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Washington Legislature

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Recession, wrecking balls, and history

Posted Wed, Jan 7, 6 a.m.

The new year will be challenging for historic preservation in Seattle, but there are great opportunities and new initiatives ahead, too. Here's a breakdown of six front-burner issues for 2009. First of 2 parts

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2008: Year of Hope, Year of Fear. Essay 10

Posted Fri, Jan 2, 6 a.m.

The Northwest's progressive tradition is "shovel-ready" for some national programs.

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The suburban road for reviving local Republicans

Posted Wed, Dec 17, 6 a.m.

The key is to appeal to secular suburban moderates. This will be easier if the Republicans are not saddled with the Bush record and its three big calamities.

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We need new ferries. So why don't we get them?

Posted Mon, Dec 15, 6 a.m.

The state makes it almost certain that ferry bids will come in way over budget, in a misguided attempt to keep the jobs in state. Here are the latest sad figures.

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A peace treaty for the Viaduct wars

Posted Thu, Dec 11, 6 a.m.

An artful, if fragile grand compromise has emerged, late in an exhaustive process. Here's a look at its components and its politics — and what could blow it apart.

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Saving Puget Sound? Exactly how?

Posted Mon, Dec 8, noon

The Puget Sound Partnership has an Action Agenda, but so far no Answer Agenda. Here are some tough questions.

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Port of Seattle makes the case for audits

Posted Mon, Dec 8, 6 a.m.

Some would like to cut these performance audits from the state budget, supposedly saving money. Now is when we need them most.

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The Gravy Train to nowhere?

Posted Thu, Dec 4, 6 a.m.

With Obama's new New Deal gaining momentum, let's remain skeptical of big projects that are touted as economic saviors. States like ours may be desperate, but a boondoggle is still a boondoggle.

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Two ways to make deep cuts in government services

Posted Mon, Nov 24, 6 a.m.

Our local politicians are coping with austerity by sharing the pain and keeping nearly all programs alive for a future return. But what about the chance to be rid of programs that don't work?

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Restoring Puget Sound: It's the land use, stupid!

Posted Fri, Nov 21, 5 a.m.

The Puget Sound Partnership has produced its draft action agenda, tempered by the fiscal realities of the coming Legislature. It locates the real challenge: how we treat the land around the Sound.

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The Washington GOP: RIP?

Posted Tue, Nov 18, 11:08 p.m.

A Republican commentator faces the facts about the 2008 election and the trending toward blue of the Evergreen State. But that all points toward a Republican comeback in 2010.

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All the news that ain't

Posted Thu, Nov 6, midnight

A recovering campaign reporter witnesses the demise of journalistic objectivity, and wonders what will replace it.

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At last, E-Day

Posted Mon, Nov 3, 10:53 p.m.

Got time to read the state's hulking voter guide at the last minute? Neither do we. Here's the two-sentence version, our quick-and-dirty recap of the presidential, federal, statewide, and local races.

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Whom I voted for: Obama, Rossi, Goldmark ...

Posted Sun, Oct 26, 6:37 p.m.

Our senior political writer has been disappointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire. He explains why and outlines the other picks on his mailed-in ballot.

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Sound Transit 2 failure would be a political train wreck

Posted Thu, Oct 16, midnight

There's a good chance the Proposition 1 ballot measure to expand light rail will fail, stalling for years comprehensive transportation planning in metro Puget Sound.

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Frank Chopp's megaduct comes out of hiding

Posted Thu, Sep 25, 1 a.m.

The state House speaker finally goes public with a dramatic idea for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle's waterfront. It involves a long, block-wide structure with a highway within, commercial development below, and an intriguing park on top.

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Debate round one: Score two points for Dino Rossi

Posted Sun, Sep 21, 7 p.m.

The rat-a-tat format of the KOMO-TV debate allowed the GOP gubernatorial challenger to position himself as the change agent, the pragmatic post-partisan guy.

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'Me' for president

Posted Thu, Sep 4, 11 p.m.

How we yearn to see ourselves on a presidential ticket, why John McCain wants a "soul mate," and what the Sarah Palin pick says about the battle for the soul of the GOP.

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A state agency eyes public-private transportation funding

Posted Tue, Sep 2, 2 a.m.

No less than the Washington State Investment Board, which oversees public pensions, is giving serious consideration to government-business partnerships to make infrastructure improvements. Experts identify several possibilities, including the Highway 520 bridge rebuild, I-5 across the Columbia River, and improvement of ferry service.

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Election reflections

Posted Tue, Aug 19, 5 a.m.

A veteran political insider remembers good statesmen of the past and shares his choices for today's primary.

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Other media

Pricetag for a new Seattle Convention Center: $766 million Columnist Pete Callaghan is dubious: "The problem for Seattle and every other convention center isn’t that there’s too much demand, it’s that there’s too little. At the same time that the amount of venue space has doubled, the trade show and convention business has flatlined."

Gregoire's acting like Herbert Hoover And so are the 49 other state governors, says Paul Krugman

State ferry system may embark on downsizing strategy It will offer the Legislature a choice between status quo or major cuts in service and boats.

Fallout from Gregoire's budget message: lawmakers start talking tax increases The obvious first reaction: close the tax breaks to some industries. Gregoire hangs tough, for now, on no new taxes and no revisiting of tax breaks.

No money, but no end to requests for new state funding These big asks, like fixing Husky Stadium, have years of momentum, and none of the advocates want to disarm unilaterally.

Blog posts

Olympia's kudzu of commissions

Posted Thu, Dec 11, 11:51 p.m. 2008

Are you on the Apiary Advisory Committee or the Migratory Waterfowl Art Commission? Report to the budget office immediately.

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Is this any way to protect Puget Sound?

Posted Mon, Dec 8, 3 p.m. 2008

Gathered on the shore of Maury Island, residents wonder how we could be allowing Glacier Northwest to start loading nearly 3 million tons of gravel a year.

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Coming this spring: a tax increase

Posted Fri, Nov 21, 10:22 a.m. 2008

How to pass a tax increase with everybody saying they're against it.

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The 'do not buy' list for the upcoming state budget

Posted Fri, Nov 14, 2:40 p.m. 2008

With a looming $4 billion budget shortfall, the state seeks to keep the next biennium's budget as thin as possible. Here's a list of items likely to be cut.

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Let the infrastructure roll!

Posted Sun, Nov 9, 12:10 p.m. 2008

It's time to prime the economic pump, and local infrastructure needs are acute. But will the politics enable us to emulate China?

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Sausage Links, concessions of hope edition

Posted Fri, Nov 7, 1:50 p.m. 2008

There's still hope for state Republicans. According to columnist Joel Connelly, all the GOP needs to do is cut ties with its biggest backer — the Building Industry Association of Washington.

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The final call

Posted Wed, Nov 5, 2:01 a.m. 2008

While the final votes for governor are still coming out of the woodwork, there were several contested races that were easily won.

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Upset watch

Posted Wed, Nov 5, 1:03 a.m. 2008

While we're waiting to hear Pierce County's poll results, here's a look at a few down-ballot races with some expected and unexpected candidates leading.

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Live blog: Election night panel debate at Town Hall Seattle

Posted Tue, Nov 4, 5:42 p.m. 2008

The discussion features Crosscut contributor Knute Berger, Seattle Times columnist Joni Balter, and Democratic consultant Cathy Allen. C.R. Douglas moderates. There's drinks and prizes. It's free. The fireworks continue until someone concedes.

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Ballard natives for Rossi, and other signs of the times

Posted Tue, Nov 4, 11:40 a.m. 2008

Change taking place in one Seattle neighborhood, as seen on election day.

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