Politics

Gov. Inslee narrows special session agenda

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:01:52 +0000

With the state Legislature back in session for a 30-day extra inning, Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday narrowed his agenda to three key items: the budget, a roads-and-transit funding package, and a crackdown on impaired drivers.

State lawmakers defend frequent dinners with lobbyists

Austin Jenkins — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:05:05 +0000

Two Washington state lawmakers are defending their frequent dinners with lobbyists. The meals show up in monthly reports filed with the state’s Public Disclosure Commission.

State Rep. Marcus Riccelli is a freshman Democrat from Spokane. On four occasions from January through March, he dined out with Michael Temple, a lobbyist for the state’s powerful trial lawyers association.

When asked Riccelli about those dinners, Riccelli joked, “I’m an Italian kid. I have a big appetite.”

The influence game: Lobbyists wine, dine lawmakers after hours

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:09:42 +0000

In the first three months of this year, lobbyists in Washington state spent more than $200,000 on entertainment. Much of that money was spent to wine and dine state lawmakers during the just-concluded 105-day session.

The spending begs the question: What are lobbyists and their clients getting in exchange for picking up the tab?

Plan would force public companies to reveal political giving

Kara Brandeisky — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 18:30:24 +0000

The 2012 election was the most expensive in history, but there remain some gaping holes in our knowledge about who paid for what.

State lawmakers heading to extended session

The Associated Press — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:18:29 +0000

With just one day before the end of session, Washington lawmakers appear to be making little progress toward the ultimate goal of a final budget agreement.

Leaders in both the House and Senate seemed to resign themselves Saturday to the prospect of an overtime session, with the regular 105-day period coming to an end Sunday night. A spokesman for Gov. Jay Inslee said that no decision had been made on when a special session may start.

Britain's Thatcher an unlikely icon for American conservatives

Scott Neuman — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:19:43 +0000

As an icon of the American conservative movement in the 1980s, it would have been difficult to find a more unlikely figure than Britain's Margaret Thatcher, who died Monday following a stroke.

Thatcher became prime minister in 1979, a full year and a half before Ronald Reagan became president.

Inslee proposes to end several tax breaks to fund schools

Austin Jenkins — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:20:00 +0000

Oregon shoppers in Washington would pay sales tax and bottled water would be taxed under a proposal from Governor Jay Inslee to raise $1.2 billion in additional money for public schools.

Inslee, a Democrat, proposed Thursday to end or modify a dozen tax exemptions, extend two expiring tax hikes, and cut back by 25-percent a favorable tax rate that many businesses enjoy.

False IDs for cops? Unauthorized state program faces scrutiny

Austin Jenkins — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:26:43 +0000

For decades, police officers in Washington have been able to obtain false driver licenses for undercover work. But this quasi-secret program inside the Department of Licensing only recently came to light.

It turns out the confidential ID program was never approved by the Legislature. Now two state lawmakers are calling for more oversight to prevent possible abuses.

As a street cop in the early 1980s, Mitch Barker went undercover to work drugs and vice. The Washington Department of Licensing helped him assume a fake identity.

Obama names first woman Secret Service head

The Associated Press — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:41:18 +0000

President Barack Obama has named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director.

Pierson, a 30-year veteran of the agency, currently is its chief of staff.

Inslee promoting new I-5 Columbia River bridge

The Associated Press — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:09:01 +0000

Gov. Jay Inslee said Friday that Washington has a closing window of opportunity to replace the bridge carrying Interstate 5 over the Columbia River, warning that failure to act would "start that erosion process in our economic competitiveness."

Speaking with Southwest Washington business and government leaders, the governor said the opportunity for more than $1 billion in federal funding won't be available for at least another decade.

Inslee: Transportation package a must for 2013

The Associated Press — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:10:07 +0000

Gov. Jay Inslee says that passing a transportation funding package this year must be a priority for the Legislature.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, Inslee said he is concerned that momentum for passing such a plan has been dissipating.

Assault weapons ban is gun debate's first casualty

Greg Henderson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:01:49 +0000

The prospects of an assault weapons ban emerging as part of any post-Newtown gun control law looks highly unlikely after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid opted not to include it in a Democratic proposal to be offered on the Senate floor in coming weeks.

"My understanding is it will not be [part of the base bill]" to be introduced on the Senate floor, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said after meeting with Reid on Monday, according to Politico.

State Senate leaders vow to up higher ed funding

The Associated Press — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:50:11 +0000

A coalition that controls the Washington state Senate is vowing to increase funding for higher education by $300 million.

Senate leaders declined Tuesday to explain how they would pay for the proposal. Lawmakers already face more than a $1 billion shortfall in the next two-year budget cycle and are separately under court order to expand funding for K-12 education.

Gov. Inslee eyes tax 'loopholes' for elimination, but feasible?

Austin Jenkins — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:49:54 +0000

Hopes for a rosier budget outlook in Washington are dimming. Expected savings in Medicaid haven’t materialized. And many state lawmakers expect this week’s quarterly revenue forecast to show a downward slide. Add to that, a Supreme Court ruling that requires more funding for schools.

In response, Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to announce soon a list of tax “loopholes” — as he calls them — he wants to eliminate to fund schools. But closing tax exemptions is easier said than done.

House OKs 'Washington Dream Act'

The Associated Press — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:00:33 +0000

The Washington House of Representatives has approved a measure giving young illegal immigrants eligibility to state college financial aid.

The House approved the so-called "Washington Dream Act" on a bipartisan 77-20 vote. They amended the bill on the floor to open college aid to all young illegal immigrants.