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

Spin Control

WA Lege Day 30: Halfway mark

OLYMPIA -- The Legislature hits the midway point today, which is also the final day for bills that cost money or affect taxes to get out of the committees in charge of those topics. Any legislation that doesn't make that deadline is likely dead for the year without some Lazarus-like parliamentary maneuver

That means the days ahead -- and possibly some evenings, too -- should be filled with floor debates over the bills that have survived.

Gov. Jay Inslee had a press conference in the morning where he announced a moratorium on executions while he's in office. In response to questions from reporters, he also said the state expects the contractor for the Alaska Way tunnel to pay any cost overruns caused by prolonged stoppage of Bertha, the tunnel boring machine. 

"We are going to insist the taxpayers are protected," Inslee said, adding "the tunnel gets built of the contractor pays."



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