Treasurer says state's financial ranking now in top tier

posted 10:56 AM 07/18
Link this article here.

The state’s financial health got another good rating this week, according to state Treasurer Mike Murphy’s office.

Moody’s Investor Services moved Washington into its Tier 1 category in its U.S. States Credit Scoreboard 2008 rankings, up from Tier 2 last year and Tier 3 in 2006. That comes at a time the state expects to have a $800 million surplus in its 2007-09 budget cycle and a shortfall of $2 billion or more in the next cycle.

“This is good news and reflects the fact that Washington government is doing a good job at keeping a handle on its financial future,” Murphy said in a news release.

Ten states are in the top tier, Murphy spokesman Karl Roeber said. The others besides the Evergreen State are: Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

Moody’s uses the scoreboard in its credit analysis of state governments’ general-obligation bonds, but Roeber could not say the ranking would improve the state’s bond rating.

“In general, higher ratings can be expected among states with the highest statistical scores and rankings from the scoreboard — but there is no guarantee that it will necessarily have implications for a state’s bond rating,” he explained in an e-mail.

Reports examine sex-harassment claim vs. DNR's Sutherland

posted 02:45 PM 07/17

Details are again in the news today about a 3-year-old incident of unwanted touching and comments with sexual overtones from state Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland to a former young employee.

Ethics Board dismisses complaint against Sen. Carrell

posted 04:44 PM 07/16

The Legislative Ethics Board has dismissed a complaint against Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood that he improperly distributed two campaign-related brochures at a legislative town hall meeting in May.

posted 06:01 PM 07/15

Maybe Barack Obama rules in Washington state after all.

GOP Poll: Rossi even with Gregoire; Democrats scoff

posted 05:50 PM 07/14

A poll by Republican Dino Rossi’s own hired hand shows the race between Rossi and Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is a dead heat, with 45 percent of voters supporting each candidate and 9 percent undecided.

Gregoire budget guru: tax hikes need voter OK

posted 05:28 PM 07/11

Gov. Chris Gregoire tried to make clear yesterday that taxes are her “last resort” to close the $2-billion-plus budget gap next year.

UPDATE2: 12 now have filed for District Court judge seat

posted 05:53 PM 07/10

ANOTHER UPDATE: Make that a dozen. Ken Valz of Tumwater also filed.

Race for Judge Stilz's seat getting crowded

posted 01:36 PM 07/09

Three more candidates are running for Thurston County District Court — bringing the field to six lawyers running to replace the Judge Kip Stilz, whose recent death created the judicial opening.

Rep. Kessler says more evidence of privilege abuse needed

posted 09:32 AM 07/09

Lynn Kessler, the House majority leader and frequent backer of open-government initiatives, said today that more evidence of government wrongdoing may be needed before lawmakers tinker with the attorney-client privilege for public agencies.

"Top-two" warning nothing to worry about, Sam Reed says

posted 06:04 PM 07/08

State elections officials are shrugging off two letters from the state Democratic and Republican parties this week that warn the “top-two” primary scheduled for Aug. 19 is illegal.

Blog going on a break

posted 09:40 AM 06/24

I'm taking time off and won't be posting here until after Independence Day.

UPDATED: Jewish group assails BIAW over linking environmentalists, Nazis

posted 03:53 PM 06/20

The Anti-Defamation League is calling on the state’s Building Industry Association of Washington to apologize for a newsletter article in March that drew comparisons between the German Nazis of Adolf Hitler to the state Department of Ecology and the modern ecological movement.

UPDATE: Revenue forecast down $166.8 million

posted 02:50 PM 06/19

The latest revenue forecast shows a $166.8 million reduction over two budget periods, less than some had feared. When another $57 milion drop in legislative and noneconomic factors are added, the total drop is closer to $225 million, in line with some predictions.

Gregoire, Rep. Smith salute Boeing tanker ruling

posted 02:49 PM 06/18

Washington political leaders hailed the Government Accounting Office report today on the Air Force tanker contract.

Tomorrow: local forum on building heights

posted 11:28 AM 06/18

The battle over building heights on the downtown Olympia isthmus gets a preview tomorrow night with a forum sponsored by the South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse.