OLYMPIA -- Sen. Ken Jacobsen of Seattle won't run for re-election this year.The 28-year veteran became the fourth Democrat to announce he's quitting when his term runs out this year: "The job has been wonderful, but at times very stressful. My high blood pressure has…
Unions in Washington state are threatening to hold back their support for some Democrats in statewide races after a couple of disappointing sessions. Over the weekend, the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO had its Committee on Political Education convention and left some significant gaps in…
OLYMPIA – Anyone doubting 2010 is an extraordinary year in the body politic should consider two numbers: 77 and four. The first is the record number of proposed initiatives filed with the secretary of state, which swamps the previous record of 60 in 2003. There…
Bill Gates Sr., is in Spokane this evening, trying to drum up support for a proposal that would place a state income taxe on folks with annual incomes over $200,000, or couples over $400,000.Initiative 1098, which would also cut the state property tax and make…
Spokane County Democratic Party officials voted this week to endorse Andy Billig for the Statehouse seat now held by Democratic Rep. Alex Wood.Billig, president of the Spokane Indians Baseball Blub, announced his candidacy last fall, before Woods announced his retirement. Spokane City Councilman Bob Apple…
OLYMPIA -- Spin Control may have taken an unfair swipe at the Legislature on Tuesday in the preceding post when writing about reader questions regarding the candy tax.At least one committee hearing on the tax on sweet stuff did have witnesses raising the question about…
OLYMPIA -- Monday's post about the taxable and tax-exempt sweets starting June 1 generated some interesting queries from readers.One wrote to say his daughter has Type 1 diabetes, and she takes candy on a daily basis to treat her hypoglycemia. Would candy that's taken for…
The looming $10 million deficit facing the city of Spokane for 2011 probably won't get worse from City Council pay.The Spokane Salary Review Commission is recommending a freeze in City Council salaries. The five-member commission voted unanimously earlier this year in favor of a freeze,…
OLYMPIA -- The Association of Washington Business says it will challenge the proposed ballot title for Referendum 52, the measure that asks voters to approve bonds for a half billion worth of energy retrofits at public schools and colleges.Dubbed "Hans Bonds" during the late legislative…
For a plane that has been discussed for nearly a decade but never built, the next U.S. Air Force tanker continues to create "news" opportunities for politicians and PR specialists. Sen. Patty Murray joins union machinists at a rally to support the Boeing bid to…
OLYMPIA -- Tax protestors with a sweet tooth rejoice. You may have plenty of sweet treats to enjoy without paying a sales tax.You may have to commit your favorite "tax-exempt" sweets to memory, though. Unless you know the ingredients, you may have trouble figuring what's…
Reaction is already starting to come in on President Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sen. Patty Murray is a thumbs up, saying Kagan "is unquestionable a highly qualilfied choice."Idaho's Sen. Jim Risch is taking a wait-and-see approach: "I am a…
OLYMPIA – The favorite game among the political “experts” these days is Will Rossi Run?It’s sort of like Trivial Pursuit without the board, but the cognoscenti award themselves colored wedges by ferreting out clues as they roll the dice and run in circles. No winners…
OLYMPIA – Washington marked the deadliest year for law enforcement in generations with bag pipes and drums, prayers and speeches, and the posthumous awarding of seven Medals of Honor Friday.Law enforcement officers from cities and counties around Washington joined state troopers and Royal Canadian Mounties…
OLYMPIA -- State officials will honor slain deputies, police officers and other law enforcement types this afternoon in a ceremony at the state Peace Officers Memorial, which is north of the Temple of Justice overlooking Capitol Lake.The annual ceremony takes on additional significance this year…
OLYMPIA -- Another initiative to privatize the state's liquor business is being proposed. A group calling itself Washington Citizens for Liquor Reform filed a measure to get the state out of the liquor business but to continue to raise money from it through a percentage…
OLYMPIA -- Thursday is state Supreme Court decision day, and the high court handed down several rulings, including one involving pornography, the Internet and public libraries. Quick synopsis: By a 6-3 vote, you don't have a right to surf the net for porn in a…
Washington's U.S. Senate race may not be on most people's radar yet. But if you're a pollster, you've gotta love a race with a three-term Democratic incumbent, 10 announced Republican challengers. one potential but unannounced Republican challenger and the national political machines ready to jump…
With the signing of the supplemental budget and a few other bills yesterday, the state's legislative business officially drew to a close. To get a list of all the laws the Legislature made in the two sessions, check out the this page on the Secretary…
Gov. Chris Gregoire shakes hands with House Budget Chairwoman Kelli Linville and offers Linville the ceremonial pen after signing the supplemental budget.OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a new spending plan Tuesday designed to close an estimated $2.8 billion gap in the state’s operating budget…
Sen. Patty Murray's staff has apparently peeled her off the ceiling enough to get a comment on reports the Pentagon will delay awarding the bid for a new Air Force aerial tanker yet still again. To wit: “These endless delays come at the expense of…
Gov. Chris Gregoire is scheduled to sign th supplemental operating budget at noon today, or at least most of it. She hinted last week that there were some aspects of it she might line out with the veto pen.Also up for signing is the supplemental…
Post Office employees are fighting back against a proposal to allow people to "opt out" from receiving bulk mail. On Monday, the Spokane City Council rejected a non-binding resolution asking the state Legislature to create a registry that would allow people to decline bulk mail.…
Sen. Patty Murray created a link for voters to watch legislation designed to rein in Wall Street -- well, her legislation anyway -- and posted this video on her official Senate website of a speech on financial reform.It's not as well-produced as the Didier video…