January 2011
14 posts
A difference in how men and women vote?
An interesting breakdown to a new KING 5 poll on when ballots should be due.
Secretary of State Sam Reed is trying again this year, to change the law on when mail-in ballots are due. Currently, they must be postmarked by election day to be valid. Reed proposes a model used by Oregon—requiring that mail-in ballots ARRIVE at the elections office by election day.
Reed’s argument for...
New KING 5 poll: 54% say they'll try to avoid...
Coming up this Sunday on KING 5 News Up Front: An in-depth look at tolls on the 520—how drivers will react and how the system will work.
A new KING 5 poll finds more than half of King County residents say they’ll try to avoid 520 all together, after the state imposes tolls on the floating bridge. That’s just one of the interesting findings in our new KING 5/SurveyUSA poll of...
The issue uniting heads of state Republican,...
Their politics are far apart, but there are times when the state’s political parties have similar points of view.
On this issue, state Republican party chair Luke Esser and state Democratic party chair Dwight Pelz agree—they both want to keep Washington state’s Presidential primary in 2012.
Faced with a state budget shortfall, Democratic Governor Christine Gregoire has...
WatchWorth watching: After the Governor’s State of the State address this week, 11-year-old Clarke Hallum sang “God Bless America” at the State Capitol.
Bellevue's light rail controversy: Where to put...
We explored the trouble facing Sound Transit bringing light rail to the east side on KING 5 News Up Front.
A group of Bellevue homeowners is alleging that Sound Transit has intentionally increased cost and risk estimates of a proposed light rail alignment, to make it look worse. The agency says it’s just not true, but it’s a sign of how much tension there is in a debate over where trains...
KING 5 statewide poll on Governor's cuts
A new poll on proposed cuts, state government and higher taxes sheds light on the message from voters
You’ve heard the governor say, she’s honoring the will of the people—that voters made it clear in November they wanted no new taxes and that they wanted the state to solve its budget shortfall by cuts alone.
Was that indeed the message voters were sending? What are they willing to cut? We put...
Lawmaker introduces restrictions on red light...
Rep. Chris Hurst (D-Enumclaw) is introducing legislation to put new restrictions on use of red light cameras statewide.
His bills would require cities to get voter approval before installing cameras to catch red-light violators. Hurst also proposes setting minimum times for yellow lights and he has a proposal that would require cities to pay a fixed-rate to vendors providing red-light cameras. ...
State Senator Bob McCaslin to resign
One week before the legislature is set to meet in Olympia, state senator Bob McCaslin (R-Spokane Valley) plans to resign.
McCaslin has faced health problems over the past year and made the decision not to return after meeting with his doctor last week.
WatchWill legislature give universities authority to raise tuition?
What local poll would you like to see?
We’re planning future KING 5/SurveyUSA polls and if you have an idea you’d like to submit, let us know. Is there a local issue on which you’d like to judge public opinion? Naturally, there are plenty of logistics associated with any poll so we’ll work with our pollster on which questions we can use. Send us your ideas—and we’ll keep you updated here.