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Gregoire's pick for pesticide panel questioned by environmentalists Gov. Chris Gregoire is appointing a scientist with ties to the Dow Chemical Co. to a state panel that tracks pesticide exposures. She declined to reappoint a scientist who volunteers for an environmental group and pushed for state-funded studies of how pesticides drifting from farm fields affect people. Environmentalists accused the Governor's Office of caving in to industry, noting that the panel in question unanimously recommended the toxicologist with the environmental leanings. 
HCA to spend additional $9 million on computer project despite Legislature's attempt to cancel it The state Health Care Authority plans to spend an additional $9 million on a computer project that the Legislature tried to cancel this year. State officials say the move will preserve work done so far and buy another chance at continuing the project. The computer would replace the 30-year-old system that handles public employee health insurance. Democratic lawmakers, looking to save money, pulled $14 million from the project in March. The cut effectively ended the effort to develop the system after $7 million in taxpayer money had been spent.
Plan to end war may not help Reichert's rival In her rematch with Republican U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, Democratic challenger Darcy Burner is again playing the Iraq card, although this time with more heft: She has put forth a 21-page plan to end the war, drawing support from dozens of other Democratic congressional candidates and attracting favorable notice in the national media. But it's unclear how much good that will do her this time around on the Sammamish Plateau or in the rest of the 8th District.
Farm bill could help Washington crop exports Lawmakers unveiled a compromise farm bill Thursday providing roughly $1.3 billion to the nation's fruit and vegetable growers for grants, research and help in opening foreign markets to the apples, cherries, raspberries and other crops grown in Washington and elsewhere. The House and Senate are expected to vote next week on the final version of the $286 billion, five-year farm bill. But President Bush is likely to veto the bill because it is too expensive at a time when crop prices are sky high and because it includes trade-distorting provisions. Washington state is the third-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the nation behind California and Florida. Agriculture is the largest industry in the state, employing roughly 160,000 people and pumping $32 billion in the state's economy every year.
State's undecided Democratic delegates stay mum Some of Washington's uncommitted Democratic superdelegates are staying neutral in the presidential nomination process. Six of the state's superdelegates are with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, four are with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and seven are uncommitted — part of the throng of superdelegates nationwide who could help throw the nomination to Clinton or Obama before the Aug. 25-28 Democratic National Convention. Editor's Note -- Update: U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen of Lake Stevens endorsed Sen. Barack Obama on Thursday. That makes 5 superdelegates from Washington for Obama and 6 uncommitted.
Rossi questions Gregoire's free-trade support Republican gubernatorial challenger Dino Rossi doesn't find fault with Gov. Chris Gregoire's handling of trade missions, but questions why she isn't a clearer advocate for free-trade agreements — such as the one the U.S. House has tabled for Colombia. "Christine Gregoire talks about being a big supporter of free trade, but talk is cheap when you choose partisan politics over the best interests of our state," Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait said. "Dino Rossi supports free trade and understands the importance of trade to our state. As governor he will go on trade missions and do what he does best, make the sale."
How U.S. Lawmakers from Washington voted in D.C. last week See how Washington state's members of the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Senate voted on important issues during the week that ended Friday, May 9.
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