Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Jan. 1, 2013

MONDAY, FEB. 11, 2013

Senate passes school security bill

OLYMPIA – Washington state would spend $10 million over the next two years in an effort protect schools from a massacre like Sandy Hook as part of a school construction proposal that moved quickly through the Senate Monday. With references to the Dec. 14 massacre…

Continue reading this post »


Pot forum moved to Convention Center 

Anticipating a large crowd at Tuesday’s forum on legalized marijuana rules, a state agency made an 11th hour decision to move to a bigger room. The Washington State Liquor Control Board’s forum on its efforts to comply with Initiative 502 will be held in the…

Continue reading this post »


FRIDAY, FEB. 8, 2013

OLYMPIA -- Fred Sittmann of Stanwood, Wash., listens to speakers at a gun rights rally near the state Capitol on Feb. 8. Sittmann brought his 9 mm carbine to the rally, which is legal under the state's open carry law. (Jim Camden)

WA Lege Day 26: Gun rights activists come armed

Fred Sittmann of Stanwood, Wash., listens to speakers at Friday's gun rights rally. OLYMPIA – Second Amendment activists came well-armed to a Capitol Campus rally Friday where legislators promised to protect their freedom to have firearms and speakers denounced President Obama and gun control. With…

Continue reading this post »



WA Lege Day 26: Guns and uniforms

OLYMPIA -- This will likely be a short day around the Capitol as some legislators like to leave early to be home for the weekend and committees don't schedule late hearings. The light agenda in both chambers includes resolutions honoring the state's National Guard, and…

Continue reading this post »

THURSDAY, FEB. 7, 2013


Pot forums popular 

OLYMPIA -- Forums on the state's new legalized marijuana law are proving so popular that the state agency sponsoring is adding to its schedule and in some cases finding bigger venues to handle the expected crowds. The State Liquor Control Board also moved one forum…

Continue reading this post »


WA Lege Day 25: Super-majorities on taxes

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Supreme Court did not rule today on whether the initiative-required supermajority for taxes is constitutional, but a Senate committee will consider three different plans to make it so. The state's highest court traditionally releases opinions on Thursday mornings, so once a…

Continue reading this post »

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 6, 2013


Opponents of Prop 2 miss finance deadlines 

NOTE: This post was updated at 6:25 p.m. Feb. 6, 2013 to reflect that the Public Disclosure Commission provided the Spokane Firefighters Union with incorrect information about when it needed to file campaign spending reports. Thanks to Proposition 2, Spokane’s special election on Feb. 12…

Continue reading this post »



Stuckart, Waldref apologize for violations 

Two Spokane City Council members have apologized for using their city email accounts to send campaign messages. Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart and Amber Waldref sent electronic newsletters to supporters recently that included their opinions on the three proposed measures that will be decided…

Continue reading this post »


Yes for Spokane Libraries has paid for these signs in support of Proposition 3, a library lid lift that would prevent branch closures and likely extend hours at three of the city's six branches. (Jonathan Brunt)

Library campaign reports $21,000

The campaign in support of the library tax in Spokane has fixed campaign disclosure problems with the state Public Disclosure Commission. The group, Yes for Spokane Libraries, was late in reporting campaign contributions and spending by several weeks. Last week, it filed reports showing how…

Continue reading this post »


WA Lege Day 24: Press conferences on tap

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee has a press conference late this morning, and the House Republicans and Senate coalition leaders have one an hour later. That doesn't necessarily mean the legislators expect Inslee to say something that demands a rapid response. Both sides usually have…

Continue reading this post »

TUESDAY, FEB. 5, 2013

WA Lege Day 23: Changing Black Friday to red

OLYMPIA – The day after Thanksgiving would no longer be Black Friday or left-over turkey day in Washington state under a proposal approved unanimously Tuesday by a House committee. Instead, it would be the legal holiday dubbed Native American Heritage Day. The day after Thanksgiving…

Continue reading this post »


WA Lege Day 23: Fight ahead over immigration? 

OLYMPIA -- Add immigration to the list of issues that could provoke a heated argument in this year's Legislature. Two mutually exclusive proposals involving undocumented students in the state's colleges will be in the Senate. Young adults who came to the United States with their…

Continue reading this post »


Murray announces Senate budget hearings

WASHINGTON — The first official steps toward passing a Senate budget will be taken next week, Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray said today. The Democratic senior senator from Washington announced two sessions scheduled for Feb. 12 and 13. Murray has vowed, amid rebukes from House…

Continue reading this post »


MONDAY, FEB. 4, 2013

WA Lege Day 22: Confusing marijuana laws 15 

OLYMPIA -- Washington is in danger of having two different, and sometimes conflicting, marijuana laws, one for those who have it for medical uses and one for everyone else, legislators were told today. The Senate Health Care Committee is considering a revision to the medical…

Continue reading this post »


SATURDAY, FEB. 2, 2013

FRIDAY, FEB. 1, 2013



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



Blog Archives

Dec. 2013 Nov. 2013 Oct. 2013 Sept. 2013
Aug. 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013
April 2013 March 2013 Feb. 2013 Jan. 2013