OLYMPIA – A pair of initiatives on gun control had their second and likely last hearing Wednesday with supporters and opponents disagreeing sharply on when giving a gun to another person would require a background check. Wednesday’s hearing by the Senate Law and Justice Committee…
Here's what's being said about Eastern Washington's Congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers after (and a little before) her speech responding to President Barack Obama's State of the Union: The Washington Post says she's a vice presidential contender in 2016: "Talk of a possible veep slot in…
OLYMPIA -- This is one of the favorite days of the Legislative session for members, staff, lobbyists -- and yes, even reporters -- Dairy Day. The state's dairy farmers make a show of strength to lobby their legislators, the Dairy Ambassadors (once called Dairy Princesses…
OLYMPIA – Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords urged legislators to “be bold, be courageous” and require wider background checks on gun sales. Gun rights advocates urged them to protect constitutional rights and pass a competing initiative. But even before testimony began in the packed hearing room…
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers will rush from the House Floor to a nearby studio to give the rebuttal to tonight's State of the Union address by President Obama. But she won't have to listen carefully to his speech, take notes and write something new on…
OLYMPIA -- Spin Control is providing live coverage of the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Initiatives 591 and 594, two measures on gun control expected to be on the November ballot. Tweets by @jcamden
OLYMPIA -- The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the two gun control initiatives likely to go on the ballot later this year. Among the speakers supporting Initiative 594, which would expand background checks for most gun purchases, will be former Rep. Gabrielle…
The brewing debate about how much clothes must be worn by baristas could be decided by voters. Spokane resident Beth Solscheid this month filed an initiative proposing to create a law making it a misdemeanor crime to expose at least half of a female breast,…
OLYMPIA – A pair of proposals for tougher drunk driving laws were sent to the budget writers Monday to figure out how the state might pay for more people serving time. One proposal would make the fourth conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol…
If it's Super Bowl week, it must be time for politicians to make bets on the outcome for the teams they represent. In keeping with that age-old tradition, the Washington and Colorado delegations are quickly out of the box with a collection of food. sweets…
OLYMPIA -- In the clearest example yet of what it means to have one more member of the Senate's ruling caucus, the Democratic chairman of a key committee was forced to share power with a newly elected Republican. On 26-23 votes, the Majority Coalition Caucus…
Gabrielle Giffords waves to reporters earlier this month at an event to mark the third anniversary of her shooting in Arizona. OLYMPIA -- Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting rampage that killed six, will testify in favor of a proposed initiative to…
OLYMPIA – A delegation of more than 80 Spokane-area folks arrived here last week with their annual “agenda” – some might call it a wish list – of things the Legislature could do to make life better for the state in general and the center…
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' gig as the GOP responder to the State of the Union garnered a bit of attention from a Washington Post blog, which listed five things its readers probably didn't know about her. Most Spokesman-Review readers, many of whom are her constituents,…
OLYMPIA -- The House may vote on a group of higher education bills this morning, and committee meetings will have the usual smorgasbord of topics. House Technology & Economic Development will hear a bill on drones. Senate Commerce & Labor has several bills on booze.…
A colleague got the following voice-to-text message last night. See if you can figure out what it ought to say. "Good evening spoke an(?) State Representative is Marcus with Shelly and Tim arms be along with Senator Randy Bill legs(?) are currently holding a live…
OLYMPIA -- Two initiatives dealing with gun rights and gun control will get a hearing next Wednesday in the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Both are initiatives to the Legislature. I-594, which would extend the current background checks for buyers required for sales from gun…
OLYMPIA -- A proposal to restrict medical marijuana and put it under the state Liquor Control Board was sent to the full House this morning. After adding more flexibility on the amount of the drug or number of plants a patient might have, the House…
OLYMPIA -- With a one-vote margin, the House Health Care and Wellness Committee passed a bill that would require most insurance companies to cover abortion if they cover maternity services. HB 2148, often called the Reproductive Parity Act was denounced by opponents like Rep. Shelly…
OLYMPIA -- While Spokane-area legislators are spending most of their time for the next two months in Olympia,some are are trying to keep in touch with constituents by shifting the standard "town hall meeting" from a place to a phone number. Republican Reps. Kevin Parker…
OLYMPIA -- Legislative committees are trying to move bills out at a rapid pace today as they couple executive sessions with public hearings. The House Health Care and Wellness Committee might get an award for taking on the most controversial bills in a single session,…
OLYMPIA – Don't get your hopes up for new money to finish the North-South Freeway, a group of business, civic and political leaders from Spokane was told Wednesday. The chances the Legislature will pass a package of big road projects paid by a gasoline tax…
One more obstacle for Washington's budding marijuana industry to confront: You won't be able to advertise on Google or Facebook. That according to TIME, which says that even in Washington and Colorado, where recreational marijuana use is legal, Google and Facebook will not allow sellers…
OLYMPIA – Efforts to bring the state’s two laws on marijuana together is generating several proposals in the Legislature and rifts among the medical marijuana community. Some patients on Tuesday described a pair of bills on medical marijuana as unconstitutional intrusions, others said they were…
OLYMPIA -- The state Transportation Department would be barred from spending highway construction money for art or special concrete designs on walls and bridges under a Valley legislator's bill. But that might not save much money to spend on other projects. The department said it…
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