Political Buzz

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.

Contributors

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
Brad Shannon's The Politics Blog (The Olympian)
Adam Wilson (The Olympian)
Politics Northwest (Seattle Times)
Sound Politics
Horse's Ass
Richard Roesler's Eye on Olympia (Spokesman Review)
P-I's Strange Bedfellows (Seattle PI)
Crosscut
SoundInfo Databases
State Employee Pay
Statewide School Employee Pay
City of Tacoma Employee Pay
Pierce County Employee Pay
King County Employee Pay
Metro Parks Employee Pay
City of Lakewood Employee Pay
City of Puyallup Employee Pay
Pierce Transit Employee Pay
Other Resources
Washington Legislature Bill Lookup
How your lawmaker voted: WashingtonVotes.org

Calendar
November 2009
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 << <   > >>
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30          
Archives
XML Feeds
What is RSS?
Misc
Who's Online?
  • cames75 Email
  • CustomScoop Email
  • Dirtdawg Email
  • swamback Email
  • Guest Users: 405
Let's talk politics.
Monday, January 5th, 2009
Posted by Joe Turner @ 05:17:27 pm

Is she in Washington D.C., waiting to annouce that she's taken a job in President Barack Obama's administration? (There is a fresh vacancy, you know.)

One of my sources said he couldn't tell me where Gov. Chris Gregoire is now, but assured me she would still be my governor in March. "She's not going to take Bill Richardson's place as Commerce Secretary. So you can kill that story."

But he wouldn't tell me anything else. And the governor is supposed to announce "something big" at 10:05 a.m. tomorrow.

Another source speculated that Gregoire has lined up a big chunck of federal money for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct, and she's going to announce it Tuesday. (And it would have to be a big chunk because that project keeps getting more and more expensive.)

It could be broader than that. Democratic governors are set to meet again with Obama this week about the stimulus package. Gregoire has been active in pushing for a large boost to state's with shovel-ready projects but there is no word as to whether she will be part of any meeting.

All this speculation started because the guv cancelled her appearance at the Associated Press legislative preview on Tuesday. She was supposed to talk to reporters and editors about the upcoming 105-day session at 11 a.m. Instead, we'll be getting the tag team of her legislative liaison, Marty Brown, and her budget director, Victor Moore.

That's like being promised Eva Mendes, and getting Cheech and Chong.

Here's what AP wrote:

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s whereabouts are unknown
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire is out of state, but her office won’t say where she is.
Gregoire was set to be the keynote speaker Tuesday at a pre-legislative session forum sponsored by The Associated Press, but her office canceled Monday afternoon. Legislative director Marty Brown will stand in for Gregoire at the forum.
Spokesman Pearse Edwards said that Gregoire will be making an announcement tomorrow morning, and that no further information would be released before then.