What's cooking...
Senate Democrats are releasing a jobs-stimulus proposal today, and the week's long list of hearings includes this surprise: Senate Bill 5571, which would ban human cloning in Washington and back it up with a $100,000 fine.
Eye On Olympia
MONDAY, FEB. 10, 2003
THURSDAY, FEB. 6, 2003
A hardy perennial...
Saying Eastern Washington has more in common with Eastern Oregon and Idaho than with mossy Puget Sound, two local state senators have -- once again -- proposed a law that would lay the groundwork for cleaving the state of Washington in two. Senate Bill 5663…
Targeting skirt-peepers and murderers...
The House and Senate have overwhelmingly passed a bill that allows people to be convicted of felony murder if victims die from what would otherwise be considered an assault. After a state Supreme Court ruling last year, lawmakers were worried that 300 murderers in Washington…
Prescription drugs in the House...
On Friday, the House of Representatives plans to debate a bill designed to provide at least some help to senior citizens struggling to pay prescription-drug costs. Read a summary here.
TUESDAY, FEB. 4, 2003
Business makes its pitch, and finds allies in the Senate...
On Wednesday, Washington small businesses will have their day in Olympia, pushing for -- among other things -- a lower minimum wage for teens and trainees. It's now $7.01 an hour, or a bit over $14,000 a year. Hearings on this are slated for Wednesday…
MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2003
Garbage thieves, teachers' cottages and a tell-all rule for gifts to doctors...
Among the interesting bills kicking around the Legislature this week:-Senate Bill 5599, which would make it a criminal offense to steal someone's garbage."One man's garbage is another man's treasure," said Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, who said he was startled to learn that there was…
FRIDAY, JAN. 31, 2003
Banning strikes by teachers...
Should teachers be allowed to strike? Some state senators say no. On Friday, the Senate Commerce and Trade Committee held a hearing on two bills dealing with the issue. Senate Bill 5155 would ban strikes by educational employees. Senate Bill 5021 would prevent teachers and…
TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 2003
The first one out of the gate: Performance Audits
The House of Representatives, in its first vote this year, will consider Substitute House Bill 1053 Wednesday. The bill would allow "performance audits" of state agencies, to see how well they're doing their jobs."It's something that we have not had an opportunity to do in…
Where'd that money go?
Remember last year's brouhaha over Gonzaga University's $1.5 million request for a stadium, err, parking lot? State lawmakers had heartburn, and so did the university, reluctant to surrender control of the planned stadium in exchange for a relatively small percentage of state construction money. Both…
THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2003
EWU's Steve Jordan on school vouchers -- for college
Eastern Washington University President Steve Jordan braved controversy and made a pitch Thursday for vouchers in public higher education, calling them "a bad idea whose time has come." To listen to a Television Washington recording of Jordan's presentation, along with responses from other higher education…
TUESDAY, JAN. 21, 2003
West Side Snapshot
Hundreds of gambling-industry workers demonstrated in the Olympia rain Tuesday, asking state lawmakers to allow slot-style machines at non-Indian casinos, taverns, bowling alleys, charity fundraisers and fraternal lodges. Tribes, they said, have a monopoly on the popular electronic machines. Read the full story.
Who's paid what:
Want to know how big the governor's paycheck is? Or the attorney general's? Or a state Supreme Court justice's?You can see the salary schedule for state officials, including state lawmakers, at this site.
Removing statute of limitations on childhood sex abuse cases
As things stand now, people who commit sex offenses against children cannot be prosecuted if the crimes took place more than three years after the victim's 18th birthday or seven years after the crime. Some lawmakers, including local Rep. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, want to remove…
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 2003
Helping you wade through the bureaucratic babble
How do our state and local taxes compare to those paid by people in other states?How many state employees are there in Washington?How can you file a consumer complaint with state officials?How do you get your own citizens’ initiative on the ballot?Who donated money to…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.