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Microsoft goes strong on 520
Microsoft has started a huge new campaign to get the legislature to (finally) approve moving forward on the 520 bridge. The Seattle PI covered it here http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/195479.asp Microsoft even has their own website for the campaign, and a full page newspaper ad. I’m starting to get mail from people about it, and I agree. I…
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Mr. Yuk
Mr. Yuk came by to lobby for the poison control center in the budget. It’s easy to get attention when you wear crazy costumes, though it looks like it’s difficult to get through doorways. I spend a lot of time at my desk, but he got me out of my office. I’m glad I don’t…
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Using the Gavel
I’ve had a couple of questions about the hearing we held this weekend on the Senate bill to temporarily suspend Initiative 960. I’ll write about the bill elsewhere but I wanted to talk briefly about how difficult it is to manage a large hearing on a contentious issue. This particular hearing was held at 9:00…
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Eastside residents invited to February 20 town hall with local legislators
CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT Eastside residents invited to February 20 town hall with local legislators February 11, 2010 State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue) and Reps. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) invite Eastside residents to a Town Hall on Saturday, February 20 for a discussion of the current legislative session. The legislators will provide updates on…
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New Economic Forecast Available
The Washington Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (of which I am a member) released its Washington State Economic Review on Friday. The document is a pretty good read. It comes out a week before our revenue forecast does and experienced tea leaf readers can often predict the revenue forecast from this document. Flat is the…
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How Much is Enough?
A constituent asked me the following questions in email this week and I think the answers are worth pointing out. 1) Can you show me the studies that indicate there is a correlation between money spent per student and student achievement? It would be good to know that spending more money would get better results.…
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Taxing Gold Bullion?
One of the first things new legislators say to me when they review the “Tax Exemptions 2008” report from the department of revenue is that we should eliminate the tax exemptions for gold bullion and bull semen sales. They stick out as crazy exemptions. NPR even did a story on the bullion loophole. Governor Gregoire…
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School Funding post-McCleary
I have not yet completely read the long opinion Judge Erlick issued yesterday in a court case brought by school districts, parents, and educator groups but I’m excited by the summary and the implications for a positive impact on school funding in Washington. The judge ruled that the state does not adequately fund public education…
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Court rules against state on school funding!
Today Judge John Erlick of King County Superior Court ruled that the state not met its constitutional requirements for “ample” funding of schools. I’m still working my way through the ruling, but released the following statement earlier today. Statement from Rep. Ross Hunter on King County Superior Court’s school funding ruling “Today’s court ruling doesn’t…
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520 Generates Controversy
As usual, every time we take a step forward on the 520 Bridge project we generate a bunch of controversy. In December the 520 Legislative Workgroup released its recommendation for the “A+” design option. I’ve written extensively abou tthis and you can read my blog of search local news sites for news about the 520…