People who strongly support the Tea Party are likely to strongly not suport the jobs that Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature are doing, the health care reforms passed by Congress or the way things are going in the state in general, the Washington Poll…
OLYMPIA -- Washington has nearly 9 of 10 school districts signing on for the federal Race to the Top competition, hoping to get a total of $250 million in federal cash for a wide variety of education programs.Gov. Chris Gregoire and Superintendent of Public Instruction…
Mike Poppke and his "poker-playing buddy" Prince, a Malamute/Husky mix, attend a Poker Player Alliance rally on the steps of the state Capitol Thursday.OLYMPIA – The Washington Supreme Court was asked to decide Thursday whether Internet poker is merely a 21st Century twist on a…
Members of the Poker Players Alliance gather on the steps of the Capitol Thursday morning after the Supreme Court hears arguments on a state law that bans Internet gambling.OLYMPIA -- Members of the Poker Players Alliance gathered on the Capitol steps today after arguing the…
Monte Benham of Kennewick is convinced that people know very little about the U.S. Constitution and next to nothing about the state Constitution.“Elected officials swear an oath to uphold the state Constitution, and most of them have never even seen it, let alone read it,”he…
TACOMA -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner got a Washington state trifecta today, experiencing three things for which the West Side is best known: Boeing. Microsoft. And rain.In an effort to emphasize the importance of exports to the nation's fledgling recovery, Geithner planned a tour of…
OLYMPIA -- Spin Control may have taken an unfair swipe at the Legislature on Tuesday in the preceding post when writing about reader questions regarding the candy tax.At least one committee hearing on the tax on sweet stuff did have witnesses raising the question about…
OLYMPIA -- Thursday is state Supreme Court decision day, and the high court handed down several rulings, including one involving pornography, the Internet and public libraries. Quick synopsis: By a 6-3 vote, you don't have a right to surf the net for porn in a…
Gov. Chris Gregoire shakes hands with House Budget Chairwoman Kelli Linville and offers Linville the ceremonial pen after signing the supplemental budget.OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a new spending plan Tuesday designed to close an estimated $2.8 billion gap in the state’s operating budget…
Tim James, a candidate for governor in Alabama, has a new ad that's generating interest far beyond the borders of the Sweet Home state.If he's elected, the commercial says, he'll end the current practice of giving drivers license tests in 12 languages, and just offer…
After nearly four months in Washington, D.C., on an American studies program, Michelle Creek had a chance at something special Wednesday – but it meant getting up at 5:45 a.m., walking some 10 blocks through the city and waiting in line in the early morning…
Statue of Confucius at his family's cemetery in Qufu, ChinaA quiet day in Olympia, with Gov. Chris Gregoire set to announce an appointment to the Dourt of Appeals at 1:30 p.m. and sign a Memo of Understanding in Seattle at 4 p.m. to create a…
Dino Rossi continues to be some Democrats' favorite choice for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat.Spin Control continues to be in the "I'm from Missouri" mode on that. (Actually, I am from Missouri, but that's a whole separate narrative.)On "will run" side of…
OLYMPIA – By the time the Legislature wrapped up 90 days of heated and sometimes confusing debate over taxes and spending Tuesday, it had raised taxes on a wide array of consumers and businesses, cut some programs, boosted others, moved hundreds of millions of dollars…
OLYMPIA – When talking about the Legislature, it’s easy to get wrapped up in parliamentary details and arcane political jargon. To avoid that, here’s a simple way to look at the budget and tax plans as the “seven-day” special session enters Day 28. Think of…
OLYMPIA – Democratic leaders began pushing a package of some $668 million in higher taxes through the Legislature Saturday, suspending rules as they tried to beat the Tuesday deadline to adjourn.The House of Representatives voted 52-44 to approve the tax plan that was just made…
OLYMPIA -- A coalition of health care, education, environment and poverty groups is coming out in favor of the still-to-be-made-public tax proposal.Based on news accounts of the package, the Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition says the reported combination of taxes on soda, beer, bottled water,…
OLYMPIA -- Democratic legislative leaders have not yet formally announced their "go home" tax deal, apparently because the House caucus isn't yet sure it has the necessary yes votes.But while opposition to certain taxes is already cranking up.The Washington Beverage Association said raising the tax…
OLYMPIA -- Day 25 of the special session is starting pretty slowly, with pro forma sessions in both chambers. No official word on whether the House of Representatives has enough votes for a tax package worked out Wednesday among Gov. Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader…
Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers formally began her congressional re-election campaign Wednesday with no Democrat admitting to a strong desire oppose her but a challenger on the right from the Constitution Party.She said she wants to return for a fourth term to fight “reckless federal spending.”…
...so he can ask "Deal. Or No Deal?"It would appear that a legislative deal on a tax package remains somewhat elusive. After meeting for about 35 minutes with Gov. Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp went out a side…
OLYMPIA -- House and Senate negotiators may have reached what they are calling a "go home" deal over taxes.Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and House Speaker Frank Chopp started meeting with Gov. Chris Gregoire about 4:35 p.m. today for final discussions on the deal, which…
About two-thirds of Spokane County has returned its census forms, which makes it tied for third among Washington counties in the quasi competition to get the forms filled out and turned in.At the top are Clallam and Jefferson counties, at 70 percent. Next come Spokane…
Spokane County Elections office says they mailed out about 113,000 ballots today to Spokane City voters, and Fire District 10 voters. Both groups are voting on an EMS levy.Election is April 27. If you don't get a ballot by April 16, call 477-2320 for a…
OLYMPIA -- Day 24 of the special session looks to be a fairly quiet one. Most legislators remain at home, with a few negotiators for the House and Senate sending tax proposals back and forth. No votes, no floor sessions, no committee meetings.And no deal…
