Washington’s presidential electors to cast votes for Barack Obama, Joe Biden
December 9, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. Dec. 9, 2012
Washington’s Electoral College members plan to cast votes Dec. 17 for President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Each state is afforded the same number of electors equal to the number of senators and representatives a state has in Congress. Washington possesses 12 electoral votes, one for each congressional district and another two for each senator. Democrats chose the electors from the state’s 10 congressional districts at caucuses in May, and chose the at-large electors at the state Democratic Party convention in June.
The group plans to gather in Olympia to cast votes for Obama and Biden. The incumbents received 56.16 percent of votes in Washington. Republican Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan pulled in 41.29 percent statewide.
Wanted: Local reaction to ‘fiscal cliff’
December 4, 2012
The “fiscal cliff” is dominating the national conversation, and The Issaquah Press seeks residents concerned about the ongoing negotiations and potential fallout.
White House officials estimate a typical middle-class family of four could see taxes rise by $2,200 if the president and lawmakers cannot reach a deal to avert the crisis.
Email your contact information to editor@isspress.com, or contact the newspaper on Twitter at www.twitter.com/issaquahpress, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/issaquahpress.
Students get started early in presidential politics
December 4, 2012
Hall Monitor
Olga Alentyeva
Issaquah High School
The 2012 elections seemed to have sparked a political interest in the students at Issaquah High School.
You would think that the presidential election is not a topic that most teenagers typically discuss, due to a lack of being able to participate in the voting. Yet a number of students at Issaquah High understand that they should be educated enough in the world of politics so that the next time the elections come around, they will be able to make the right decision.
To encourage that, Issaquah held a mock election, where underage students were able to get a feel for what voting is like in the real world. The closer Issaquah High students get to a legal voting age, the more involved and interested they seem to be in such topics.
Costco CEO tells president not to raise middle-class taxes
November 27, 2012
Costco CEO Craig Jelinek told President Barack Obama not to raise taxes on the middle class, after the president called Jelinek to discuss the looming “fiscal cliff” — tax hikes and spending cuts poised to go into effect Jan. 1.
Jelinek, Issaquah-based Costco’s CEO since January and a longtime company executive, offered support for a compromise between Obama and Congress to avoid a tax increase for middle-class taxpayers. The president called Jelinek on Nov. 17, in a broad effort to reach out to the business community.
Students choose Barack Obama, Jay Inslee in mock election
November 27, 2012
Students statewide and in the Issaquah School District chose the same candidates as grown-up voters — Barack Obama for president and Jay Inslee for governor.
The exercise included 38,848 students statewide, including classes at Cascade Ridge Elementary, Endeavour Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Pine Lake Middle and Issaquah High schools in the Issaquah School District.
The number of students participating statewide shattered the record for participation — about 18,000 students — set in 2008.
Costco CEO tells president not to raise middle-class taxes as ‘fiscal cliff’ nears
November 20, 2012
NEW — 6 a.m. Nov. 20, 2012
Costco CEO Craig Jelinek told President Barack Obama not to raise taxes on the middle class, after the president called Jelinek to discuss the looming “fiscal cliff” — tax hikes and spending cuts poised to go into effect Jan. 1.
Jelinek, Issaquah-based Costco’s CEO since January and a longtime company executive, offered support for a compromise between Obama and Congress to avoid a tax increase for middle-class taxpayers. The president called Jelinek on Nov. 17, in a broad effort to reach out to the business community.
Costco employs more than 115,000 workers in the United States, including about 2,700 people in Issaquah. Jelinek told the president the company’s middle-class employees and customers — particularly small business owners — “have borne the brunt of the recession.”
In turnaround, voters OK charter schools in Washington
November 13, 2012
Supporters of charter school Initiative 1240 declared victory Nov. 10, as the measure hovered at about 50 percent support and elections officials statewide continued to count ballots.
The measure aims to allow up to 40 charter schools statewide in the next five years, though the high-performing Issaquah School District is not a likely candidate for such a school.
Opponents said charter schools in other states have a mixed track record and could siphon dollars from other public schools.
Students choose Barack Obama, Jay Inslee in mock election
November 13, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Nov. 13, 2012
Students statewide and in the Issaquah School District chose the same candidates as grown-up voters — Barack Obama for president and Jay Inslee for governor.
The exercise included 38,848 students statewide, including classes at Cascade Ridge Elementary, Endeavour Elementary, Sunset Elementary, Pine Lake Middle and Issaquah High schools in the Issaquah School District. The number of students participating statewide shattered the record for participation — about 18,000 students — set in 2008.
Students cast ballots online from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, and then Secretary of State Sam Reed’s office posted the results online. The results in the statewide Student Mock Election reflected the outcome in the real election, albeit with different margins.
Costco looms large in race between Barack Obama, Mitt Romney
October 30, 2012
Pundits claim the presidential contest could hinge on so-called Walmart moms, but another discount chain is often mentioned on the campaign trail, too.
Jim Sinegal
Both President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney embraced Issaquah-based Costco on the stump, albeit for different reasons.
Support from Costco cofounder and former CEO Jim Sinegal allows Obama to highlight a business success in a feeble economy. The affluent Romney’s affinity for Costco allows the former Massachusetts governor to project a more down-to-earth image.
“Costco’s story is the American story,” Sinegal proclaimed to delegates and dignitaries in a September speech at the Democratic National Convention focused on job creation and the economy.
In presidential election, voters face health care choice
October 30, 2012
Hall Monitor
Joshua Schaier
Skyline High School
For many seniors, this election will be their first opportunity to vote and the first time that they’ve really had to pay attention to the issues. The Affordable Care Act is one of the biggest issues in the 2012 election. It is hotly contested by politicians from both parties. What about this law has stirred such passionate reactions from both sides?
The ACA is a law that strives to make sure Americans have the health insurance coverage they need. To ensure that more Americans get health insurance, a tax is placed on Americans who don’t buy health insurance and refuse to buy it. It also makes sure that insurance companies are more tightly regulated.
Many Americans feel the government has no right to interfere in healthcare, and think Americans who don’t want health insurance shouldn’t be penalized for that decision. They see it as a question of the government encroaching on their freedoms.
