Political Beat
Benton’s chutzpah
A Democratic staffer who works in Olympia sent me an email last week, asking if I knew why Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, was at the signing ceremony for the transportation […]
Gas tax? What do you think?
Do you think Washington should increase the gas tax to pay for new roads? This November, if you’re a registered voter, you can weigh in. Voters can decide whether they think a […]
WA’s SOS Kim Wyman talks about the primary
When U.S. President Barack Obama was visiting Oregon during his first bid for the presidency someone asked him about the Hanford nuclear plant. "He didn't know what it was," recounted Washington's […]
Sen. Ann Rivers on her transportation vote
Earlier this week, the governor signed a 16-year, $16 billion transportation package that raises the gas tax by nearly 12 cents. Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, said voting in favor of […]
Longest-session ever
Back in January, Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, said he was keeping his apartment in Olympia through June. But even he was surprised lawmakers could stretch the 2015 legislative session through July. It […]
Clark County Commissioners weigh in on transportation
Clark County Commissioners Tom Mielke and David Madore did their part this week to convince lawmakers to vote against a statewide transportation revenue package. Here’s how Mielke put it in an […]
Not-so-special legislative sessions
The legislative countdown clock is ticking. I think. I hope. Should someone check its batteries? Lawmakers are fast approaching the end of a double overtime legislative session. On Thursday, the chief Republican budget writer […]
Lawmakers stop partisan bickering … for a moment
Republicans and Democrats spent a good portion of this week blaming each other on social media for the partisan gridlock that has resulted in two special legislative sessions and no […]
The special legislative session’s price tag
If lawmakers don’t agree on a budget by the end of this month, the state will start to shutdown. State parks would close, kicking campers out. Community corrections officers would not […]
Taking their talking points to Twitter
In the past couple of weeks, Washington lawmakers have spent time behind closed doors (presumably) negotiating a two-year budget. When asked about the details, many have repeated they “don’t negotiate in […]