So guess what's on tomorrow's list of bills to be addressed by the governor: The toxic toys bill, which is formally known as the "Children's Safe Products Act." It bans lead, phthalates and cadmium from toys and other products designed for kids. Critics of the bill say it goes too far and would ruin Washington's Christmas.

Rumor has it that the governor will veto parts of the bill, leaving it for next year's Legislature to jimmy with. Of course, no one will confirm that for me.

But if you read through the bill you can get a pretty good idea of a section that's ripe for cutting. (Hint: Section 3, which explicitly bans lead, phthalates and cadmium.)

What would that accomplish? Well, Section 4 authorizes the Department of Ecology to come up with a list of harmful chemicals that should be banned from toys. If that section stays, the department could get the ball rolling on the list and give next year's legislators something to start thinking about.

Of course, that's just a suspicion. We'll find out tomorrow.

Update: Here's the full list of bills to be considered tomorrow. Enjoy.

Update 2: Someone smarter than I (and there are many of you, aren't there?) pointed out that another section of the bill is prime for a veto. That would be section 8 (like housing!), subsection 5. It says: "The department shall adopt rules to finalize the list of high priority chemicals that are of high concern to children identified in section 4(1) of this act by Jan. 10, 2010."

Or at least I think that's the part. Like I said, they're smarter than I. Again, we'll find out tomorrow.

Sen. Pam Roach is back. For those just tuning in, last episode: Roach had been chastised by Senate GOP leadership for making staffers spend too much time with her, complaining too much about other members and asking caucus staff to pledge allegiance to her ... She responded by accusing leadership of acting like monkeys, then left for Latin America...

Tomorrow, she'll meet with The News Tribune's editorial board. She requested the meeting and the board is obliging, but Dave Seago told her he considers the matter too insider a matter to editorialize.

I haven't decided yet if I'll go. If I do, I'll let you know what comes of it. In the meantime, here's her response to Dave about the newsworthiness of the meeting:

The issue here is more than a caucus internal mess. It is more than that because of the groundless attack and purposely trying to control my speech. I would like my local paper to know what is happening...

The topic will be the system that in this day and age allows for what they are doing to me. I am sure Justice Sanders has had some complaints when the Judicial Conduct Commission has gone after him and he has a group that moves forward without hearing his side of things. At least he has an appeal process. I have done nothing wrong.

=> Read more!

Our colleagues at the Associated Press tell me that Gov. Chris Gregoire is going to finish signing and vetoing the rest of the bills from the legislative session tomorrow, even though she has until Saturday to do so.

I've got a call into Marty Brown, the governor's legislative liaison and man-in-charge of souvenir bill-signing pens, to verify that.

The list of bills suggests she will, in fact, be signing (or vetoing) 44 bills on Tuesday, so she'll definitely have writer's cramp, if nothing else. That's 44 our of 335 passed by the Legislature this past 60-day session. And the operating and capital budgets are on the list.

Also on the list are the toxic toys and beer and wine tasting (in grocery stores) bills .
Here, read the list:

To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- April 1, 2008
Governor's Conference Room
Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:
Commencing at 2:00 PM

=> Read more!

Two audits from the State Auditor's Office came today. Here's the findings:

1. The Historical Society apparently doesn't have a catalog of its artifacts, nor does it keep track of ticket sales.

2. The Department of Early Learning, doesn't keep track of whether criminal background checks were completed for their employees.

Click the links for the full info. I'll be writing about campaign donors.

Last week, I wrote a story about how the Steilacoom II-class ferry that the state wants to have built might evenutally end up on the Point Defiance-Talequah run. That would be a case of the 50-car vessel replacing the 48-car Rhododendron.

Then I got this e-mail I figured I should share with everyone. I'm not a regular ferry rider to Vashon, so I don't know the ins and outs of the ferries. Read on:

Joe;

I want to comment on the long term political choice to build this Clone. This vessel is not acceptable to Vashon as a replacement for the Rhododendron on the Tahlequah- Point Defiance route. It provides no more capacity and is in fact more limited than the Rhody in carrying the commercial traffic that already clogs the route. It also has less freeboard which will entail greater restrictions during our low tides. More and more people will not be able to get their horse trailers, utility trailers, camping trailers, motor homes, etc thru the route.

=> Read more!

Our McClatchy colleague, Chris Mulick at the TriCity Herald, wrote this story. I just stole it from him so you could read it here.

In about a half hour, Mark Mays is going to announce his candidacy for the congressional seat now held by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers.

(No, it's not the football-player-turned-TV-commentator.)

Mays, 59, (he'll be 60 in April) was just on his way to make the announcement when I reached him on his cell phone.

Mays is a Democrat. So was former U.S. Rep. Tom Foley, who represented the 5th Congressional District for 30 years or so until he was unceremoniously dumped in the Republican Revolution of 1994. Made no nevermind that he was Speaker of the House for all of America.

Here's the news advisory that was sent out over the weekend.

ADVISORY FOR MONDAY, MARCH 31

Mark Mays to Announce Candidacy for Congress

Longtime medical professional, community leader, former Air Force psychologist and former EWU Trustee pledges to bring real change to Congress

SPOKANE—Dr. Mark Mays, a psychologist who started his career at Fairchild Air Force Base more than 30 years ago, will formally announce his candidacy for Congress in the 5th Congressional District against incumbent Cathy McMorris Rogers at a Monday lunch meeting of the Spokane Democrat Business and Professional Group

=> Read more!

OK. I wrote that headline just to grab your attention. But it worked, didn't it? It's the rank-and-file who make the endorsements, but then they are the bosses in the union, right?

Those 12 are in the state House of Representatives. That's 12 out of 98.

Every campaign season we get the endorsement list from the Washington Federation of State Employees, which represents about 40,000 state employees, maybe more. I don't know. They're always looking for more people on the fringe of state government.

Anyway, it's hard to find news value in that release. It's a labor union. Labor unions mostly endorse Democrats. But everyone once in awhile, they do endorse a Republican, usually because they are stuck with them. That means there's no way a Democrat is ever going to defeat a Republican in, say, Gary Alexander's 20th District in Lewis County.

So when the Federation endorses someone like Rep. Skip Priest, R-Federal Way, that means something. I don't know exactly what it means, but it does mean something because Priest wasn't elected for life. The 30th District is still a swing district.

Read on. Look for the occasional Republican. Maybe Dennis Eagle of the Federation will explain why they won the endorsement. The Federation endorsed 3 Republicans in state Senate races.

STATE EMPLOYEE UNION DELEGATES ENDORSE GREGOIRE FOR GOVERNOR, LADENBURG FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL; ENDORSEMENTS MADE IN OTHER FEDERAL, STATEWIDE AND LEGISLATIVE RACES

CONTACT: Tim Welch, Director of Public Affairs, (360) 481-5092; Monday (360) 352-7603.

Delegates to the Washington Federation of State Employees/AFSCME 2008 Endorsements Conference on Saturday endorsed Gov. Chris Gregoire for re-election and Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg in his race to unseat state Attorney General Rob McKenna.

=> Read more!

It’s helpful for a reporter to have a reputation for toughness. You know, someone willing to ask the hard questions, someone who strikes fear into the hearts of elected officials and bureaucrats everywhere.

So imagine my horror when I was outed this morning as the owner of a cat named Muffin.

In an article on the most popular pet names in Pierce County, reporters Jason Hagey and Ian Demsky report that “County Executive John Ladenburg has a dog named Muffin. In an eerie coincidence, the News Tribune reporter who covers county government has a cat named Muffin.”

=> Read more!

Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri made it official Sunday: he’s running for re-election.

The Steilacoom Republican is seeking his second term on the council. Democrat Vincent Stewart has filed to run against Muri.

For Muri’s announcement, read on.

=> Read more!

If you're confused about the state of the math WASL, you're not alone.

The governor signed a law last week that drops the math portion of the WASL as a graduation requirement. In response to media coverage, the state school superintendent's office sent an advisory Friday that attempts to clarify when various requirements kick in.

Here's the advisory.

=> Read more!

I posted earlier about the training we went to this morning. I know you're probably all getting ready to leave work, dying to know what we learned. Here goes.

Now, I can't cover everything ... but I can point you in the direction of some pretty fabulous Web sites for following campaign money:

1. Follow The Money
2. FedSpending
3. Taxpayers for Common Sense
4. USA Spending
5. Legistorm

Have fun! Tell us what you find.

Here's what their offices sent out:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 26, 2008
27th District legislators hosting town halls April 7th and April 9th
OLYMPIA – The state legislative delegation from the 27th District will hold town halls Monday, April 7th and Wednesday, April 9th.

Sen. Debbie Regala, Reps. Jeannie Darneille and Dennis Flannigan will use the time to talk about issues affecting the area and welcome comments and questions from constituents.

=> Read more!

Next Saturday, bill signings will officially be over, and Gov. Chris Gregoire will be able to start raising money in earnest.

She'll take a day of rest, then kick off a statewide bus tour on Monday. The tour starts in Auburn, then continues to Tacoma, Vancouver, Yakima, Tri-Cities, Spokane, Bremerton, Port Townsend, Everett and Seattle.

I'll be there for the first portion of the trip, blogging along. Think of your questions now, people.

Update: The days of the week are now correct. Earlier, in a time warp, I had the wrong days of the week!

We just got this news release from NARAL:

It is my pleasure to invite you to a press briefing on Tuesday, April 1. Elizabeth Arndorfer, Esq., a consultant to Reproductive Health Technologies Project, will present research and be available to answer questions about the latest research on choice from Lake Research Partners. The research details attitudes and perceptions about choice, including understanding Americans “in the middle” and racial and ethnic attitudinal differences on abortion. The study shows how different demographic groups think about choice and how politically involved they are.

NARAL Pro-Choice Washington will be using the information from the research for targeted voter outreach in the upcoming 2008 election season.

WHEN: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
10:30 AM
WHERE: Plaza 600 Building, 600 Stewart St, Seattle
2nd Floor Conference Room
WHO: Elizabeth Arndorfer, consultant; and Karen Cooper, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington executive director

I hope you will be able to join us.
Sincerely,
Alison Mondi
Director of Communications
NARAL Pro-Choice Washington

Gov. Chris Gregoire will have two bill-signing ceremonies on Monday, one at 11 a.m., another at 2 p.m.

