During a major fund-raising dinner Friday, state Republicans held a "straw poll" on the field of GOP candidates for president in 2012. The winner, by a whisker, was Herman Cain. For those of you out there saying "Herman who?", Cain is the former CEO of…
OLYMPIA -- The cherry blossoms are out on the trees near the Capitol Building along the appropriately named Cherry Lane. These are the Kwansan cherry trees, which bloom a few weeks later than the Yoshino cherry trees, Steve Valandra of the Department of General Administration…
Normally, Spin Control wouldn't pay any mind to a campaign commercial from a mayoral race in New Jersey. But this one is so much fun that it makes one wonder what sort of creative spots we could see in the Spokane municpal campaigns if candidates…
The honor guard arrives Friday for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers Memorial ceremony. OLYMPIA – After the bugler played “Taps”, the bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” and the honor guard was dismissed Friday, Marjorie Petersen and Manuel de Encio went to the state Law…
The Daily Show - Definitely, Maybe Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook For those who are tired of the over-analyzing of the political significance of Osama bin Laden's death.
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature may be gone, but the Capitol campus won't be empty today. Gov. Chris Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna will be presenting the state's Medal of Honor to two law enforcement officers at a ceremony today. The 1 p.m. ceremony, at…
OLYMPIA -- Don't look for anything out of the Legislature today. Both chambers are gone through the weekend. No committee hearings until Monday, either. Perhaps they are resting up for the grueling pace yet to come. It's unlikely they'd need to rest from the pace…
OLYMPIA -- The special session finishes its first third today with both chambers in "pro forma" session. Pro forma is Latin for "nothing much going on and most of the members somewhere else." They won't be doing floor work until next week. House and Senate…
OLYMPIA – From frozen bull semen and chicken bedding to big banks’ mortgage profits, Senate Democrats took aim at the state’s system of tax breaks for businesses Wednesday. They generated support from people who don’t want the Legislature to close the projected $5.1 billion gap…
The Colbert Report Tags: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive For those who couldn't stay awake to catch the Colbert Report, here's his take on the suggestion that President Obama is using Osama bin Laden's death to boost his poll numbers.
OLYMPIA -- With American flags sprouting from every desk, senators seemed to swell with patriotic pride and honored members of the armed forces and their commander-in-chief after Sunday's mission that killed Osama bin Laden. Senate Resolution 8661honors President Obama for "strong, thoughtful leadership"; the military…
OLYMPIA -- Senate Ways and Means Committee may generate the most excitement of the special session to day, with a hearing on several proposals to change tax exemptions, thus bringing in more revenue and mitigating the need for as much as $5 billion in cuts…
OLYMPIA – Large cattle trucks coming into Washington from Idaho will have to use Interstate 90 and stay off other roads like East Trent or face a $1,000 fine under a law signed Tuesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire. The law targets commercial cattle trucks, some…
OLYMPIA -- A few days after their party's governor vetoed most of the medical marijuana bill last week, House Democrats are asking a likely Republican gubernatorial candidate for a little help on crafting a new version. Fifteen Democratic representatives, including Spokane's Andy Billig, signed a…
OLYMPIA -- The state collected $321 million in delinquent taxes from nearly 9,000 businesses through an amnesty program that ended Saturday. The success of the program surprised state officials, who were expecting to pick up about $24 million when the program was proposed in December.…
OLYMPIA -- The Senate returns today from a long weekend to caucuses in the morning and a Ways and Means Committee hearing in the afternoon. The committee has a recently added bill, one that calls for a study of best way to lease the state's…
OLYMPIA -- House Republicans tried to force a hearing and vote on a proposal to change the state's workers compensation system but failed Monday afternoon. At issue is a plan which would allow for voluntary compromise and release of workers compensation payments an employee might…
Ron Jackson, long-time Valley sports coach and sometime Valley political activist, passed away last week at age 83. With wife Sally, Ron was a mainstay of Democratic politics in the Spokane Valley, something that wasn’t rare when they got started many decades ago but required…
OLYMPIA — State workers will not be licensing medical marijuana growers or dispensaries, and patients will not be able to sign onto a registry that could save them from arrest. Gov. Chris Gregoire vetoed most of a bill this afternoon that would have established a…
OLYMPIA -- There is nothing to preview for today's activity in the special session. That's because there's nothing happening. Nothing, as in zero, nil, null, nada, zilch, zip, zippo, goose egg, bupkis...we could go on, but you probably get the point. The Senate recessed Thursday…
OLYMPIA – A legislative proposal to release some inmates a few months early as a budget-saving measure is a bad idea, prison officials warned Thursday. The state already ordered early release for many non-violent, low-risk inmates in previous years as a way to help balance…
OLYMPIA -- Federal agents are unlikely to arrest state workers for regulating medical marijuana, despite warnings from two federal prosecutors, a constitutional law expert told Gov. Chris Gregoire Thursday. Hugh Spitzer, a University of Washington law professor and one of the state's top constitutional scholars,…
The Daily Show - Believe It or Believe It - Obama Releases Long-Form Birth Certificate Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Jon Stewart skewers both the birther conspiracy and the news media covering it.
OLYMPIA -- The seemingly leisurely pace continues here, with some floor action expected in the Senate but bupkis on tap for the House. Senate Ways and Means Committee has a hearing this morning on changes to the Department of Corrections that allows for some early…
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire threatened Wednesday to veto most, and possibly all, of a bill that would set up state oversight of medical marijuana operations. The bill received final approval from the Senate last week, but federal prosecutors in Spokane and Seattle had earlier…
