The voter’s shield against runaway government spending by the State of Washington, Initiative 960 is perilously close to temporarily losing its most crucial piece, the requirement that the state Legislature pass a two-thirds vote for measures to increase taxes.

The Democrat majority have moved a bill through the Senate – SB 6130 – that would “shelve” the voter-approved drag chute for runaway spending — I-960 — until July 2011.

Regional transit authorities are one step closer to getting the green light from Olympia to legally pick the pockets of vehicle owners.

Perhaps SB 6853 will become to this legislative session what the Flying Dutchman is to nautical myth, a ghostly vessel doomed to sail forever and never come home. Methinks we shan’t be so lucky.

Early results from Tuesday, February 9’s special election were made available on the King County Elections website at precisely 8:15 p.m. The quick upshot: school levies are passing but the officials and employees of the King County Library System have a long night (and possibly long week) ahead waiting for a definitive result.