Political Buzz

Political Buzz » 2007 » September (Page 2)

Political Buzz

Talking WA politics.

Archives: Sep. 2007

Sep.
26th

How would Burner vote (if she had a vote)?

State Republicans are taking names of those who have and haven’t condemned MoveOn.org for its New York Times add attacking Gen. Petraeus as Gen. Betrayus. So far, they count four of the state’s Democratic members of Congress as voting yes (Brian Baird, Adam Smith, Norm Dicks and Rick Larsen) on resolutions critical of MoveOn and four voting no( Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott).


But in a press release, state GOP Chairman Luke Esser wonders why Darcy Burner hasn’t condemned the group.


"Four of Washington’s Democratic congressional delegation members, Representatives Baird, Dicks, Larsen and Smith,

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Sep.
24th

Reichert goes after “murderabilia” market

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert has scheduled a news conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to talk about legislation he’s co-sponsoring that’s aimed at shutting down the “murderabilia” market. Les Blumenthal wrote a story on Sept. 10 about the market for items previously owned by serial killers.


The bill would prohibit state or federal prisoners from placing almost any item into the mail for purposes of interstate commerce.


Reichert, R-Auburn, is co-sponsoring the measure with Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind. A similar measure, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is pending in the Senate.

Sep.
24th

Bunney leads in county exec fundraising

The recent announcement that Pierce County Council Chairman Terry Lee will drop out of the 2008 county executive’s race and run instead for assessor-treasurer left only one announced candidate for exec: Councilman Calvin Goings, D-Puyallup.


But records on file with the state Public Disclosure Commission tell a different story.


Though he demurs when asked whether he’s running for executive, County Councilman Shawn Bunney, R-Lake Tapps, has raised $142,555 in cash and in-kind contributions through August for the executive’s race. To see his latest campaign summary, click here. Goings has raised $96,078 through August. To see

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Sep.
21st

Mr. Curry went to Washington

David Curry, executive director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission and candidate for the Tacoma City Council, went to a White House roundtable discussion this week to discuss faith-based partnerships.


Curry was one about 100 people from across the country invited to join in the discussion titled "Compassion in Action: Expanding the Substance Abuse Treatment Paradigm: Faith-Based and Community Partnerships Toward Recovery Support."


It was hosted by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.


"We were one of the model programs," Curry said, referring to the rescue mission. It’s a bit ironic, considering the

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Sep.
20th

Gregoire names new chief of staff

Gov. Chris Gregoire today named Cindy Zehnder as her chief of staff. Zehnder is currently president and CEO of TVW, Washington’s public affairs network.


"Cindy’s breadth of experience in the Executive Branch, the Legislature, labor, business and media will serve Washingtonians well," Gregoire said in a news release.


Zehnder’s appointment is effective Oct. 1. She’ll replace Tom Fitzsimmons, who announced his resignation earlier this week.


Zehnder has previously served as chief clerk for the state House of Representatives, as deputy commissioner of the Washington Employment Security Department as well as numerous positions with the Teamsters union. She’s

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