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Washington Governor

Crosscut most recent

Gale force ferry service warnings

Posted Wed, Feb 8, 2 a.m.

The state is talking about cuts in the neighborhood of 40 percent. But would such drastic cuts really happen?

READ MORE 2 COMMENTS

When there's no cost to them, Olympia's liberals stand strong

Posted Tue, Feb 7, 2 a.m.

On gay marriage and other social issues, they are all in. And that's good. But what about paying for education, social services, investing in our future? Leave that to ... Bill Gates Sr.

READ MORE 10 COMMENTS

How the 'Seattle Times' misread the state budget

Posted Fri, Feb 3, 2 a.m.

The Times has criticized the legislature for its negligence in cutting budgets for higher education. Here's what they're missing about the state budget process.

READ MORE 2 COMMENTS

Prescription for abuse: difficulties for reform efforts

Posted Mon, Jan 23, 2 a.m.

Too many people are abusing painkillers, many of them young. Very few abusers are in treatment. And it won't be easy reversing a history of lax oversight.

READ MORE 4 COMMENTS

Prescription for abuse: Washington tries to get serious

Posted Sun, Jan 22, midnight

Responding to concerns about excessive prescribing of drugs, Washington state has new rules in effect. But will it make a difference in a trend that is claiming more lives nationally, including among the young?

READ MORE 5 COMMENTS

State recovery slowed by public sector job losses

Posted Fri, Jan 20, 2 a.m.

The cutting mantra is slowing Washington state's recovering, according to the state economist.

READ MORE 8 COMMENTS

Are we the Barbarians we've been waiting for?

Posted Fri, Jan 20, 2 a.m.

The decline and fall of Seattle, the state, the empire.

READ MORE 19 COMMENTS

Hi, my name is Washington, and I have a revenue problem

Posted Tue, Jan 17, 2 a.m.

Gov. Gregoire has proposed a half cent sales tax increase to plug the growing gap between Washington's spending and revenue. Here's why we need a longer-term tax solution.

READ MORE 24 COMMENTS

Beyond church-state separation: a fresh role for religion in public life

Posted Thu, Jan 12, 2 a.m.

Whether shaped by religious faith or not, our world views are relevant to how we make public choices as well as personal ones.

READ MORE 6 COMMENTS

As numbers of uninsured rise, health cuts concerns mount

Posted Wed, Jan 11, 2 a.m.

A doctor tells legislators: Yes, the lack of insurance does cause deaths. The lawmakers got an early briefing on declining access to health care, which could worsen with further state budget cuts.

READ MORE 2 COMMENTS

Bright spot: Washington wins federal award for insuring kids

Posted Thu, Jan 5, 11:30 a.m.

Tens of thousands more children have health insurance now, despite the state's having reached the grim milestone of 1 million uninsured residents last year. Washington is also the only Western state to win federal awards in 2011 for both early learning and children's insurance programs.

READ MORE 9 COMMENTS

Washington's Senate will be the battleground for legalizing gay marriage

Posted Wed, Jan 4, 3:41 p.m.

Gov. Chris Gregoire called for gay-marriage bills to be introduced in the Washington House and Senate next week, but some lawmakers say the legislation will need to win more votes to pass in the Senate.

READ MORE 3 COMMENTS

Unkindest cuts in Olympia: Kate's story

Posted Wed, Jan 4, 2 a.m.

While Occupy protesters were in Olympia, the quiet testimony of a disabled woman named Kate put a human face on the drastic cuts the legislature and the governor are contemplating.

READ MORE 11 COMMENTS

Why liberalism is dead here: pandering and premature capitulation

Posted Tue, Jan 3, 2 a.m.

What's the matter with Washington? An ex-legislator decries the way Democrats roll over without a fight, pass bogus budgets, and then claim Tim Eyman made them do it.

READ MORE 16 COMMENTS

Best of 2011: Scientists zero in on culprits behind Puget Sound water problems

Posted Fri, Dec 30, 2 a.m.

New studies of where pollutants originate give scientists a clearer idea of where problems lie. Who knew that so much trouble comes from forest lands?

READ MORE 5 COMMENTS

The Legislature adjourns - and kicks the tough questions down the road, again

Posted Fri, Dec 16, 2 a.m.

Bookkeeping gimmicks, calendar juggling, and one-time windfalls won't patch up the state budget for long. But at least the special session laid some groundwork for serious work next time.

READ MORE COMMENT NOW

Legislature likely to leave some pink slips before holidays

Posted Sun, Dec 11, 12:15 p.m.

Halfway through their special session, lawmakers aren't following Gov. Chris Gregoire's suggestions for budget action. But some action can be expected before Christmas.

READ MORE 2 COMMENTS

Cutting-edge research is whittled by state

Posted Wed, Nov 30, 2 a.m.

