Joe Korbuszewski addresses the group protesting a new tax on microbreweries Friday on the Capitol steps. OLYMPIA – The Legislature looked at raising a wide array of taxes Friday -- on beer, gasoline or bottled water, on doctors, lawyers or janitors or on nonresidents who…
The Rainier bottles "graze" in front of the Capitol during a protest against the extension of the state's temporary beer surcharge. OLYMPIA -- There's never a giant opener around when I need one. A pair of the Rainier bottles made famous in the beer's off-beat…
Sens. Mike Baumgartner, left and Doug Ericksen hold beer steins while addressing a demonstration against the a new tax on microbreweries. The mugs were empty.
OLYMPIA -- The House omnibus tax bill gets a hearing this morning in the Finance Committee, playing to a full room of folks explaining why a tax increase on their particular industry is a bad idea, and folks explaining why more taxes in general is…
OLYMPIA – Efforts to fast-track a crackdown on repeat drunk drivers, announced with bipartisan fanfare Tuesday, hit some go slow warnings Thursday from prosecutors, judges and cops. They're raising so many questions that a key committee chairman all but acknowledged Thursday the Legislature might not…
Virginia Graham watches as Gov. Jay Inslee signs a bill extending the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases. OLYMPIA – Virginia Graham’s journey to get justice for victims of child sex abuse isn’t over, but after nearly 10 years of pleading and prodding…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Democrats tried a new way to bring the Reproductive Parity Act to the floor through a parliamentary procedure. After failing Tuesday in an attempt with one manuever -- known as the 9th Order -- on a 23-25 vote, they moved this morning…
OLYMPIA -- Citing health concerns, Rep. Richard DeBolt said today he is stepping down as House Republican leader. DeBolt, a Chehalis resident first elected in 1996, suffered an unspecified health emergency on the evening of April 10 at his home, a statement from the House…
OLYMPIA -- The House and Senate are expected to vote on a boatload of bills today on a wide variety of topics. That's because any bill not connected to the budget, that has passed one chamber must pass the other chamber by 5 p.m. Otherwise,…
OLYMPIA – Some day soon, small children could have trouble reaching the dining room table. Doors will blow shut with the breeze. Well-muscled men will search in vain for something to tear in half to prove their strength. Navin Johnson will not jump for joy…
OLYMPIA -- Be careful about giving money to groups that claim to be helping victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, state officials warned today. In what some would consider a disturbing sign of the times, Attorney General Rob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman…
OLYMPIA -- House Democrats passed a two-year spending plan for the state's transportation system today, overcoming Republican objections about a controversial bridge over the Columbia River and the way tolls are set on roads and bridges. Included in the bill is some $79 million for…
OLYMPIA -- The House is planning to vote on the 2013-15 Transportation Budget this morning. OK, so maybe you've heard that before. Like as recently as yesterday. They didn't get to that or the Capital Budget on Monday, but we're assured they will do the…
OLYMPIA -- Minority Democrats say they are ready to use a parliamentary maneuver to bring two bills that are trapped in committee to a vote in the Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Ed Murray of Seattle said today they will use a tactic known as the…
Your federal income tax forms are due today. If you haven't started and you need to file something harder than the 1040EZ, you may want to think about filing for an extension. If you're done with taxes and want a diversion -- and you're old…
OLYMPIA -- The House and Senate are expected to spend quite a bit of time passing bills today, or at least talking about which bills they will try to pass. The House may vote on both the Capital and the Transportation budgets, which are written…
OLYMPIA – When a federal Cabinet secretary stopped by the Capitol last week, trying to prod the Legislature into action on a big multi-state project, he got a warm welcome from Gov. Jay Inslee. Not so much from Senate Republicans. So what would one expect…
OLYMPIA -- The House passed a $34.2 billion budget for most state programs that would add money to public schools and assumes a jump in some taxes on businesses and consumers. In a mostly party-line vote, House Democrats the two-year spending plan that their budget…
Sen. Andy Billig argues in favor of allowing small theaters to serve beer and wine. OLYMPIA -- Small theaters would be able to sell beer and wine during movies under a bill that narrowly passed the Senate today. Over objections from some senators that it…
Sen. Mike Padden listens to debate on bill to raise pay to presidential electors. OLYMPIA -- Electors who cast their vote for the state's choice for president would get more money in 2016 -- quite a bit more -- under a bill that passed the…
WASHINGTON — Powerful Congressional voices on transportation issues, including Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, admonished the Federal Aviation Administration for plans to shutter control towers nationwide as a result of federal spending cuts, including Spokane’s tower at Felts Field. Cantwell joined six of her colleagues…
OLYMPIA – Minors would be barred from buying “vapor” cigarettes under a bill headed for Gov. Jay Inslee. In a 46-1 vote, the Senate approved a bill Thursday that would make it a gross misdemeanor to sell non-combustible tobacco products to minors. The products extract…
State Republicans will have a chance to bid on a rifle at the center of the current gun-control vs. gun rights debate, an AR-15, at their spring fund-raiser this weekend. But State GOP Chairman Kirby Wilbur said auctioning off the semi-automatic rifle is not a…
Sen. Mike Padden, left, talks with Sen. Andy Billig on the Senate floor during the discussion of the National Cowboy Day resolution Thursday. OLYMPIA -- Ignoring the advice of almost every political consultant worth a darn that an elected official should not wear silly headgear,…
OLYMPIA -- By now, most people have heard or read about the striped fish that came across the Pacific in a boat after the tsunami in Japan. But the boat that washed ashore near Long Beach was actually full of critters that made the trip.…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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