Citing the convoluted process by which voters are currently attempting to recall the Pierce County auditor-treasurer and the city of Pacific’s mayor, the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Thursday held hearings aimed at establishing a coherent set of rules for removing a public official from office. Because of a lack of clarity in...
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For The Olympia Report Sen. Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane) on Wednesday announced a strategy that would help Washington retain and grow thousands of Boeing aerospace jobs by introducing legislation to make Washington a right-to-work state if worker’s compensation insurance rates continue to increase. Baumgartner, who serves on the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee, said...
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Washington state lawmakers on Tuesday considered a bill that would impose even stiffer penalties on drunk drivers, including a provision that would require ignition-interlock devices be installed on a suspect’s car even before he or she was actually convicted of a crime. Washington state lawmakers may be back in town to work on a...
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Washington State Lt. Gov. Brad Owen said on Thursday one possible solution for the difference of opinion over the budget that’s made necessary a 30-special session would be for Democrats to stop extending the courtesy of a proxy vote to ailing GOP Sen. Mike Carrell. “At some point … you might have to say...
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The Republican majority on the Clark County Board of Commissioners was subjected to several hours of vitriol stretching into the early hours of Tuesday morning from liberals incensed by the appointment of longtime 17th District State Sen. Don Benton to head the county’s Environmental Services Department. Commissioners Dave Madore and Tom Mielke agreed last...
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Clark County’s commissioners, the controversy over last week’s appointment of Sen. Don Benton to head the local Department of Environmental Services still ringing in their ears, are expected to further incense liberals tonight by voting to abolish a host of business-related fees and regulations in an effort to attract employers to the community. “Unless...
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Whoever it was who said you can’t fight city hall obviously knew nothing about public records requests. Bothell resident Todd Hodgen knew better when he filed an information request last month with the King County Housing Authority for some basic financial information and, in turn, found himself the object of a background search. An...
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It isn’t as eye-catching as the bigger-ticket items in the package, but a component of the transportation budget bill passed by the Washington State Legislature last week calling for a work group to study refinancing options for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge could ultimately save toll payers millions on that project and be a model...
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Twenty-sixth District Rep. Jan Angel wasted no time transitioning from governing to campaign mode on Monday, launching her active bid to claim the Senate seat left vacant in November when Gig Harbor Democrat Derek Kilmer was elected to Congress, succeeding longtime U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks. Incumbent candidates are banned from raising money while the...
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Gov. Jay Inslee was forced to order a special session of the Washington State Legislature when lawmakers adjourned on Sunday far short of an agreement on a two-year budget. Republicans had urged the governor to start the extra session on Monday to underscore the urgency of completing the task as soon as possible. Democrats...
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