Here's the news release from her office:

To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- March 31, 2008
Governor's Conference Room
Governor Gregoire will take action on the following Senate Bills:
Commencing at 11:00 AM

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5831
Relating to certification of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration contractors and mechanics.

Second Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill No. 5905
Relating to certificate of capital authorization.

=> Read more!

Yesterday, I wrote about how the Todd submitted a bid to build a 50-car ferry and the bid of $26 million was almost $10 million higher than what the state expected.

Todd Pacific Shipyards sent a letter to state ferries chief David Moseley, explaining what the bid was so much higher. Material costs are higher. Standards to pass Coast Guard inspection are different. State changed its design a lot, not a little.

This is not the same boat, the Steilacoom II, that Pierce County bought for $12 million in 2006, Todd CEO Stephen Welch said.

"Though our submitted bid would construct a 50-auto ferry that essentially looks like the Pierce County Ferry, changes unique to this project and required by your invitation to bid will result in a significantly different and improved, but more costly, ferry," Welch said in the letter.

Here is Todd Shipyard's letter to Washington State Ferries.

And contrary to what you may have read in our Friday print edition, the state DID NOT REJECT the Todd bid. The story was accurate. The headline wasn't.

Read the full story here.

Neal Kirby, principal of Centralia Middle School for the past eight years, announced today he is running against incumbent Sen. Dan Swecker of Rochester in the Republican primary election.

Kirby's bio says he was a state representative in 1990 from the 7th Legislative District in Eastern Washington. That included Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens and parts of Okanogan and Spokane counties. My reference book says Kirby was appointed to the Legislature in 1989 and at the time, he was a Democrat.

Kirby thinks that Swecker sides too often with Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, and apparently Kirby doesn't think people from Lewis County should do that. Read what Kirby has to say in his own words:

People to Elect Neal Kirby
Kirby for Senator – R, 20th Legislative District
114-6 Northridge Dr, Centralia, WA 98531
360-736-0533, neal_kirby@comcast.net
March 28, 2008
Media Release: FOR RELEASE MARCH 29, 2008
From: People for Neal Kirby
Re: Candidacy for State Senator
Contact: Neal Kirby, 360-736-0533, or 360-219-5814 for more information

Neal Kirby announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the 20th Legislative District Senate seat now held by Senator Dan Swecker. Kirby stated he is running because he believes rural Washington needs a strong advocate in the legislature and Senator Swecker is no longer serving that role.

“I am running for the State Senate because I believe I can bring to the legislature an understanding of the problems in rural areas of this state and solutions to address those problems,” Kirby stated, adding “the Democrats currently dominate the state government. With their supporters in the cities and suburbs of this state, we need a fighter working for rural Washington.”

=> Read more!

Today, I'm in the basement training room of The News Tribune with a dozen other journalists from papers in the area, learning how to track earmarks. The training, through the Associated Press Managing Editors, is lead by Larry Makinson of the Sunlight Foundation.

It's only 9:45 and we've already learned about a juicy earmark to a Seattle outdoor company secured by Washington lawmakers.

Right now, I'm opening a 4.2 MB spreadsheet of earmarks from Taxpayers for Common Sense. Time to go learn.

Here's the news release from Gov. Chris Gregoire's office:

To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- March 28, 2008 - REVISED
Governor's Conference Room
Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:
Commencing at 10:00 AM

Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1030
Relating to the penalty for attempting to elude a police vehicle.

=> Read more!

Here's a story I've written for Friday's print edition of the paper.

It may take a while longer for Pierce County to get back the Steilacoom II, the vessel it is leasing to Washington State Ferries to temporarily take over the Port Townsend-Keystone route.

That’s because the only bid for a 50-car ferry that would permanent take over that route came in almost $10 million higher than expected. And state ferry officials are scratching their heads, trying to figure out why.

Todd Shipyards of Seattle said it would build the new vessel for $26 million. State engineers figured the cost would be closer to $16.8 million.

=> Read more!

Here's what the Washington Secretary of State put on its Web site of past election results for the Dino Rossi-Chris Gregoire race for governor in 2004:

Please note: The results listed on this page reflect the vote totals on the date of the 2004 November General Election. In the 2004 Governor’s race two recounts and an election contest would follow changing the final results.

Well, that's interesting. But why does the Secretary of State, the chief custodian of state election results, not tell us what actually happened? The results on that page are official, but wrong. Sheesh!

UPDATE: OK. I think I finally found a link that has the wrong vote totals, BUT it also has a disclaimer that actually tells you what the margin of Gregoire's victory was. That would be 133 votes. (I sure hope the link works for you.)

Here's one more LINK. Use this one to get all the recounts, as well as the final court decision. Thank you, Trova!

Yes, the announcement you've been waiting for is finally here: Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler Announces Re-Election Bid.

I remember when Kreidler was the very first congressman from Washington's 9th Congressional District, the new one that runs from Burien to Bucoda. And two years later he got beat by Randy Tate. I wonder what ever happened to Randy Tate. Anybody know?

Read about Kreidler's new campaign in his (or his campaign manager's) own words:

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler announced today that he will ask voters to return him to office for a third term.

Washington consumers deserve a strong and independent leader to protect their right to prompt and fair treatment by insurers at reasonable costs. I am proud of our accomplishments over the last seven years and pledge to continue the progress we have made.

Kreidler highlighted some of the accomplishments during his first two terms as Insurance Commissioner, including:

=> Read more!

I got a call this morning from Jonathan with the Kiplinger Letter in the other Washington (D.C.). He wanted to know if the 2004 election ended with Gov. Chris Gregoire winning by 133 votes, as we've reported, or 129, as he'd seen elsewhere.

In a quest for the answer, Joe visited the Secretary of State's Web site.

And? Betcha didn't know that Rossi won by 261 votes.

Or did Gregoire win by 129?

Neither. She won by 133 votes.

And don't worry: Joe pointed it out to Sam Reed's office (which means you better click fast because those links won't work soon).

Update: No need to click quickly. Reed's office tells us that the reason the results are still there is that they're the actual, certified election results. And they won't be taken down. So click away. Bookmark it, even!

The vote was 597 to 534.

It was the Washington State Residential Care Council, an industry group, that got most of the votes from owner-operators of Adult Family Homes. The Washington Federation of State Employees, the 40,000-member union, was runnerup.

And second place is last place when it comes to elections that decide which group will represent some 2,000 folks in negotiations with the governor on benefits and compensation for those who take care of elderly and disabled on Medicaid.

However, the union is challenging 144 ballots. So that might change the outcome.

I got word of this too late to verify everything with the Public Employment Relations Commission, which oversaw the election. A hearing is automatic when there are that many ballots being challenged.

"Federation wins $5.8 million for Adult Family Home Providers"

That's what a pro-union Web site claimed leading up to the final days of the election.

With the help of the Federation and the Save Our Homes Coalition, lawmakers announced yesterday $5.8 million ($3 million state; $2.8 million federal) set aside for adult family home providers!!!

This will include:
Rate increase across the board of 4.8% to begin July 2008.
17 CARE level assessment system which will increase rates even more and more closely reflect the acuity of clients served.
State funding for liability insurance.
The providers won this after a decade of ineffective action by WSRCC.
Your phone calls, e-mails and personal visits to legislators paid off in a big way!

We're winning with the Federation. With the Federation on our side, we've suspended the liability insurance requirement AND secured state funds for it. We've raised awareness of the needs of Adult Family Home Providers resulting in increased rates.

Now, let's win health insurance by winning the representaion election! It's time that Adult Family Homes receive fair rates and have a strong voice with DSHS.

Of course, the Residential Care Council also had a hand in winning higher reimbursement rates for Adult Family Home operators. But don't expect the Federation to acknowledge that in a bitter fight with the council over representation of those operators.

Click here for a story on a trip U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Seattle) and two other lawmakers took right before the Iraq war.

What's the problem? The trip was allegedly financed by Saddam Hussein. McDermott's rep says they had no idea. I have no trouble believing that.

Yeah, I know that's a mouthful. But that's what Gov. Chris Gregoire did in the few words she used to explain why she vetoed part of House Bill 2878, the $7.5 billion state supplemental transportation budget.

The Legislature wanted the Washington Transportation Commission to develop recommendations "to reduce and control tolling operations costs" on the new Tacoma Narrows bridge and the soon-to-open HOT lanes on Highway 167. Lawmakers also wanted the state Department of Transportation to come up with incentives for toll-collection company, the public and others to hold down costs and "These incentives shall be presented to the transportation commission by Sept. 30, 2008."

The governor didn't like that. And she nixed it.

"As a cabinet agency, the department is accountable to the governor and it is not the role of the transportation commission to evaluate and direct the department's operations," Gregoire said in her veto message.

It was only a couple years ago that the Legislature put the entire 7,000-worker DOT directly under the governor's authority and gave her the power to hire and fire the transportation secretary. The seven-member commission used to have that power.

Gregoire did say that she will have DOT provide a report on incentives to reduce toll operating costs to her budget office and the Legislature -- in December, not September.

Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, one of the lawmakers who wanted the commission to oversee toll cost reductions, said he welcomes the governor's commitment to keep an eye on costs.

"I look at this as an affirmation by the governor that everyone is invested in more accountability and efficiency," Kilmer said earlier today. "The governor is stepping up to the plate and saying the buck's going to stop with her department."

Maybe.

But I can't imagine it's much fun to be a member of the transportation commission anymore. You don't get to hire the transportation secretary. You don't really get to set toll rate and ferry fares because the Legislature has to give them final approval. And the Department of Transportation staff can ignore you because you're not really their boss.

If you want to read the governor's full budget veto message, click here.

I didn't pick up on the fact that state Sen. Tim Sheldon of Potlatch will be running on the Democratic ticket this time when he seeks reelection to his other job, as a Mason County commissioner.

But our colleagues at The Olympian did.

In 2004, Sheldon ran as an independent.

Tacoma's Human Services Commission got tough this year.

Centro Latino, the Martin Luther King Housing Development Association, and the Salvation Army were among the nonprofits that the commission is recommending receive none of the federal block grant dollars doled out by the City of Tacoma.

Edwina Magrum, commission chairwoman, told City Council members Tuesday that the group strictly adhered to a set of scoring criteria to make its recommendations about how to divvy up federal block grant money.

Applications that didn't receive a score of at least 81 out of 100 failed to make the cut.

Magrum didn't name names, but delivered some harsh words to some that received low scores.

