In The News 
New initiative aims to restrict illegal immigration to Washington state
Along with war and economics, illegal immigration has been a hot topic in politics for years. Though it has remained on the back burner recently in lieu of economic issues, it has come to the surface again in Washington state in the form of I-1043, an initiative that, if voted into law, would make it much harder for immigrants to come illegally to Washington - and for employers to hire them and get away with it.
Washington Governor likes idea of bonds for school projects
Gov. Chris Gregoire likes the idea of voter-approved bonds to pay for statewide school infrastructure projects, but remains skeptical of a possible public vote on higher taxes to soften the blow of an $8 billion budget deficit.
EDITORIAL: Latest WA immigration measure faces uphill battle (again)
Each year since 2006, anti-illegal immigrant groups have tried but failed to get their measures brought either before voters or before the Legislature.
6 of 26: Conservatives Lost Big on Ballot Measures While Progressives Made Significant Gains
The win record for conservatives this year is paltry -right-wing backers won only 23% of what they conceptualized and supported, and they failed to qualify even all that was attempted.
Depraved Right-Wing Attack Efforts Go Down in Flames
But the 2008 initiative scorecard totals more victories than failures, and it reflects the same broad political sentiment in the country in favor of progressive change that was expressed in the election of Barack Obama.
Washington Death with Dignity Passes
With about 30 percent of the expected vote counted Tuesday in unofficial returns, I-1000 was being approved by a margin of about 58 percent to about 42 percent.
Physician-Assisted Dying measure Qualifies for November Ballot
Initiative 1000, also called the "Death with Dignity" initiative, would allow terminally ill people to legally obtain lethal prescription drugs for ending their own lives. It is patterned after a similar law in Oregon - the only one in the country.
Assisted Suicide Foes Lose Effort to Hide Donors
A federal judge says an organization will risk Washington state sanctions if it hides the identity of donors funding radio ads against assisted suicide.
Opponents of Assisted Suicide Want Donor Names Kept Secret
Opponents of assisted suicide say they are afraid their contributors will be harassed or intimidated by supporters of the Initiative 1000 Death With Dignity campaign, so they want to keep secret the names of people who give them money. Human Life of Washington, a conservative group that opposes abortion and doctor-assisted suicide, is asking a federal judge to throw out parts of Washington's campaign finance laws.
