Today's fun video: Stewart weighs in on Richard Sherman
And the host of the Daily Show hits it dead on, in this comparison with other people "in the news":
Spin Control archive for Jan. 2014
FRIDAY, JAN. 31, 2014
WA Lege Day 19: College aid bills pass
OLYMPIA -- In a display of almost blinding speed, the Senate could vote today on a bill to expand some college aid to students who are longtime residents but not citizens. Generally known as the Dream Act, it was a hot topic last year, passing…
THURSDAY, JAN. 30, 2014
Legislators join football betting craze
OLYMPIA -- Washington legislators, in a rare bit of bipartisanship, have banned together to make a bet with their Colorado counterparts on the Seahawks-Broncos game. Among the booty at stake if the Broncos win: Cougar Gold Cheese (courtesy of Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville), Arbor Crest…
Carrot or stick to fight pot business bans?
OLYMPIA – Legislators are trying to decide whether to offer a carrot or use a stick against local governments that don’t want to let recreational marijuana businesses set up shop inside their borders. The carrot: Offering up some of the taxes those businesses will be…
Cantwell stepping down as chair of Indian Affairs
Senator Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, is stepping down as chairwoman of the Indian Affairs Committee. Cantwell said during a meeting Wednesday that Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., will take over the committee in the coming months. No explanation was given, but a Washington Post report earlier this…
Palouse Falls pitched for state recognition
Washtucna Elementary students ask House Government Operations Committee to name a state waterfall. OLYMPIA – Washington has a state bird, a state flower, a state tree, a state fossil and state song, and a host of other official state items. Why not a state waterfall?…
WA Lege Day 18: Local governments and recreational pot
OLYMPIA -- The House Government Accountability Committee takes up several bills that have to do with local governments and recreational marijuana. Can they rearrange where the excise taxes go to dedicate more to local governments? Can they block local governments trying to limit over where…
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 29, 2014
Gun initiatives get second hearing
OLYMPIA – A pair of initiatives on gun control had their second and likely last hearing Wednesday with supporters and opponents disagreeing sharply on when giving a gun to another person would require a background check. Wednesday’s hearing by the Senate Law and Justice Committee…
McMorris Rodgers a VP contender (and other speech analysis)
Here's what's being said about Eastern Washington's Congresswoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers after (and a little before) her speech responding to President Barack Obama's State of the Union: The Washington Post says she's a vice presidential contender in 2016: "Talk of a possible veep slot in…
WA Lege Day 17: Of ice cream, guns, oysters and Palouse Falls
OLYMPIA -- This is one of the favorite days of the Legislative session for members, staff, lobbyists -- and yes, even reporters -- Dairy Day. The state's dairy farmers make a show of strength to lobby their legislators, the Dairy Ambassadors (once called Dairy Princesses…
TUESDAY, JAN. 28, 2014
Giffords: 'Be bold', pass gun control measure
OLYMPIA – Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords urged legislators to “be bold, be courageous” and require wider background checks on gun sales. Gun rights advocates urged them to protect constitutional rights and pass a competing initiative. But even before testimony began in the packed hearing room…
McMorris Rodgers rebuttal set
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers will rush from the House Floor to a nearby studio to give the rebuttal to tonight's State of the Union address by President Obama. But she won't have to listen carefully to his speech, take notes and write something new on…
Live coverage: Gun control initiatives hearing
OLYMPIA -- Spin Control is providing live coverage of the House Judiciary Committee hearing on Initiatives 591 and 594, two measures on gun control expected to be on the November ballot. Tweets by @jcamden
Live coverage coming: House gun control initiatives hearing
OLYMPIA -- The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the two gun control initiatives likely to go on the ballot later this year. Among the speakers supporting Initiative 594, which would expand background checks for most gun purchases, will be former Rep. Gabrielle…
MONDAY, JAN. 27, 2014
Voters could decide how much baristas must wear
The brewing debate about how much clothes must be worn by baristas could be decided by voters. Spokane resident Beth Solscheid this month filed an initiative proposing to create a law making it a misdemeanor crime to expose at least half of a female breast,…
WA Lege Day 15: Panel OKs tougher DUI laws
OLYMPIA – A pair of proposals for tougher drunk driving laws were sent to the budget writers Monday to figure out how the state might pay for more people serving time. One proposal would make the fourth conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol…
Congressional delegation bets on Super Bowl
If it's Super Bowl week, it must be time for politicians to make bets on the outcome for the teams they represent. In keeping with that age-old tradition, the Washington and Colorado delegations are quickly out of the box with a collection of food. sweets…
WA Lege Day 15: Senate majority flexes muscle
OLYMPIA -- In the clearest example yet of what it means to have one more member of the Senate's ruling caucus, the Democratic chairman of a key committee was forced to share power with a newly elected Republican. On 26-23 votes, the Majority Coalition Caucus…
Giffords to testify at gun initiative hearing
Gabrielle Giffords waves to reporters earlier this month at an event to mark the third anniversary of her shooting in Arizona. OLYMPIA -- Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting rampage that killed six, will testify in favor of a proposed initiative to…
SATURDAY, JAN. 25, 2014
Sunday Spin: Spokane delegation makes its annual trek west
OLYMPIA – A delegation of more than 80 Spokane-area folks arrived here last week with their annual “agenda” – some might call it a wish list – of things the Legislature could do to make life better for the state in general and the center…
FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2014
Wash. Post briefs readers on McMorris Rodgers
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers' gig as the GOP responder to the State of the Union garnered a bit of attention from a Washington Post blog, which listed five things its readers probably didn't know about her. Most Spokesman-Review readers, many of whom are her constituents,…
WA Lege Day 12: Higher ed votes plus talk of booze, bees and drones
OLYMPIA -- The House may vote on a group of higher education bills this morning, and committee meetings will have the usual smorgasbord of topics. House Technology & Economic Development will hear a bill on drones. Senate Commerce & Labor has several bills on booze.…
THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014
Say what? Voice-to-text loses in translation
A colleague got the following voice-to-text message last night. See if you can figure out what it ought to say. "Good evening spoke an(?) State Representative is Marcus with Shelly and Tim arms be along with Senator Randy Bill legs(?) are currently holding a live…
WA Lege: Gun initiatives getting hearing Wednesday
OLYMPIA -- Two initiatives dealing with gun rights and gun control will get a hearing next Wednesday in the Senate Law and Justice Committee. Both are initiatives to the Legislature. I-594, which would extend the current background checks for buyers required for sales from gun…
Medical pot bill moves to House
OLYMPIA -- A proposal to restrict medical marijuana and put it under the state Liquor Control Board was sent to the full House this morning. After adding more flexibility on the amount of the drug or number of plants a patient might have, the House…
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