OLYMPIA — A multi-state lawsuit challenging portions of the federal health care reform legislation will move forward, a Florida Judge ruled today.

The suit, brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, 18 other states, two individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business, alleged, among other things:

Yakima - Hundreds of prevention and treatment professionals, educators, youth, and volunteers from around the state will gather at the Washington State Prevention Summit, Oct. 14-16, in Yakima to learn the latest information about substance abuse and other destructive behaviors and how to prevent these problems in their schools and communities.

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna will serve as Master of Ceremonies and welcoming speaker at the Opening Celebration from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night.

SEATTLE – Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that his office has uncovered evidence that suggests foreclosure trustees are ignoring consumer protection laws in Washington, adding a new layer to a stack of problems reported in the mortgage-servicing industry.

Joint Release
WASHINGTON ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

SEATTLE – Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna and Scott Jarvis, director of the state Department of Financial Institutions, announced that they have joined attorneys general and banking regulators nationwide in forming a multistate group to investigate whether mortgage servicers have improperly submitted affidavits or other documents related to foreclosure in their states.

“Safe Call Now” addresses domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health 

BELLEVUE – Police officers, firefighters and other public safety officers often suffer personal problems caused by the tragedy they see on the job, leading to increased substance abuse, domestic violence and suicide rates. Employee assistance programs are under-utilized, as many officers believe that admitting to a problem will cost them their jobs.

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna hosts anti-crime forum

SEATTLE – With crime overwhelming Mexican police and prosecutors, attorneys general in the United States are stepping forward to help their colleagues from south of the border.

SEATTLE— State Attorney General Rob McKenna won his first case before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in a unanimous ruling upholding the state’s felon voting laws and rejecting an earlier ruling that applied the federal Voting Rights Act to Washington’s felon disenfranchisement law.

OLYMPIA-- Late yesterday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of the recent U. S. District Court decision in Family PAC v. McKenna, et al. that found the $5,000 timing restriction on contributions during the 21 days before a general election unconstitutional for ballot measures.   

RICHLAND, Wash. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) jointly filed a motion today in U.S. District Court asking the court to approve and enter a judicial consent decree that imposes a new, enforceable, and achievable schedule for cleaning up waste from Hanford’s underground tanks.  The settlement also includes new milestones in the Tri-Party Agreement (TPA), an administrative order between DOE, Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which governs cleanup at DOE’s Hanford Site.

Settlement with eight states provides loan modifications through Wells Fargo

OLYMPIA – Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today a settlement with Wells Fargo Bank that provides loan modifications for residents in Washington and seven other states who obtained problematic mortgages from Wachovia Bank and Golden West Corp., which did business as World Savings Bank.