“They’re working at a fever pitch,” -- Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, describing legislative activity last Monday.OLYMPIA – When one is the new guy in town, it often behooves one to withhold judgment on things that seem different than the place where one used to be.…
OLYMPIA -- Japanese-American students pulled out of college and sent to internment camps during World War II would be eligible for honorary degrees under a bill approved by a legislative committee.Members of the South Vietnamese army who came to the United States after the Vietnam…
Retiring Rep. Alex Wood said Friday he won't endorse any candidates vying to replace him until at least after the June election filing deadline.Wood, a Democrat, serves the 3rd Legislative District representing central Spokane."I wouldn't be surprised if I don't endorse anyone except the final…
OLYMPIA -- It is Housing and Homeless Advocacy Day today, with the state's Low Income Housing Alliance will be meeting in and around the Capitol.The House is set to vote on a bill that allows churches to host temporary homeless camps on their property and…
OLYMPIA – Washington state will delay plans to close the Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women to see whether it can stay open as a facility shared by Spokane County and City.State Corrections Secretary Eldon Vail announced Thursday the Medical Lake center is getting a…
Wonder what to believe among all the things you heard before, during and after President Barack Obama's "State of the Union" speech?PolitiFact.com breaks down some of the comments of both sides. Click here to see who was lying and who was truthing.And as a bonus,…
OLYMPIA -- Voter registration drives may as well skip the state prisons for now. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put a temporary hold on its order that felons should be able to vote in Washington, even if they are in prison.The Appeals Court…
John Ahern's campaign released this form Wednesday after Bob Apple denied endorsing Ahern. Both Ahern and his campaign manager, Josh Kerns, said they witnessed Apple signing it last year at the county fair.The top of the form is quite clear: "I endorse John Ahern for…
OLYMPIA -- There's not much action expected on the floor of the House, and the Senate has no floor action at all, so almost everything interesting will happen elsewhere today.The governor has a 10:30 a.m. press conference to talk about federal transportation projects. U.S. Sen.…
OLYMPIA—Spokane and any other city in Washington that uses cameras to catch red-light runners could have their ticket fines limited to $25 under a proposal before the Legislature.State Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Pierce County, the prime sponsor of House Bill 2780, said the cameras create an…
The field of candidates is growing in the race to replace retiring Democratic state Rep. Alex Wood.Spokane City Councilman Bob Apple confirmed this week that he will compete for Wood’s seat representing the 3rd Legislative District, the most reliably Democratic district in eastern Washington.
OLYMPIA -- The House of Representatives voted unanimously this morning to freeze any bonuses for state managers.In a 97-0 vote, they passed Substitute House Bill 2998, which leaves only a few exceptions for bonuses to executives in state government. The state paid out about $1.9…
OLYMPIA -- Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick was among law enforcement brass who told said they should be allowed to fire an officer who lies without fear of being overruled by an arbitrator.Kirkpatrick joined sheriffs from King and Chelan counties who supported SB 6590, which…
OLYMPIA -- A proposal to ban certain semi-automatic firearms was praised by the mother of a shooting victim and a city police chief, but roundly panned by gun-rights activists.The proposal, SB 6396, which would ban weapons commonly called "military style assault weapons" once covered by…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats announce their "jobs" program this afternoon, which will lay out how they plan to help the state out of the recession.Landscape professionals, who may have some concerns about bans on phosphorus in lawn fertilizer, are lobbying legislators; so are state troopers.…
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…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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