With the American legislature unable to function properly, Washington's Patty Murray is heading a group created to do the job that Congress can't: reach an agreement on deficit reduction. Will Murray's (slightly undemocratic) elevation be a boon to Washingtonians? more ›

We just got a statement from Senator Ed Murray on the R-71 signature count. It's like a word problem out of a stem-winder algebra book. Man, we'll be happy when politics is all done by computer. Says Murray--wait, got a pencil and paper handy? You'll need it: more ›

The most senior (and it's said most powerful) Republican in the U.S. Senate, Ted Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury for not mentioning the $250,000 in labor and materials he received from a construction company. Veco Corp. actually lifted Stevens' house in the air while a new first floor was built, and no money changed hands. They also threw in a Viking grill. If you have had any remodeling done lately, you know that's a pretty sweet deal. Normally, you pay contractors through the nose, and to get them to finish before your kids start calling the hotel "home," you throw in the grill. more ›