"Some of these groups, we've been trying to encourage them to improve since at least 2003," Magrum said. "We're not seeing the improvement."

If the City Council follows the recommendations, they could have some significant impact on Tacoma's homeless shelters.

=> Read more!

Surprising no one, the Washington Education Association endorsed Gov. Chris Gregoire for governor today.

They've got 81,000 members across the state in elementary through higher education. In a press release, they praised Gregoire's commitment to education, saying she managed in a supplemental budget year to squeeze $105 million more for education.

But wait, there's more:
"Last week, members of the WEA Political Action Committee (WEA-PAC) unanimously recommended Gregoire for a second term. They also recommended Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg for state attorney general and state Rep. Jim McIntire for state treasurer. Recommendations for other statewide offices are pending. "

The state Public Disclosure Commission on Wednesday will take up the case of state Rep. Dennis Flannigan, who has admitted he failed to properly report stock he owned in three companies.

Flannigan, a Tacoma Democrat, says he bought 4,000 shares of Hythiam Inc. in 2006. The company licenses the Prometa drug treatment program.

Flannigan helped secure state funding for the program. He says his Hythiam stock ownership was cleared by a House of Representatives attorney. He said he voted on the $33.4 billion, two-year state budget that included Prometa funding but said he refrained from voting on a specific Prometa funding measure.

=> Read more!

Read the news release:

March 24, 2008
To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- March 26, 2008
Governor's Conference Room

Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:
Commencing at 9:30 AM

=> Read more!

I got an e-mail today from a reader wondering what happened to the "toxic toys bill," alternately called the "Children's Safe Products Act." It's the one that would ban lead, cadmium and phthalates from products meant to be used by children.

It almost died, but was saved in the final days of the session. It was sent to the governor's desk but hasn't been signed yet.

Her office tells me the bill is being considered in the policy shop. That means a policy analyst is going over every word. In the meantime, the governor may be getting lobbied by toy companies.

Why would I think such a thing? Well, the Toy Industry Association called me today, for starters. If they're making sure I have their contact information, seems like they expect something might happen that will lead to this bill turning into another story.

An unnamed source -- hungry for something funny to happen at the capitol -- sent me this:

It's a photo from the Senate Republicans' Web site, advertising a list of "punts" made by Democrats this session.

Only, here's the rub: A source says the "Punt List photo shows a guy who has just place-kicked a football. Either that, or those guys executing a pretty damned snazzy Back Street Boys move a good 12 feet behind the kicker are the two most useless blockers in the history of punting."

But is it true? Could Senate Republicans have been duped? Do they not watch arguably the second-most patriotic sport in the country? I asked another unnamed source who is something of a football expert:

=> Read more!

State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, got elected to the three-member board of commissioners in Mason County in 2004. And he can continue to keep both jobs because the only prohibition in state law is that your name can't appear twice on the same ballot.

But since Sheldon had four-year terms in each office and they are staggered (he won't be up for reelection to the Senate until 2010) he can keep running for each office every two years.

Sheldon is Democrat in the state Senate, although some would dispute that because he doesn't vote like the Seattle urban liberals. But he's an independent as a commissioner.

I'll be curious to see how Washington Secretary of State designs the ballot for this campaign season. Remember, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Top Two primary system, handing a defeat to the Democrat and Republican parties who wanted closed primaries to keep maverick senators like Sheldon in line. (Not that it worked in Sheldon's case in 2006)

Click here to see what our colleagues at the Kitsap Sun wrote.

Knute Berger has an interesting article on Crosscut.com about the brewing battle over historic preservation in Seattle.

A city council committee hearing was the venue but the issue might have begun when the city's preservation board voted to grant protection to a 60s-era diner in Ballard. The developer is suing and the case could threaten the city's preservation program.

Most of those who testified supported preservation and Seattle's system. And U.S. Supreme Court decisions have backed up preservation laws. But often battles like this begin in Seattle and are then exported elsewhere so it is worth keeping an eye on.

Now that the Legislature is over and most everyone has gone home, I'm feeling something I've self-diagnosed as "blog withdrawal."

Thankfully, I've got something to post about and it involves one of my favorite things to write about: Money!

While digging through data (compiled in an Excel spreadsheet by the lovely and talented Ian Demsky) about presidential campaign donors in Tacoma, I saw the following fun fact and thought of you, readers...

If you divide campaign donors into ZIP codes, here are the top five spending areas:

1. North End and Ruston, 98407, ($33,710)
2. Gig Harbor, 98335, ($24,301)
3. Stadium/North End, 98403, ($21,200)
4. Gig Harbor, 98332, ($20,325)
5. Lakewood, 98499, ($12,850)

That's all I've got for now. Send any tips, comments and unsubstantiated rumors my way and I'll see what I can do.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has a second bill-signing ceremony on Tuesday after the one in Seattle. She's coming back to her office in Olympia to sign (or veto) a batch of health-care and medical-related bills that were passed by the Legislature earlier this month.

Read on:

Subject: Bill Action -- March 25, 2008
Governor's Conference Room
Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:
Commencing at 1:00 PM

Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1031
Relating to electronic communication devices.

Fourth Substitute House Bill No. 1103
Relating to health professions.

=> Read more!

Sound Transit’s governing board will decide soon whether to take a transit expansion plan to voters later this year.

Though a final decision may not come until June, the board must decide on a draft expansion plan by April 10 if it hopes to bring it to voters in November, according to agency spokeswoman Linda Robson.

Last November voters rejected an $18 billion roads-and-transit construction plan for Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. The plan included an extension of light rail from Sea-Tac Airport to Tacoma.

Since then the Sound Transit board has been weighing when to offer voters a transit-only expansion plan.

Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, who serves on the Sound Transit board, said some members believe it makes sense to place a scaled-down measure on the ballot this November. They believe the big turnout of a presidential election year would work to Sound Transit’s advantage.

Ladenburg is not convinced.

=> Read more!

There's another Haugen on the political landscape.

His name is Jon Haugen, an airline pilot from Felida, who is running on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Sen. Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield, top ranking Republican on the Senate budget-writing committee.

The other Haugen, of course, is incumbent Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island. She's chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee. And she's running for re-election this fall.

Someone with the same last name certainly isn't unusual in the Washington Legislature. There were Pat Sullivan and Brian Sullivan. And Betti Sheldon and Tim Sheldon. At least they were all Democrats. Then there was Rep. Dawn Morrell, D-Puyallup, who ran against and defeated then-incumbent Rep. Dave Morell, R-Puyallup, probably just because she had an extra "R" in her name.

But I digress.

Sometimes a candidate with the same last name can really embarrass you. Just ask Sen. Jim Hargove, D-Hoquiam. Former Rep. Steve Hargrove, an extremely conservative Republican who was swept into office in the 1994 Republican Revolution, was regularly getting his name in newspaper headlines during the 1995 and 1996 legislative sessions. But only part of his name. His last name.

And they weren't flattering. They were headlines like:
"HARGROVE kicked off House budget committee."
"House Speaker punishes HARGROVE."

Then-House Speaker Clyde Ballard, a Republican, actually did kick STEVE Hargove off the House Appropriations Committee because STEVE Hargrove was always voting "no" on any bill that spent any money at all. And there were some programs that Ballard and his Republican majority actually wanted to spend money on.

Anyway, every time STEVE Hargrove made the headlines, JIM Hargrove would have fits. Even though the pair represented different legislative districts (23 and 24), they were right next door and newspapers like the Bremerton Sun wrote about both Hargroves. And most of the time, the headline only used the last name. And JIM Hargrove was afraid most readers -- and voters -- wouldn't read beyond the headline.

As it turned out, both Hargoves were on the ballot together in 1996. JIM Hargrove as reelected. STEVE Hargrove was not.

Even so, I image Mary Margaret Haugen will be paying at least a little attention to what the headlines say about Jon Haugen's campaign.

Read what our colleague at the Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Kathi Durbin, wrote a story today about Jon Haugen's candidacy.

Randy Boss waged the campaign in the Legislature this year to prevent the late Sen. Bob Oke's colleagues from asking the Washington Transportation Commission to name the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge after Oke.

Now, Boss has moved his campaign to the local level, to counter-act efforts by Judy Oke and Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee of Gig Harbor from petitioning the commission for the same name change.

Read Boss' e-mail thread:

I sent the e-mail below to every member of the Washington State Senate several times during the last session of the legislature asking them to NOT support renaming the Narrows Bridge after the late Senator Bob Oke. The effort was successful as the Joint Memorial never made it past the Senate and therefore died.

Mrs. Oke is now taking a new tact. She is meeting with City Councils, County Councils and civic organization trying to gain support from these organizations to convince the State Transportation Commission to do what the Senate could not, and would not, do, rename the Tacoma Narrows Bridge the Bob Oke Bridge.

=> Read more!

Danish architect and lecturer Lars Gemzoe is coming to Tacoma next month to talk about making downtown Tacoma a more inviting and people-friendly place, particularly the moribund Tollefson Plaza.

City Manager Eric Anderson and Councilman Jake Fey spent about an hour visiting Gemzoe at his office last year when they traveled to Sweden and Denmark as part of a tour organized by International Sustainable Solutions.

"He's a brilliant architect," Anderson said.

Anderson and Fey were discussing ways they could apply what learned from their trip and apply it to downtown Tacoma, and decided to arrange for the visit.

Gemzoe is the co-author of "New City Spaces, Strategies and Projects," and "Public Spaces, Public Life." He is a senior consultant and associate partner of Gehl Architects, and a senior lecturer of urban design at the Center for Public Space Research at the the School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

He is expected to give a presentation at the City Council study session April 22, and meet with the Tollefson Plaza and Century Park Design Group, the city said.

The city is paying $15,000 to bring Gemzoe to town.

City officials may return to Sweden and Denmark this fall for another urban sustainability tour. Anderson said he intends to make another visit, and he's hoping to persuade as many council members as possible to join him.

Thought plans to name the Narrows Bridge for the late Sen. Bob Oke were dead? Not on the Pierce County Council.

Council Chairman Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor, has sponsored a resolution asking the Washington State Transportation Commission to name the new bridge in honor of the state senator. The council on Tuesday is set to refer the measure to its Rules Committee, chaired by Lee.

A public hearing tentatively is scheduled for April 7. The full council would take it up April 8.

=> Read more!

Gov. Chris Gregoire is getting around to signing the supplemental transportation budget for 2007-09 much faster than I thought she would. She's going to sign it next Tuesday in Seattle.

