The Politics Blog
Brad Shannon is political editor at The Olympian and can be reached at 360-753-1688 or bshannon@theolympian.com.
$11 nursing home fee bill passes Legislature
A fee proposal to spare nursing homes from $38 million-a-year in Medicaid cuts has just passed in the House on a somewhat bipartisan 54-38 vote.
Full Senate OKs contracting out in DES bill
A bill merging several state government agencies into a new Department of Enterprise Services sailed through the Democrat-controlled Senate this afternoon. Nine Democrats crossed over to join minority Republicans to pass a measure denounced by the largest state employee union.
Special session update: Day 22
Or as the state Republican Party put it in a news release today: "Washington Held Hostage, Special Session Day 22: No End in Sight."
Bill for new DES agency gets missing 12th vote
Republican Sen. Cheryl Pflug of Maple Valley jotted her name in support of the latest iteration of Senate Bill 5931. That twelfth vote moves the proposed merger of several state agencies into a new Department of Enterprise Services out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and closer to a Senate floor vote.
UPDATE - Prosecutors: No charges for 16 of 17 Capitol protesters
Sixteen protesters arrested at the state Capitol last month won't face disorderly-conduct charges if they stay off the Capitol Campus for six months, Thurston County prosecutors said today.
Eyman designing new tax handcuffs for 2012
Tim Eyman already has an initiative campaign in the works for 2011. He wants to limit the ways highway tolls can be raised – requiring the Legislature, not the Transportation Commission to do it.
'Zombies' to march on Capitol over budget slashings
Sounds like something out of a dark realm and a prank – and it sort of is. Self-styled zombies plan a slow march and "monster budget slash" event at the Capitol tomorrow – Friday, the 13th.
Gregoire to meet teachers after supporting pay cuts
Gov. Chris Gregoire plans to speak to about 1,000 Washington Education Association members late Friday afternoon in Tacoma. Will she get a frosty reception? Or is it a sign of the times that she might get some appreciation – despite her public embrace of pay cuts for public school employees?
Lawmakers negotiate release of hostage bills
The House Ways and Means Committee just passed a bill closing a tax exemption for big banks’ mortgage interest earnings. The party-line vote on House Bill 2078 is a sure sign that the Legislature’s 30-day special session finally is picking up speed on Day 16, but it's still a bit crazy to think lawmakers are close to getting done.
UPDATE: Revenue report: State collections still lagging
Last week's $182 million windfall from a tax amnesty program for businesses may be the only welcomed gift for budget writers at the Capitol. The latest revenue collections report from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council is actually down slightly – once the amnesty cash is separated out.
Regional Political News »
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Wisconsin's Scott Walker: Anti-union governor comes to labor town
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Drinking and tweeting get Larsen aides fired
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KING 5 poll: McGinn, Murray and Steinbrueck lead tight race for mayor
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State Facebook password law signed
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Districting committee unveils new county council and port districts
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Updated: More than 150 people sign up to testify on Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget
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