Morning News Digest: Wednesday, November 12, 2008

With the PolitickerWA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Washington's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

State gas prices lowest since February 2006

With the struggling economy and a sharp decline in crude-oil prices, gasoline prices in Washington state have fallen dramatically to a low not seen since February 2006. (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008380160_gasprices12m.html

Gregoire campaign memo lays out path to victory

Gov. Chris Gregoire’s campaign manager, Kelly Evans, sent out a memo to the campaign’s staff and steering committee addressing the strategy they used to win re-election. (PolitickerWA.com)

http://www.politickerwa.com/bryanbissell/2610/gregoire-campaign-memo-lays-out-path-victory

Republicans may gain a seat or two in Olympia

Republicans in the state House of Representatives expect a net gain of one to two seats once votes from the Nov. 4 election are completely tallied, marking the first GOP gain in that chamber in more than a decade.  (Brad Shannon, The Olympian)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/535085.html

6th District race may head to recount

Democrats and Republicans in Spokane are preparing for a recount in what is the closest legislative race in Washington, a contest between Republican state Rep. John Ahern and Democratic challenger John Driscoll. (Jim Camden, Spokesman Review)

http://spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=17708

Outside spending trickles down to key legislative races

Almost $22 million was spent by independent parties on behalf of candidates in this year’s election, about ten percent of which was done at the legislative district level. (PolitickerWA.com)

http://www.politickerwa.com/bryanbissell/2612/outside-spending-trickles-down-key-legislative-races

Gates Foundation turns to higher education

A year and a half ago, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation asked itself a question: What else, besides the foundation's work in education, should it do to increase opportunity in the United States? (Linda Shaw, Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008380163_gateseducation12m.html

Tacoma plans no service, job cuts

The City of Tacoma plans to tap $13.9 million from savings during the 2009-10 biennium, according to a draft budget under consideration by the City Council.  (Niki Sullivan, The News Tribune)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/535062.html

Port votes to increase taxes 11% next year

The Port of Seattle Commission voted Tuesday to increase the taxes it collects from King County property owners to $84 million in 2009, an 11 percent increase from the $76 million it collected in 2008. (Kristen Millares Young, Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/387472_porttax12.html

Douglas County facing budget crunch

EAST WENATCHEE — With most of the county’s elected officials gathered around, Douglas County Auditor Thad Duvall held up a two-page synopsis of their proposed 2009 budget during a workshop Monday morning and pointed out the bottom line. (Michelle McNiel, Wenatchee World)

http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081111/NEWS04/711121583/1001

Severence pay a deal-breaker among Sequim city manager candidates

SEQUIM -- "Golden parachutes," among other things, tripped up the City Council as it sought to hire a city manager over the weekend, council member Bill Huizinga said. The candidates for Sequim's top job knew its salary range -- $95,000 to $115,000 -- when they came to town Friday for a public reception, plus interviews all day Saturday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz, Peninsula Daily News)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081112/news/311129992

Despite some disagreement and confusion, the Hoquiam City Council passed its 2009-2010 budget Monday night ahead of most cities in the county. (Jacob Jones, The Daily World)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/11/11/local_news/02news.txt

With the PolitickerWA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Washington's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.