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Spin Control archive for April 2010

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010



Gregoire says new taxes worth paying 

OLYMPIA -- Repeating a mantra that "tough times require tough choices", Gov. Chris Gregoire patted the Legislature on its collective back as members headed out of town Tuesday.She sought to minimize the impacts of new taxes, which Republicans have predicted will be job killers. The…

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Legislature adjourns 

OLYMPIA -- It's over.The Legislature's special session sloshed into the 30th and final day before being gaveled to a close.The two chambers packed significant activity into the final evening Monday, passing a supplemental operating budget, a supplemental capital budget, higher cigarette taxes, increased business and…

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WA Lege SpecSess: Capital budget passes

OLYMPIA -- The House passed the supplemental capital budget, the "bricks and mortar" budget that spends money on things like school buildings and sewer plants, as well as fire reduction, water projects and corrections.It passed 61-36. Republicans, including Rep. Gary Alexander of Olympia, warned of…

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Wa Lege SpecSess: Lynn Kessler retiring 

OLYMPIA -- Rep. Lynn Kessler is bowing out after 18 years in the House. "I'm retiring, I'm almost 70 for God's sake."As the Legislature moved beyond midnight, Kessler, D-Hoquiam, made an emotional farewell speech, celebrating the fact the state has worked to provide health care…

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MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010

WA Lege SpecSess: Gregoire lobbies Senate 

OLYMPIA -- The session was winding down about 11:12 p.m., when Gov. Chris Gregoire chargedup the stairs between her office and the Senate with aides in tow.Reporters moving to ask her for comments on the closing were cut off with the governor holding up her…

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WA Lege SpecSess: Senate passes budget

OLYMPIA -- The Senate passed the supplemental budget Monday evening, joining the House in a spending plan that tries to fill an estimated $2.8 billion hole in the state's two-year operating budget.On a 25-21 vote, it added its approval to the budget approved a few…

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WA Lege SpecSess: Cigarette tax passes 

OLYMPIA -- Smokers should expect to pay another $1 for a pack of cigarettes soon.The Senate just passed a tax hike for cigarettes as the Legislature moves towards adjournment. It would raise an estimated $100 million in new tax revenue, an amount that's being factored…

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SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010

A different way to chew on the tax debate

OLYMPIA – When talking about the Legislature, it’s easy to get wrapped up in parliamentary details and arcane political jargon. To avoid that, here’s a simple way to look at the budget and tax plans as the “seven-day” special session enters Day 28. Think of…

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SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010

Tax plan passes House, heads to Senate

OLYMPIA – Democratic leaders began pushing a package of some $668 million in higher taxes through the Legislature Saturday, suspending rules as they tried to beat the Tuesday deadline to adjourn.The House of Representatives voted 52-44 to approve the tax plan that was just made…

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House passes tax plan

OLYMPIA -- The House of Representatives passed a plan to raise taxes by nearly $700 million dollars over the next 15 months.In a 52-44 vote, Democratic leaders pushed through a package that raises taxes on soda, bottled water, candy, gum, mass-produced beer, most service businessesAmong…

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WA Lege SpecSess: Tax plan cometh

OLYMPIA -- Democratic leaders released their tax plan this afternoon, and as expected, it would raise taxes on the service industry, candy and gum, bottled water, mass-production beer, out-of-state companies with business in Washington, property management firms, some bank costs for servicing mortgages.Some items discussed…

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FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2010



THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010

WA Lege SpecSess: No deal, Howie 

OLYMPIA -- Democratic leaders trying to figure out a way to raise taxes that will pass both houses of the Legislature are still looking for votes.That's the word after a session in Gov. Chris Gregoire's office broke up, and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and…

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WA Lege SpecSess: Supporting tax hikes 

OLYMPIA -- A coalition of health care, education, environment and poverty groups is coming out in favor of the still-to-be-made-public tax proposal.Based on news accounts of the package, the Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition says the reported combination of taxes on soda, beer, bottled water,…

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