'Save Our Sonics' banner flying over Olympia

Spotted at 12:45 p.m. over the Washington state Capitol in Olympia: A single engine plane pulling a banner that reads "Save Our Sonics: Next Year is Too Late," with a TV helicopter in hot pursuit.

• READ MORE
• 1 comment

Rep. Helen Sommers will indeed retire

The second-longest-serving member of the Washington Legislature has confirmed she will not run for re-election. Longtime House Budget Chair Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, told me: “This is my last session. I’m not going to run again.” Asked why, she laughed and said: “Because I’m 75 years old and I’ll be 76 in a couple weeks. That’s why.”

• READ MORE
• 1 comment

'The Highway of Death' and taxes

U.S. Highway 2 between Everett and Stevens Pass is widely regarded as the most dangerous in the state, and yet getting money appropriated for making it safer seems to be an uphill battle. Could that be because local Republican legislators keep voting against highway taxes?

• READ MORE
• 9 Comments

How You Tube videos of spats are driving the Obama-Clinton races

• The Tyee (Vancouver)

Word is Rep. Helen Sommers might retire, and she's not commenting

One of Washington's most powerful politicians has been returning campaign contributions. That might not mean much at this early stage, but the Seattle Democrat, who chairs the powerful House budget committee, won't say she's definitely running again, either.

• READ MORE
• 5 Comments

Washington lawmakers plan to pass a major highway-tolling bill

No sense waiting: With failure of Proposition 1 in metro Puget Sound, they say, guidelines need to be established for the inevitable use of tolls to pay for transportation improvements.

• READ MORE
• 10 Comments

Shake-up at the Washington governor's mansion

Two top-level departures signal preparation for Chris Gregoire's 2008 re-election bid, politicos say.

• READ MORE
• 3 Comments

Another gubernatorial speechwriter bites the dust

As a seasoned executive and lawyer, Gov. Chris Gregoire proves to be a tough customer. But workload alone is an issue. Three people have held the job in two years.

• READ MORE
• 3 Comments

The 2008 campaign for governor is begun

Chris Gregoire hasn't officially announced a re-election bid, and possible GOP opponent Dino Rossi hasn't agreed to a rematch, but the fundraising and rhetoric are under way.

• READ MORE
• 5 Comments

Democrats try on the idea of Lisa Brown for governor in 2012

She's the Senate majority leader, she's from Spokane, and a serious run might necessitate a run for treasurer, first, to gain statewide name recognition.

• READ MORE
• 3 Comments

Outside gay-rights supporters quietly targeted Northwest legislative races in 2006

A Denver businessman has been coordinating campaign contributions in a number of states, including Washington and Oregon, to affect legislative races.

• READ MORE
• 5 Comments

Democrats feel accomplished, Republicans can only wait, and everybody's exhausted

The legislative session in Olympia is over, and the Democratic agenda is enacted. Here's a quick assessment of the ruling party's 105-day reign.

• READ MORE
• 1 comment

Washington House members answer to a higher authority: the piggy-bank cop

Meet Speaker Pro-Tem John Lovick, former state trooper.

• READ MORE
• 1 comment

The Democrats try to restrain themselves for the sake of the kittens

Frustrating for some, Speaker Frank Chopp's moderate agenda is designed to leave no one vulnerable when election time rolls around.

• READ MORE
• 2 Comments

An executive session is scheduled on the Sonics arena

One rep says a public subsidy is dead, but you never know.

• READ MORE
• 2 Comments

The wheels are coming off paid-family-leave legislation

Some major elements are still in flux: who gets covered and how to pay for it.

• READ MORE
• Comment Now

Reading the full, depressing report on parole supervision

The Washington Department of Corrections examination of what led to the deaths of three law officers is an account of mistakes, bureaucracy, misfortune, and systemic problems.

• READ MORE
• 3 Comments

A freshman Washington senator vs. the speaker, in their own words

A radio report from Olympia has been posted.

• READ MORE
• Comment Now

Frank Chopp breaks radio silence

The speaker of the Washington House sits for an interview.

• READ MORE
• Comment Now

It's crunch time for the Democrats' one-party rule

Speaker Frank Chopp has gone invisible to the public, but we are about to see how well he can keep his large majority together.

• READ MORE
• 4 Comments