In the Media
WASHINGTON state's budget crisis has everyone scrambling to eliminate government waste, find savings and possibly, end entire state programs. Despite all the bleak days in Olympia, there is one ray of hope still left coming from the capitol dome — Washington's capital investment plan.
This plan — the capital budget — could mean nearly 62,000 new family-wage jobs and $6 billion in increased economic activity throughout the state in the next two years. Now, we just need to make sure the Legislature doesn't raid the state's seed corn and damage our future by using capital funds to patch up the general government budget.
Josue Lopez isn't your standard-issue college hopeful.
The Skyline High School senior has a 2.96 GPA, dragged down by a bad freshman year. He has no savings accounts earmarked for tuition. There are no after-school tutoring sessions to help keep his grades up, no athletic achievements or alumni strings his parents can discretely pull.
State lawmakers admit they'll miss their budget deadline. That doesn't spell a failed session ... yet.
Their failure to pass a spending plan by Sunday's scheduled end of the 105-day legislative session can be minimized, even forgiven, if House and Senate leaders get right to work next week and bridge their remaining differences quickly. They should give themselves only a very short extension, and agree to limit it only to discussion of the 2011-13 budget and the bills needed to implement it.
One senator rose to say he was unsure it could be done. Another called it the first truly bipartisan budget "ever," comparing it half-seriously to the first moon walk.
Whatever its place in history, the state Senate voted 34-13 early this evening with nine Republicans joining majority Democrats to approve Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1087. The vote sends it back to the Democrat-controlled House for negotiations in a special session yet to be scheduled.
The 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 House and Senate can be reconciled by this Sunday's Easter deadline. Meanwhile Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports budget protests continue at the Capitol
As spring finally arrived at the Capitol, so did a group of weary marchers clad in orange reflective vests.
Sen. Derek Kilmer ascended this year to an influential role in channeling state-borrowed money to local projects – and immediately set about tightening the purse strings.
“Occasionally, we need to constrain ourselves,” the Gig Harbor Democrat explained to fellow lawmakers Monday, “to foster greater sustainability. Regardless of who’s in charge, we generally max out the credit card.”
Western Washington University men's golfer Dylan Goodwin and runner Sarah Porter were honored by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference on Monday, April 18.
Goodwin, who finished seventh at the Cal State Stanislaus Invitational while shooting a 54-hole total of 1-over par 217, was named the GNAC Men's Golfer of the Week for Apr. 10-16.
The Western Washington University men's and women's golf teams each lead the competition at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships after opening round play on Monday, April 18, at Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course.
The Washington state Senate approved Monday its proposed two-year state budget that slashes $4.8 billion in state spending, including deepening cuts to K12 education.
The 34-13 vote sets up negotiations with the House of Representatives and Gov. Chris Gregoire's office that will likely take the legislative session into overtime. The differences, few but large in money, between the House and Senate budgets seem too big to close between now and the end of session, currently scheduled to be Easter Sunday.
Welcome to the 2011 Wish Book — your opportunity to connect with local service agencies to help those in need. We asked agencies to share three needs — from volunteers to cash donations to goods both new and gently used. We know tough economic times are no match for the generosity of Whatcom County people, businesses and organizations. We present the Wish Book to assist high school students looking for potential senior projects, employee groups planning holiday donations, parents looking to teach the spirit of giving to their children and others in finding options for giving and making a difference in Whatcom County.