In a case where the 11 petitioners are all known as John Doe, the state Supreme Court ruled 6-3 this morning that unsubstantiated allegations of teacher sexual misconduct can be withheld from public disclosure.School districts can investigate any complaints, the court said, and when the…
As I wrote in the post below, the private Economic Opportunity Institute is proposing a Washington state "high incomes" tax aimed at people making at least $100,000 a year.The group also looked at a couple of other tax increases, each of which would add hundreds…
Months after Washington passed a "toxic toys" bill aimed at limited lead, phthalates and cadmium levels, Congress is reportedly poised to pass a bill setting national standards for lead and phthalates in toys and other childrens' goods.According to the Washington Toxics Coalition, a U.S. House…
For years, lawmakers have been saying that someone should take a look at Washington's hundreds of tax breaks – some dating back to the Great Depression and further – and see if they're really still justified.Well, someone is. The state's Joint Legislative Audit and Review…
The state's "Climate Action Team" came to Spokane last week, seeking input on ways to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in Washington.On the way, they stopped at an Ellensburg-area wind farm. They met at the Spokane Convention Center, awarded high marks for its green, energy-efficient design. And…
The Spokesman-Review's editorial board today endorsed an independent state House candidate, John Waite, over longtime state Rep. Alex Wood, a Spokane Democrat. Incumbent Wood, a former radio show host, has plenty of experience. He's served in the Legislature since 1997. He prides himself on being…
The initiative factory run by Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan and Mike Fagan has turned out a new prototype: a tax refund program that -- unless voters say otherwise -- would permanently hold state, city and county governments to growing less than the rate of inflation.The…
...is coming. Roach, the often controversial state senator, will soon be blogging from Beijing.Representing Gov. Gregoire, on August 7th I will present the leaders of Sichuan Province, our sister state, with the promise of a new, privately-funded school building. she writes. She's primarily in China,…
Due to a mistake made when drafting the measure, opponents of I-1029 want the state Supreme Court to keep it off the ballot in November.The language of the petitions wrongly says that the measure's an initiative to the state legislature, instead of going straight to…
Still catching up here, but the state Legislative Ethics Board last week ruled that Sen. Mike Carrell technically violated state law when he handed campaign fliers -- upon request, apparently -- to a couple of people at a town hall meeting he held in the…
Mixed news on the economy:The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly in June, from 5.3 percent to 5.5 percent, according to the state Department of Employment Security. The number of jobs is holding steady, the agency says, but more people -- particularly recent graduates -- are…
Republican response to the ethics complaint filed earlier today by Democrats against state Attorney General Rob McKenna:"The state Democrats are so desperate to resuscitate the floundering campaign of their lackluster and ethically-challenged attorney general candidate, John Ladenburg, that they've wildly fired a shot in their…
The race for state treasurer is the classic case of a race that's fun for Olympia insiders and yawn-inducing for anyone not in the shadow of the capitol dome.For one thing, it's a rare open seat in state government. Incumbent Democrat Mike Murphy is stepping…
The "National Bush Legacy Bus Tour" is rolling into Boise today, according to its website, and from there heads to Seattle.Touted as a "45-foot, 28-ton museum on wheels," the bus is no traveling presidential library. Painted on the outside:"The Bush legacy: Economy in crisis, endless…
The state Democratic Party has filed a 9-page complaint against Attorney General Rob McKenna, saying that industry-backed ads featuring McKenna are beyond the bounds of usual public-service announcements. The party wants the ads considered campaign contributions."This is a clear and illegal use of public office…
I return, tanned, rested, and astonished at all the stuff that's happened in the past week. In no particular order:-The Seattle Times' Andrew Garber has a good overview of where the $8 billion in new spending under Gov. Gregoire went. From the story:• About half…
Barring a stunning election surprise, it will be Gregoire versus Rossi on the November ballot. But there are eight other folks in the running, most of whom you've probably never heard of.Among the contenders:-an oft-arrested "international man of diplomacy,"-candidates promoting hemp, holistic medicine and year-round…
In 1968, 80 young men from Washington state stood in their white shirts and thin black ties in the echoing state Capitol and listened to then-Gov. Dan Evans praise them, the Marine Corps' new "Evergreen State Platoon."By evening, they were on their way to boot…
From the Secretary of State's "This day in history" website function:This Day in Washington HistoryJuly 11, 1889People living on the North Side of Spokane complained that unsupervised prisoners from chain gangs were roving around the city, bothering and frightening people. Some had roved so far…
(Photo credit: Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review)"Dino Rossi for governor, GOP. Don't let Seattle steal this election!"That's the message that the Building Industry Association of Washington has plastered on 61 billboards across Eastern Washington. And in case you missed it, "steal" is underlined.The builders have been…
Responding to the state Democrats' new video of their camera people being barred from various Dino Rossi speaking engagements, Rossi spokeswoman Jill Strait says:Of course we don’t allow Democratic party operatives with cameras to crash our events. In the age of YouTube, the State Democrats…
The Pierce County sheriff's deputies' union last night endorsed Attorney General Rob McKenna for re-election after interviewing both McKenna and his Democratic opponent, Pierce County executive (and former local prosecutor) John Ladenburg.Political reporters get a lot of "endorsed by" press releases this time of year,…
From this morning's paper:OLYMPIA – Despite concerns by open-government advocates over two recent court rulings, a state task force looks unlikely to recommend changing the law that allows public officials and attorneys to keep some of their discussions and work secret."It's not broken, so please…
Saying that untaxed cigarettes continue to be sold on the Yakama Reservation, the state is terminating its agreement legalizing Yakama cigarette sales to non-tribal members."Unfortunately this agreement is just not working," said state Department of Revenue Director Cindi Holmstrom said in a news release this…
The national assembly of Bhutan has banned lawmakers from toting their laptops into the capitol, Thomson Reuters reports, "for fear they might spend their time playing computer games."Lawmakers in the Himalayan kingdom, which until recently was a monarchy, overruled objections by lawmakers who said the…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.
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