Posts Tagged ‘Washington’
WA: AG Orders More Security for Health Care Lawsuit Protests
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 02:11 Written by rslcpol Friday, 26 March 2010 01:12
From Olympia:
State Attorney General Rob McKenna’s staff is ordering a “modified lockdown” at the Highway Licenses Building today in anticipation of protests against the Republican’s lawsuit to block national health reform.
Activists with the progressive group Fuse and others are bringing 18,000 online petition signatures asking McKenna to drop his suit and “not to sacrifice Washington’s health for partisan politics.” They plan to gather at noon at Tivoli Fountain, then go to McKenna’s office.
Participants are expected to include Aaron Belenky, who created a Facebook group and petition that drew interest after Monday’s news about McKenna’s legal move. McKenna plans to join a dozen other states in suing.
Tags: Washington | Posted under Attorney General News | No Comments
WA: Dems trying to intimidate AG out of Health Care lawsuit
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 02:15 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:37
From The Seattle Times:
Democrats ratcheted up attacks on Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna on Tuesday after he made Washington a party to the 13-state lawsuit challenging the health-care bill signed by President Obama.
Democrats in the Legislature are considering a budget proviso to block McKenna from spending state money on the lawsuit.
“We are looking at that,” said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. “We’re researching it right now, but there is no decision yet.” In a letter to McKenna, Brown called his lawsuit “far outside the mainstream interests” of the state and asked him to reconsider.
Tags: Washington | Posted under Attorney General News, Dems Behaving Badly, State Legislature News | No Comments
Washington Legislature Starts Overtime Work
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 02:32 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 16 March 2010 01:40
From The Seattle Times:
State lawmakers returned to the state capitol on Monday to start an overtime session needed to balance a $2.8 billion budget deficit.
Senators started the special session with a bit of housekeeping Monday by re-voting on a handful of bills that didn’t make it all the way to the governor’s desk during the just-expired regular session.
The bills included a tax break for small businesses hiring new employees and the Senate’s version of an updated state budget. The budget was approved on a narrow 25-19 margin, with several Democrats again voting “no” – including Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, the Senate budget’s main architect.
Democrats argued they cut at much as they could.
Tags: Washington | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
Spending Increases in Washington State
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 02:37 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 11 March 2010 02:39
From The Seattle Times:
There was a lot of talk two months ago about making deep cuts in spending and reducing the size of state government to help close a $2.8 billion budget shortfall.
“We understand families are making very difficult decisions around the table,” state Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Bellevue, said in early January. “We’re going to make those same very difficult decisions.”
Yet as the legislative session nears an end, spending is on track to increase. Lawmakers are planning cuts but have apparently set aside efforts to streamline state government that many feel could ease future budget problems.
Tags: Washington | Posted under State Legislature News | No Comments
WA AG McKenna Unveils Proposals for 2010 Session
Last Updated on Wednesday, 6 October 2010 10:35 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 5 January 2010 02:47
From tricityherald.com:
OLYMPIA — Attorney General Rob McKenna unveiled a package of proposed legislation Monday designed to protect Washington’s seniors and disabled, children, domestic violence victims and consumers from those who would take advantage of them.
“These are incredibly important issues,” he said at a news conference Monday at his office in Olympia. “Much of the focus in this legislative session is going to be on the budget … but there are some people in the state who desperately need our help and attention and can’t wait for budget issues to be addressed.”
He was joined at the news conference by Sen. Dale Brandeland, R-Bellingham, and Reps. Al O’Brien, D-Seattle, Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, and Dean Takko, D-Longview, who are sponsoring various pieces of McKenna’s legislative request.
Tags: Washington | Posted under Blog | No Comments