Generally, budget bills are among the last that governors sign because of their complexity. But come to think of it, the budget is pretty straightforward. Except for the new steel ferries, there ain't much new in it.

The tolling policy bill, HB 1773, should be of interest to the Gig Harbor misery-loves-company crowd. Although it doesn't impose tolls on any projects just yet, you can see that tolls are in the offing for projects all over the state, starting with the Highway 520 bridge. And that could happen as soon as Sept. 30, 2009. That's the deadline for the state to accept about $135 million in federal funds, provided they agree to early tolling on the bridge.

The new policy says tolls can stay forever for projects built after this year. Yes. That would exclude the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Tolls for that project are likely to come off sometime in 2030.

For those of you who have been following the antics of the Port of Seattle and its collective thumbing its nose at State Auditor Brian Sonntag, you'll be interested in HB 3274. I haven't read the whole thing, but I'm told it mostly requires Port officials to do what they should have been doing for a long time: comply with state bidding laws.

Read on:

Subject: Bill Action -- March 25, 2008
World Trade Center, 4th Floor, 2200 Alaskan Way, Seattle

Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:

Commencing at 10:30 AM

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill No. 1773
Relating to the imposition of tolls.

=> Read more!

I guess those Spanish lessons finally have paid off for Lt. Gov. Brad Owen. (And those trips to Spain.)

He is going to be knighted soon, along with longtime aide Antonio Sanchez. Not bad for a guy from Tacoma's East Side and, I think, Lincoln High School.

What next? Maybe one of those Spanish-built Talgo trains that make the Amtrak run between Seattle and Portland will be named after him.

That's right. After April 2 you'll be able to refer to Lt. Gov. Brad Owen as "Don" Brad Owen. In a reciprocal move, Gov. Chris Gregoire will bestow a new title on Don Quixote. Hereafter, the tilter-at-windmills will be known as "Lt. Gov. Quixote." (Just kidding about that last part.)

Read the full news release on Owen's Web site.

And check out what our colleague Rich Roesler at the Spokesman Review wrote in his blog.

It may be the least-attended public meeting in Pierce County. Then again, competition for that honor might be stiffer than I realize – how would I know?

Anyway, I was planning on dropping by tonight's semi-annual meeting of the Greater Tacoma Regional Convention Center Public Facilities District Board of Directors just to say I did.

Then I received an e-mail from the Tacoma City Clerk's office:

Notice is hereby given that the Greater Tacoma Regional Convention Center Public Facilities District Board of Directors semiannual meeting of Thursday, March 20, 2008, has been cancelled.

A rescheduled meeting date has not yet been determined. Please consult the City’s website at www.cityoftacoma.org for updated information. A public notice will be posted 30 days prior to the rescheduled meeting date.

It doesn't say why the meeting was canceled, so I put in a call to Joni Dalin at the convention center to get the details. Dalin said they wouldn't have a quorum. Four of the seven board members need to show for the meeting to be official. Only two can make it, Dalin said. It probably doesn't help that one of the positions is vacant.

But not to worry. It doesn't sound like there was anything pressing on the agenda. If they showed up, board members would have been presented with some audited financial statements, heard an update on the facility, and perhaps talked about replacing a board member for non-attendance, Dalin said.

They might try again for next month. Or the meeting may have to wait until September, Dalin said. One of the board members will be away fighting fires this summer, likely ruling out a summer-time meeting.

I stand ready to mark my calendar. But I doubt anyone else is.

In the last few years, Dalin said they've not had one member of the public attend one of the board meetings.

At least the board hasn't met in complete obscurity. Trib columnist Peter Callaghan attended one of their meetings in November, 2003.

Anyone care to nominate a public body that's more obscure?

Sen. Harriet Spanel, D-Bellingham, hasn't sent an official news release, but she did tell the Whatcom County Democrats last Saturday night that she isn't running for reelection this fall.

Spanel has been here for 20 years, four years in the House and 16 in the Senate. As caucus chairwoman, she was the No. 2 ranking member among Senate Democrats.

Spanel's decision means Republicans will target her seat in the 40th Legislative District.

Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, takes notes (sometimes) during those long, long, boring nights filled with sometimes inane floor speeches, offered up by punch-drunk legislators who have stayed up long past their bedtime and really should be in bed.

I must offer a disclaimer here: This is all Jeannie. No editing (with one exception: I took out the Rep. Gary Alexander speech because Niki blogged on it during session). So if you feel misquoted, by all means tell me. But tell Jeannie, too.

2008 proved to be a somewhat lackluster year, at least in the area of capturing tortuous twists of the English language. Puns were sparse. Malapropisms were few and far between. Absurdities were rarer than usual. But Rep. Alexander made up for it all in the famous "Mr. Speaker, I wish I had a picture" speech. Enjoy the Great Quotes of 2008. Sine die!

Jeannie Darneille
State Representative - 27th Legislative District

The name of the speech-ifyer appears at the end of the remark. Scroll down and let us know which one is your favorite:

“GREAT” QUOTES OF THE 2008 SESSION

Shush! Y’all sound like a bunch of chickens in a barnyard! Bill Grant

I’d like to add an amendment to this bill that would require these people (metal thieves) to watch TVW while they are serving time. Bill Hinkle

=> Read more!

Here's a letter that was forwarded to me, purportedly sent by Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver. I've been trying to reach Benton to confirm that he is, indeed the author, but haven't hooked up with him yet.

But I have talked to other Republican senators and staff, read portions of it to them, and they say it was written by Benton.

Besides backing up his longtime ally and very good friend, Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, Benton is harshly critical of the GOP team that is trying to recapture some of the seats they've lost the past couple election cycles. Democrats have a 32-17 majority in the Washington Senate, and their prospects look pretty bleak, according to Benton.

I was shocked to discover at the meeting that $300,000 of the $400,000 raised in 2007 was also spent in 2007 even though we had no races that year at all. It appears that no attempt whatsoever was made to conserve funds for the crucial 2008 election cycle. This is greatly disturbing. A statewide mailing list composed of only 2600 donors is pathetic. And I hope you caught the fact that $100,000 was spent on direct mail to break even and only add 200 or so additional names to our list. If this wasn't so sad it would be laughable.

Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, Republican Floor Leader said Benton doesn't have all his facts right. "He overstated what was spent," Schoesler said. And the fact that money was spent in 2007 doesn't matter because "we're ggetting ready for the (2008 election) cycle," Schoesler said.

Schoesler, who is chairman of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, said he didn't want to say more because he didn't want to divulge proprietary stuff. But you can read Benton's full letter and draw your own conclusions about how the GOP will fare this fall"

Dear Republican Colleague,

Now that the session is over and I have had a few days to think about it I wanted to write to you to express my deep disgust with the way the caucus campaign meeting was conducted last Friday. I also want to voice my serious concern with the inexcusable position our caucus finds itself concerning our ability to conduct campaigns this season. As one of only 17 people who can do anything about our situation, I wanted to share with you my assessment of the situation.

=> Read more!

Toby Nixon lost his bid for a state Senate seat in 2006 and Democrat Roger Goodman took the vacant seat. Now, Nixon says he wants his seat back.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 20, 2008

TOBY NIXON TO SEEK RETURN TO STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

KIRKLAND, WA (March 20, 2008) -- Former State Representative Toby Nixon announced today that he will seek election this year to return to the legislature as state representative for the 45th District. Nixon, who served in the state house for five years from 2002 through 2007, will challenge Roger Goodman, who was elected to the seat Nixon vacated when he ran for state senate in 2006.

Reversing an earlier statement that he would not run for office in 2008, Nixon said, “After watching the legislature’s failure once again to make any real progress toward solving the major problems in our state -- while continuing their relentless drive toward fiscal disaster -- I am disgusted along with the rest of the people of Washington. The incumbent had his chance and did nothing to change things. I am determined to win this election, return to Olympia, and take the lead implementing the new direction the people of the 45th District demand.”

=> Read more!

Here's the news release from her office:

March 19, 2008
To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- March 21, 2008
Rainier Vista
Paul Allen Room
4410 29th Avenue South
Seattle
Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:
Commencing at 1:30 PM

=> Read more!

Well, now we know why Sen. Pam Roach was all bent out of shape earlier this week.

Senate Republican leaders released their disciplinary report after we filed a public records request.

Senate GOP leadership told Roach she can't have direct access to caucus staff because of her "inordinate" demands on staff time and her sorta insistence on loyalty oaths from staffers. It sounds as if the staff complained to leadership that Roach spends so much time complaining about other senators, former senators, Senate GOP leadership, lobbyists, Republican party leaders and others that they don't have much time to do anything else.

Hereafter, Roach will have to make her requests to caucus staff through her legislative aide and staff will give their help to the aide so Roach and the staff will never come into direct contact with each other.

"Staff are asked to spend an inordinate amount of time with Member (Sen. Roach) to detriment of their obligations to other members and to the personal lives of staff," Senate leadership wrote.

The memo is signed by Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla; Caucus Chair Linda Parlette, R-Wenatchee; Floor Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Whip Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham.

Niki is writing a story for Thursday's paper, which will have more detail. And if I can figure out how to post a PDF, I'll show you what leadership said.

Gov. Chris Gregoire is coming to Tacoma tomorrow afternoon to sign a raft of bills -- some of them sponsored by state Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.

The ceremony for the public safety measures will be held at the Tacoma Police Department, so the governor should be plenty safe. It's at 3:30 p.m.

Among the bills is one to expand the list of crimes for which criminals must submit a DNA sample to authorities. Another deals with prison chaplains

Here's the announcement from the governor's office, with a complete list of bills:

To: Ladies and Gentlemen
From: Marty Brown, Legislative Director
Subject: Bill Action -- March 20, 2008

Tacoma Police Department Headquarters
Conference Room
3701 South Pine Street
Tacoma

Governor Gregoire will take action on the following House and Senate Bills:

=> Read more!

One more familiar aspect of the old primary systems will disappear when the state switches to a Top Two primary - the special period after candidate filing week when parties could fill races that didn't draw one of their candidates.

Since we no longer have a party nominating primary, the parties no longer have special status to find candidates when no one filed for an office. The only time candidate filing will be reopened is when no candidates file to run.

Here are other FAQ's from the Secretary of State's office.

=> Read more!

We received a press release today about Initiative 1016 (no, the press release wasn't from Tim Eyman), which would lift the smoking ban on cigars in certain venues.

