Washington Legislature passes budget and heads home
The Legislature adjourned sine die after 80 days, much of it spent trying to settle on a supplemental budget. Lawmakers passed that budget Tuesday and left for home a few hours later.
Spin Control archive for March 2016
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016
House overrides 27 Inslee vetoes
Moving quickly at the end of a long day of debates and meetings, the House overrode all 27 vetoes issued by Gov. Jay Inslee as a way to speed up budget negotiations.
When things are slow in the Legislature
The Legislature is expected to adjourn for the year sometime Tuesday night (or maybe early Wednesday morning). But there's a lot of down time on the last day.
Legislature passes budget
OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a compromise budget that makes incremental changes to programs that could ease problems in mental health, a teacher shortage and homelessness.
Stuckart defends pay raises for Spokane City Council members
Today, we reported that Spokane City Council members are getting a 44 percent pay increase - about $14,000 a year - thanks to a decision by the city's Salary Review Commission. Apparently, the phones started ringing at City Hall.
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2016
Spokane City Councilwoman Candace Mumm files to run for county commission
Candace Mumm will seek to be the first Democrat since John Roskelley in 2004 to represent the northern portion of Spokane County on the commission.
Spec Session Day 19: Senate begins overriding vetoes
With a budget deal apparently in hand, the Senate is beginning to override Gov. Jay Inslee's vetoes of bills he nixed because the Legislature didn't pass a budget in the regular session.
Spec Session Day 19: Signs of budget progress
Legislators are being briefed Monday on progress in budget negotiations over the weekend and Gov. Jay Inslee said it's enough that he won't be vetoing bills later this week.
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 2016
Sunday Spin: Ideas to rearrange primary system have little shelf life
OLYMPIA – Every four years about this time, folks come up with better ways to pick the people who will be the major parties’ nominee for president in the fall.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 2016
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2016
Inslee signs transpo budget, other bills. No vetoes this time
Gov. Jay Inslee signs supplemental transportation bill, still waiting on operating budget.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2016
Senate panel wants documents on head of prisons
A Senate committee demanded records that include e-mails, appointments and travel schedules for the former head of the Corrections Department.
Spec Sess Day 14: Expect the Easter Bunny before a state budget deal
Deal on the state's supplemental budget unlikely this week.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016
Candidates take note: Electorates in WA, ID different from US
Washington's electorate is whiter and richer than the nation as a whole. Idaho's is even whiter, but poorer.
Bill Clinton, ‘awful legacy’ and the speech from Spokane on Monday
President Bill Clinton said Monday during a speech at Spokane Falls Community College the last eight years had left "an awful legacy." But a look at his full speech indicates his ire was not directed entirely at President Barack Obama.
MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016
Campaign visits over the years, updated
Our look-back at Spokane visits by presidents, presidential hopefuls and their spouses that ran last Saturday left a few out. We've updated it with a few more campaign stops that readers called to remind us of.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 2016
Sunday Spin: Democratic superdelegates lean establishment
Look. Up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. It's . . . superdelegate.
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016
WA prez primary ballot: Trump, Cruz, Kasich, Clinton, Sanders and . . .
The ballot for the May 24 Presidential Primary is set, and 4 Republicans are on it.
Sanders in Spokane Sunday
Bernie Sanders coming to Spokane Sunday evening as part of Washington swing.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
Obama has Kansas at end of bracket
Following his long-standing tradition, President Barack Obama filled out the brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament. He picked Kansas to come out on top. See all the picks inside the blog.
OPB has in-depth look at GOP lawmakers visit to refuge take-over
Oregon Public Broadcasting has an in-depth look at the visit that Rep. Matt Shea and other legislators made to the armed occupation of the Malheur Federal Wildlife Refuge in early January.
Can't attend Washington's Democratic caucuses? Fill out this form
But hurry. The forms are due Friday at 5 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016
Demoted corrections official says he was 'scapegoated'
A Department of Corrections official insisted an investigation into the computer mistakes that led to the early release of more than 3,000 inmates made him a scapegoat. But David Dunnington said he agreed with the conclusion that systemic failures led to continued delays of what should have been a top priority for the department.
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016
Supremes question constitutionality of I-1366
Last year’s initiative that told legislators to pass a constitutional amendment or face a cut in the sales tax presents several thorny questions for the Washington Supreme Court. Tuesday they posed those questions to attorneys representing the people who want to save Initiative 1366, and those who want it thrown out.
It's OK to tip at the pot store, state agency says
People who feel they've been well served at a state marijuana store can now leave a tip.
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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