares to care,’’ said Rep. Dawn Morrell,…
"He consistently wears the ugliest ties I have ever seen." Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham, on Sen. Don Carlson's tropical electric-pastel tie earlier this week.Carlson's response: "No respect..."
The Legislature has passed a bill that broadens the definition of "potentially hazardous litter."Provided that Gov. Locke signs the bill, that means that people littering with lit cigarettes, glass, nails, tacks, bottles, hypodermic needles or "raw human waste" will face up to a $500 fine.Raw…
Some House Democrats say they're getting very close to settling on a package of state budget cuts and new taxes. Agreement is also very close between the House and Senate, according to Gov. Gary Locke, on a gas tax increase and other taxes and fees…
House Democrats continued to tweak their budget recipe Monday, rushing to try to find a palatable mix of budget cuts and new taxes.Dead is last week’s proposal to boost the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 6.7 percent. That idea – which would have…
Stung by public ridicule over a tit-for-tat legislative standoff, the Senate on Thursday night finally passed HB 1001, which bans photography up the skirts of unsuspecting women. The bill -- which now goes to the House for a vote -- fixes a loophole in the…
On Wednesday, House Democrats proposed coming up with more money for health and schools by increasing the state's Keno lottery game from once a day to once every five minutes.Within 48 hours, anti-gambling forces opened fire in a joint statement signed by more than two…
As of this writing, there are eight days left in this year's Legislative session. It's widely expected to go into overtime.Before everyone goes home, here are some of the key things Gov. Gary Locke says he wants done:-Required statewide high-school graduation standards for math, reading…
The state Senate this week trimmed controversial new forest-road maintenance rules, saying the regulations were intended for timber companies, not mom-and-pop forest owners.These so-called RMAP rules are a big issue in northern and northeastern Washington, which sent dozens of small-forest owners to Olympia this year.…
House Democrats on Friday proposed $2.4 billion in construction projects around the state. Housing, education and the University of Washington all fared well in the plan. But several Spokane-area projects -- a new crime lab, an armory, the Chewelah Peak Environmental Center, the Fox Theater…
With tempers and tension heating up in the statehouse this week, we particularly appreciated this headline, from the Longview Daily News:"State Senate passes three fishing bills: No one complained about any of them."
House Democrats were huddled Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on a budget that's reportedly gentler than the no-new-taxes version the Senate's suggesting.Here's how: the Associated Press is reporting that the House's version includes about $670 million in new taxes, including a sales tax boost, candy…
The Senate was working into the night Monday, breaking for a quick dinner and then heading back to the Senate floor at 7:30 p.m.Most of the late afternoon was dominated by arguments over tax breaks. Republicans successfully renewed several tax breaks, including measures for call…
Quote of the day:"This is the classic case of the bowl of butter with the tigers fighting over it." Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle
State Senate leaders on Thursday proposed a $2.7 billion construction budget for the next two years. That's about $300 million more than Gov. Gary Locke recommended in his first-out-of-the-gate budget proposal last December.Locally, the potential winners included the Fox Theater and Chewelah Peak Environmental Learning…
Moved by television images of U.S. troops and Baghdad residents toppling a statue of Saddam Hussein, Sen. Don Benton on Wednesday praised the American military effort in Iraq.“It’s awfully hard to contain your pride and enthusiasm for what America’s been able to accomplish in three…
"I know none of you are reading any of these amendments...But I wish you'd pay just a little bit of attention to this one." ---Sen. Shirley Winsley, R-Fircrest, to the Senate during debate on the state budget. (Her amendment, raising the cost of a marriage…
As lawmakers struggle with a $2.6 billion budget hole, they're getting a bit of help from, of all people, a travel insurance company in Pennsylvania.Insurance Company of North America has agreed to pay $500,000 to settle state charges that it sold tens of thousands of…
Several lawmakers are out sick these days, a phenomenon that's not too surprising considering the close quarters and all that hand-shaking. It's like an adult version of daycare.Among the sick: Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, was home with the flu Tuesday. Rep. Alex Wood, D-Spokane, is…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