To ensure that the Cigar Bar Relief Act of 2008 is on the November ballot, proponents of the measure must gather 225,000 signatures from registered voters by June 30. Petitions are available at most cigar stores, former cigar bars, private clubs like the American Legion and Eagles, and online at www.cigarwa.com, the website of the Cigar Association of Washington.

"Smokers and non-smokers alike should sign our petitions and vote 'yes' on November 8 because we are only asking for the right to allow smoking in relatively few locations without changing the ban elsewhere," says Dale Taylor, a tobacconist with Rain City Cigar in Seattle and president of the Cigar Association of Washington which is coordinating the campaign for the initiative.

I read the other week that some bars in Minnesota are getting around that state's smoking ban by staging "theatrical nights." By printing up playbills and declaring all bar patrons "actors," patrons can smoke. The initiative seems more practical.

Click below for the rest of the press release.

=> Read more!

Tina Orwall is chairwoman of the 33rd District Democrats. She sent us a news release today.

Shay Schual-Berke announced in the waning days of the just-concluded legislative session that she won't seek reelection to a sixth two-year term.

Here's the release:

Tina Orwall Officially Announces Her Candidacy for 33rd House Seat

Award-winning advocate for the homeless and Democratic Party leader Tina Orwall announced today that she will seek the 33rd District House seat being vacated by Rep. Shay Schual-Berke.

Tina, 42 and mother of two, has raised her family in the Highline School District and served as president of the Marvista Elementary School PTSA.
She was an active member of the Highline Citizens for Schools, working to pass the 2007 Highline School Levy.

=> Read more!

At least, that's what her Web site says.

A few weeks ago, I signed up for campaign updates from Gov. Chris Gregoire's reelection campaign, even though it technically still doesn't exist. (The campaign. Not the Web site.) The guv said she would not announce until after the Legislature adjourned. That was last Thursday.

Anyway, the e-mail I got Monday says that annoucement is coming soon.

The legislative session is over and once the Governor is done signing bills, we’re going to kick off the campaign and run hard until Election Day

So there you go. She also invited me to "click here" if I'm ready to reelect her. I can't do that, of course. But you regular folks have more options.

I'm still waiting to here from Team Rossi to see if he needs me, too.

Here's the Guv's campaign e-mail:

Dear Friend,
Thank you for supporting Governor Gregoire!
(I didn't! Honest!)

=> Read more!

In an attempt to make lemonade out of the basket of lemons handed them by the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday, state party leaders are suggesting they have grounds for a future challenge to the Top Two primary.

A reading of the decision suggests otherwise.

In upholding the Top Two initiative, the court said opponents had not made a case that the law is unconstitutional on its face. And since the legal challenge came before the state could use the system in an actual election, there was no way of telling if it would be constitutional "as applied."

Both Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts raised the possibility that the state could run a Top Two election in such a way as to infringe on the parties' rights. That is, the state could somehow suggest that candidates are the official candidates of the parties, rather than candidates who "prefer" one party over the other.

That was enough for GOP Chairman Luke Esser to say this:

"Though we would have preferred to win outright today, the U.S. Supreme Court offered a very narrow, technical ruling that makes it clear the Top Two Primary may still be found unconstitutional. The court's opinion clearly imposes a high standard on the State of Washington to devise a primary ballot that is “designed in such a manner that no reasonable voter” would conclude that a candidate who declares a preference for a party, without that party’s approval, is a member of that party."

But here is what Thomas actually wrote:

"... we must ... ask whether the ballot could conceivable be printed in such a way as to eliminate the possibility of widespread voter confusion and with it the perceived threat to the First Amendment."

He then adds, "It is not difficult to conceive of such a ballot."

And this, "We are satisfied that there are a variety of ways in which the state could implement I-872 that would eliminate any real threat of voter confusion."

Chief Justice Roberts was a bit more skeptical about the chances for a constitutional implementation, but not by much:

"If the ballot is designed in such a manner that no reasonable voter would believe that the candidates listed there are nominees or members of, or otherwise associated with, the parties the candidates claimed to 'prefer,' the I-872 primary system would likely pass constitutional muster."

Rather than saying they will wait to see how the law in put into practice, the justices gave the state a road map for implementing Top Two in a way that will meet their approval.

This is going to be a swell year for covering the governor's race. Already, the campaigns seem to be on each other's last nerves. The latest example is what Democrats say is an unfair alignment of Clinton and Gregoire.

From the BIAW in January, in an article about Gregoire shedding a tear over Booth Gardner's 'Death with Dignity' initiative within days of Clinton shedding a tear over how tough it is to campaign (p. 5):

"Gregoire's tears stun the capitol press corps reporters into silence. Next topic please. Is this Gregoire's new plan to revamp her Hillary Clinton-esque imagine of a heartless, power-hungry she-wolf who would eat her own young to get ahead? If it worked for Hillary, could it work for Gregoire, two women cut from the same cloth?

Next up: Rossi calls the governor "Benedict Gregoire" for not supporting Clinton. From the Olympian:

The name refers to Benedict Arnold, a traitor during the Revolutionary War, and Rossi said Gregoire betrayed Hillary Clinton by supporting Barack Obama for president this year...
The Daily World of Aberdeen quoted him as saying, "I'm not going to pull a 'Benedict Gregoire' like she did to Hillary Clinton, who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for her, and endorse Barack Obama because the winds are blowing that way."
As it turns out, Clinton did not raise money for Gregoire.
Rossi was mistaken, (spokeswoman Jill) Strait said.

When I saw Rossi speak at the Lincoln Day breakfast in Tacoma last weekend, he said he was the candidate for change. I doubt Democrats will retaliate by aligning him with Obama, but I'll certainly keep you posted.

WashingtonVotes.org today released its annual missed votes report. As the title might imply, it tallies the number of votes each state legislator missed.

Ta da.

(Hint: When you sort the data, make sure it's not stuck on Jan. 07.)

Click on the lawmaker's name and you can see exactly which votes they missed. It's almost as fun as the PDC Web site.

For example: Our very own Steve Kirby voted on every single bill in the House, whereas our very own Dennis Flannigan missed 203 of those votes.

Go. Play. Tell me what you find.

Yesterday we posted about an e-mail sent out by Sen. Pam Roach, lambasting Senate Republican leadership and accusing Sen. Mike Hewitt of mooning her. We also posted about a subsequent e-mail from leadership, not-quite explaining things. Their take: Roach is upset – and misrepresenting things - because she was reprimanded.

So what was she reprimanded for? We don't know. Yet.

Hewitt had knee surgery and isn't talking to the press because he's on meds. He sent his apologies. Roach is in Honduras. A public records request is pending.

In the meantime, you may recall that Roach had some troubles in the 2003 legislative session. Here's an excerpt from Joe's story:

In March 1998, Roach threw a televised tantrum on the floor of the Senate because someone had moved a bouquet of roses from her desk.
In 1999, another Roach aide abruptly quit, saying she was tired of what she called the senator's verbal abuse.
Later in 1999, a committee of the top seven Democrat and Republican leaders in the Senate sent Roach a formal letter suggesting she seek professional counseling.

=> Read more!

I just got back from a couple days off and this was in my e-mail box, courtesy of our copy desk. From the Associated Press:

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., will seek a third term in Congress.
McMorris Rodgers represents the Spokane area and the eastern third of Washington.
She won an open seat in 2004 and will be considered the favorite in a Republican district. Last month, Mark Mays of Spokane announced he will run as a Democrat for the seat.
McMorris Rodgers drew attention last April when she became one of the few congresswomen to give birth while in office.

There wasn't much material for artist/commentator RR Anderson to work with from last night's Tacoma City Council meeting, aside from a couple of Lyndon LaRouche supporters.

They showed up to talk about a resolution on the agenda to increase contracts with a couple of firms that provide investment management services for the city's retirement fund.

Or at least that's the item they claimed to be commenting on when Mayor Bill Baarsma interrupted to explain the rules.

Unless it's the first meeting of the month, public comment is supposed to be limited to items on the agenda.

The LaRouche boys seemed more interested in getting some face time on TV Tacoma to talk about current events in the world financial markets. They mentioned Bear Stearns.

Here's the commentary:

http://i.feedtacoma.com/NineInchNachos/tv-tacoma-peanut-gallery-city-001/

Pierce County Councilman and executive candidate Calvin Goings has received the endorsement of the county corrections officer’s union. Read the announcement below.

=> Read more!

The state Senate's Republican leadership says in a news release that it disciplined Auburn Sen. Pam Roach on a "personnel matter" last week.

That explains the strange Roach press release we got earlier today (see previous post) that sharply criticized Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt.

The GOP response was delivered by three other members of the Senate Republican's leadership team - Sens. Linda Parlette, Mark Schoesler and Dale Brandland - because they said Hewitt is undergoing a medical procedure.

We'll look into this. In the meantime, here's the caucus response:

“Sen. Roach has distorted events that happened off campus to distract attention from internal personnel issues for which she was disciplined.

“We cannot discuss personnel issues in the press.

“We want to make it clear that this disciplinary decision did not involve any one member of leadership; it involved all four members of the senior Republican leadership. The matter has to do with Sen. Roach’s official actions, not any off campus comments or observations she has about the caucus.

“Finally, Sen. Roach’s allegation that Sen. Hewitt ‘exposed his backside to a female senator’ is factually deceptive and personally harmful.

“We are disappointed that Sen. Roach has decided to make a private personnel matter public.”

Sen. Linda Parlette
Sen. Mark Schoesler
Sen. Dale Brandland

Wowwie. I just got this e-mail from two people, both with comments that amounted to: "Huh?"

Sen. Pam Roach sent this out, and I have added emphasis and/or side comments where I see fit:

Subject: Senate Republicans attack their own

The Washington State Senate Republican leadership that has watched its numbers drop to near historical lows and has no substantive input regarding the issues confronting the people of Washington, have now chosen to attack members of their own caucus to stifle the growing unrest of failed leadership.
Senator Pam Roach (R-Auburn) who missed being elected Minority Leader by one vote last year is the first member to be targeted under this campaign to muzzle critics. Senator Roach, the only State Senator re-elected from King County in the 2006 Democratic landslide has been pointing out the failure of Senate Republican Leadership to put together a cohesive and worthy platform from which to recruit and fund viable candidates and recover from the historical losses of 2006.

