February 2012
13 posts
New KING 5 poll: McKenna widens lead over Inslee
A new KING 5 poll finds Republican Rob McKenna now has a double-digit lead in the race for Governor over Democrat Jay Inslee.
In a poll of 572 registered voters statewide, 49% told SurveyUSA they would vote for Attorney General McKenna, vs. 39% for Congressman Inslee. The poll reached voters on landlines and cell phones and has a margin of +/-4.2%.
A month ago, KING-TV’s tracking poll had...
Up Front AM: McKenna takes on...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
What’s the plan? Gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna has journalists scratching their heads today, announcing a press conference tomorrow afternoon to unveil his higher education plans.
One would assume a candidate wants some publicity for his efforts. But Friday afternoon is typically a poor “news cycle,”...
Up Front AM: Santorum, Obama and now Paul all in...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Republicans put Washington State on the map: In case you had any doubt, Washington’s Republican March 3rd caucus is officially on the national radar. Ron Paul will be campaigning in the state Thursday, beginning with a rally in Vancouver. Earlier this week, Rick Santorum held a rally in Tacoma and more than 600...
Rule #1 when staging a political event? Location,...
In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best idea for Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign to hold a rally right next to the Occupy Tacoma encampment.
But in many ways, the chaotic event reflected the state of the Santorum campaign and the Republican race for President.
Fresh of victories from Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, Santorum is surging once again. A couple nationwide...
WatchA new state capital gains tax? State Senator Ed Murray (D-Seattle) talks about his proposal to start a capital gains tax to raise money for education. It would be a five-percent tax on investment profits above $5,000 a year for individuals and $10,000 for couples, as well as real estate profits over $250,000 on your primary residence.
Up Front AM: Social issues making a comeback?
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
All social issues, all the time: So you thought Decision 2012 would all be about the economy? Perhaps…but not judging by this week. The Komen flap stole headlines for three days. Then, the Obama administration’s health care rule requiring religious institutions like schools to provide birth control coverage,...
Up Front AM: Caucus edition
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
It’s caucus day: Make or break day for Santorum? NBC First Read breaks down the dynamics of the Minnesota and Colorado caucuses. Will any presidential hopeful upset Romney? Also, as Washington state Republicans prepare for a March 3rd caucus, the Republican track record on caucus operations has taken a hit in both...
Up Front AM: Constantine, Inslee with Monday...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Infamous computer project finally over: King County Executive Dow Constantine gives his State of the County speech this morning in Bellevue. Among his announcements: The county has finally finished a 15-year computer project. The notorious project, started in the late 90s, was to merge the county’s massive accounting...
WatchKing County’s infamous computer project finally over?
King County Executive Dow Constantine will announce Monday that the county’s 15-year computer ordeal is finally over.
The county has tried since the late 1990s to replace its aging computer systems, spending more than $40 million dollars on a failed attempt. The previous project failure was blamed on inexperienced managers.
...
Washington state lawmaker potential V.P. pick?
Speculation of the day: The Daily Caller says Washington State Republican Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers could be a vice-presidential surprise pick.
McMorris, who served in the state legislature representing eastern Washington, has represented the 5th district in Congress since 2005. The Daily Caller says Republicans have been floating her name.
Is it plausable? McMorris is Mitt...
Source of local Obama campaign money? High tech
The Obama campaign has released names of its top fundraisers and the Puget Sound high-tech community is well-represented.
At the top of the list, each raising more than a half-million dollars: Microsoft Vice President John Frank and Real Networks attorney Michael Parham.
Raising more than $100,000, former Microsoft President Jon Shirley, and Microsoft’s Suzi Levine, formerly of Expedia and...
Up Front AM: One thing that expires, one thing...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
First, the thing that expires: Haven’t used your Good-to-Go pass yet? You may want to watch out for the state’s “inactivity fee.”
If you don’t incur any tolls after 24 months, the state will close your account. You’re entitled to a refund, but not before the state deducts $5 for...
WatchHaven’t used your Good-to-Go pass yet? You may want to watch out for the state’s “inactivity fee.”
If you don’t incur any tolls after 24 months, the state will close your account. You’re entitled to a refund, but not before the state deducts $5 for “inactivity.”
“There’s still costs associated to managing those accounts, we really...
