All Politics is Local
Response to Manchester sounds familiar
It’s become a predictable response to an unfortunate event. A terrorist attack happens and the call for concealed carry permits from public officials increases. The awful bombing during the Ariana Grande concert, in Manchester, England, that killed twenty-two people and injured fifty-nine, was no different. Washington state Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, posted on Facebook […]
May 26, 2017 5:23 pm
Another week, another accusation from CCCU
Toward the end of Clark County council’s weekly hearing, councilors are given an opportunity to share whatever’s on their mind. This week, Council Chair Marc Boldt mentioned how he participated in this year’s Dozer Day event at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, which showcases heavy construction equipment. “They only let me on […]
May 26, 2017 5:10 pm
Why Bob Stevens is still technically deputy county manager
Not much information new information has surfaced since the unexpected ouster of Clark County Manager Mark McCauley last week. Earlier this week, I contacted Bob Stevens, deputy county manager, for a story I’m working on and asked what his specific title is these days. “I’m sticking with Deputy County Manager for a number of reasons,” […]
May 19, 2017 4:19 pm
Inslee vetoes Pike’s bill
Gov. Jay Inslee has signed hundreds of measures into law this session and vetoed only a handful. One of the bills he struck down recently was a measure championed by Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas. The bill, which Pike made one of her priorities to pass this session, aimed to broaden the scope of what could […]
May 18, 2017 6:51 pm
Ferguson believes a special counsel is needed to investigate Russia
Attorney General Bob Ferguson said firing the FBI director is “troubling to the extreme” on Friday. “And the contradictory reasons for it, everything about it is problematic from my standpoint,” Ferguson told The Columbian. Ferguson joined other 20 other attorney generals asking for an independent special counsel to look into Russia’s involvement in the presidential […]
May 12, 2017 3:13 pm
Levanen suspects something fishy with federal funds spent in Clark County
At this week’s Clark County council hearing, Councilor Julie Olson had a message for Carol Levanen, the executive secretary of property rights group Clark County Citizens United: The county isn’t misappropriating federal funds. What set off the exchange was the council’s discussion of the Clark County Department of Community Services plan for its Community Development […]
May 12, 2017 12:00 pm
Maddow’s take on Benton
In this week’s version of “Don Benton goes to D.C.” it’s Rachel Maddow, of MSNBC, who takes note of Benton in a segment titled, “Poor hires may explain poor performance of Trump administration.” Benton is a microcosm, Maddow said, for Trump’s administration. The subtitle of the program is, “Rachel Maddow looks at how Donald Trump’s […]
May 6, 2017 5:37 pm
‘My Bible, my concealed carry, cash’ (and marijuana)
It’s been illegal to process, produce or sell marijuana in unincorporated Clark County since county commissioners passed an ordinance since 2014 preventing the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry from taking root. Since then, the Republican-dominated county commission became a Republican-dominated council, but it still hasn’t shown any signals that it’s willing to reverse its stance on […]
May 4, 2017 5:47 pm
No politician? No problem – the empty chair town hall trend
Since the start of the year, progressive groups have taken a page from Republicans who once showed up in full force at town halls held by Democrats to voice their opposition, usually quite loudly. Republicans have reacted to the town hall barrages by adopting a range of strategies, including simply skipping town halls to holding […]
April 28, 2017 2:29 pm
Nation, meet Don Benton
Nearly every week, the nation gets to know Clark County’s very own Don Benton a little bit more. The former Washington state lawmaker continues to make national headlines. This week, Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, of Illinois, who happens to be an Iraq war veteran, took some time to talk about Benton’s appointment to oversee the […]
April 28, 2017 2:21 pm