Browsed by
Tag: House

WA lawmakers head into third session

WA lawmakers head into third session

Washington legislators are headed into an unusual second special session, still hoping to bridge stark partisan differences and avoid a June 30 deadline for averting a partial government shutdown. Dejected and weary lawmakers were closing out their 30-day special session Tuesday with little to show for their labors.  Gov. Jay Inslee, a freshman Democrat who once served in the state House himself, called a special session to convene at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. At a Capitol news conference, Inslee sought…

Read More Read More

WA budget battle is on: Taxes, cuts & Uncle Sam

WA budget battle is on: Taxes, cuts & Uncle Sam

In an unusual rush of budgetry at the Capitol, the Senate and House went public with their dueling budget plans within hours of each other, setting up a dash to adjournment within a few weeks. Both proposals rely on another round of spending cuts, more federal bailout bucks, fund transfers galore, and, yes, tax increases.  The prob: closing a budget gap of $2.8 billion, just a few short months after dealing with a $9 billion projected deficit. The Senate tax…

Read More Read More

‘Coach’ Quall dribbling off into the sunset

‘Coach’ Quall dribbling off into the sunset

A popular member of the Legislature, House Education Chairman Dave Quall of Mount Vernon, is retiring at the end of his term. Quall, 74, is an 18-year veteran of the House from the 40th District in Whatcom, Skagit and San Juan counties.  He has been a longtime leader on education issues and has mentored lawmakers from both sides of the aisle.  Quall’s Olympia nickname is “Coach,” a nod to his long career as basketball coach at Mount Vernon High and Skagit…

Read More Read More