OLYMPIA -- On the legislative calendar, this is Day 60 of a 60-day session. The two chambers are scheduled to adjourn for good no later than midnight tonight. Whether they'll go until 24:00:00 or not is unknown. What is known, however, is that they'll be…
OLYMPIA – The Legislature is headed into overtime over its troubled budget, although like most things this year on how much the state has to spend and where to spend it, there are significant disagreements on the whats and whens of a special session. Will…
OLYMPIA -- Republican leaders of the Legislature said a special session is now a certainty, with the only real question when it will start. "I don't believe therre's any way for us to get done. There's no physical way," Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla…
Yet still another website is doing a post on the prospect of U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers getting the No. 2 spot on the GOP national ticket this fall. This time it's Human Events, Powerful Conservative Voices. It has the standard bio information that's familiar…
Welcome to the unpredictable, and often protracted, world of caucuses, Idaho Republicans. The system the Idaho GOP set up for balloting led to a long night in Kootenai County, where as many as four ballots were needed to winnow the field down to a winner.…
OLYMPIA – The Legislature gave final approval this week to a bill that will allow charities like the Union Gospel Mission distribute used eyeglasses. After several trips back and forth between the two chambers, the House of Representatives gave unanimous approval to HB 2261, which…
Idaho Republicans play a role in Super Tuesday this evening as they gather throughout the state for presidential caucuses. If you're planning on attending a caucus, but don't know where yours is, look inside the blog to find a list of caucus locations for North…
Gov. Chris Gregoire: "Not interested in a special session." OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire said she still has hopes the Legislature can reach a budget deal by midnight Thursday, the end of the current session, but conceded there is no deal at this point. "I…
Spokane City Council members next week will tackle an issue that goes beyond city limits. They will consider a nonbinding resolution asking Congress and state legislatures to amend the Constitution to give lawmakers the authority to limit corporate political spending in campaigns. The U.S. Supreme…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature seemed headed for a special session Monday as leaders of both parties agreed it will be difficult, if not impossible, to negotiate a compromise between very different spending plans passed by the House and Senate in the next four days. Thursday…
OLYMPIA -- Members of the Senate showed some signs they were still recovering from a long weekend which had them up until 2:30 a.m. Saturday, then back Saturday afternoon for more votes. First Sen. Adam Kline, D-Seattle, was extolling the virtues of a gubernatorial appointment,…
As the state Senate descended into an extended match of political jujitsu Friday, the word of the night – perhaps the entire legislative session – was "transparency". It sprang so readily from the lips of legislators that it was important to remember the various sides…
Mitt Romney pulled off a razor thin victory in the straw poll of Republicans attending their precinct caucuses Saturday morning. The former Massachusetts governor topped former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum by 10 votes -- 1,521 to 1,511 -- in Spokane County. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul…
Fromer Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney topped the field, but barely, in Spokane County. Four years after dominating the county's caucuses, Texas Congressman Ron Paul slipped to third. Here are the Spokane County results, according to Spokane County GOP Chairman Matthew Pederson: 1. Romney, 1,521 2.…
Mitt Romney won Washington's presidential straw poll that accompanied today's Republican precinct caucuses, the Associated Press reports. The AP bulletin goes a bit far by saying Romney was "nominated president, Washington." The straw poll doesn't award delegates who will vote to nominate a candidate at…
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took an early lead in the state's most populous counties, King and Pierce, in a straw poll conducted for the state Republican precinct caucuses. In early returns, Romney had more than half the votes reported in Seattle and King County,…
Eastern Washington appears split on its favorite for the Republican nominee to take on Barack Obama in the fall. In early returns from a straw poll of people attending the GOP precinct caucuses, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is leading in Asotin, Pend Oreille and Ferry…
Mitt Romney took an early lead over Ron Paul as counting began of the straw poll conducted today with the Washington state Republican precinct caucuses. The state Republican Party said results from 15 of the state's 39 counties showed Romney with 1,213 votes, or about…
Washington Republicans gather this morning for caucuses, to start the process to select a presidential nominee, and to talk issues. Spokane County Republicans have more than 90 locations for their precinct caucuses, which begin at 10 a.m. Saturday. For help finding yours, click here. To…
OLYMPIA -- An alternative Republican budget passed the Senate 25-24 early Saturday morning after more than nine hours of parliamentary maneuvering and sometimes heated debate. Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, the architect of the spending plan said he hoped the Legislature could now "go forward" and…
Sen. Lisa Brown argues for an amendment to restore money for family planning. OLYMPIA -- It'safter 10 o'clock. Do you know where your senator is? In session. The state Senate removed a rule that requires they adjourn for the day at 10 p.m. and continued…
Senate Democrats try to regroup after Republicans seized control of the budget debate with parliamentary maneuvers. OLYMPIA -- Senate Republicans, aided by three conservative Democrats, used parliamentary tactics to push their alternative budget to a vote Friday and embarass the majority of Democrats who up…
About 1,000 people turned out to hear Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul on Friday at the Spokane Convention Center. He hit on many of the same things he did two weeks ago at a rally in the same location. But this time he also talked…
OLYMPIA – Despite Republican objections that it was moving too fast, and reported threats of political reprisals, the Senate approved changes to a system of shopping for medical insurance care that supporters liken to internet sites like Travelocity. By a 27-22 vote, senators set new…
Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, and possibly Congressman Ron Paul, are getting some help in their bids for the GOP presidential nomination from an unusual source: The Washington State Democratic Party. The state party is targeting GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney with a blitz in advance…
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