OLYMPIA -- With prosects for medical marijuana legislation dead in the Legislature, a group unhappy with what's left of the cannabis law post-veto will try to get it on the November ballot so voters can dump it. Steve Sarich of CannaCare filed Referendum 73 with…
OLYMPIA -- The red blur moving through the hall between the House and Senate chambers a few minutes ago was Gov. Chris Gregoire, shuttling between Speaker Frank Chopp's office and Majority Leader Lisa Brown's with a list of bills in hand. Bills that apparently legislative…
OLYMPIA -- A problem with a section of the general operating budget could require an amendment before the bill goes to a vote in the Senate today. Which means the amended bill would have to come back the House for another round of voting --…
Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, argues against the Capital Budget supported by some $1.1 billion in bond sales. OLYMPIA -- The House of Representatives gave overwhelming support this morning to some $2.8 billion in public works projects -- from new facilities for universities to sewers…
OLYMPIA -- While the Final Days didn't begin with the Rapture at 6 p.m. Saturday as predicted, the final day of the special session has arrived. The list of things to do is long. Expect the day to be likewise. The House starts with a…
Legislative leaders announce proposed 2011-13 general operating budget Tuesday. OLYMPIA -- Legislative leaders unveiled their latest -- and possibly final -- version of the 2011-13 operating budget they described as painful but sustainable. A deal on the capital budget and changes to the state's debt…
OLYMPIA – After tying the Legislature in knots for much of the last three months, changes to the state’s century-old workers compensation sped through both houses Monday with comfortable margins. It passed the House 69-26, and the Senate 35-12. The changes, which also have the…
OLYMPIA -- A key piece to the puzzle of making changes to the state's workers compensation system came from Rep. Matt Shea, who suggested negotiators drop the idea of "lump sum" payments in favor of structured settlements. Shea, R-Spokane Valley, suggested a system that is…
OLYMPIA -- Major changes to the state's workers compensation system passed the House Monday on a 69-26 vote. Most proposed amendments were ruled out of order by Speaker Frank Chopp, and debate centered around whether injured workers would be helped or hurt by a change…
OLYMPIA -- Budget negotiators continue to hold tight on the details of the general operating budget while insisting there is no problem with the agreement. It's at the printer, will be distributed Tuesday to members at 9 a.m. and to the news media at 10…
OLYMPIA -- A disagreement over how to set the state's debt limit could lead to billions in state projects, including the proposed Spokane Medical School, being delayed, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said today. To read the full post, or to comment, click here to…
Rep. Ross Hunter tells reporters Monday there's a deal on the operating budget, but it won't be released until Tuesday. OLYMPIA -- Budget negotiators have reached deal on the 2011-13 operating budget, Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle confirmed late this morning. "The good news is we…
Presidential hopeful Herman Cain has a good idea, with bad execution. Do you know where he messed up? Go inside the blog for the answer.
OLYMPIA -- At some point today, probably late morning, the House will do something it has resisted for about 132 days: vote on a bill to change workers compensation system. The deal announced Sunday evening was printed up over night, setting up a vote sometime…
Gov. Chris Gregoire announces proposed changes to the Workers Compensation system as Sens. Lisa Brown and Mike Hewitt look on. OLYMPIA – An agreement on offering settlements to injured workers could remove one of the main obstacles to the Legislature passing a budget for the…
OLYMPIA -- An agreement on changes to the state's workers compensation system that is one of the keys to the Legislature settling on a budget was said to be "very close" this afternoon. Which is presumably closer than the "very close" it was to fruition…
OLYMPIA – The Senate agreed last week to extend tax breaks for film companies that shoot movies and TV shows in Washington. That makes economic sense, considering a movie being shot in Spokane generates jobs as well as a certain amount of buzz that can’t…
OLYMPIA – Legislators may reach a deal sometime today on one of the key stumbling blocks to passing a budget and adjourning, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire said Saturday evening. They still disagree on major changes proposed for the state’s workers compensation system but…
OLYMPIA -- Washington would ask potential buyers how much the state could get for its wholesale liquor distribution system in a bill approved today by the Senate. Overcoming objections of people who said it did too little and merely shifted the state's liquor monopoly to…
OLYMPIA -- As expected, a new proposal to privatize the liquor system in Washington was filed late Friday. Supporters include Costco, Northwest Grocery Association and the Washington Restaurant Association for a proposal that would let retailers with at least 10,000 square feet obtain liquor licenses…
With most legislators playing the waiting game, the most productive thing in the Capitol Saturday morning may have been the wedding photos being taken of Evaline and Dennis Zalevskiy, scene here pausing at the top of the Rotunda steps for their videographer. Afterwards, they entire…
OLYMPIA – The latest plan to allow Washington’s most populous counties to set up pilot programs for medical marijuana cooperatives may have limited prospects of passing this year. The proposal would allow counties with more than 200,000 people, or the cities in them, to adopt…
Initiative-meister and red-light camera-hater Tim Eyman is urging adherents to send e-mails to city leaders around the state decrying the tactics of a leading camera purveyor. The Spokane mayor and city councilmember were included in his missive this week to supporters, asking them to urge…
OLYMPIA -- Day 25 will mostly deal with Ways and Means. Both the Senate and the House committees have hearings, but with two very different agendas. House Ways and Mean has a 9 a.m. start, with nine bills on the hearing agenda and nine scheduled…
OLYMPIA – As the Senate was extending tax breaks for companies that make movie in the state and killing a plan to extend tourism taxes in Seattle, signs emerged the Legislature might at least make an effort to finish work by next Wednesday’s deadline. Members…
