The tragedy of Sandy Hook was unimaginable, but unfortunately not unfamiliar. Any issue to address the issue of violence in our communities and our schools will be intolerable and in the coming weeks I will work with the Legislature to address this crisis responsibly. I…
"The road to a balanced budget and a fully funded education system runs directly through health care reform. Effectively implementing the Affordable Care Act will save us money. This session, we must make sure Washington gets this right, first. We must also protect the quality…
The people of Washington are tired of a state government that doesn't change with the times. . . Starting today we begin a multi-year effort to bring disruptive change to Olympia. We need to fix what's broken, cut what we don't need and replace rhetoric…
Inslee inaugural speech: "No matter when you and your family arrived here, in our souls, all of us in Washington are pioneers. We push the world forward. We take risks." He named all the leaders of both chambers, adding, "I want us to collaborate early…
Inslee inaugural address: "A once vibrant and growing state economy was brought low by the gross irresponsibility of those on Wall Street. As a result, we have suffered four years of recession...but we remain an optimistic state, a visionary state and an innovative state." Innovation…
"People all across Washington stood up for fairness and family in approving equality last November. The vote on Referendum 74 represents the best of who we are as a state." This got a standing ovation from the Democratic side of the chamber, and a few…
OLYMPIA -- Washington has the values and talent to lead the world's next wave of innovations, new Gov. Jay Inslee said today. But the state will have to fight for the jobs of tomorrow in a world that won't wait. "We must move, swiftly and…
Inslee: We must move swiftly and boldly to put this recession behind us and bring forth the economic strategy that brings the best of Washington state to the world. We've all got to work together. . . to answer the challenges of our age. I…
New governor waves to crowd after receiving the oath of office from Chief Justice Barbara Madsen. OLYMPIA -- Jay Inslee became Washington's 23rd governor this morning, taking the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda as hundreds looked on from the marble steps and balconies.…
Gregoire's last press conference, an impromptu one, as she stopped at one of the Capitol press houses to say goodbye to reporters. OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire pointedly refused to rule out the job of U.S. Interior Secretary, or any other spot in the Obama…
OLYMPIA -- Third and final day of pomp and ceremony at the state capital, as Jay Inslee and all other statewide elected officials from November get sworn in this morning. After his late morning ceremony in the rotunda, Inslee addresses a joint session of the…
AP Photo Editor's note: For those who found today's Live Blog of the Governor's state-of-the-state address a bit unorthodox or disjointed, here's the more standard approach to reporting the speech, which will appear in Wednesday's print edition of The Spokesman-Review: OLYMPIA — In her last…
The new leader of the U.S. Senate’s Budget Committee said Tuesday that Republican threats to shutdown the government are irresponsible. U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said there will be opportunities to negotiate budget cuts without crafting a deal around increasing the county’s borrowing limit. “The…
OLYMPIA -- Spokane Rep. Kevin Parker will give the Republican response to Jay Inslee's inaugural address Wednesday. Inslee will give his speech after he and other statewide elected officials take the oath of office Wednesday morning in the Capitol Rotunda. The ceremony starts at 10:30…
OLYMPIA -- One of the state's six hearings on how things are going with the legalization of marijuana in Washington is set for Spokane next month. The Washington State Liquor Control Board, which is working on ways to set up legal production of marijuana, will…
AP Photo OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire, in her last speech to the Legislature and the state, said Washington has accomplished much over the last eight years and has much more to do. "We won't rest on our laurels," she said. Here are some highlights…
WASHINGTON -- More tough talk from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers today. The House Republican Conference chairwoman disputed any suggestion the GOP was engaging in irresponsible threats by acknowledging its willingness to shut down the government over federal spending policies. Instead, she said it’s President Barack…
OLYMPIA -- State senators enterred the House of Representatives to cheers from the assembled reps, plus handshakes and hugs as they made their way to the temporary chairs set up near the desks on the floor. It raises the question: Is this the most congenial…
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire gives her final state of the state address this morning to a joint session of Congress in what might be regarded as "speech week." There were speeches yesterday for the opening day of the Legislative session, and there will be…
Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, makes a point during today's debate over new Senate rules. OLYMPIA — With a Republican-dominated coalition in control of the Senate, bills involving abortion rights, environmental protection and gun control may have little chance of coming to votes in that chamber,…
Sen. Andy Billig takes the oath of office Monday. OLYMPIA -- Each Legislative session begins with the swearing in of newly elected members. In the House, they do it all at once. In the Senate, each re-elected senator is sworn in, followed by each newly…
Members of the WSP honor guard prepare in the wings of the state Senate before opening ceremonies. OLYMPIA -- With the sides flipped between Republicans and Democrats on the floor of the Senate, the Legislature got underway at noon today with the usual pomp and…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature opens at noon today with more than the usual amount of interest in a small thing, the approval of rules. This is expected to be when we find out if the "Coalition Caucus," a grouping of the chamber's 23 Republicans and…
OLYMPIA – When the Legislature opens Monday, Spokane will be in a demonstrably different position than recent years. The years of experience among the area’s delegation will be almost half what it was four years ago, and it will have no one in a top…
OLYMPIA -- The walls of the lobby of the governor's office are decorated with portraits the former occupants of that position. So with Chris Gregoire about to assume the title of "former Gov." her portrait was unveiled Friday afternoon in the Capitol. Seattle artist Michele…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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