"The problem with tainted money is t'ain't enough of it."
Former state Rep. Jeff Douthwaite, who served Seattle as a Democrat from 1971 to 1979, testifying Wednesday at the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee about how elections would be cleaner if they were publicly funded.
Update
A bill granting more rights to same-sex couples won approval in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, with Democrats and Republicans splitting along party lines.
Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, was among those voting for House Bill 1351, which creates a statewide domestic registry. It grants about 10 rights, such as the right to visit a partner in a health-care facility, to make informed consent decisions and to inherit in the absence of a will.
Noteworthy
Deceased legislators were honored in a ceremony Wednesday during a joint session of the Legislature. A special joint session hon ored the 15 lawmakers who have died in the past two years.
Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Thurston County, lit a candle during the ceremony to honor former state Sen. Dick Hemstad, an Olympia Republican who served from 1981 to 1989. Candles were lit for each of the 15 legislators.
Hemstad's son, Chris Hemstad, attended, and the ceremony had live music from the Olympia High School choir.
Compiled by Kurt Ackerson
Compiled by Kurt Ackerson
