Political Beat
Dark money in politics
As Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the U.S. Senate this November, they are getting help from so-called "dark money," according to a Washington State University researcher who keeps an […]
Where’s the kingmaker?
County Commissioner David Madore is no stranger to dipping into his deep pockets for political purposes. He first burst on the scene, after all, when he funneled nearly $180,000 out of […]
McMorris Rodgers, highest ranking woman in GOP and mentor to JHB, accused by staffer of ethics violations
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, of Spokane, the highest-ranking woman in the House Republican party, is being accused by her former communication director of numerous ethics violations. For the first […]
Is the Congressional town hall “on death’s doorstep”?
U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Buetler, R-Camas, has repeatedly been criticized for avoiding the traditional town hall format. Turns out, she's not the only one. Earlier this month, the Huffington Post ran an article […]
Brian Baird blasts powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee in national magazine
Not long after taking office, former Congressman Brian Baird went on an all-expense paid trip to Israel. The powerful lobbying group known as American Israel Public Affairs Committee picked up the […]
Should lawmakers be held in contempt?
Another showdown between the Washington Supreme Court and state lawmakers over public school funding is slated for 2 p.m. on Sept. 3. The state's top court is asking why it shouldn't […]
OR least corrupt, but WA not far behind
According to reporting from The Washington Post, the Evergreen state registered 1.62 corruption convictions per 100,000 public employees between 1976 and 2008. Surprisingly, not bad. And only our neighbor to the south, […]
Updated: Herrera Beutler, charter spurned by Republican PCOs
Here's an updated dispatch from county beat reporter Tyler Graf: Sometimes in politics, silence speaks louder than words. And if that’s the case, then Thursday’s meeting of Republican precinct committee officers laid […]
Women’s right to vote
Only 28 percent of Clark County's registered voters showed up to vote this primary. Donna Quesnell would like to see that change. "When we think of the decades and the hardships our […]
Say it with me, “What gets cut?”
I’m pretty new to covering politics at The Columbian, but because I arrived as election season was heating up, I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on quite a few […]