Lawmaker floats idea of victims’ compensation fund
In the current budget year, the state of Washington is on track to pay 60-million dollars to settle damage and personal injury lawsuits filed against the state. That has some lawmakers alarmed,...
View ArticleLawmakers face budget blues in 2011 session
Washington lawmakers are singing the blues over the state’s budget woes. The legislature convenes Monday for a 105-day session. Once again, majority Democrats are confronted with a multi-billion dollar...
View ArticleSuperintendent fumes over Gregoire’s education plan
Washington voters elected him state superintendent of public schools. Now Governor Chris Gregoire wants to takeover his portfolio. Randy Dorn is fuming over the Governor’s proposal to create a...
View ArticleEducation vs. social services? House debates funding priorities
ListenLawmakers face stark choices when it comes to the budget. Those choices were on display Monday as the House voted on a cost-cutting bill. Democrats and Republicans split over what to cut next:...
View ArticleTreasurer, lawmakers seek constitutional amendment on pensions
ListenWashington's pension system is underfunded to the tune of nearly $7 billion. Now the State Treasurer and a bipartisan group of lawmakers say the time has come to force the legislature to pay the...
View ArticleOne year later: Did Idaho's "love letter" attract Washington and Oregon...
ListenValentine's Day is just around the corner. So we thought it was a good time to update a story from nearly a year ago. Last March, Idaho Governor Butch Otter penned a "love letter" to Washington...
View ArticleWorker retraining programs run dry at community colleges
ListenUnemployed workers are facing yet another obstacle as they try to get back on their feet. A lot of community colleges have run out of money to retrain them for in-demand jobs. It’s hard enough...
View ArticleForecast: State revenue projections take another big hit
Washington’s budget shortfall has now grown to $5.1 billion over the next two years. That’s the estimate from the Governor’s office after Thursday’s state revenue forecast. The state's chief economist,...
View ArticleTaking a broader look at the value of natural resources
ListenLawmakers in Olympia are struggling to close a $5 billion budget gap, and, like many state programs, natural resource agencies are on the chopping block. A study by a Tacoma-based non-profit says...
View ArticleMarchers arrive at state capitol as special session looms
ListenThe Washington legislature is headed for an overtime session. The Senate late Monday approved its plan to close a 5-billion dollar budget shortfall. But it is unlikely differences between the...
View ArticleIt's a do-or-die week for Washington special session
ListenIt’s do-or-die week in the Washington Legislature. A budget deal will have to come together over the next several days if lawmakers are to finish business within the 30-day special session.
View ArticleRunning Start students could face financial hurdle next year
ListenSome high school students are expected to ditch the state’s popular Running Start program this fall.The number of students who take advantage of the opportunity to earn college credit has grown...
View ArticleRevenue forecast up as tax idea loses steam
Governor Chris Gregoire is backing off her proposal for a half-penny sales tax increase. The shift comes after Thursday’s positive revenue forecast. It shows a nearly $100 million bump in state...
View ArticleState superintendent gives his proposal for school funding
The good news in this week's new Washington state revenue forecast has drawn the attention of everyone who wants some money for their department or program.But in a statement put out by Superintendent...
View ArticleBudget fallout: Juvenile re-arrest rates spike after parole cut
OLYMPIA, Wash. – We’re starting to see real world fallout from some of the state budget cuts made in last few years. One of the clearest examples in Washington is juvenile parole. It turns out that the...
View ArticleNew political dynamics, budget challenges face state lawmakers
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington lawmakers convene for the start of the 2013 session. They face a $2B budget problem, an unusual political dynamic in the state senate and hot button issues like gun...
View ArticleWashington lawmakers rack up hefty cellphone bills
During last year's legislative session that focused on budget troubles, Washington state Sen. Jerome Delvin racked up a cellphone bill that would make most users recoil: $309.21 in one month alone.It...
View ArticleInslee issues greenest-yet budget pledge for Climate Solutions
As the special legislative session gets underway in Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee says some of the most important parts of his two-year budget proposal are investments in clean energy.During a fundraiser...
View ArticleWashington budget deadline looms
Washington’s overtime legislative session ends at midnight on Tuesday. But there’s still no agreement on a state budget for the next two years.Over the weekend, the mostly Republican senate majority...
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