OLYMPIA -- While the Legislature has a busy schedule of votes over (mostly) noncontroversial bills, the real attention today is on the revenue forecast.It's out, and it's a good news, bad news kind of thing: Bad news that it's down, good news that it's only…
Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has opted not to make another change in the leadership of the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department. After firing one director in 2007 and forcing the resignation of another late year, Verner has nominated interim Park Director Leroy Eadie to take…
OLYMPIA – A proposal to raise the state sales tax by 1 cent on the dollar, and tie it to high levels of unemployment, was introduced Thursday in the state House of Representatives.Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane and one of the House Bill 3183’s 15 co-sponsors,…
Vice President Joe Biden makes a stop in Seattle Friday morning to help raise money for Sen. Patty Murray's re-election campaign.Normally Spin Control wouldn't care because a) it's closed to the press except for a pool reporter which ain't us; 2) it's in Seattle, which…
OLYMPIA -- After a late night Wednesday on I-960 changes, the Senate is scheduled to debate a package of education reforms today. Both house could take floor action into the evening, but probably not as 11:15 p.m., which is when the Senate adjourned Wednesday.United Way…
OLYMPIA – Senate Democrats were forced to hit the replay button Wednesday night and hold another debate on a bill to suspend voter imposed limits on tax increases. That gave Republicans a chance to once again complain that they were thwarting the “will of the…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats were able to bring their proposed fix to the suspension of Initaitve 960 to the floor at about 9:40 p.m., which is more than two hours earlier than expected. Debate began with amendments by Republicans to put things back into law…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats apparently have a bill to do suspend Initiative 960 the way they want. Now they need Senate Republicans to go along if they have any chance of doing it before midnight.It all has to do with the "bump" as explained by…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats are due to return for an evening session to address the big "oops" moment so far this session.They reportedly are working on a bill that will do what they said they intended to do Tuesday: Suspend all aspects of Initiative 960…
OLYMPIA -- Patients at state mental hospitals who have been judged criminally insane would be severely restricted from taking trips away from their facilities under a bill passed unanimously by the House of Representatives.HB 2717, inspired by the escape of Phillip Paul during an Eastern…
If you're sweetie is a red-blooded Republican, you probably lie awake nights thinking of the appropriate greetings for Valentine's Day. Now you can get some sleep, thanks to the Republican National Committee, who is happy to provide a series of e-cards making fun of their…
OLYMPIA -- A proposal to give judges more flexibility in dealing with disputes on the boards of nonprofit corporations sailed through the House of Representatives today.HB 3046 essentially gives a Superior Court judge the same options in dealing with a deadlocked nonprofit as with a…
OLYMPIA -- The initiative process, which when it plays out to the passage of a proposal by the voters is apparently sacrosanct, is a messy process at the beginning.For $5 and some words typed into a word processor, almost anyone can file an initiative petition…
Colleague Betsy Russell at Eye on Boise tells of an election-related savings in Idaho that isn't available in Washington. But even if it was, Washington Republicans would probably be more than happy to put the money in the budget.As reported here, it seems that Gov.…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats will be looking for a way to fix Tuesday's faux pas of passing a bill they didn't intend to pass.The changes to Initiative 960 that they approved Tuesday afternoon in a 26-23 were limited to suspending the two-thirds majority through July…
Another Republican Spokane County officeholder will face a challenge within the party and within his office. But it appears this time the incumbent won't discipline his challenger.Vicki Horton, a residential appraiser in the county assessor's office, filed paperwork this week with the state Public Disclosure…
OLYMPIA – The Legislature would be able to raise taxes this session and next with a simple majority vote under a bill approved Tuesday in the state Senate.In the most contentious Senate debate this year – one that constantly invoked “the will of the people”…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate approved changing state law to allow taxes to be raised this year and next with a simple majority.After a lengthy debate and a time out for parliamentary measures, the Senate voted 26-23 to suspend the provisions of Initiative 960 that requires…
OLYMPIA-- A roll call vote on the bill is coming now that they've made a change in the title. Count in a few minutes
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats apparently will have to resurrect a Republican title that they previously rejected to pass a bill that makes changes to the supermajority requirements for tax increases.That means Democrats take an amendment that they don't like, for a title written by Republicans…
OLYMPIA -- Debate a bill to suspend the supermajority to raise taxes has come to a halt on the floor of the Senate.Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, raised a "point of order" that because of changes approved by Democrats, the bill's title is no longer accurate.After…
OLYMPIA-- Debate continues:Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield: "I do think there is a difference between one initiative and another. People think a little bit about their pocket books, on both sides, than they do about policy. Let's try to keep a leg up (on Oregon, where…
OLYMPIA -- Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup, warns of severe cuts, even if there are tax increases."You talk about restructuring of government? There are going to be complete programs that are going to be eliminated. We give out billions of tax breaks every year and there's…
OLYMPIA -- Sen. Cheryl Pflug says of the 1,001 letters she's received, only six approve repealing the supermajority to raise taxes If you do this, many of you will return to a wall of rage at home" Pflug, R-Maple Valley, warned. "People are hurting, and…
OLYMPIA - If this is an emergency, why is the state still spending money for art projects in the prisons, Sen. Mike Carrell, R, asked. Why spend $2 million on art for the Seattle tunnelSen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma:"We have heard a lot this afternoon about…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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