January 2012
16 posts
Washington state downgraded by Moody's
More bad news for Washington state as Moody’s has downgraded the state’s rating outlook from “stable” to “negative.”
Moody’s Investors Service says compared to other states, Washington continues to struggle with a large shortfall. Lawmakers are in the middle of a legislative session trying to plug a $1.5 billion budget gap.
What’s so bleak in...
Up Front AM: Washington State Republicans back...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Slip of the press release: A press release from the State Republican Roanoke Conference over the weekend announced the results of a straw poll, and the winner is…Mitch Romney?
“Mitch Romney wins Roanoke Conference Republican presidential Straw Poll…” read the headline, and the release gives more...
Republican James Watkins quits 1st District...
Republican James Watkins says he will withdraw from the 1st District race for Congress, and support fellow Republican John Koster.
Watkins writes in an e-mail, “It’s a decision I’ve struggled with—and it didn’t come easily.”
The Redmond business consultant had criticized Koster for being a a politician for 20 years, but tonight, he told supporters in an...
Candidate drops out of Congressional race in 1st...
Republican Congressional candidate Greg Anders is dropping out in the crowded race for First Congressional District. This morning, his Web site changed and Anders posted a statement:
“In recent days, however, it has become clear that I will no longer be able to give my campaign for Congress the complete attention it deserves. My decision to withdraw from the race does not come lightly...
KING 5 interview with Sen. Haugen--key 25th vote...
We were with State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island) as she sent out a press release today, expressing her support for a bill to legalize gay marriage in Washington state. She becomes the 25th vote in the state senate, meaning gay marriage supporters appear to have the votes needed to pass the bill in the legislature. An excerpt of our interview, conducted just as she sent out her...
KING 5 poll: Gay marriage referendum would be...
A new KING 5 poll finds Washington state voters are very divided on the issue of gay marriage.
In a poll of 617 registered voters statewide on landlines and cell phones, KING 5 and SurveyUSA asked specifically, “If the legislature were to approve marriage for same-sex couples, and you were asked to approve or reject the law, how would you vote?”
In our poll, 47% said they would...
WatchMaria Cantwell and the gender gap in the race for U.S. Senate
A new KING 5 poll finds Democratic U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell in the lead as she runs for re-election this year.
In a poll of 617 registered voters across the state on landlines and cell phones, SurveyUSA finds Cantwell with 50%, while Republican Michael Baumgartner gets 41% support. The poll has margin of +-4%.
Baumgartner was...
Up Front AM: Have you made up your mind?
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
McKenna leads: In the latest KING 5 poll released this morning, Rob McKenna continues to leads the race for Governor. SurveyUSA also found 11 percent are undecided in the governor’s race. And here’s what’s interesting: Even among voters who told SurveyUSA they would vote for either McKenna or Inslee, 65% say...
WatchKING 5 poll: Voters like McKenna for budget, Inslee on environment
A new KING 5 poll finds Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna leading Democrat Jay Inslee, and scoring better on two key issues—the state budget and education. In a poll of 617 registered voters statewide, conducted on landlines and cell phones, 46% told SurveyUSA they would vote for McKenna, while 43% said they...
Suzan DelBene enters race for new first...
Washington state’s Department of Revenue director Suzan Delbene says she will run for Congress—this time, in the new First Congressional District.
Delbene, a former high-tech executive, ran unsuccessfully against Republican Dave Reichert in 2010 for the 8th Congressional District.
Delbene’s home now falls within the new First District which stretches from east King County north...
Up Front AM: Parting words from the state's chief...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Mandatory retirement: State lawmakers heard several bills yesterday that would revise laws requiring mandatory retirement for judges at age 75. Among those testifying: Former State Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander, who had to retire last year—one year short of finishing his term. The legislation wouldn’t...
Up Front AM: Some questions for a Wednesday...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Up front today:
Why is he leaving? It’s always a bit unnerving when the state’s chief economist calls an “urgent” press conference. He reportedly will step down for a job in the private sector. Details at noon.
Nickels for Secretary of State? The Times’ Jim Brunner reports that former Seattle...
Up Front AM: Governor proposes oil fee; Dunn...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Gregoire transportation proposal: In addition to pitching her sales tax increase, Governor Christine Gregoire makes her state-of-the-state speech today, proposing a transportation package and a fee on oil produced in Washington state.
