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The Daily, Non-Partisan Roundup of Washington State

Policy, Political News & Events

 

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POLICY & POLITICS THIS MORNING (top)

 

House passes domestic-violence bill opposed by Cantwell and Murray. WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday voted to reauthorize a domestic-violence bill opposed by Democrats and some moderate Republicans and denounced by some advocacy groups as weakening protection for victims. KYUNG M. SONG in Seattle Times

 

Liquor privatization sales go to state’s high court. OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Thursday over the constitutionality of a voter-approved initiative privatizing liquor sales. Associated Press

 

Wash. state Liquor Control Board to auction rights for 18 state stores. Washington’s Liquor Control Board will host a live public auction of the rights for 18 state liquor stores on May 24. JOANNA NOLASCO in Puget Sound Business Journal

 

Wash. Candidates For Governor Cite Different Jobs Figures. OLYMPIA, Wash. – Job creation is emerging as a top issue in Washington’s open race for governor. But the two leading candidates often cite different jobs figures. The state’s official unemployment rate is currently 8.1 percent. Republican candidate Rob McKenna though uses a much higher number. AUSTIN JENKINS in OPB News

 

GOP hopeful announces bid for Springer’s 45th District seat. Political newcomer Jim Thatcher announced Wednesday his candidacy for 45th District state representative, Position 2, currently held by incumbent Rep. Larry Springer, D-Kirkland. CARRIE WOOD in Redmond Reporter

 

Third Republican files to challenge Rep. Larsen. Another Republican has jumped into the race against Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett. PABEN in The Bellingham Herald

 

Marijuana activist files for Congress. A Spokane man active in efforts to legalize marijuana entered the primary for Eastern Washington’s congressional seat Wednesday. JIM CAMDEN in The Spokesman-Review

 

Dollar Donors: Money talks in politics, but how about a single buck? When John Dobmeyer decided to send a political contribution to Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, he didn’t have to think much about how much to send. ROBERT MAK in KING 5

 

Family of slain armored car guard suing the state. LAKEWOOD, Wash. — The state is facing a new lawsuit from the family of an armored car guard who was shot dead three years ago at a Lakewood Walmart. DENISE WHITAKER in KOMO News

 

Washington state’s share of the Skechers settlement. Washington state residents who bought a Sketchers shoe that promised toned buttocks will be able to get a refund. AP in The Seattle Times

 

BELTWAY (top)

 

House Burglaries Baffle Staff, Police. Puzzling break-ins over the last month at the offices of at least three House members and several committees have U.S. Capitol Police gumshoes working to find a pattern and the culprits, with missing items ranging from cash and expensive computer equipment to autographed baseballs and alcohol. JULIA EDWARDS in The National Journal

 

ECONOMY & TAXES (top)

 

Washington mortgage delinquencies up, foreclosures down. Washington mortgage delinquencies were up in the first quarter, but foreclosures fell, according to a new report. AUBREY COHEN in Seattle PI

 

U.S. economy perks up after early spring slump. WASHINGTON — Maybe the U.S. economy’s strength this winter wasn’t just weather-related after all. CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER in Herald Net

 

Confronting the looming ‘tax-mageddon.’ Unless Congress and President Barack Obama can reach agreement by the end of this year, steeply higher taxes — amounting to about half a trillion dollars annually — will slam the economy and most taxpayers, starting Jan. 1, 2013. For starters, 25 million middle-income taxpayers will be hit for the first time by the alternative minimum tax. SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON in Politico

 

EDUCATION (top)

 

Seattle School Board OKs bus-plan revamp, new leader at meeting. The Seattle School Board on Wednesday approved tweaks to the district’s much-debated transportation plan and moved toward allowing commercial advertising on some school property. BRIAN M. ROSENTHAL in Seattle Times

 

‘Gaydar’ is real says University of Washington researcher You’ve heard the phrase “gaydar,” the ability to judge a person’s sexual orientation based on looks or a gut instinct. A University of Washington researcher insists it’s real and he set up experiments to prove it. TIM HAECK in KIRO

 

OPINION: State’s focus on early learning garners grant, boosts goals. In Washington state, early learning as a key approach to improving academic achievement is as basic as using preventive health care to stave off illness. No surprise Washington is ranked No. 2 in the nation for quality and access to child care and early learning. Seattle Times Opinion
 

OPINION: Education reform in Washington: Promising new policies await adequate funding. The state has moved forward steadily with education reform. Now is the time for the public to throw its support behind new funding for the schools it wants, writes guest columnist Rosemary McAuliffe. Seattle Times Opinion

 

ENVIRONMENT & LAND USE (top)

 

State advises cities of dwindling water supplies. The underground aquifer in Eastern Washington and the Columbia River basin is on the decline, and about 25 communities could see their municipal wells go dry in as soon as 10 years. SHANNON DININNY in Seattle Times

 

Wildlife group sues for bat-disease documents. A wildlife advocacy group is suing the U.S. Forest Service for the release of documents that discuss the agency’s plans to keep a disease that has already killed millions of bats in the U.S. and Canada from spreading to the Northern Rocky Mountains. MATT VOLZ in The Seattle Times

 

Washington and Oregon struggle over blueberry research job. SALEM — There’s a tug of war between Washington state and Oregon over where to base a new researcher working on diseases that cause blueberries to rot. Associated Press

 

HEALTH CARE (top)

 

State awarded $128 million for Health Benefit Exchange. OLYMPIA – Washington will receive a financial reward for forging ahead with one element of federal health care reform this spring while many other states were holding back. JIM CAMDEN in The Spokesman-Review, see also GORDON OLIVER in The Columbian

 

Study finds coffee drinkers live longer. MILWAUKEE (AP) – One of life’s simple pleasures just got a little sweeter. After years of waffling research on coffee and health, even some fear that java might raise the risk of heart disease, a big study finds the opposite: Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer. Regular or decaf doesn’t matter. AP in KOMO News

 

PUBLIC SAFETY (top)

 

Yakama Nation opens $12 million, state-of-the-art jail. TOPPENISH, Wash. — Born of controversy over unsafe conditions at the previous facility, a new state-of-the-art jail was unveiled Wednesday by the Yakama Nation. PHIL FEROLITO in Yakima Herald

 

Army opens wide review of PTSD-diagnosis system. The Army announced a major review Wednesday of how it has handled the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder and other behavior-health problems during the past decade for soldiers under consideration for medical retirement. HAL BERNTON in the Seattle Times

 

TRANSPORTATION (top)

 

Last comments taken on Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll increase. OLYMPIA — The public will have a last chance to comment on new toll rates for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge before the Washington State Transportation Commission adopts them. Kitsap Sun