Democrats and a few Republicans in the house on Wednesday approved a contract for state-paid home health aides. It would give the 26,000 workers a 50-cent hourly raise plus some benefits, and would cost $82 million over the next two years.House Republicans said the contract…
"Another outbreak like that and I will have this room cleared. This is a hearing, not a circus."Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, when people applauded testimony by conservative radio host John Carlson.
Saying they're tired of street-corner panhandlers falsely claiming to be veterans, lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state Senate on Monday unanimously passed a bill that makes it a crime to impersonate a veteran for personal gain.The penalty, under Substitute Senate Bill 5861, would be the same…
If you got a gift card for the holidays, check the back. Some gift cards expire after a year, or depreciate month by month if not used."If you wait too long, the card becomes an incredible disappearing act," said Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle. ``If you…
"I was also in the War of 1812." 81-year-old Sen. Alex Deccio, R-Yakima, when asked about his service in World War II.
Hundreds of people from throughout Washington gathered on the Capitol lawnTuesday to rally against abortion, drawing a counter-demonstration by abouttwo dozen pro-choice advocates.
As the Legislature considers whether to renew $74 million worth of tax breaks for rural companies and high-tech research, critics say the state's poor need that money more than, say, Microsoft.To underscore their point, Washington Citizen Action and the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations put…
The jockeying for Jim West's old Senate seat continues, even though West protege Brian Murray was awarded the seat by local Republicans and the Spokane County Commissioners.State Rep. Brad Benson, who, as the senior House of Representatives member in the district, normally would have been…
"We need some chanting. Who is directing this thing?" -A TV reporter, unhappy with dozens of sign-carrying mad-cow protesters outside a legislative hearing Thursday night.
Bob Maier, chief lobbyist for the state's largest teachers' union, died Monday. He was 61, and had suffered from heart problems in recent months.Maier, a former teacher, had worked Olympia for 20 years. He was the Washington Education Association's director of public policy.Maier's wife, Lynn,…
"Mr. President, I am not House-trained." Freshman Sen. Brian Murray, R-Spokane, referring to two other lawmakers who came to the Senate after stints in the House of Representatives.
"We should not have our children going to school to learn how to become obese." Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, who said she will introduce a bill to encourage local school districts to get rid of pop, chips and other junk food in schools.
"Tim Eyman is Gollum, I'm obviously a hobbit. You can draw your own conclusions about everyone else." Senate Minority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, asked to describe this year's political climate as a movie theme.
The state of Washington has gone to court, trying to force the federal government to cough up a $6.8 million tax bill.According to Attorney General Christine Gregoire, the 21-year-old Nuclear Waste Policy Act requires the Department of Energy to pay the equivalent of state business…
A record number of people looking for travel information turned to the Washington Department of Transportation's website Tuesday afternoon. Snowbound commuters turned to the site's highway web cameras, pass reports and weather information. By early afternoon, the department's computer gurus were predicting that web traffic…
The Legislature won't convene until Jan. 12, but here are some of the things lawmakers are already proposing:-Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, prompted by recent allegations of sexual misconduct by coaches and teachers, said she'll again push to require school districts to provide information about sexual…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
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