Gay marriage: Republican Attorney General candidate and King County Councilman Reagan...
Breaking: Republican Reagan Dunn tells KING5 he...
Republican King County Council member and Attorney General candidate Reagan Dunn tells KING-5 he will back efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.
In supporting gay marriage legislation, Dunn is staking out a different position from Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.
Dunn says his position on gay marriage has been “evolving.” As the King County Council prepares to vote...
Up Front AM: Iowa edition
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Up front today: Iowa voters caucus tonight at 5 p.m. our time. We should have first results shortly after 6 p.m.
Will Iowa’s “value voters” send a message? As Iowa voters prepare to caucus, a large block of the Republican party (60% or so) could be described as social conservatives—making decisions...
WatchWill Iowa ‘values voters’ send a message?
Last August, we were in Iowa for the Republican Presidential straw poll and reported on the “values voters”—a growing force of social conservatives who have become a significant part of the Republican Party in Iowa. One of the politically active pastors we met was Michael Demastus, of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ. At...
December 2011
3 posts
WatchInterim Seattle Schools Superintendent Susan Enfield explains why she’s leaving
Even when we interviewed her last fall on KING 5 News Up Front, Enfield stopped short of saying she would like to be considered for the job. Today, she made it official, announcing that she would not seek or accept the job permanently. Her contract with Seattle runs through June, 2012.
Enfield declined to...
KING 5 poll: Who gives Obama a tougher challenge...
A new KING 5 poll finds Republican Mitt Romney would give President Obama a stiffer challenge in Washington state than Newt Gingrich.
While Gingrich is now leading the Republican race in many polls, he doesn’t fair as well in a head-to-head race against Obama in our new SurveyUSA poll of likely voters in Washington state.
The poll finds with either Republican candidate, Obama would carry...
Up Front AM: Your free drive across 520 ending...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Up front today: Tolling nears; Metro pulls another ad; Jon Stewart takes on NBC Nightly News.
December’s here: And the state Department of Transportation says this time, it will meet its self-imposed deadline to start tolling on the 520 bridge. It was originally slated to begin in March, but numerous problems with a...
November 2011
27 posts
Up Front AM: 81-year-old write-in candidate wins...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Write-in candidate wins: It’s rare enough for a write-in candidate to win an election. In the city of Pacific, it’s an even more unusual story—because the write-in winner was an 81-year-old who tells us, he spent days walking his city and knocking on every door three times. The final count of write-in...
Up Front AM: Were late voters angry?
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Up front today: Late votes go against incumbents; Reichert keeps his options open; Jay Inslee’s unifying tweet.
Godden wins, but not by much: Yes, Seattle City Council incumbent Jean Godden won. On election night, everyone thought it was a comfortable margin. But the final result? Godden 50.41%, Bobby Forch 49.17%,...
KING 5 poll: The key support for legalizing...
An effort to legalize marijuana in our state begins with comfortable lead. And it’s baby boomers who are key to that support.
In a new KING 5 poll, 57% of registered voters statewide say they’d support a propsoal to legalize possession of up to ounce of marijuana, and subjecting marijuana to a 25-percent tax. In the new SurveyUSA poll, 39% oppose the idea and only 4% are not...
KING 5 poll: McKenna's male, independent advantage
Why is Rob McKenna consistently leading Democrat Jay Inslee in our polls? Think men and independent voters.
In a new KING 5 poll of 549 likely voters across Washington state, conducted on landlines and cell phones, 44% say they’d support McKenna if the election were today, vs. 38% for Inslee.
Among men, SurveyUSA finds McKenna holds a 13-point lead (49% to 36%). And McKenna continues...
New KING 5 poll: A real split on Governor's idea...
It doesn’t get much closer than this. A new KING 5 poll finds Washington state voters evenly divided on whether they’d approve a sales tax hike.
Gov. Christine Gregoire this week proposed temporarily raising the state sales tax half a percentage point to reduce cuts to social services, public safety and education.
When asked if they’d support a three-year sales tax hike to...
Up Front AM: No rush of support for Governor's tax...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Reaction to Governor’s sales tax increase: Mixed response to Governor Christine Gregoire’s call for a temporary half-percent sales tax increase. Senate Democrats Lisa Brown and Ed Murray didn’t rush to endorse the idea saying only that they will “go through alternatives this fall, and now we will add...
