Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has vowed not to seek re-election campaign contributions until after she signs all the bills passed by the Legislature this past session. 

In 2006 the Legislature changed a rule that prohibited raising campaign money for 30 days before the start of a legislative session and until 30 days after the end of a session.  Lawmakers eliminated the post-session fundraising ban because they had also moved the primary date from September to August. 

A loophole allows Gregoire to accept donations during the 20-day period when she signs bills and the state budget into law.  The Democratic governor’s campaign is accepting donations, but a spokesperson says Gregoire is not being told what, if any contributions are being made, or from whom. 

The Legislature passed 331 bills this session, and Gregoire has until April 5 to sign the measures, which include the budget and more than $300 million for new programs.  She has veto power for policy bills and she can also use line-item vetoes on individual budget items.  

Republican gubernatorial challenger Dino Rossi is critical of Gregoire because she could take advantage of the situation, and suggests that she should have implemented a self-imposed freeze on fundraising.  

Gregoire, who has raised $4.7 million compared with Rossi’s $2.9 million, says she is not soliciting contributions. 

Public Disclosure Commission records show that Gregoire raised more than $30,000 during last year’s 20-day bill signing period. 

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed new tax breaks for the state’s aviation industry, but insists they aren’t subsidies like the ones being debated between Boeing and Airbus in the fight over the contract for the Air Force’s new refueling tanker. 

The legislation she signed, one of 15 bills autographed during a ceremony in Spokane on Thursday, offers a lower rate on the state’s business and occupation tax to companies that maintain and repair aircraft.   It’s the same rate that Boeing and its major in-state suppliers get, but Gregoire it’s not an unfair subsidy, adding that Airbus gets the same tax break. 

The U.S. government has charged that Airbus receives unfair subsidies from European governments, and the state’s congressional delegation has used those allegations as part of their challenge to the $35 billion federal contract for a new tanker jet awarded to a consortium that includes Airbus, rather than Boeing.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed into law a bill that provides special “Gold Star Parents” license plates for mothers and fathers of fallen servicemen and women from Washington. 

The plates resemble those now available to Pearl Harbor veterans, former POWs and Medal of Honor recipients. 

Gold Star Parents’ license plates will be available to families who are certified by the state Department of Veterans Affairs beginning next Jan. 1 at no extra charge. 

The Gold Star has its roots in the first and second World Wars, when families who had lost a loved one to war displayed a banner with a gold star in their windows. 

Military families will have more unpaid leave under a measure signed into law by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire. 

Also, during periods of military conflict, employees are entitled to up to 15 days of unpaid leave before their spouse is deployed or while their spouse is on leave from deployment.

The measure increases from 15 to 21 the number of days each year a state or local officer or employee who is a member of the Washington National Guard or Reserves is entitled to a military leave of absence from employment.  

Gregoire also signed into law a measure to issue a special license plate to the parents of military who have died while in service.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed a bill that closes a loophole in the state’s three-strikes law.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, makes crimes committed in other states count toward Washington’s three-strikes law. Benton’s bill was brought forward after the case of Chelsea Harrison, a 14-year-old Clark County girl killed by a 45-year-old ex-convict, who committed crimes in Arizona.

Don Benton, R-Vancouver, comments

Under the three-strikes law, a person who commits three of the most serious felonies and other crimes, such as rape, can be sentenced to life in prison.

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed a bill expanding the use of dogs in cougar hunts. 

Under the measure, a pilot program allowing hunting with dogs is extended another three years, on top of the four years it has been in place. The bill also allows all counties to join the program, instead of just the five currently enrolled. 

Gregoire says the measure addresses safety threats that cougars pose to people and livestock.  Voters had banned the practice in 1996 through passage of Initiative 655.

A measure that directs the state of Washington to come up with plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions has been signed into law. 

Gov. Christine Gregoire gave her approval to the bill that also looks to build a “green collar” work force, and works off a law that passed last year.  That underlying measure set targets to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020; to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2035; and to 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 — or 70 percent below what is currently predicted for 2050. 

The new law now makes those goals firm requirements.  

Washington officials are also authorized to work with the Western Climate Initiative in developing a regional cap-and-trade system aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the West.

The Washington Senate has approved a new state budget that boosts teacher salaries and state programs, while preserving an $835 million reserve to help deal with big projected deficits. 

The Senate vote was a near party-line 31 to 18 after a partisan squabble over whether majority Democrats are overspending and setting up the state for a big tax hike next year. Democrats say their $306 million budget plan is prudent and that they’ve created one of the largest reserves in modern times. Republicans dispute that. 

The budget provides teachers a 4.4 percent pay boost and continues the state’s phase-in of free daylong kindergarten. 

The House is expected to follow suit, as lawmakers head toward adjournment of their 60-day session.