OLYMPIA -- Criticizing Senate Republicans for pushing ideology over budget compromise, Gov. Jay Inslee this morning called the Legislature into a second special session starting Wednesday. He also said he was directing his cabinet to study what state government services would have to be shut…
OLYMPIA -- It's the final day of the First Special Session. Or possibly the eve of the Second Special Session. Take your pick. Legislators don't have much incentive to pass anything today unless they could pass it in both chambers, because at the beginning of…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature slid toward a second special session today with all sides agreeing they couldn't finish negotiating and adopting a two-year operating budget before time runs out in the first special session Tuesday at midnight. Both chambers have passed an operating budget, but…
The only comment we'll make is that it's amazing how much grayer President Obama is than Candidate Obama.
Rep. Maureen Walsh leads Senate in the chorus of "I Can See Clearly Now" at the close of the memorial service for Sen. Mike Carrell. OLYMPIA -- The Senate held a formal memorial service for Sen. Mike Carrell this morning, with tributes from several of…
OLYMPIA -- Two days. That's what's left in the oh-so special session. With each chamber having passed a budget in the last several days we all know the parameters of a possible deal. So the thing to watch for will be some sign of movement…
OLYMPIA – Among the bromides passed off as great wisdom during this special session of the Legislature is that budget negotiators should not – nay, absolutely must not, and therefore do not – negotiate a budget in the media. This has been mentioned at various…
Loyal reader and former colleague Dan Hansen pointed out a glitch in a recent Saturday Night Live skit that probably wouldn't cause the New York staff to blink but should have struck folks in the Inland Northwest as bizarre. The skit makes fun of House…
OLYMPIA -- Leaders of the coalition that controls the Senate say they have made a counter offer on the budget to the House Democrats, who yesterday announced a $33.6 billion spending plan for 2013-15. It's a "comprehensive" offer, Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina said. It spends…
About one Washington state wedding in five between early December and the end of March involved a same-sex couple, state figures show. The state Department of Health said nearly 2,500 same-sex couples were married in Washington between Dec. 6, when a voter approved law took…
U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott received the wrath of conservatives and FOX News for his questioning of groups who were questioned about their activities by the IRS when applying for a tax exemption. Yesterday he squared off with Fox's Megyn Kelly over his testimony, and whether…
Rep. Ross Hunter explains a point in the new House budget proposal, flanked by other Democrats from the Senate and House. OLYMPIA — House Democrats offered to trim back spending and drop many proposals on taxes as part of a compromise they say would allow…
OLYMPIA -- House and Senate Democrats will release their latest 2013-15 operating budget plan this afternoon, with a press conference at 12:15 p.m. and a hearing in the House Appropriations Committee at 1:30 p.m. Whether it's a budget that can pass both houses in the…
Inslee deploys a fire shelter. OLYMPIA -- Jay Inslee completed one of the annual spring rituals for a Washington governor this morning: passing the test for minimum wildfire training in the advance of the state's fire season. To do this, one must walk a mile…
Inslee criticizes Senate plan to change estate tax. OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee, clearly frustrated over a lack of progress in budget negotiations and a plan to fix a problem with the estate tax, accused the Senate today of hurting school children to help multi-millionaires.…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate got through its pro forma session this morning in 34 seconds. That was about 5 seconds short of the record, but still in the neighborhood of "don't blink or you'll miss it." Gov. Jay Inslee has a noon press conference to…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate's top Democrat accused the coalition that controls the chamber of driving the state toward a government shutdown by stalling on budget negotiations. Sen. Ed Murray of Seattle said the Legislature is moving backwards in trying to reach an agreement on the…
OLYMPIA -- Legislators from a northern Puget Sound district want to rename the Skagit River bridge for the state trooper who was killed there last week. The delegation from the 40th District said this morning the state should rename the bridge in honor of Trooper…
Memorial to Sen. Mike Carrell in the Senate chamber. OLYMPIA -- The Senate appears poised for action this afternoon on as yet unscheduled bills. With a portrait of the late Sen. Mike Carrell looking on and a state flag folded ceremonially on his desk, the…
OLYMPIA – Politics, like nature, abhors a vacuum. So it’s not surprising that into the vacuum that is the Legislature’s special session – where the most special thing about it to date may be that so little has been done – those with nothing to…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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