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Spin Control archive for Feb. 4, 2010

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 2010

Resolution to honor Stockton 

OLYMPIA -- A resolution honoring basketball legend John Stockton for his careers at Gonzaga Prep, Gonzaga University and the Utah Jazz has been introduced in the state House of Representatives.It honors Stockton, the recent Hall of Fame inductee, for his basketball accomplishments, contributions to the…

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Advice on polling from a cartoon web site (Jorge Cham / www.phdcomics.com)

Good things to remember about polls

Sometimes, real truth is found in the funny pages. Or in this era, on Web sites devoted to comics.Artist Jorge Cham at www.phdcomics.com hit the nail on the head about polling better than several sociology and journalism text books we've perused, and we'll try to…

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I-960 hearing: is it unconstitutional?

OLYMPIA -- The chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee called Initiative 960 "clearly unconstitutional," but a Republican member of the panel strongly disagreed."It's clearly unconstitutional," Sen. Margarita Prentice said after another witness argued against any changes in a law passed by voters. "The…

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I-960 hearing: "Return majority rule"

OLYMPIA-- Jerry Reilly of the Eldercare Alliance urged the Ways and Means Committee to approve changes to Initiative 960."Please return majority rule to the state of Washington," Rielly said. Then use majority rule to pass a budget that meets the state's needs..

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I-960 hearing: Look what's on the chopping block

OLYMPIA -- Seth Dawson, a representative of human service organizations, urged the Legislature to temporarily suspend Initiative 960's requirements for super-majority support for tax increases."There's nothing pretty about amending this initiative..., There's nothing pretty about enacting these cuts," Dawson said."I don't envy your position. The…

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I-960 hearing: Pretty short notice

OLYMPIA -- A critic of a proposal to suspend some aspects of Initiative 960 complained at the speed at which the bill got a hearing.Jim Copeland of Spanaway, who said he lost his business, noted the bill was announced at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and in…

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Williams: Exhaust all options first 

OLYMPIA -- Bob Williams of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, urged legislators not to "gut" Initative 960.The Legislature couldn't balance its budget when it was taking in record amounts of revenue, he said. "Your total spending is up $13 billion."Every budget that Gov. Gregoire has submitted…

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I-960 hearing: Eyman argues against changes

OLYMPIA -- Tim Eyman, the prime sponsor of Initiative 960, warned "citizens are watching arrogant Democrats who think the law doesn't apply to them."This bill means you are above the Constitution. Voters have made clear that if state government is going to raise taxes, it…

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I-960 hearing: Benton "strongly opposed

OLYMPIA -- "What does the phrase will of the people mean to you," Sen. Don Benton asked the Ways and Means Committee.Of course Initiative 960 makes raising taxes more difficult, Benton said. But that's what the people wanted. It also makes government more transparent."Too many…

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WA Lege Day 25: A way around I-960?

OLYMPIA -- The first step in Senate Democrats' efforts to put together a budget that could include tax increases may take place this afternoon, when a bill to suspend Initiative 960 through June 2011 is scheduled for a committee hearing.The bill, SB 6834, is described…

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The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.