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Spotlight
Decision Opens the Door to Even More Ballot-Measure Spending
Decision Opens the Door to Even More Ballot-Measure Spending
By: Erik Smith | Washington State Wire | Sept. 8, 2010

In a decision that could change campaign strategies for this year's initiatives, a federal judge has ruled that the state's limits on last-minute contributions are unconstitutional. It's another victory for James Bopp, Jr., the conservative attorney who has been picking away at campaign-finance restrictions nationwide. And in the state's biggest-spending year for initiatives ever, that means the enormous contributions can keep right on coming until election day.
Berkey Affair Heats Up a Thousand Degrees – Talmadge is on the Case, Demands Action From A.G. and Prosecutor
Berkey Affair Heats Up a Thousand Degrees – Talmadge is on the Case, Demands Action From A.G. and Prosecutor
By: Erik Smith | Washington State Wire | Sept. 3, 2010

A lawsuit to overturn the results of the Senate race in the 38th Legislative District became a probability Friday. Phil Talmadge is on the case. He gave notice to Attorney General Rob McKenna and the Snohomish County prosecutor that if they don't sue, he will. All because of a phony Republican mailer from the left that did exactly what it was supposed to -- destroy incumbent Sen. Jean Berkey in the primary.
Letter From Washington: War in Afghanistan Tops Concerns
Letter From Washington: War in Afghanistan Tops Concerns
By: Bob Keefe | Washington, D.C.

In this "Letter from Washington," Bob Keefe says America's military involvement in the Near East remains at the forefront of everyone's mind in the nation's capital. Meanwhile, Joe Miller's election as senator from Alaska portends trouble in Republican ranks.

Look Behind the Curtain!
By: Jim Boldt | Washington State Wire | Sept. 3, 2010
It’s a shame Washington citizens, and particularly voters, don’t take the time to look behind the curtain at think-tank reports. Do they actually know it is a word game, or cooked-up findings?

Yes, it comes from both sides. The conservative think tanks take a data set, twist the numbers, and shape the findings. The liberals do the same thing.

So today’s announcement by the Washingto...
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Me Fail English? That’s Unpossible!
By: Melvin G. Ashton | Washington State Wire | Sept. 2, 2010
It’s back to school time, and as a parent of children in our public school system, I’m shocked and dismayed by the “Not the WASL” test scores just released by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. And the most disturbing thing is not the performance of our kids, but the behavior and beliefs of the ‘adults’ running the show.

So, pop quiz. Don’t worry, it’s open book, and you can find a...
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Odds and Ends on Hump Day
By: Jim Boldt | Washington State Wire | Aug. 25, 2010
1. The head of the Port of Seattle gave us all a moment of relief when he announced he would not accept a raise this year. He went home, sat down at the table and realized he could get by with his meager $334,000 a year. That of course is just the salary, the monthly nut. I feel better knowing he won't have to miss, what? A trip to Asia? No, the port sends him there for free. Maybe a new Lexus or ...
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Check Your Assumptions About Professional Politicians
By: Melvin G. Ashton | Washington State Wire | Aug. 25, 2010
We are all cognitive misers – that means our brains are lazy. We like things to follow a pattern, and we don’t like to spend time reviewing the data looking for the exception. So when we develop a ‘truth’, we tend to stick with it even when the data doesn’t support our lazy view of the world.

In reading the comments on the latest Seattle Times “Truth Needle” article, plenty of people mad...
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Read more CapitolStuff  