Let me just pause to make this clear: This message attacking Senate leadership was sent out because Roach feels like she's been attacked. I think.

"Our leadership is a disaster. We offer no plan for regaining the majority, we have no money to support viable candidates and now we attack our own," said Roach.
Roach has been accused of speaking critically of leadership around staff.

Apparently that wasn't a large enough forum. Keep reading. Trust me.

Minority Leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla Walla) has verbally abused members in caucus, and has bent and exposed his backside to a female senator while screaming at her during a caucus meeting.
"He is a desperate man with personal problems," said Roach.
"Mike Hewitt has failed the Republicans on all fronts. Our leadership is drowning and like those who drown they are lashing out at and pulling down those who may be able to save them. Hewitt's personal issues and unprofessional conduct will drop us even further into the abyss of becoming a meaningless entity."
"Five years ago, Hewitt joined then leader Jim West, in attacking me fearing I would go public with questionable e-mails that were uncovered. They fired my aide who discovered and reported them, then Hewitt joined West in a campaign to silence me with smear and intimidation tactics."
Roach was exonerated.
"Now Hewitt, with his own closet full of skeletons, is resorting to the same tactics of intimidation and harassment," said Roach.
"I will not sit back and have my rights under the Constitution, the laws of the State of Washington and the Rules of the Senate be violated by this 'leader'."
"I will protect those rights and my rights as an individual in the appropriate forum. The people of Washington will have exposed to them the sad state of affairs that the Senate Republican Caucus is in due to the incompetence of our current leaders.

Remember all the talk about how important the superdelegates would be to this year's Democratic race? Did you worry that a superdelegate from your state might not care who you wanted in office?

The Washington State Democrats have thought up a creative way to quell your fears (and without making a single promise!)

Click here to lobby the six of Washington's superdelegates. Why only six? Because six are chosen based on their status on the Washington State Democratic Central Committee. There are 12 more who are either elected officials or free agents.

Will the Washington State Republicans follow with a means for you to lobby their three superdelegates? I mean ... umm... uncommitted delegates who do not originate from the caucuses? (I got a call from the Republican National Committee last time I called them superdelegates.)

Maybe, when they realize this genius: To weigh in, you have to submit your full name, e-mail address and city. Am I suggesting that they're only doing this to get more voters' contact information? No. But it's not a bad side effect.

Last week County Councilman Calvin Goings called for the firing of county planning director Chuck Kleeberg and proposed reining in building fee increases. Also last week, the Master Builders Association of Pierce County interviewed executive candidates – including Goings – in preparation for issuing an endorsement.

Which begs the question: was Goings taking aim at the planning department with an eye toward getting the MBA’s endorsement?

I asked him, and he said no.

“This is about a broken planning department and the need for a change in leadership,” Goings said.

The association has long been a critic of the planning department. But it hasn’t rushed to support Goings’ call to fire Kleeberg. On Monday the MBA wrote a letter to County Executive John Ladenburg and council Chairman Terry Lee expressing appreciation for Kleeberg’s efforts to work with builders.

The MBA is not expected to announce an endorsement until later this spring.

The Master Builders Association of Pierce County today weighed in on a Pierce County Council ordinance that calls for the firing of planning director Chuck Kleeberg.

In a letter to county officials, the MBA did not take a “yes” or “no” position on the ordinance. However, it expressed appreciation for Kleeberg’s efforts to communicate with and seek input from the industry and for providing access to his staff.

“While there continues to be room for improvement in how the department functions, PALS staff, and Mr. Kleeberg in particular, cannot be held exclusively responsible for the housing market’s drop and its effect on the PALS budget,” the letter states.

For the complete letter, read on:

=> Read more!

A trusted source has sent me the final tally of which House members had the most sole no votes.

If you'll recall, there once was a bit of a contest among Republicans with simple rules: Get the most sole no votes, win. The contest allegedly no longer exists, but some still seem to be playing.

Without further ado:

1. Rep. Jim Dunn, R-Vancouver: 34 sole no votes
2. Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City: 21
3. Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle: 4
4. Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle: 3
Second string: Reps. Sump, McCoy, VanDeWege, Ericksen, Chandler, Hudgins, each with 2 solo nos.
Bench warmers: Reps. Hankins, Darneille, Hinkle, Quall, Goodman, Schindler, Roberts, Pedersen, Williams, Eddy, Kirby, each with 1 solo no.

You are about to start hearing a lot about this video, so you might as well just watch it:

The state Democratic party released it on Thursday. It contains video clips from the Centralia Chronicle, which didn't please the newspaper all too much since they didn't have permission. The Democrats, for their part, say using clips (as opposed to lifting a whole video) constitutes fair use.

And I just got an e-mail from a Republican source who let me know the party intends to issue a release criticizing the video shortly. (So, to summarize: Republicans plan to issue a press release criticizing Democrats for releasing a video criticizing Rossi and allegedly using improperly lifted footage.)

What do you think? I'll post more context and info as it becomes available.

After 10 years in the Legislature, Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, will retire.

What I will remember of her: How fun it is to say her name.

From the press release:

“Whenever you see a Washington license plate with the colorful children’s handprints, you are seeing a Shay Schual-Berke idea for raising funds to combat child abuse in our state,” said Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, who chairs the House Committee on Early Learning and Children’s Services.

Schual-Berke earned a reputation for being a tireless advocate for her local district’s interests, including state funding for local parks, Highline Community College and noise-abatement efforts to help children in schools near the airport.

=> Read more!

On Saturday morning, I covered the annual Lincoln Day Breakfast in Tacoma, where Dino Rossi, Attorney General Rob McKenna and Congressman Dave Reichert spoke to a crowd of about 200.

Here's some stuff that didn't make it into the story:

1. Rossi said when he was thinking about running, he asked his family what they thought. Everyone was in favor except his 7-year-old daughter, who didn't want to move into the governor's mansion because she'd heard it was haunted.

2. When Reichert got up to speak, he told the crowd he'd flown in late Friday night and was feeling tired. His speech was pretty low-key. At one point in the speech, he reminded people that Barack Obama may seem friendly and electable, but he's a liberal, "and he will steal money out of your wallets and purses."
The crowd was silent.

3. To end his speech, Reichert told a joke that involved Billy Graham, Hillary Clinton, Kobe Bryant and a 10-year-old girl on an airplane that's headed for disaster. With on parachute short, they have to decide who deserves to be saved.
The joke ends with Clinton mistakenly grabbing the girl's backpack instead of a parachute, then presumably plummeting to what the HR department would call "accidental D&D."
The crowd laughed and he ended his speech on a high note.

State Supreme Court Justice Charles Johnson is in the press house in Olympia right now, handing out press releases to announce that he's running for a fourth term on state Supreme Court.

It was his birthday yesterday and his mother-in-law made brownies... I would imagine those big black robes they wear would hide a fondness for brownies rather well, but apparently he didn't want to eat the whole plate so he brought them to the press house.

Johnson's press release notes that he recently wrote a strongly worded dissent in the Soter case, in which he argued the public had a right to know that a child with a severe allergy was fed nuts on a school trip and died.

Oh, and of course: We would have posted this, brownies or no. (In fact, reporters are like wildlife, and should not be fed.)

Closing the loop on this one:

Last month, Niki Sullivan reported that Pierce County Auditor Pat McCarthy was giving voters who didn't mark a party oath on the presidential primary ballot a second chance. The auditor sent them an "oops" letter - as in, "Oops, I forgot to mark a party preference."

Of course, some of those were intentionally left unmarked.

I asked McCarthy for the final numbers. Here's her reply:

A total of 2,413 voters failed to complete the Presidential Primary Oath properly of the 134,040 total number of absentee ballots returned (1.8%).

Of that number a total of 711 voters, or 29.5%, responded to a letter and updated their oath so that it could be counted.

At the time of certification a total of 1,702 voters had still failed to properly select an oath, resulting in their ballot not being counted.

I saw this Sonics arena update in our Sports section today and thought I'd share with PoliBuzz readers. Note the provision that enables the Sonics to leave OKC after six years under certain conditions, and that such an escape clause is becoming "a common lease term in new NBA agreements."

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City have reached a preliminary agreement on a lease at the Ford Center pending NBA approval of the team’s relocation.

The 15-year deal calls for the SuperSonics to pay the city $1.6 million annually for use of the building and reimburse $409,000 per year to replace revenue from naming rights for the arena currently paid by local Ford car dealerships.

“I’m very pleased with the deal,” City Manager Jim Couch said. “I believe that this is the right decision for the city to go forward with this deal. ... We think that this is a very solid deal for the city of Oklahoma City.”

=> Read more!

Christian Sinderman, the campaign consultant who first noticed that Tim Eyman was paying himself a salary (back when Eyman was still denying it), will have a hand in three statewide campaigns this fall.

He's working for Democrats John Ladenburg, who's running for attorney general, Peter Goldmark, who's running for state Commissioner of Public Lands, and might be working for Jim McIntire, who's running for state Treasurer. They have to meet.

Sinderman also might be called upon to help out Democrats in a few legislative races, too.

Sinderman works for House Speaker Frank Chopp's Democrats during the legislative session, then goes back to his consulting work afterward. Come to think of it, he's always sorta working for Frank.

The "Four Corners" of Transportation, as they are called, sent a letter to Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond to make clear Hammond can use some of the $39,953,000 in the supplemental budget to fix the bridge.

Someone slipped a copy of the letter to me Thursday. It's dated March 12.

The follow-up letter was from Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee; Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee; Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, and Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, ranking Republicans on those two committees. Hence, the "four" corners.

And it was needed because the bridge is in pretty bad shape and might need some emergency repairs BEFORE Tacoma can comply with the conditions to get the state money. That is,

"No funds may be expended unless the City of Tacoma agrees to take ownership of the bridge in its entirety and provides that the payment of these funds extinquishes any real or implied agreements regarding future bridge expenditures."

If Tacoma wants the $40 million that the state is prepared to give the city to renovate the bridge, the city has to take responsibility for the bridge, which is falling apart.

Clibborn told me last night the four legislative leaders wanted to make it clear that the DOT still could make fixes to the bridge and "is not prohibited from proceeding with necessary emergency work to safeguard against the eminent failure of bridge cables or other bridge components with the funding provided."

If those cables aren't fixed soon, DOT may have to lock the bridge in an upright position. I don't understand why that is, but it is. It was too hectic the last night of session to ask all the questions I needed to.

