DAILY NEWS
Simple majority rules, Hilton peace, shameless Fox…
STATE GOVERNMENT
► From AP — Superior Court rejects state supermajority vote— A voter-approved initiative that requires a two-thirds majority of the Legislature to raise taxes or close tax loopholes violates the state constitution, a judge ruled Wednesday. The ruling likely will put the measure before the Washington Supreme Court this fall. The case will focus on whether a supermajority can be implemented through the initiative process or whether an amendment to the Washington Constitution is required.
► In today’s News Tribune — In Tacoma, liquor hoarded amid price worries— Customers at State Liquor Store 105 on Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue have nearly stripped the store bare of spirits. They’re betting that while privatization of liquor sales in Washington will make liquor available at hundreds more locations, it won’t make it any less expensive. That privatization, approved by voters last fall, happens at midnight Thursday.
► In today’s Spokesman-Review — Oregon county releases inmates amid budget cuts — Dozens of inmates ran whooping from a Grants Pass, Ore., jail into the sunshine Wednesday after a cash-strapped county in Oregon’s timber region was forced to release them amid budget cuts.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This is what “smaller government” looks like.
RECALL WALKER
► In today’s Washington Post — Dem poll: Walker recall battle is a dead heat — A new poll has found that the battle between Scott Walker and challenger Tom Barrett is now deadlocked, at 49% each.
EDITOR’S NOTE — VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in Seattle for the final day of this week’s Wisconsin GOTV phone banks. Please help call fellow union members in Wisconsin and urge them to vote on June 5. Learn more.
STATE ELECTIONS
► From AP — Inslee, McKenna differ on education plans — Republican Rob McKenna supports introducing publicly funded, privately run charter schools. Democrat Jay Inslee thinks education overhaul should happen within the state’s existing school system and says he’s concerned about whether charter schools are accountable to taxpayers.
► In today’s Olympian — Group opposing marriage equality law says it has needed signatures — The group trying to challenge the state’s new same-sex marriage law says it has surpassed the 150,000 signatures recommended by the state elections office to put Referendum 74 on the ballot.
EDITOR’S NOTE — In anticipation of it making the fall ballot, union delegates from across the state voted to approve Ref. 74 affirming the Legislature’s passage of the marriage equality law.
LOCAL
► In today’s Columbian — Letter Carriers collect 1.3M pounds of food — In just one day, the 2012 National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive collected more than 1.3 million pounds of nonperishable food in Oregon and Clark County, the Oregon Food Bank Network announced Wednesday.
► In today’s Columbian — Fire agency receives grant, adds workers — Clark County Fire & Rescue has been awarded a SAFER grant to restore part of its firefighting force. The FEMA grant will cover the cost of the salaries and benefits for three new firefighters for the next two years.
ALEC EXPOSED
► At Huffington Post — Wal-Mart ends membership in ALEC — ALEC sparked controversy recently because of its involvement in voting laws and in “stand your ground” gun laws, including the one under scrutiny in the Florida killing of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February.
NATIONAL
► From the Business Journal — American Airlines, unions set for mediated labor talks — The airline will begin court-mediated negotiations this week to hammer out labor contracts with unions representing some employees.
► In today’s NY Times — Obama extends Export-Import Bank — President Obama signs a bill that extends the life of the Export-Import Bank through 2014, ending an unexpectedly fierce political fight over an institution dedicated to financing American exports abroad.
► At Huffington Post — Exxon CEO pay rises 17% to $25.2 million — Rising oil prices helped boost Exxon’s net income by 35 percent to $41 billion in 2011, the company’s best year since 2008.
TODAY’S MUST-READ
The Stand posts links to Washington state and national news of interest every weekday morning by 9 a.m. These links are functional at the date of posting, but sometimes expire.