Be well...
As I blogged about a week and a half ago, I'm moving on to a new job. (Here's my farewell column.)I'll set up a URL redirect on www.eyeonolympia.com in the next day or so. Tempting though it is to steer you faithful readers to The…
Eye On Olympia
MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009
Unemployment up, but just a little...
The state's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate is now 9.3 percent, up 2/10ths of a percent from May's revised rate of 9.1 percent."We are beginning to see signs that our economy may be stabilizing and recovery efforts are working, but it will take time," Gov. Chris Gregoire…
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009
R-71 signature-gathering: Halfway there, with two weeks to go...
The Faith & Freedom PAC, one of several groups trying to get a referendum on the November ballot to repeal the state's "everything but marriage" law for domestic partners, says that it has gathered more than half the signatures it needs."Conservatively, we have a little…
THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009
Capitol press corps loses another...
And this time, it's me. After nearly 9 years covering Olympia for an Eastern Washington audience, I'm taking a public-affairs job with the state insurance commissioner's office.I love what I do, and am deeply grateful to the Spokesman-Review and to everyone who's clicked on this…
TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009
Boeing's latest move: Is that a bead of sweat on the brows of state officials?
Much talk -- particularly from Republicans -- today about Boeing's decision to spend $580 million to buy a South Carolina plant that makes parts for the delayed new 787 aircraft.First out of the gate, at 5:45 a.m. this morning, was the governor's office, releasing this…
MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009
Patty Murray proposes $11 million new safety complex at Spokane's Fairchild Air Force Base...
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray says she's included $11 million in a senate spending bill for a new "Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape" training facility at Fairchild Air Force Base.The SERE training teachers aviators what to do to avoid capture and survive if downed behind enemy…
"The top 10 human poisonings list"...
Ran across an interesting list recently while writing about budget cuts to the state Poison Center, (the logo for which probably makes the state's tourism folks squirm.)The budget-cut changes, by the way, include forking over $30 on your credit card to get advice about a…
What you'll see on the ballot: Eyman made it (probably), R-71 folks are still gathering signatures, and everyone else derailed...
So what measures will voters see on the fall ballot?Well, they won't see Initiative 1043, which would have required the state to verify that someone's a citizen or legal immigrant before issuing them a driver's license or most public benefits. It also would have banned…
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009
Statehouse press corps dwindles further...
We've lost another good one: Olympian reporter Adam Wilson is leaving to become the speechwriter for Gov. Chris Gregoire. With a young family to support and a longtime interest in politics and policy, the job seems like a good fit for Wilson in this age…
The water wars: Franklin County farmers sue over large feedlot's water demand...
Local farmers today filed a lawsuit against a large-scale feedlot in Franklin County, saying that the cattle operation could use hundreds of thousands of gallons of groundwater a day in one of the driest areas of the state.The case could mushroom into more than just…
WA think tank: rural residents have the hardest time getting fresh produce on the table...
This sounds counterintuitive, until you look at the price of a box of macaroni and cheese versus that of a handful of stir-fry vegetables:According to the private Washington State Budget & Policy Center, shoppers in rural Washington have a harder time getting fresh fruits and…
Protection sought for giant earthworm...
It's summer, and my blog numbers need a boost, so here's this, from the Associated Press:Fans of the giant Palouse earthworm are once again seeking federal protection for the rare, sweet-smelling species.The worm has been seen only four reported times in the past 110 years,…
MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009
WA population: still growing, but slowing...
From tomorrow's paper:OLYMPIA _ We're still growing, but it's slowing.That was the verdict Monday from Washington's Office of Financial Management, which churns out annual population estimates for the state, cities and counties.Washington's population as of April 1, 2009, the agency estimates, was 6,668,200. That's up…
Still the Second City...
Here's to Two, Spokane.The Lilac City continues to cling to it's position as the state's second-largest city, once again beating out the City of Destiny -- Tacoma, that is -- by about 2,000 people.The state Office of Financial Management today released its annual population estimates…
Coming Wednesday: (Un)Happy new fiscal year...
State budget-cut fallout: trash in state-owned buildings only emptied twice a week, carpets cleaned once a year.More state budget fallout: Health insurance costs likely to rise next year for state workers. On the most popular plan, the Uniform Medical Plan, would rise from $82 a…
Dunmire on Eyman: Still a big fan...
Retired Woodinville financial advisor Mike Dunmire's been a lifeline for initiative promoter Tim Eyman, pouring a steady cash infusion into Eyman's signature-gathering (and income-producing) funds.So for people who watch campaign finance reports on the Public Disclosure Commisson site, it's become a bit of a parlor…
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2009
Christian lawyers' group opens hotline for R-71 harassment...
The Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund today launched a free phone hotline and website to gather accounts of threats or other harassment of people gathering signatures for Referendum 71. The ballot measure asks voters to throw out a new law granting state-registered domestic partners, including same-sex…
Missing governor found, after affair in Argentina...
Wow. This just moved on the AP wire:COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he'd secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. He apologized to his wife and…
State fire marshal: Shaping up to be a higher-than-average fire danger season in E. WA...
From the state fire marshal's office:Projected dry conditions will lead to above normal significant fire potential in areas of Eastern Washington this summer. “Due to the heightened fire danger, it is important for homeowners to start preparing for fire season now,” says State Fire Marshal…
Ethics board: technical violation by Rep. Short, but "inadvertent, minor" and fixed...
The state legislative ethics board has dismissed an ethics complaint against freshman Rep. Shelly Short, saying that Short was wrong to post her legislative contact information on a campaign website, but that the matter is minor and was immediately corrected.Short's 2008 campaign website allowed visitors…
Complaint against Sen. Pam Roach dismissed, despite "questionable tactics" by Roach and aide...
The state Legislative Ethics Board has dimissed a complaint by a foster mother that state Sen. Pam Roach released confidential information -- the foster mom's identity -- and abused her legislative power in a custody case.Still, the board concluded that Roach and a legislative aide…
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009
Eyman getting close to getting Initiative 1033 on the ballot...
Initiative promoter Tim Eyman said today that his property tax measure, Initiative 1033, is close to having enough signatures to ensure that it's on the November ballot."We've hit 270,000 signatures for I-1033," Eyman emailed to supporters this morning. I-1033 would cap the growth of state,…
FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009
Catching up...
Farmers markets and the state of the state treasury have been keeping me busy lately, but here's some interesting stuff that's been piling up in the in box:-Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, who created a stir earlier this month by declaring himself a candidate for…
THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009
Text of Gregoire's save-more letter...
June 18, 2009TO: Statewide Elected OfficialsAgency Directors Presidents of Higher Education Institutions State Boards and CommissionsFROM: Christine O. Gregoire, GovernorSUBJECT: Additional Budget SavingsOn June 18th, the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced an additional reduction to the General Fund State revenue forecast. Although…
State tax officials: Churches hosting farmers markets in their parking lots must pay property tax on the land...
I had this story in the morning paper:OLYMPIA – State tax officials recently gave several Spokane-area churches an ultimatum: Stop running farmers markets in your parking lots or start paying tax on that land. “We have no choice here. The law is really clear,” said…
Short takes and breaking news from the Washington Legislature and the state capital.