Anyway, the Legislature still wants Tacoma to take that bridge off the state's hands and expects DOT "will continue to negotiate an agreement with the City of Tacoma to transfer ownership of the bridge to the city. This letter is based on our expectation that the city continues to aggressively work with the state to accept ownership of the bridge in a timely manner," the foursome wrote.

Important programming note: We've disabled the ability for comments to be added to stories on our web site while we work on a technical glitch. We'll let you know when they're back online. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Steve Lerch, 51, is research director for the Washington State Investment Board, a group that oversees about $85 billion in public pension plans and other funds that are invested for the state.

Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, told me Thursday, in the waning moments of the legislative session, that the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council had hired an interim director to fill in for ChangMook Sohn.

Sohn resigned last month after more than 20 years on the job to run for state treasurer. McIntire, chairman of the forecast council, also is running for state treasurer. They're both running as Democrats. Right. They're running against each other.

Anyway, Lerch said he's taking a leave of absence from the investment board, starting April 1 so he can oversee the group of economists who try to figure out every three months how much tax money the state will collect.

Lerch has been with the investment board for 2 years. Before that, he worked for the state Department of Revenue. He's been in Olympia since 1988.

His new (temporary) office will be just down the hall from his old office at Revenue.

We challenge you to find the name of the company that might get a tax break for building its new headquarters in downtown Tacoma (or on the Hilltop) in the news release put out by the Gov. Chris Gregoire's office.

Maybe someone besides Russell Investments is looking to build a new $30 million headquarters building downtown.

Ya think maybe Boeing is looking to move its HQ from Chi-Town to T-Town? Nah!

Gov. Gregoire signs bill to drive economic development

TACOMA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed Senate Bill 6626 at the Economic Development Board of Tacoma-Pierce County’s annual business luncheon. The bill creates incentives for businesses to build or lease corporate headquarters in community empowerment zones throughout the state.

“This tax-break bill is important for Tacoma and for Pierce County,” Gregoire said. “It is another economic development tool to continue this city’s amazing renaissance. These incentives can draw more high-paying, high-demand, professional jobs into Washington state.”

=> Read more!

Business reporter C.R. Roberts was at the annual Economic Development Board luncheon this afternoon at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center, and along with watching the governor sign her first bill post-sine die, and along with hearing the economic editor of The Economist describe the long road ahead, he had a word with Jim Kastama, Democratic state senator from the 25th District.

This being an election year, the question was obvious – but the answer was a bit of a surprise.

Is Kastama considering another office? Yes.

Some folks in the WEA, Kastama said, have approached him about trying for the post now held by state schools chief Terry Bergeson at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Last May, Kastama said he was considering joining the crowd running for Pierce County executive. By month’s end, however, he opted out, saying he could serve his district and the county better as chairman of the Senate economic development committee. Kastama was first elected to the state Senate in 2000, replacing a guy named Calvin Goings. Whatever happened to him?

Congressman Dave Reichert is getting religion about earmarks. The Auburn Republican says it's time for a change in the way Washington, D.C., does business. We suspect Democratic challenger Darcy Burner agrees. But notice how Reichert feels the need to remind everyone that he was a sheriff. Does tying that to earmarks seem like a stretch?

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) today issued the following video statement:

"You know, sometimes you have to do what you think is right no matter what the consequences are. That is the way I operated when I was Sheriff, and that is the way I continue to operate in Congress.

"That’s why I’m announcing today that I am going to voluntarily forgo requesting member projects, or 'earmarks,' in the spending bills for 2009…”

Here's the video:

UPDATE: And here's an Associated Press brief:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Reps. Dave Reichert and Cathy McMorris Rodgers are taking a one-year break from pet projects known as earmarks.
The two Washington state members of Congress say they will voluntarily adopt a one-year moratorium as a way to protest a system they say has been abused for personal and political gain.
McMorris Rodgers said she is proud of her record on earmarks, which she said have helped Eastern Washington business, agriculture, cultural and educational interests. Still, she said the system hurts taxpayers and encourages corruption.
Reichert agreed, saying, “Sometimes you have to do what you think is right no matter what the consequences."
The Senate killed an amendment Thursday night that would have placed a one-year moratorium on earmarks.

The last action taken by the Legislature yesterday (pretty much) was passing a supplemental operating budget for the two-year period that began July 1, 2007 and will send June 30, 2009.

Initiative 960 requires disclosure of fee increases over a 10-year period, and there are some fees in the budget. Tim Eyman, I-960's sponsor, undoubtedly will do the bidding of the Republican Party and GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi by focusing on the 10-year cumulative total of $606 million. But that's misleading. The total for 2009 is $66 million and $52 million of that is for tutition and fees.

So, unless you have a kid in a Washington college, you are avoiding the bulk of the fee increases. Tuition and fees for $470 million of the 10-year total.

Now, there are other fees in other bills, but I haven't found all of them yet. I'll keep you posted.

Here is the report that was prepared by the governor's budget office on how much the fees would cost taxpayers over the next decade.

We got this today from the Gov. Chris Gregoire's office:

The bill-signing ceremony starts at 2:30 p.m.

House Bill No. 1391
Relating to filling vacancies in the office of mayor.

House Bill No. 1493
Relating to clarifying the definition of development activity with regard to regional transit authorities.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 1865
Relating to limiting the obligations of landlords under writs of restitution.

House Bill No. 2700
Relating to military department claims and accounts.

House Bill No. 2730
Relating to the provision of ferry service by port districts.

Substitute House Bill No. 2885
Relating to industrial insurance for geoduck harvesters.

=> Read more!

Here's a letter the Senate leadership sent to the Ballmer group today. They're the guys who want to keep the Sonics local.

What's it say?

That the Legislature will explore long-term options in the interim, that they're "confident" a solution will be found, and that they encourage the city of Seattle to bridge the funding gap until then. It also encourages them to find out whether other teams are for sale.

It's similar to a letter sent earlier this week.

So, basically, don't hate us for not doing anything. Maybe next time.

PS - I love passive voice in these kinds of letters. "We're confident that a creative long-term solution can still be found." By whom? When? Where? Dunno. But we're confident someone will find it and do something about it. Go team!

The House is now addressing the budget.

Remember in the beginning of session when all lawmakers could talk about where "kitchen table issues"?

Well, two months later they're back in the floor speeches.

Rep. Glenn Anderson says what the Democratic budget-writers didn't take into account is that the money isn't theirs.

"This is not our money. It comes from the kitchen tables of others," he said.

His point: If the state pays for one program or spends big, it's not a win-win situation. Somewhere, someone's kitchen table is getting cleaned.

I hear that there are parts of the capitol where people are already celebrating adjournment. Not here on the floor... not yet.

A resolution calling for the firing of planning director Chuck Kleeberg apparently is going nowhere on the Pierce County Council.

Five of seven council members have told me they oppose the measure, even though some don’t think Kleeberg is doing a great job. Council Chairman Terry Lee and Councilmen Shawn Bunney, Tim Farrell, Barbara Gelman and Dick Muri said they oppose the resolution. I haven’t reached Roger Bush yet.

Muri initially signed on to the measure, but has since changed his mind.

“I don’t like Chuck’s performance, but it’s not bad enough to call for his resignation,” Muri said Thursday.

Others think Kleeberg is doing well, all things considered.

“With the resources he has, I think he’s done an okay job,” Gelman said.

=> Read more!

Ya gotta listen to this. Nice touch to close out the session. Elizabeth performed the song. The animation and production of the song was done by Brian Castillo.

My two years of Latin at Bellarmine Prep tell me Sine Die mean "without day."

Here is a link to the performance.

And here is what Rep. Zack Hudgins, D-Tukwila, sent to his colleagues:

Many of you know that my LA - Elizabeth Hummel - is an accomplished musician. She writes, and sings, and plays her own music and has sold millions of CDs over the years. (Well, ok thousands of CDs)

She has recorded a Sine Die Song for all of us, and this link will take you there.

If you are on the floor of the House, you will want to make sure your sound is off (if we are in session) (function key- it is blue, and the home key will mute the sound) The song is much better without the mute on - but you don't want to blast out this sine die song while on the floor during our work. If you are caught off guard, you can also close the window.

I suggest waiting until we are at ease for lunch, before you listen.

The Senate's been discussing the 2009 supplemental budget for ... oh, I don't know, seemingly the last five hours.

Some Republicans said the budget is scary because the majority Democrats were spending too much. In the past, the comparison has been made to a "drunken sailor."

Other Republicans said the budget is bad because it didn't include enough money for the programs they wanted.

Sen. Margarita Prentice stood up and called them all out for the contradiction.

Sen. Cheryl Pflug just described her position, saying it was a "gross mischaracterization."

And then it passed... 31-18.

Sine Die.

Couldn't tell you what it means and don't want to know, but I can tell you this: Tomorrow, this circus is over. Sometime today, both chambers will adjourn, leaving a pile of bills that the governor has 20 days (excluding Sundays) to sign. (Or not.)

So Joe and I will keep you updated throughout the day. Right now, both chambers are in caucus, which means they're discussing things in secret.

In the meantime, any bets on what time we'll adjourn?

Pierce County Council Chairman Terry Lee says he won’t support Calvin Goings’ resolution of no-confidence in Planning and Land Services Director Chuck Kleeberg.

Goings has introduced a resolution calling for the county executive to fire Kleeberg. It has been referred to the council Rules Committee, which Lee chairs.

Goings says Kleeberg should be fired because of a revenue shortfall, permit backlogs and other problems at the planning department. But Lee says many of the department’s problems are beyond Kleeberg’s control.

“I think he’s done a good job,” Lee said of Kleeberg.

Lee said Goings’ motion is an example of the council overstepping its bounds. He said supervising Kleeberg is the job of County Executive John Ladenburg.

I’m checking with other council members to get their opinion.

This fall, Pierce County voters will rank their candidates by order of preference in county races. That part, I get. The explanation of how the votes will be counted makes my head hurt, and I follow elections for a living.

Kelly Haughton, a local business executive and champion of ranked choice voting, makes an interesting point on his blog about Ralph Nader's impact on the presidential race.

Many Democrats believe that Nader cost Al Gore the Presidency. These people believe that if those Florida voters who voted for Nader were asked who their second choice was they would have listed Gore.

Why do the Democrats hate it when a like minded candidate announces his candidacy? Why don't people welcome this candidate who broadens the debate? Our current system makes him a spoiler. Ranked choice voting makes him just another candidate.

