Yesterday, Governor Gregoire and key state legislative leaders met with state capital reporters at the annual Associated Press “pre-session” forum in Olympia.  The 105-day session begins next Monday January 8, and most of the discussion at yesterday’s gathering focused on writing the $30 billion biennial operating budget. Democratic leaders Rep. Frank Chopp (D-Seattle) and Sen. Lisa Brown (D-Spokane) predicted… Read More

Happy New Year to all Capitol Update blog readers.  It’s cold, wet and rainy in Olympia today which can mean only one thing — the legislative session is just around the corner. Here’s an interesting story from David Ammons of the Associated Press and the dean of Olympia political reporters that stems from a new ranking… Read More

I will be away from the State Relations Blog for several days over the holidays.  Have a wonderful holiday season and we’ll see you after the New Year.

Senate Republicans announced their 2007 committee assignments on Thursday December 21 according to a press release issued by Republican leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla). Joining four Senate Democrats (Sen. Paull Shin, Chair, Sen. Derek Kilmer, Vice Chair, Sen. Jean Berkey and Sen. Tim Sheldon) on the new Senate Higher Education Committee will be Sen. Jerome Delvin (R-Richland)… Read More

Governor Gregoire recently tapped Joyce Turner to replace Fred Olsen as her deputy chief of staff.  Olsen, who has been with Gregoire since her says as Director of Ecology under the Gardner administration is retiring. Here’s more on the staff change from Adam Wilson, who writes a blog for The Olympian.

Governor Gregoire released her nearly $30 billion budget Tuesday December 19, and it is very strong for higher education and particularly the University of Washington. It is clearly the best budget for the UW to emerge from the Governor’s Office in a decade and if enacted would be an exceptional start to closing the per… Read More

Welcome to the new Office of State Relations Blog.  I intend to use this exciting new technology to communicate with you in a more timely and frequent manner about state government news and information, and to report on the University’s progress in achieving our goals and objectives during the upcoming 2007 legislative session. A blog allows… Read More

At a press conference in Spokane this morning (which was attended by President Mark Emmert and other UW officials), Governor Christine Gregoire unveiled some significant portions of her higher education budget recommendations for the 2007-09 biennium.  The full budget proposal will be released on Tuesday December 19. Speaking at the Washington State University – Spokane campus… Read More

Washington State University (WSU) announced this morning the selection of Elson S. Floyd as the tenth president of WSU.  Floyd, who is currently president of the University of Missouri will succeed V. Lane Rawlins, who announced earlier this year that he would step down at president at the end of the current academic year. Floyd has… Read More

With the recent reorganization of the Senate and House of Representatives, a number of changes have been made that will affect staffing for higher education. The creation of a separate Higher Education committee in the Senate, chaired by Sen. Paull Shin (D-Edmonds), has resulted in some committee staff assignment changes.  Susan Mielke, who had served as coordinator for the… Read More