Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Daniel Lathrop has a detailed examination of the the state's lobbyists and their contributions to political campaigns. It's rather vile (but not too shocking, considering that, you know, it's politics) to know that lobbyists have "raised and spent at least $18 million on political contributions" this year. For example, two dozen insurance company lobbyists have delivered about $265,000 to campaigns in 2008. Sixty-five lobbyists representing public employees unions have delivered more than $300,000 in contributions. The construction industry has pumped more than $1.7 million into the candidates' political war chests. And that's not the half of it. Read the whole thing.
Four more years: The editorial board at The Oregonian is recommending Washington voters re-elect Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire over Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, saying Gregoire "offers four years of impressive service as governor." ...
One more million: Manuel Valdes at The Associated Press reports Democratic challenger Darcy Burner, though trailing Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert in the polls, has outspent the incumbent by $1.2 million in her bid to take his seat in Congress. ...
Too much: An KIRO-TV (7) investigation led by reporter Chris Halsne has found approximately 24,000 felons in the state will receive ballots and have the chance to vote in the coming election. ...
Too little: Michael Ennis, director of the Center for Transportation at Washington Policy Center, has a guest op-ed in today's Seattle Times saying Sound Transit's light rail expansion measure, Proposition 1, is too expensive to justify the small improvements it would make to the region's transportation problems. Meanwhile, Larry Lange at the Seattle P-I reports that when Sound Transit's light rail system between Seattle and Sea-Tac Airport opens next year, several bus lines may be discontinued. ...
Horton Hears a Who: Still unsure of whom to vote for in your local legislative district race? Unsure who's running? Here's a list of legislative endorsements from the P-I. ...
Hog tied: In an effort to chip away at King County's $93 million budget deficit, county Executive Ron Sims is proposing to shut down the King County Fair, the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi. The County Council will vote on the proposal next month, and the folks at WashBlog already have some ideas on how to stop the proposal from going through. ...
Who do you think you are? State Attorney General Rob McKenna issued a non-binding opinion Monday saying Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' proposal to ban guns from city parks, community centers, and city-run buildings would conflict with the state's constitution. ...
And finally, Pierce County's oddball sheriff candidate, Robert "The Traveller" Hill, is outspending the county's incumbent sheriff, Paul Pastor, $28,059 to $23,812 in his re-election bid. Hill, who has been kicked out of Tacoma City Council meetings for exposing himself and agitating on behalf of female masturbation, hopes to upset Pastor, who is running for the first time since being appointed seven years ago. Though perhaps the unlikeliest of candidates to win on Nov. 4, Hill has managed to fund his campaign by selling parts of his "gold coin" collection. His campaign expenses include $222 for beer, $200 for "guard-dog food," $408 to towing companies for impound fees, and $294.85 for two battery chargers purchased at a Napa Auto Parts store. Read more here; it's one of the News Tribune's top story of the day. ...
