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Oregon Legislature

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Booth Gardner's campaign is selfless, not self-centered

Posted Sat, Apr 5, midnight

The former governor's death-with-dignity initiative has been described as the last ego trip of a control freak. But it's really a selfless act that helps restore a basic right.

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The Northwest whiskey rebellion

Posted Mon, Jan 28, 5 a.m.

Entrepreneurs are lifting spirits with a rash of new distilleries in the region, putting a little more zip in the agri-tourism boom.

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Outing Portland's 'hydro hogs'

Posted Fri, Sep 14, 1 p.m.

Willamette Week's annual report on the biggest water users survives an effort to keep the names secret.

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

Posted Mon, May 7, 11 a.m.

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

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Young gay-rights opponents get vocal in Oregon

Posted Thu, Apr 26, midnight

Hundreds of Christians of Russian and Ukrainian heritage have turned out in Salem to protest landmark bills.

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The Big Brother rebellion continues

Posted Mon, Apr 23, midnight

But not all Northwest states are on board with the Real ID secession movement yet.

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Other media

Dogless in Salem Oregon legislators want to ban dogs from the state capitol.

Winners and losers in the Oregon election Democrats made big gains in the Legislature, and the Tim Eyman of Oregon took a big tumble.

In Portland, a new stadium is a tough sell The majority owner of the Portland Beavers baseball team and Portland Timbers soccer team, who happens to be the son of the U.S. secretary of the treasury, wants to bring Major League Soccer to Portland. To do so, he wants to build a new baseball stadium for the Beavers and renovate the current stadium — with taxpayer help.

Democrats in Oregon House aim for magic number of 36 seats The Obama surge and thousands of new voters make the Democrats dream of a majority that would enable them to raise taxes without Republican votes. Oregon Senate will remain safely Democratic as well.

A state panel and the governor advocate expansion of Oregon's health plan It's not clear the Legislature will go for it. A new plan would expand a tax on hospitals and Medicaid managed care organizations.

Blog posts

Sausage Links, pork barrel edition

Posted Fri, Oct 3, 5:29 p.m.

What's the most important news of the day? It's not the passage of the Wall Street bailout bill. It's not the pundits' reactions to last night's vice-presidential debate. No. The most important news item of the day is that Saturday, Oct. 4, is the last day to register to vote. So if you haven't already, do it. ...

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Sausage Links, cheap shot edition

Posted Tue, Sep 30, 2:10 p.m.

The folks at Horse's Ass report that while state Attorney General Rob McKenna has already filed suit against the Building Industry Association of Washington for multiple campaign finance violations, new evidence suggests that Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi may have "actively solicited funds" on behalf of the BIAW. If it's true it would be a deadly blow to Rossi's campaign. While the big papers haven't yet caught on, I guarantee you'll be reading about "buildergate" tomorrow. ...

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Sausage Links, budget deficit edition

Posted Mon, Sep 22, 1:38 p.m.

David Goldstein at Horse's Ass wrote over the weekend – post gubernatorial debate – that "there is no state budget deficit," prompting me to wonder what the hell he was talking about. I thought, "Did I miss something?" As Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire said in Saturday's gubernatorial debate, the state is currently generating a surplus. But it has been widely reported – even by Horse's Ass blogger Josh Feit – that the state faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit in the coming years. Gregoire even told The Seattle Times on Friday that she expects a deficit next year. So what gives? The folks at Washington Policy Center Blog put it another way:

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Sausage Links, Caddyshack edition

Posted Wed, Sep 10, 1:16 p.m.

The Oregonian reports that a popular driving range in Oregon is asking golfers to cast their "swing votes" by aiming practice shots at 8-feet-tall metal likenesses of John McCain and Barack Obama. While no one is exactly sure whether people are trying to hit candidates they support or oppose, so far, McCain is in the lead. ...

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Sausage Links, assisted suicide edition

Posted Tue, Sep 9, noon

Geov at Horse's Ass is making his case for Initiative 1000, or the "death with dignity" measure. It is powerful stuff. He was diagnosed with a terminal disease in 1991, and through various surgeries and transplants he has managed to stay alive, though one or both of his non-native organs could fail any day.

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Sausage Links, Postman stops ringing edition

Posted Fri, Sep 5, 1 p.m.

It's a sad day for state journalism. Seattle Times chief political reporter David Postman, the author of the ever-popular Postman on Politics, announced today that after some 14 years at the paper, he will leave to join Vulcan Inc., a company founded and run by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The Capitol press corps appears to be devastated. I sure am. ...

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Sausage Links, top-two primary Cuban cigar edition

Posted Mon, Aug 18, 2:26 p.m.

Today is "Top-Two" Primary's Eve, and as usual, the pundits have circled and speculated about tomorrow's big turnout. But we'll get to that in a second. First, Oregon congressional candidate Mike Erickson has a lesson for us titled What not to do when going on a "humanitarian trip" to Cuba. In 2004, Erickson said he visited a Cuban "medical center, met with doctors, and attended a presentation on the plight of the disabled." But according to a recent story in The Oregonian, the medical center Erickson said he visited does not exist. The story goes on to say that Erickson and some friends spent nearly $1,698 each for the weeklong Cuban vacation, which conveniently coincided with the Habanos Festival, an annual celebration of Cuban cigars. ...

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Sausage Links, 'Everybody wants to rule the world' edition

Posted Wed, Aug 13, 2 p.m.

Angie Vogt at Red County Washington has posted an exclusive one-on-one interview with Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. However, don't expect attacks like those seen in Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire's interview with the Stranger last week – this one is fairly vanilla. From the start, Rossi channels the Obama-patented change mantra, saying "this election is not about me, it's not about Christine Gregoire; it's about changing the culture and direction of state government for a generation." It may be a sign Rossi is looking to court more independent voters like this. Or that he's sticking to the high road for now. His campaign, however, isn't so sure he'll be ahead after Tuesday's primary election. But they aren't worried. ...

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Sausage Links, money for nothing edition

Posted Fri, Aug 8, 12:15 p.m.

Was the latest Elway poll a little off? Released Monday, Aug. 4, the poll showed Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi by a whopping 16 points. Today, Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Joel Connelly says Elway "may be wrong." Meanwhile, both candidates are still sparring over Gregoire's recent accusations of racism in a Republican attack ad. Rossi, however, has responded by saying: How could the ads be racist? I'm part Native American myself. ...

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Sausage Links, slow news day edition

Posted Thu, Aug 7, noon

The editorial board at the Stranger posted their interview with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire yesterday – and boy, did she get defensive. Along with saying Republican challenger Dino Rossi's latest ads were "racist" and offensive, the governor got fussy on rapid transit relief, gay marriage, and the economy. Meanwhile, Fox News is making its case reporting on Gregoire's continuing battle with Republicans over tribal gaming compacts, while Rossi will reportedly be endorsed by the Seattle Police Officers' Guild later today. ...

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