Up Front AM: Governor proposes sales tax hike
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Sales tax hike: Governor Christine Gregoire is proposing a half-percent sales tax hike for the next three years. In delivering her proposed budget, she said the tax increase would reduce the impact of cuts to social services, public safety and education. She wants the legislature to put it on a March ballot to take effect...
Up Front AM: More bad news but a "small glimmer...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Down again: State economist Arun Raha delivers his latest revenue forecast this morning and it’s down another $122 million. Not a significant change, but it’s more bad news leaving the state to fill a budget deficit of $1.4 billion.
Raha reports Washington employment is still in the hole with construction...
Up Front AM: "New revenue" plan coming out next...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Tax weary: A new KING 5 poll finds state residents are not necessarily excited about raising taxes, despite the threat of serious budget cuts. When asked if the state should raise taxes to reduce the impact of the governor’s proposed cuts, 64% said the state should not raise taxes, while 27% said they’d support a tax...
Governor will lay out "revenue plan" next Monday
Gov. Christine Gregoire tells us, she will present her budget next Monday and at the same time, lay out her plan to raise revenue and avoid some of the most drastic cuts.
“Democrats and Republicans alike have said to me, these cuts are going to cut too deep, they’re going to cut into the bone, this is not what we want for our future, we need to look at alternatives for revenue,”...
Gov. Gregoire appoints Steven Gonzalez as State...
Gov. Christine Gregoire is appointing Steven Gonzalez to the state Supreme Court.
Gonzalez has been a King County Superior Court judge and was a former city prosecutor, assistant U.S. attorney and private practice lawyer.
Gonzalez would be the only Hispanic state Supreme Court justice. He’s a graduate of the University of California Berkeley law school.
He will replace Justice Gary Alexander...
Up Front AM: State audit finds lax oversight of...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Up Front this morning: Enumclaw blues; New justice named; Wine gripes; The Bellevue venue.
Trouble in Enumclaw. The State Auditor has dinged the Enumclaw Police Department saying it did not have “adequate controls” to safeguard property and funds.
The specifics? No controls over the departments’...
Up Front AM: Changes at Costco; Gay marriage push;...
First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.
Apply with us: CEO Jim Sinegal talks with Up Front about what liquor sales will mean to Costco, and his offer to give job interviews to state liquor store employees who will lose their jobs as a result of Initiative 1183. Sinegal says Costco can’t guarantee jobs for everyone, but wants to do something...
Costco's CEO to state liquor employees: Apply with...
Costco CEO Jim Sinegal tells KING 5, any state liquor employees who want to apply at Costco will get an interview.
“We’re going to go to the state, and we’re going to make a special process available to all of those employees, so they are given an opportunity and an avenue for applying for jobs, and given an opportunity for an interview for a job,” Sinegal said.
Costco...
New election results in: I-1125 reject vote grows;...
Tolling initiative losing: Latest election numbers from King County show Tim Eyman’s tolling initiative 1125 is being rejected. On election night, it was behind by about 22,000 votes, but it is now losing by about 36,000 votes. The initiative is being rejected by a big margin in King County, where it’s getting less than 39% support.
Seattle School Board President losing ground: ...
Hey, it's a wrap. Our take on Decision 2011
It’s over (well, almost). Here’s the wrap from the Up Front team:
Did Costco overspend? In political campaigns, the goal is to get 50% plus one. If you’re getting 60%, chances are you spent too much. But then again, Costco apparentlly really wanted to win this one, after losing its first initiative attempt last year. So instead of spending $6 million as it did in 2010, it...
Q & A on liquor: Now what??
The passage of Initiative 1183 is historic for Washington—a state that has run state liquor stores since the end of prohibition. So what’s next?
When will state liquor stores close?
The initiative requires the Liquor Control Board to close 164 state liquor stores by June 1, 2012. This affects about 800 full- and part-time state employees at liquor stores. The 159 state-contracted...
Reardon with double-digit lead in Snohomish County...
Despite last-minute revelations that the state patrol is investigating his travel expenses, incumbent Democrat Aaron Reardon appears to have a comfortable lead in the race for Snohomish County Executive based on early returns.
The first Snohomish County results show Reardon with 57% to 43% for Republican Mike Hope, a Seattle Police officer. Note, these results includes ballots that were...