The state's Life Sciences Discovery Fund grew out of the tobacco settlement with big hopes for promoting health and jobs in Washington. But even with employment looking good in the biotechnology area, politicians are pulling back on investment.

READ MORE 1 COMMENTS

Gregoire tax package deserves legislature's OK

Posted Mon, Nov 28, 2 a.m.

Will Republicans act on state needs or be hobbled by anti-tax pledges? Former GOP governors could make a difference on the side of responsible action.

READ MORE 11 COMMENTS

Instead of cutting the cities' revenue share, should we trim some special districts?

Posted Tue, Nov 22, noon

A profusion of special purpose districts collect state money and taxes for everything from mosquito control to 'television reception improvement'. Cities and counties might do their jobs better, for less.

READ MORE 11 COMMENTS

Washington Governor Blog posts

Last chance for some late election shuffles

Posted Sat, Feb 4, 11:11 a.m.

The Republicans need a good candidate for the new 1st Congressional District, and the Democrats need a better gubernatorial candidate. Answers below.

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Legislature looks other way on the budget

Posted Thu, Jan 26, 4:15 p.m.

The governor might start to consider whether she needs to provide an incentive to take the state's fiscal picture more seriously.

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Gregoire presents early Christmas present to reformers

Posted Fri, Dec 16, 2 a.m. 2011

The governor's press conference unveiled strong moves for leaner management and a push toward privatization of the lottery. In addition, a number of senators from both parties are working on a constitutional amendment to block initiatives that require spending but fail to provide the needed funding.

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What is the Legislature's thinking in ending its session?

Posted Wed, Dec 14, 2:15 p.m. 2011

Perhaps Europe is about to enjoy a sudden economic revival that will sweep its good tidings here? Otherwise, this failure to act more concretely on the budget is another sign of the need to give the governor more budget-cutting discretion.

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Midday Scan: Inslee's inconvenient truth; Locke tells truth in China; school's junk food policy doubted

Posted Mon, Dec 12, 11 a.m. 2011

The election is nearly a year away, but the Inslee campaign for governor already looks like a sure loser against Rob McKenna. Should Inslee quit Congress to try to pull it out? And, there is almost equal doubt about the effectiveness of the Seattle Public Schools' stance against junk food in high schools.

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New 737 battle: Gregoire makes a move

Posted Wed, Nov 16, 4 p.m. 2011

A new study shows opportunities for the state to improve its chances of landing the next generation Boeing 737 MAX but Texas shapes up as a tough competitor.

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Senators seek wide review of proposal for shipping coal to China

Posted Tue, Nov 8, 6:30 a.m. 2011

The mostly Democratic state senators want consideration of the effects on communities along the rail route to the proposed terminal near Bellingham.

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An ill wind blows out of Olympia

Posted Fri, Nov 4, 3 p.m. 2011

Pity the state government. But your real worry should be about municipalities, who are going to be stuck with their own excesses and the problems of the states.

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Midday Scan: Thursday's top stories around the region

Posted Thu, Oct 27, 11 a.m. 2011

Gregoire wades into more budget cuts; finger pointing at Monroe Penitentiary; rising count for homeless students in Seattle Schools; an unadmiring portrait of the powerful Kemper Freeman and family; and a Viadoom report.

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Midday Scan: Thursday's top stories around the region

Posted Thu, Sep 29, 11 a.m. 2011

A daughter's powerful letter about the still-unsolved assassination of her father, federal prosecutor Thomas Wales; senatorial politics; raw political maneuvering in Snohomish County; Gregoire vs. liquor privatization.

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Gregoire's tax effort hits a roadblock Publicola reports, "Although legislators, small and big business, and city officials and representatives claimed to be close to a compromise on Gov. Chris Gregoire’s controversial proposal to consolidate all business and occupation tax collections at the state level, there was no sign of mutual understanding at today’s senate ways and means committee meeting, where big business and the governor’s office squared off against small businesses and cities for and against the proposal."

PUBLICOLA | COMMENT NOW

Inslee presents his jobs plan (and the GOP is not impressed) Brad Shannon writes, "The Washington State Republican Party has complained that Inslee took months before laying out his plan. But the party was no less critical once it saw the product."

THE OLYMPIAN | COMMENT NOW

Gregoire in search of an aerospace chief The Herald reports, "Gov. Chris Gregoire is seeking a director to organize and manage the newly created Governor's Aerospace Office."

HERALD (EVERETT) | COMMENT NOW

Gregoire demands 'Lean management' for all state agencies The Olympian reports, "The Lean philosophy aims to break down management barriers, amplify workers’ voices in designing the work process, cut waste in time and materials, and improve the product."

THE OLYMPIAN | COMMENT NOW

Is Gregoire trampling on religious liberty? William Mumma contends: "Some pharmacists and pharmacy owners have religious beliefs that conflict with Gregoire's agenda, and she would rather put them out of business than accommodate their consciences."

WALL STREET JOURNAL | COMMENT NOW

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