State Rep. Hans Zeiger will talk to voters from his Puyallup-area district today during an hourlong conference call that starts at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Tacoma Reps. Jeannie Darneille and Laurie Jinkins will hold a similar joint call at 6 p.m.
To listen in, ask questions or answer poll questions on Zeiger’s call, dial toll-free (877) 229-8493 and enter a code, 17545. Zeiger, a Republican, represents the 25th district including parts of Puyallup, South Hill, Summit, Midland, Fife, Milton and Edgewood.
Democrats Darneille and Jinkins said they will make automated calls to thousands of constituents in their Tacoma-based 27th district shortly before …
UPDATE _ Malcolm Russell’s campaign adviser Alex Hays says he may not run for the open seat but might file against Democratic incumbent Tami Green.
“The release from Malcolm did not specify a seat – deliberately.
“Paul Wageman may move over to the open seat (he has yet to decide) and if he does, Malcolm will run against Tami.”
Here is the original post…
A Pierce County planning commissioner today became the first candidate to respond to this week’s surprising news that Troy Kelley would run for state Auditor.
Malcolm Russell of Lakewood announced that he would seek the seat in the Washington House of Representatives that Kelley will vacate. That is position No. 1 from the 28th Legislative District.
Russell will run as a Republican. Malcolm Russell
“The recent special session shows us how dysfunctional the majority Democrats have become, unable to adopt reasonable reforms and balance a state budget,” Russell said in an announcement Friday. “Olympia is broken and our only hope of repairing state government is to elect centrist leaders willing to make tough decisions.”
Russell said his priorities will be public education, government reform and promoting local job creation.
“We deserve a well-run, efficient government that is more innovative and spends tax dollars wisely,” said Russell.
Russell is a member of the Lakewood Public Safety Advisory Board, is the chair of the Pierce County Planning Commission and the new president of Keep Lakewood Beautiful. He previously served on the Tacoma Planning Commission.
Russell’s great grandfather is architect Ambrose Russell, his grandfather is Admiral James Russell (USN) and his father his Captain Ken Russell (USN).
For tomorrow’s papers, Brad Shannon and I rounded up a few of the major bills that passed this year in Olympia and some that couldn’t make it across the finish line.
First, the top 5 that flamed out, starting appropriately enough with…
FLAME RETARDANTS: Environmentalists couldn’t persuade lawmakers to ban toxic chemicals known as TRIS in children’s products.
STORM WATER: Environmentalists did defeat most of the proposed delays in rules meant to reduce polluted water runoff into the Puget Sound by mandating low-impact development. However, lawmakers did pass a package of environmental permitting changes, including delays for storm water rules…
It’s not out of the question that lawmakers will have to return this year. A bad revenue forecast this summer or fall could easily wipe out the 1 percent reserve of $319 million that lawmakers left in their budget as a cushion.
But barring that, this morning’s adjournment after an all-nighter was the last hurrah for several long-serving members of the Legislature, including Debbie Regala of Tacoma, Jim Kastama of Puyallup, Mark Miloscia of Federal Way, Margarita Prentice of Renton and Glenn Anderson of Fall City. Kastama, Miloscia and Anderson are running for statewide office.
Senators moved just after 4 a.m. to try to equalize health-insurance benefits for full-time and part-time school district employees and their families, with a proposal negotiated between Democrats and Republicans that was made public just minutes before the vote.
It passed with the bare minimum majority, 25-20, and was sent to the House over the objections of the state teacher’s union, which made a last-ditch effort against the proposal Tuesday.
Here’s the text of the bill, the last of three so-called reform measures demanded by Republicans. It mandates that school districts meet certain requirements, including making all employees pay a …
The Legislature has run out of time, and Gov. Chris Gregoire has called a new special session to finish up work to pass a budget, jobs package and the few remaining bills. Lawmakers have resumed after a two-hour break, and Gregoire said she hopes it all can be concluded overnight.
“No napping,” the Democratic leader quipped.
Legislative leaders from both parties in the House and Senate have agreed to hold the session to one day, Gregoire said. They have agreed to keep the agenda to the supplemental operating and capital budgets, bills needed to implement those budgets and a K-12 …
The second of three agreements on the so-called reforms demanded by the GOP-led Senate coalition easily passed the House, 79-19. The requirement for four-year balanced budgets now goes to the Senate for final approval.
One of the major changes, a cut to pension benefits, has passed the Senate and is awaiting House action. A third, dealing with school district health benefits, still hasn’t seen the light of day.
The balanced budget rule, a proposal by Puyallup Democratic Sen. Jim Kastama that a day ago was a major sticking point, has widespread support in its compromise form.
