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

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Related Coverage, Page 10

Three-step plan to eradicate scourge of campaign malarkey

I have a three-point plan: Get shock collars. Strap them onto the candidates. Attempt, through vigorous zapping, to train them away from some of the emptiest forms of blather they are heaping upon us. The season of malarkey is in full flower, and it will only bloom more intensely between now and Election Day. It is a pageant of baloney, a peacock’s tail of every shimmering shade of the false, the not-quite-true, the overstated, the understated, the empty, the twisted – and the rotely repeated. Oh, the repeated. It is as though there is a bank of empty phrases handed out by lottery, and candidates are forbidden from saying anything original.

Biviano vs. Shea, Education: Are higher taxes needed?

Amy Biviano, a Democrat, talks about her position on education funding and taxes. She is running for state House in the 4th Legislative District against incumbent Republican state Rep. Matt Shea, who declined to be interviewed.

Billig vs. McLaughlin, Taxes

State Rep. Andy Billig, a Democrat, and Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, a Republican, discuss their opinions about taxes. The two are running for state Senate in Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District.

Legislative hopeful Amy Biviano posed topless in Playboy

Amy Biviano, the Democratic challenger in a high-profile battle for a legislative seat representing Spokane Valley, is defending a 1995 topless photo shoot with Playboy magazine as a confidence-building experience while attending Yale University.

Today’s fun videos: Obama, Romney trade jokes at charity dinner

Today’s fun videos: Obama, Romney trade jokes at charity dinner

Biviano vs. Shea, Introduction

Amy Biviano, a Democrat, makes her case about why she feels that she’s the best choice to represent the state House in the 4th Legislative District. Incumbent Republican state Rep. Matt Shea declined interview requests.

Today’s fun video: For everyone tired of debate over-analysis

Today’s fun video: For everyone tired of debate over-analysis

WA voter rolls hit record, still growing

WA voter rolls hit record, still growing

McLaughlin, Billig seek Senate seat

Andy Billig and Nancy McLaughlin are well-known and, judging by past election results, popular. And that’s what makes the race for the state Senate seat currently held by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown much more interesting than any recent November election in the 3rd Legislative District.

Billig vs. McLaughlin, Abortion

State Rep. Andy Billig, a Democrat, and Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, a Republican, discuss their opinions about abortion policy. The two are running for state Senate in Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District.

Election officially begins in Washington

Election officially begins in Washington

Today’s fun video: Debate set to music

Today’s fun video: Debate set to music

Another shot for charter schools

SEATTLE – Washington’s voters will in November again decide whether to allow charter schools in Washington, after having rejected similar proposals in 1995, 2000 and 2004. The debate over this year’s charter schools initiative mostly comes down to speculation.

Billig vs. McLaughlin, Education: Are higher taxes needed?

State Rep. Andy Billig, a Democrat, and Spokane City Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin, a Republican, discuss their opinions about education funding and taxes. The two are running for state Senate in Spokane’s 3rd Legislative District.

Obama energized in second debate

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — An aggressive President Barack Obama accused challenger Mitt Romney of favoring a “one-point plan” to help the rich in America and playing politics with the deadly terrorist attack in Libya in a Tuesday night debate crackling with energy and emotion just three weeks before the election.

Spokane Labor Rally Wednesday

Spokane Labor Rally Wednesday

Today’s fun video: Warmup for tonight

Today’s fun video: Warmup for tonight

Triple-header debate night

Triple-header debate night

Inslee campaign cleared by state panel

OLYMPIA – The state’s campaign watchdog rejected complaints about contributions and spending by Democrat Jay Inslee while a small-business group tried to boost Republican Rob McKenna’s chances for governor Monday. Just days before Washington voters get their ballots in the mail and just over three weeks before the deadline to mail them back, the Public Disclosure Commission voted unanimously to reject a complaint against Inslee filed by McKenna’s campaign manager, Randy Pepple.

Final faceoff

WASHINGTON – They are two of the largest parts of the federal government. They’re growing. And they’re heading toward financial problems that will touch tens of millions of Americans unless something changes. Medicare is the nation’s biggest buyer of health care, spending $550 billion last year to provide care for 48.7 million Americans. The problem is that the taxes paid by workers and employers to finance the program aren’t covering the full cost, and the government since 2008 has been drawing off its trust fund to make up the difference. Barring changes, the trust fund runs out in 12 years – 2024 – and the government would have to raise taxes or cut services.