OLYMPIA -- Bob Morton, a conservative Republican who has served northeastern Washington's 7th District for 22 years, will retire from the Legislature at the start of next year. Morton announced today he will step down half way through his current term, setting the stage for…
Senate Democrats may decry the filibuster now, but in 2005, when they were in the minority, they were all for it. Note the young guy speaking in favor of it at the start. Sen. Patty Murray shows up about 1:40 in.
OLYMPIA -- Facing one of the narrowest majorities in years, Senate Democrats proposed a new committee one one of the state's thorniest problems with shared leadership responsibilities and a veteran with a record of interparty skills for the budget-writing panel. They also suggested the "president…
The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive Stephen Colbert vs. Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas traditions.
OLYMPIA -- The state Capitol Grounds will feature a Nativity Scene this year, and a park a few blocks north will have a nine-foot lighted Menorah, state officials said. The Nativity Scene will be go up Dec. 11 and come down Dec. 28. The Menorah…
After spending the Apple Cup as a Cougar in the midst of Huskies, it strikes me that would-be secessionists could learn a lot from the annual intrastate rivalry. That’s saying quite a bit about the position on the outer ring of craziness of those petitioning…
Spin Control will be giving thanks this week. Thanks for family and friends. Thanks for our system of government that keeps Spin Control gainfully employed. Thanks for an election that's over. There may be a few items that make their way into the blog this…
A post-election refrain, as predictable as swallows returning to Capistrano or Cougar fans pinning their Apple Cup hopes on bad weather in Pullman, sounded last week. The amount of time Washington takes to count its ballots and settle elections predictably irked several politicians. State Sen.…
Walla Walla Republican Mike Hewitt will not seek another term as Senate minority leader. Hewitt, who is finishing his 12th year in the Senate and seventh year as the Republican leader, said today he would step down from the leadership post and "focus my energies…
Patty Murray will be the Senate's chief budget writer next year when Congress convenes for its new session. The Washington Democrat announced today she will seek the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee, a position that will become open at the end of the year…
OLYMPIA – Washington faces a $900 million budget hole through 2015, a slightly smaller one for the Legislature to fill than previously thought, thanks to a slowly recovering economy. Governor-elect Jay Inslee, a Democrat, reiterated Wednesday he plans to do that without a tax increase,…
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers won the fourth highest position in the House of Representatives today in a closed meeting of House Republicans, The Hill, Politico and other media are reporting. McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, was elected chairwoman of the House Republican Conference. It ranks just…
The Daily ShowGet More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Jon Stewart skewers folks talking secession and other dire consequences in the wake of Obama's re-election.
Governor-elect Jay Inslee named a three-person transition team today comprised of a school superintendent, a software executive and a university president as he put out a call for talent "every single place we can find it." Inslee appointed Washington State University President Elson Floyd, Microsoft…
OLYMPIA -- Seattle Sen. Ed Murray, who spearheaded the fight for same-sex marriage and ran the Senate's budget writing committee this year, will move up to leading the Democrats in that chamber next year. Murray was elected Senate majority leader Tuesday by the members of…
OLYMPIA – Washington will be “following the will of the voters and moving ahead” with setting up ways that adults can legally obtain marijuana for recreational use, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday after meeting with federal law enforcement officials. To read the rest of this…
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has missed a key endorsement in her quest to win the fourth-most powerful position in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, the recent Republican vice presidential nominee, has backed Tom Price, R-Ga., in the race between Price…
An Arizona woman got so angry that President Obama won another term that she ran down her husband, who neglected to vote. Either she really took to heart the old saying that "Every Vote Counts" but skipped the class in Civics that explained the Electoral…
A Democrat will occupy the governor's office for another four years. Less than 24 hours after his campaign insisted that their data showed he would eventually win the governor's race, Republican Rob McKenna conceded defeat Friday evening as Washington's ongoing ballot count showed he couldn't…
OLYMPIA – Republican Rob McKenna’s campaign insisted he would overtake Democrat Jay Inslee “next week or the week after” as ballot counting continued in Washington’s close gubernatorial race. But while the percentages improved slightly for Attorney General McKenna, the gap in their vote totals remained…
Spokane County vote on Referendum 74 after Wednesday's ballot count. OLYMPIA -- Opponents of Referendum 74, this afternoon conceded that they will lose the fight over same-sex marriage in Washington. The latest vote count has Ref. 74 passing with about 52 percent of the vote,…
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has begun her public campaign in her race to become the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, the fourth-highest ranking position in the U.S. House of Representatives. She sent a letter to her Republican colleagues this morning that outlines her…
Spokane City Councilman Jon Snyder said he's concerned that the city isn't prepared for the major shift in the law. He's proposing that the council form a committee to examine the law and suggest if further regulations are needed. "It's time to sit down with…
OLYMPIA -- Supporters of Referendum 74, the state ballot measure that would legalize same-sex marriage, are declaring victory this afternoon, even before any more ballots are counted from the general election. Opponents say they aren't conceding. Washington United for Marriage scheduled an afternoon press conference…
Republican Jeff Holy built up his sizeable lead by beating Democrat Dennis Dellwo in most of the 6th Districts precincts. Dellwo won some city precincts in Spokane and Cheney, but Holy ran much stronger in the suburbs and rural precincts.
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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