Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, makes a point during today's debate over new Senate rules. OLYMPIA — With a Republican-dominated coalition in control of the Senate, bills involving abortion rights, environmental protection and gun control may have little chance of coming to votes in that chamber,…
Sen. Andy Billig takes the oath of office Monday. OLYMPIA -- Each Legislative session begins with the swearing in of newly elected members. In the House, they do it all at once. In the Senate, each re-elected senator is sworn in, followed by each newly…
Members of the WSP honor guard prepare in the wings of the state Senate before opening ceremonies. OLYMPIA -- With the sides flipped between Republicans and Democrats on the floor of the Senate, the Legislature got underway at noon today with the usual pomp and…
OLYMPIA -- The Legislature opens at noon today with more than the usual amount of interest in a small thing, the approval of rules. This is expected to be when we find out if the "Coalition Caucus," a grouping of the chamber's 23 Republicans and…