Washington Government News

“We understand that many employers would like Congress to make more H-1B visas available”

WASHINGTON: With outsourcing becoming an election issue, two US senators have questioned 25 top H1-B visa users, including nine Indian firms, about their recruitment process for professional workers, a majority ... via The Times of India

“It's tragic that far too many Washingtonians die before their time because they don't have access to affordable and quality health care”

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Article Date: 31 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT newsletters One person dies each day in Washington because he or she doesn't have health insurance, says a new report by ... via Medical News Today

The Washington State Department of Revenue says the former operators of the Luau Polynesian Lounge in Seattle have pleaded guilty to siphoning off nearly $26,000 in sales taxes for personal expenses. via KNDO

WASHINGTON _ Homebuilders and the mortgage industry are emerging as big victors in a bipartisan agreement reached by Senate leaders on legislation designed to limit the housing crisis. via Lincoln-Way Sun

“I think that the thought behind the law is sensible, but how it's being done is not workable for small companies”

It's a tough time to be a toy maker in Washington state. The new toy safety law the governor signed on Tuesday sets the most restrictive standards in the nation. via KOMO

Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law a bill placing the toughest restrictions in the United States on the amount of lead in children's products, the Wall Street Journal reported in its ... via KEX-AM Portland

The FBI says a parachute found buried in southwestern Washington was not connected to the case of famed plane hijacker D.B. Cooper. via KMTR Eugene

“I think the governor's remarks today regarding how she intends to fix the legislation through rulemaking and an advisory committee really points out how bad of a bill this is for the citizens and businesses of the state”

A measure requiring that toys sold in Washington state be virtually toxin free was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. via KEPR 19

“He (Owen) was the only real adult figure there and he was directing children to murder my son”

Gov. Chris Gregoire has approved tolls to help finance a new Lake Washington float bridge. via KEPR 19

“We have helped families keep their homes. We have transformed public housing. We have reduced chronic homelessness. And we have preserved affordable housing and increased minority homeownership.”

HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, his tenure tarnished by allegations of political favoritism and a criminal investigation, announced his resignation Monday amid the wreckage of the national housing crisis.

He leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions about whether he tilted the Department of Housing and Urban Development toward Republican contractors and cronies.

The move comes at a shaky time for the economy, with soaring mortgage foreclosures imperiling the nation's credit markets. Read more

The Columbia Basin Herald this past week characterized House Speaker Frank Chopp as being a Forrest Gump , "stupid is as stupid does" villain for opposing big proposed tax breaks for Microsoft and Yahoo. via Crosscut.com

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire approved a climate change bill last week that will reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to half of its 1990 emission levels by 2050. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Carol is an extraordinary lawyer with real expertise in guiding clients through government investigations”

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced today that Carol Elder Bruce has joined the firm as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, where she will practice in the White Collar Criminal Defense and Special ... via LawFuel.com

Paul Allen has given a $5 million grant to fight tuberculosis. The grant funds new drug development by the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute. via Bellingham Herald

“I think problems have always been there, but now agencies are being more proactive”

At least 23 officers in Washington and another 14 in Idaho have had their badges stripped since 2007 through a process called decertification for offenses ranging from stealing prescription drugs from inmates ... via KEPR 19

TOP 2 FORWARD: Washington gets a Supreme Court nod to implement a Top 2 primary in August. via KGW-TV Portland

“My son has buried his friends. He's given eulogies, he's had to go through things no one should have to go through, and over here they've forgotten. They just go shopping instead.”

Protesters blocked traffic and government buildings in Washington, acted out a Baghdad street scene in Syracuse, N.Y., and banged drums in a parade through San Francisco on Wednesday to mark the fifth ... via Topeka Capital-Journal

“People don't want to restrict themselves to one party line, and even partisans like to skip back and forth once in a while”

Washington state's penchant for voting for the candidate instead of the party has a new lease on life. via WSVN-TV Miami Beach

“Instead, it's a huge opportunity to make management changes that would otherwise be impossible.”

We've all seen the stories: some publicity-hungry magazine or web site grabs a bunch of statistics and then purports to "rate" American states on measures ranging from "livability" to child care centers, tax ... via Stateline.org

The Supreme Court has upheld the state of Washington 's open primary election system. via Newsday.com