Snowe would side with a GOP filibuster on Reid’s health care bill unless ’something changes’

Snowe would vote to block Reid’s health care bill

House majority leader applauds Reid on public option

House leader applauds Reid public option move

Sen. Reid takes chance including government-sponsored insurance plan in health bill

No guarantees on Senate health bill’s public plan

Senate health care bill to have controversial ‘public option,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid says

Senate health care bill to include public option

Senate’s health care bill will include controversial ‘public option,’ Democratic leader says

Senate health bill will embrace ‘public option’

Supreme Court blocks release of names on Washington state anti-gay rights petition

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday temporarily blocked Washington state officials from releasing the names of people who signed referendum petitions to bring expanded rights for gay couples up for a public vote in November.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins wants a bill this year, but has concerns over Finance panel version

WASHINGTON — A second Republican senator signaled Wednesday she’s open to voting for sweeping health care legislation this year, putting President Barack Obama closer to a historic achievement that has eluded generations of Democratic leaders.

Sen. Snowe backed Finance version of health care bill because it’s a ‘good place to start’

WASHINGTON — Sen. Olympia Snowe, the only Republican to support the Finance Committee’s health care bill, said Wednesday she could foresee a government-run plan that would “kick in” if private insurers fail to live up to expectations.

Move over Palin! Maine’s Snowe is the female maverick in the GOP

WASHINGTON — Forget Sarah Palin. The female maverick of the Republican Party is Sen. Olympia Snowe.

Microsoft gives $100K to Wash. campaign supporting more partnership rights for gay couples

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. has donated $100,000 to the campaign supporting more partnership rights for Washington state gay couples.

Health overhaul just a step away from Senate floor, Dems ease impact on working-class families

WASHINGTON — Capping months of struggle, Democrats pushed health care legislation atop President Barack Obama’s agenda to the brink of a major Senate advance early Friday after last-minute changes to ease the impact on working-class families. The most far-reaching overhaul in decades aims to protect millions who have unreliable insurance coverage or none at all.

Wash. gov makes case for new Boeing assembly line, labor relations still question mark

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s governor is stepping up public efforts to court the Boeing Co., part of a high-stakes interstate competition for the second assembly line of the company’s long-delayed 787 jetliner.

Power of Snowe: Maine Republican wields clout on health care

WASHINGTON — They call her “President Snowe” in the blogosphere.

Maine, Wash., Mich. voters to weigh in on gay rights, ranging from marriage to discrimination

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Nearly a year after California voters overturned same-sex marriage, voters in three other states will weigh in this fall on whether to reverse gay rights initiatives ranging from anti-discrimination measures to marriage benefits.

Republican Snowe calls Finance bill ’solid starting point’ as work gets under way

WASHINGTON — Republican Senator Olympia Snowe says the Finance Committee’s health care bill is a “solid starting point” but needs to be improved.

Heritage Financial prices offering at $11.50 per share

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Heritage Financial Corp. said Thursday it has priced an underwritten public offering of 3.8 million shares at $11.50 per share.

Federal judge shields signatures on petition backing gay partnership referendum in Wash.

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the state of Washington to keep shielding the identities of people who signed petitions to force a vote on expanded benefits for gay couples.

Gay-rights group ends effort to block public vote in Washington on expanded gay benefits

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Supporters of Washington state’s most recent expansion of domestic partnership rights say they’re dropping efforts to block a public vote on the new law.

Wash. judge rejects effort to stop public vote on expanded gay partnership benefits

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A judge on Tuesday refused to block a proposed ballot initiative on expanded domestic partnership benefits for gay couples in Washington state.

Seattle-based Group Health part of discussion on health co-ops in national reform debate

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Group Health Cooperative was created in Washington state more than six decades ago, started up by members of local granges, unions and cooperatives who were inspired by a physician who had established America’s first cooperative hospital in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Referendum on Wash.’s gay domestic partnership law wins spot on Nov. ballot

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A referendum on an expansion of Washington’s domestic partnership law for gay couples has qualified for the November ballot, election officials said Monday.

APNewsBreak: Referendum on Wash.’s ‘everything but marriage’ law qualifies for Nov. ballot

OLYMPIA, Wash. — A referendum that could overturn Washington state’s “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law has qualified for the November ballot.