government

State Rep. Hans Dunshee drives a 14-year-old Toyota Echo, lives in a modest home he partly rents out and otherwise survives off the income of being a state legislator — $42,106 a year.

The 60-year-old lawmaker used to run a small business designing septic systems…

A renewed effort by Sen. Michael Baumgartner to get tuition increases at Washington public universities under control was turned back Friday, but there might be a thin silver lining to the rejection.

The Spokane Republican had proposed a Debt-Free Degree Act that would have capped tuition…

Washington’s public colleges fared well in the 2013 Legislature, in the sense that it feels good when someone stops beating you with a stick.

During the worst years of the economic downturn, lawmakers had repeatedly raided higher education budgets to fund other priorities. Last year, they…

Four years after the Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United rulings unleashed floods of cash into our political system by shadowy "dark money" groups vying to influence elections, Washington state's own campaign finance disclosure laws may become more transparent under…

Western Washington University students wrapped up their second and final day in Olympia Monday, Jan. 20, by lobbying state lawmakers on a variety of topics.
Students lobbied first for renovations to Sam Carver Gymnasium.
Alysa Kipersztok, a junior political science student, was…

Seventy-five student representatives from Western Washington University traveled to Olympia, Wash., on Sunday, Jan. 19, to lobby state legislatures on behalf of student affairs for two days.
The students will focus on three main issues when speaking with representatives, said Kaylee…

Gov. Jay Inslee, saying he had changed his mind about spending more for education this year, proposed an additional $200 million for public ...