Latest News
Union Leaders Join Heck on Bus Tour
Union Leaders Join Heck on Bus Tour
Democrat Heck Faces Surprising Uphill Battle in Congressional Race
By: The Olympian
Full Speed Ahead for Execution
Full Speed Ahead for Execution
Appeals Court Denies Stay -- Friday is Big Day
By: Associated Press
GOP, Dems Tied at 46 Percent Nationally
GOP, Dems Tied at 46 Percent Nationally
Reverses Previous Gallup Poll Showing Republicans 10 Points Ahead
By: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle P-I Website Endorses I-1098
Seattle P-I Website Endorses I-1098
Editorial: Best Chance for Tax Reform in Four Decades
By: Seattle Post-Intelligencer
I-1098 Would Put Bartell Drugs at Serious Disadvantage
I-1098 Would Put Bartell Drugs at Serious Disadvantage
Would Make it Difficult to Compete With National Drug Chains
By: Seattle Times
Economy, Lawsuits Hammer at BIAW
Economy, Lawsuits Hammer at BIAW
Insurance Commissioner Claims I-1082 is Ploy to Refill Organization's Coffers -- Hogwash is Rejoinder
By: Seattle Times
Gates Foundation Acknowledges Flaws
Gates Foundation Acknowledges Flaws
A Bit Too Secretive, Admits Report
By: Seattle Times
Murray Non-Committal on New $50 Billion Jobs Plan
Murray Non-Committal on New $50 Billion Jobs Plan
Rossi's Agin' It
By: Seattle Times
Didier Still Not Ready to Endorse Rossi
Didier Still Not Ready to Endorse Rossi
Holds Firm on Demands -- Republicans Hope He'll Disappear
By: The (Everett) Herald
Microsoft Suspends Gamer From Ft. Gay
Microsoft Suspends Gamer From Ft. Gay
Says West Virginia Town Name Violates Code of Conduct -- City Fathers Outraged
By: Associated Press
Read more Latest News

Health Insurers Plan Hikes
Health Insurers Plan Hikes
Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement.
By: Wall Street Journal
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
In recent years, cognitive scientists have shown that a few simple techniques can reliably improve what matters most: how much a student learns from studying.
By: New York Times
HHS Issues Guidance on Waivers from Healthcare Reform's Annual Limits
The waiver is only valid for one year, and plans must reapply annually "in accordance with future guidance from HHS."
By: The Hill
In Feast of Data on BPA Plastic, No Final Answer
In Feast of Data on BPA Plastic, No Final Answer
About half a dozen states have banned BPA in children’s products, and U.S. Senator Feinstein hopes to accomplish the same nationwide, with an amendment to the food safety bill scheduled for a vote in the Senate next week.
By: New York Times
U.S. Smoking Rate Hasn't Changed, CDC Says
One in five Americans lights up regularly. If all states had prevention programs like those in California and Utah, 5 million fewer people would be smoking, the agency says.
State Throwing Away Millions in Potential Drug Rebates
State Throwing Away Millions in Potential Drug Rebates
When generics first come on the market, the rebates on brand-name drugs may still make them less expensive.
By: KOMO News
Steep Rate Hikes On Way for Individual Health Insurance
Steep Rate Hikes On Way for Individual Health Insurance
Double-digit rate increases are hitting most individual health-insurance plans in Washington state, hurting jobless workers and worrying insurance regulators.
By: Seattle Times
State's Employees Health Care Premium Plan Follows U.S. Trend
Nonetheless, the Washington Federation of State Employees, which is bargaining on behalf of about 40,000 workers, has rejected the governor’s offer.
By: Tacoma News Tribune
Food Safety Tips for the Budget-Conscious
Food Safety Tips for the Budget-Conscious
There is good reason to be scared into action. Every year, 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur, leading to about 300,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths.
By: New York Times
Cost of Medical Malpractice Tops $55 Billion a Year in U.S.
The researchers said their estimate includes $45.6 billion in what's known as defensive medicine costs -- when doctors prescribe unnecessary tests or treatments to avoid lawsuits.
By: U.S. News & World Report
Health Care Wastefulness Is Detailed in Studies
Researchers have calculated that more than half of the 354 million doctor visits made each year for medical care, like for fevers, stomachaches and coughs, are not with a patient’s primary physician, and that more than a quarter take place in hospital emergency rooms.
By: New York Times
Medicare Head Pushes Health Care Test Sites
Newly installed Medicare chief Donald Berwick, keeping a low public profile after encountering controversy over his appointment, is moving quickly behind the scenes to seed the US health care system with 100 to 300 sites to test new models of caring for patients.
By: Boston Globe
Read more YourHealthCareToday