Les Blumenthal, D.C. bureau, 202-383-0008. E-mail Les.
Peter Callaghan, columnist, 253-597-8657. E-mail Pete.
John Henrikson, editor, 253-597-8651. E-mail John.
Lewis Kamb, City of Tacoma reporter, 253-597-8542.
E-mail Lewis.
Jordan Schrader, state government reporter, 306-786-1826.
E-mail Jordan.
David Wickert, Pierce County government, 253-274-7341.
E-mail Dave.
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
So guess what's on tomorrow's list of bills to be addressed by the governor: The toxic toys bill, which is formally known as the "Children's Safe Products Act." It bans lead, phthalates and cadmium from toys and other products designed for kids. Critics of the bill say it goes too far and would ruin Washington's [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Sen. Pam Roach is back. For those just tuning in, last episode: Roach had been chastised by Senate GOP leadership for making staffers spend too much time with her, complaining too much about other members and asking caucus staff to pledge allegiance to her ... She responded by accusing leadership of acting like monkeys, [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Our colleagues at the Associated Press tell me that Gov. Chris Gregoire is going to finish signing and vetoing the rest of the bills from the legislative session tomorrow, even though she has until Saturday to do so.
I've got a call into Marty Brown, the governor's legislative liaison and man-in-charge of souvenir bill-signing pens, to [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Two audits from the State Auditor's Office came today. Here's the findings:
1. The Historical Society apparently doesn't have a catalog of its artifacts, nor does it keep track of ticket sales.
2. The Department of Early Learning, doesn't keep track of whether criminal background checks were completed for their employees.
Click the links for [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Last week, I wrote a story about how the Steilacoom II-class ferry that the state wants to have built might evenutally end up on the Point Defiance-Talequah run. That would be a case of the 50-car vessel replacing the 48-car Rhododendron.
Then I got this e-mail I figured I should share with everyone. I'm not a [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Our McClatchy colleague, Chris Mulick at the TriCity Herald, wrote this story. I just stole it from him so you could read it here.
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
In about a half hour, Mark Mays is going to announce his candidacy for the congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers.
(No, it's not the football-player-turned-TV-commentator.)
Mays, 59, (he'll be 60 in April) was just on his way to make the announcement when I reached him on his cell phone.
Mays is a Democrat. [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
OK. I wrote that headline just to grab your attention. But it worked, didn't it? It's the rank-and-file who make the endorsements, but then they are the bosses in the union, right?
Those 12 are in the state House of Representatives. That's 12 out of 98.
Every campaign season we get the endorsement list from the Washington [...]
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
It
Joe Turner | March 31, 2008
Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri made it official Sunday: he
