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A team of experienced reporters keep you updated on what's happening in political arenas at the city, county, state and federal levels. From presidential campaign visits to who's running for city council, we've got it covered.

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Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

Joe Turner has covered state government and transportation issues since 1990. Since the Bellarmine grad’s arrival in the newsroom in 1978, he’s covered police, suburban cities, Tacoma City Hall, Federal Way City Hall and the Pierce and King county governments. Email Joe

David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

Ian Demsky is a general assignment reporter who specializes in database-driven reporting. He's been at the News Tribune since 2007 and has previously worked in Nashville, Tenn. and Portland, Ore. When he's not at work, he enjoys hiking and science fiction. Email Ian
Les Blumenthal has been covering Washington, D.C. for The News Tribune since 1990, focusing on issues and politicians involving the state. Before joining The News Tribune, he spent 13 years working for The Associated Press in Seattle, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Email Les

John Henrikson is a local news editor who oversees political coverage. He's worked as a journalist in the Northwest for 19 years, supervising coverage and reporting on local and state government, the environment and growth. Email John

Local politics links
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Let's talk politics.
Monday, January 21st, 2008
Posted by Joe Turner @ 01:59:43 pm

That's what some of our readers made their top issues for state lawmakers during the 60-day legislative session that started Jan. 14.

Over the past 10 days, 828 people filled out our survey at thenewstribune.com. We asked them to rank their Top 10 WANTS and DON'T WANTS. We know it isn't scientific, but it's fodder for discussion and we hope it gives you an idea of what's on your neighbors' minds.

Here’s what our readers MOST want the Legislature to do: (Number in parentheses is how many times readers ranked that issue in their Top 10.)

1. Make everyone prove U.S. citizenship to get a driver license. (509)
2. Send child rapists and molesters to prison, even if they are related to victim. (469)
3. Send drunk drivers to prison at least one year after third conviction. (408)
4. Don’t use state funds to pay medical bills for illegal immigrants. (354)
5. Make sex offenders wear tracking devices so police know where they are. (339)
6. Make ex-convicts finish their full sentences in prison if they break terms of their release to community. (290)
7. Require liability insurance for all vehicle owners. (281)
8. Kick families off welfare after they five years of benefits unless they are disabled. (267)
9. Make drivers pay a $3 toll to drive on Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct and Highway 520 bridge. (254)
10. Let people with terminal illesses end their own lives. (242)

Here’s what our readers LEAST want the Legislature to do:
1. Spend $400 million in taxpayer money for an arena in Renton so the Seattle Sonics won’t leave. (559)
2. Let same-sex couples get married. (387)
3. Repeal the law that prohibits talking on hand-held cell phones while driving. (347)
4. Raise the state gas tax by 10 cents a gallon to pay for all of the projects voters were promised in 2003 and 2005. (314)
5. Get rid of the law that makes motorcycle riders wear helmets. (295)
6. Let ex-convicts vote right after they get out of prison, not wait until they pay all of their fines. (277)
7. Let the governor appoint all judges, instead of voters electing them. (275)
8. Remove the 1 percent lid on property tax collections so local governments can keep pace with inflation. (267)
9. Exempt all land or buildings owned by Indian tribes from state and local property taxes. (256)
10. Let all public employees retire with full benefits when they turn 60, as long as they work at least 25 years. (247)

There will be more about this in Tuesday's newspaper. But you can read the entire list and rankings for all 60 issues on-line now.

Aaron Ritchey, our survey expert, added a third category by adding the MOST and LEAST Top 10 scores together to show which issues are of most interest to readers, whether they support or oppose.

Categories: Legislature, Campaign news