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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Olympia

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009



Re: Higher ed:

the house budget would cut operating costs $713 million, which -- after tuition hikes -- works out to a net decrease of 10-17 percent at the state's four-year schools and 13 percent at community and technical colleges.

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MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2009


Sen. Ken Jacobsen has introduced five times the average number of bills for other lawmakers this year. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Fish and Wildlife battle: not over yet...

The battle to strip the state Fish and Wildlife Commission of some of its powers -- mainly hiring and firing the director of the agency -- continues.Commercial fisherman say the board is tilted too far in favor of sport/recreational anglers. The latter say that the…

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Budget reaction: the short form...

I'll have lots more reactions later today, but here's the abbreviated version of reactions to the state Senate budget plan released this morning:"...Devastating..."-Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina"...Devastating..."-Diane Sosne, Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199 NW"...Devastating..."-Sen. Margarita Prentice, D-Renton"...Devastating..."-Tom Geiger, United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 21"...Devastating..."-Mary…

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The Senate's proposed budget: the details...

After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations and speculation, lawmakers in the state Senate this morning proposed a budget to bridge the state's $9 billion budget shortfall over the next two years.It calls for closing the state prison on McNeil Island, doing away with hundreds of millions…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2009

Battle of the potatoes...

Gov. Chris Gregoire has bet a batch of Washington-grown potatoes that Gonzaga's Bulldogs will trounce the UNC Tar Heels tonight in Memphis.North Carolina's Gov. Bev Perdue's countered with NC sweet potatoes.Whoever wins, the potatoes will go to a food bank.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009




WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009





The "Spokane Moms" remain in the game...

Last year, local young mothers went to bat in Olympia to win more state dollars for school libraries. They proved to be savvy grassroots lobbyists, and succeeded against pretty long odds.Now, the same group is trying to put some meat on skeletal bills aimed at…

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FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009



It's $522 million less...

The March revenue forecast shows state revenue down $552 million more for the remainder of this biennium (07-09) and the upcoming one (09-11)."The (economic) outlook is worse, both for the nation and the state," said Arun Raha, the state's chief economic revenue forecaster.This morning's news…

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