Dangerous mental health patients could not leave state hospitals for field trips or most other excursions without specific court orders, under a bill the Legislature is considering.The bill, prompted by Phillip Paul’s escape from last fall’s “field trip” to the Spokane County Fair by Eastern…
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire and a phalanx of state officials who deal with health care tried to send a message to a Congress that may be wavering on the issue in the wake of last week's U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts:"Regardless of one election,…
Political pundit & prognasticator Stuart Rothenburg lists several Pacific Northwest races as ones to watch in the 2010 congressional elections.Like many politicos, he lists Idaho's Walt Minnick, a freshman Democratic congressman representing a Republican district. Idaho's 1st Congressional District is listed "Toss Up, tilt Republican.Rothenburg…
If this were a football game, we'd be down to the last minute or so of the first quarter. This is day 15 of a 60 day session.The Service Employees union is at the Capitol lobbying today, as are dental hygenists, and the state Medical…
OLYMPIA – Conservative activists in Washington and Idaho are trying to force the federal government to “keep out” on issues ranging from guns to health care to the environment.Through legislation and initiatives, people aligned with what’s variously known as the 10th Amendment or State Sovereignty…
The U.S. Conference of Mayors recently released photos of Thursday's White House event during which Spokane Mayor Mary Verner was picked by President Obama to ask a question.
It is Hispanic/Latino Legislative Day.It's also the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision on abortion, so abortion rights advocates will be demonstrating on the Capitol steps. Expectation is this demonstation will be smaller than the anti-abortion rally earlier this week, which drew more than…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate could vote as early as Friday on a bill to require most state workers to take a day off a month without pay, Majority Leader Lisa Brown said today. Plans to cut costs or raise taxes will come out in phases,…
OLYMPIA -- Smokers who like Bronco, Champion, GT, Silver or 32degrees brand may want to stock up by the middle of February.As of Feb. 19, they have to be pulled from the shelves in Washington stores. Attorney General Rob McKenna is ordering them out of…
OLYMPIA -- House Speaker Frank Chopp said Democrats continue examining a wide range of tax changes or "revenue enhancements" to help close the state's budget gap, but when asked for specifics came up with two.One is eliminating a tax exemption for private airplanes, which he…
Spin Control has been incorrectly labelling the legislative session days this week, under the mistaken impression that one counts the days when they are actually in session. Turns out one counts all the days from opening gavel, even when they aren't around.Who knew? (OK, anyone…
OLYMPIA – A credit score should not be used to help determine how much a person pays for home or auto insurance premiums, State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler told a legislative panel Wednesday evening.Factors that affect credit scores can discriminate against low income and minorities,…
OLYMPIA--Washington Republicans wasted little time trying to draw connections between a Democratic Senate loss in Massachusetts and election prospects in the Evergreen State.Washington Democrats conceded that the loss of a supermajority in the U.S. Senate complicates plans in the Legislature. They can’t expect Congress to…
OLYMPIA--A bill that would turn possession of small amounts of marijuana into a civil infraction failed in a state House committee this afternoon.HB 1177, which would decriminalize the possession of about two ounces or less of marijuana, failed on a vote of 3 yeas and…
OLYMPIA -- A bill to legalize personal use of marijuana died in committee today. The House Public Safety and Preparedness Committee rejected HB 2401 which would have put marijuana under state regulation and taxation. An estimate from the state Office of Financial Management released Tuesday…
Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, wasted little time in trying to work the Massachusetts Senate race into Washington political discourse.In the debate over a bill to sell some $860 million in bonds to refurbish schools around the state, Erickson questioned the cost of the bill and…
OLYMPIA -- Washington Republicans wasted no time in drawing political lines from Massachusetts to the Evergreen State, hoping Scott Brown's U.S. Senate victory is a harbinger for this fall.State GOP Chairman Luke Esser said he couldn't speculate on possible gains yet because so many candidates…
OLYMPIA -- Today's agenda around the Capitol will be as diverse as fire and water.State Fire Commissioners have their day of lobbying legislators, and the state Ground Water Association will have equipment on display. It is also Autism Awareness Day and Dairy Day.Hearings start at…
OLYMPIA -- There are still many questions for the legislative session, but at least one certainty: passage of improvements in pensions and other benefits for law enforcement and firefighters.Spurred by a series of murders of law enforcement officers in Western Washington, Gov. Chris Gregoire and…
OLYMPIA -- Opponents of abortion filled the Capitol steps Tuesday as legislators urged them to fight against federal health care mandates and proposals that would set new rules for their crisis pregnancy clinics.A crowd estimated at more than 4,000 by the Washington State Patrol marched…
Washington Realtors released results of a poll today that suggests voters are split on cutting the state budget or raising taxes.Of the 600 voters polled:55 percent said the state is on the wrong track, which is up from 44 percent in a July poll50 percent…
.OLYMPIA — Washington, which already has restrictions on laundry and dishwasher detergents, could ban phosphorus in lawn fertilizers.A bill before the state Senate that would require low- or no-phosphorus fertilizers for lawns – although not for golf courses or on farms – got a series…
Never let it be said that The Daily Show's Jon Stewart only picks on Republicans. Last night he proved he's an equal opportunity annoyer in this discussion of the Massachusetts Senate race.The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cMass Backwardswww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full…
OLYMPIA -- It is League of Women Voters Lobby Day and March for Life Day.Members of the league will be meeting in a room in the Capitol starting at 8:30 a.m., and abortion opponents will hold a rally on the north steps of the building…
OLYMPIA -- Texting or talking on a cell phone is so distracting that someone doing either likely won’t notice a unicycling clown passing in front of them, a university professor said.Ira Hyman, a professor of psychology at Western Washington University, was one of a series…
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