He goes on to discuss how ranked choice voting could affect the hotly competitive, four-way race for Pierce County executive.

I raise this topic because the League of Women Voters of Tacoma-Pierce County and several other groups are hosting a public forum on the new system next week. Click on for more details:

=> Read more!

And that's the last day!

Rep. Richard DeBolt, you know I couldn't pass this up...

During his floor speech just now wishing Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchard, farewell, he said this: "No woman in this chamber has touched me in the way Lynn Schindler has."

(I have a policy of not commenting on the kind of statements that contain their own punch line, so I'll stay quiet on that.)

In other news, here's a little math lesson regarding the WASL, courtesy of moi: If something starts out at half and is reduced to 40 percent, that is not a 10 percent reduction. It's a 20 percent reduction. Look it up if ya don't believe me.

That is all.

We expect the House to adjourn pretty soon because the lobbyists are throwing a "retirement" party for 9 state represenatives who won't be coming back after this session.

The party starts at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Room.

Reps. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor; Helen Sommers, D-Seattle; Bill Eickmeyer, D-Belfair; Lynn Schindler, R-Spokane; Bob Sump, R-Republic, and Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, really are retiring.

But Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup, is running for Pierce County Council. Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, is running for state Treasurer. And Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver, got another job.

Rep. Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma, obviously has regained full use of his taste buds and he's ready to let his hair down next week after the Legislature adjourns.

I'm posting an e-mail invitation he sent to colleagues with two caveats:
1. It ain't political
2. You really, really do have to RSVP through Flannigan if you want to join him because the restaurant needs a head count.

Here's Flannigan's e-mail. (Session, by the way, ends Thursday.)

Where Would Flannigan Eat Lunch if St. Patrick had Converted China?
Obviously, Tacoma Szechuan Restaurant,
9601 South Tacoma Way
For years I’ve hosted Saint Patrick's Day gatherings.
This Monday I return from the Session hungry for Chinese food and old friendships. Hence, I hope you’ll meet me for lunch at Tacoma Szechuan Restaurant, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m., 9601 South Tacoma Way, in the Paldo Shopping Center. Parking is often crowded, so check spots in the back of Paldo center. Cuisine is remarkable.
(253) 581-0102
Cost: $12.50 p/person.
Please RSVP if you're coming -- email to: dennis.flannigan@gmail.com.
A head count always helps. See you Monday at 11:30 a.m.
With the session over, this is my first lunch to howl.

With delight, I’ll see you on Monday,
Dennis

Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the House Finance Committee, takes note of a section in the supplemental capital budget for 2007-09 that creates the "Key Arena task force."

Read Section 6016 of House Bill 2765....affordable housing (House Speaker Frank Chopp's favorite), arts, cultural, education, civic center, Puget Sound restoration and preservation, youth recreation and community development....

Sounds like a whole lot more than Key Arena. There are other fingerprints on that section, too. Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, D-Seattle, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane...the list goes on.

The bottom line is this: To make state funding for the Sonics palatable to labor, enviros and other Democats, everybody's gonna want a piece of the action. So, instead of letting the taxes lapse after the Mariners and Seahawks facilities are paid off, they would be continued to pay for the Sonics and lots of other stuff.

The task force basically would look at all the funding sources that are being used to pay for the ballpark and football stadium, keep some of it earmarked for the arts and then start doling it out to other projects.

All the money has to come from King County. Some state funds, sure, but it's still gotta be collected inside King County. Don't know if that proviso will satisfy the new local Sonics suitors, but the Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire are taking a stab at it for the johnny-come-lately-billionaires.

House Finance chairman shows path to Key Arena financing solution
March 12, 2008
OLYMPIA – By working collaboratively, Seattle can create a fully funded Key Arena renovation plan in advance of an April 17 NBA relocation meeting, according to Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina), chair of the House Finance Committee.
“This takes a short-term and a long-term approach involving all parties,” Hunter said.

=> Read more!

Here's the release from the Legislature:

Governor signs domestic partnership expansion into law

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed legislation to help domestic partners achieve financial security.

Rep. Jamie Pedersen and Sen. Ed Murray, both D-Seattle, sponsored the House and Senate versions of the proposal. Taking effect 90 days after the legislative session ends, House Bill 3104 will provide registered domestic partners with additional rights and responsibilities in ten major areas.

“Lesbian and gay families deserve equal rights, not more rights, equal rights. Just a couple of years ago, financial, legal and discrimination protections for same-sex couples was a contentious issue. That has changed. We saw a broad willingness to move forward this year, and the with the governor’s signature today, Washington takes another significant step forward,” Murray said.

=> Read more!

With apologies to Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane. I figure I can make short jokes because I am one. The results of this don't surprise me. Marr is a dynamo or a gyro or something else that's always in motion.

Here's the news release from his office:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 12, 2008

Marr walks all over the competition
OLYMPIA — The end of a legislative session in Olympia is fraught with competition among legislators trying to ensure that they meet their goals as the clock ticks down to the final moments before Sine Die.
This year, Sen. Chris Marr, D-Spokane clearly came out steps ahead of his colleagues —exactly 361,541 to be precise.
That’s the number of steps achieved by Marr during the fourth annual Regence BlueShield “Move It” Legislative Walking Challenge, in which legislators wear a pedometer to record their back and forth journeys during session.

=> Read more!

An Associated Press story out of St. Paul, Minnesota carries some bad news for thirsty Republican conventioneers (not to mention reporters). A bill to extend the bar closing time from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. during the Republican National Convention this summer has been cut off.

It only took eight hours for the sponsor to withdraw the proposal, which drew concern from the cops and from organizers. The longer bar hours would have applied only in the seven-county Twin Cities area and only from the Friday before the convention to the Sunday after.

There's always the minibar.

Pete Callaghan wrote a few weeks ago about a bill that lays out how to deal with human remains. It's designed to protect ancient Native American burial grounds.

But an inter-tribal scuffle threatened its future: Some wanted only "federally recognized" tribes to be notified if remains were found. That narrows things considerably, and left some tribal members feeling left out.

Here is the striker amendment in full for SB 2624. As you can see, the new language is more inclusive.

... and they all lived happily ever after ...

There's a plane flying over the capitol campus right now. That's not terribly remarkable in itself. But this plane is circling. And it's got a banner behind it with big red letters.

"Marry me!"?

No.

"SAVE OUR SONICS. NEXT YEAR IS TOO LATE," it says.

Meanwhile, we haven't heard that a Sonics-saving bill has a snowball's chance this late in the game.

And I just got a link to this survey this morning. It says citizens don't want public money spent on the Sonics.

Will a plane help? Stay tuned.

The joint budget revealed this morning includes an $11 million chunk of change for the beloved WASL.

But the test will be shorter and include fewer questions that require more than filling in a bubble.

So how does that work out? The test was going to cost $25 million more to administer this year, as we reported a few weeks ago. But no one wanted to pay that much... So they cut some of the add-ons, which ranged from translating the WASL to creating special tests for not-quite special ed students.

Oh, and they cut the number of open-ended questions by as much as 2/3rds. Math was especially hard hit, apparently because there were more of those types of problems to begin with. Open-ended questions are more time-consuming for students and more expensive to grade. Problem solved...

And why is it more expensive? According to state officials, No Child Left Behind was a boon to the testing market. And, they say, they had no idea when they submitted requests for the biennial budget that the new contract (the old one expires in October) would be so much more expensive.

I'm still working my way through the supplemental operating budget for 2007-09 and I happen to run across several items in the "commission" budgets that caught my eye.

There's $150,000 to hire someone to analyze "the achievement gap for Asian American students and recommend a comprehensive plan for closing the gap."

There's another $150,000 for the Pacific Islanders.
There's another $150,000 for Hispanics.

Curiously, the only commission not getting money for a student achievement gap study is the African American Affairs Commission. Go figure.

UPDATE: Someone brought to my attention that the Legislature passed another bill, House Bill 2722, which is an achievement gap study for African-American students. The $150,000 for that study is in the budget for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Thanks, anonymous staffer.

Democrats in the House and Senate unveiled their agreed-upon supplemental operating budget about an hour ago. Their revised 2007-09 budget basically shows the general fund, which doesn't give you the whole picture.

One interesting thing is that they raided the Washington State Trade and Convention Center budget reserves to the tune of $57 million and spent it on programs.

House Speaker Frank Chopp's budget raided the same account, but Chopp wanted to spend the money on low-income housing. Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, said there's still lots of money for housing in the capital budget, but the state will borrow money to pay for that.

More on budget highlights later. The two chambers will pass the operating budget on Thursday, the final day of session.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi sent out this e-mail yesterday, but I just saw it. He'll be in our area the next couple days:

Kitsap County Lincoln Day Dinner
Friday, March 14 at 7:00 pm
Kitsap Golf & Country Club, 3885 NW Golf Club Hill Rd
Bremerton, WA 98312

Pierce County Lincoln Day Breakfast
Saturday, March 15 at 9:00 am
Elks Lodge, 1965 S. Union Ave
Tacoma, WA 98405

Our campaign had another strong month of fundraising in February, raising over $659,000. This brings our total raised to over $2.8 million with over $2 million cash-on-hand. More than 23,000 individual contributors have given to the campaign and approximately 54 percent of them are new donors. Thank you to everyone for your support and donations!

=> Read more!

Here's her office's news release (note the location is the state Reception Room, not her news conference room):

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today will take action on Second Substitute House Bill 3104, relating to expanding rights and responsibilities of all couples recognized as domestic partners.

Governor Gregoire takes action on House Bill No. 3104

Wednesday, March 12, 2008
2 p.m.
State Reception Room
Legislative Building
Olympia

The Senate is planning a 10 a.m. news conference to announce the final details of the supplemental operating budget for 2007-09. They worked out details with the House.

The House just adjourned, too. Both chambers are coming back at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Gov. Chris Gregoire is going to sign about a half dozen bills on Thursday, the last day of session. Note the two ceremonies, one at 10 a.m., the second at 2:30 p.m.

Here's a list from her Web site:

=> Read more!

That's just one of the interesting tidbits gleaned from preliminary exit polling results today in the Mississippi primaries.

On the flip side, only four in 10 Clinton voters said she should pick Obama as her running mate.

What do you think?

Here's the rest of the polling report from The Associated Press:

=> Read more!

As local towing companies prepare to take their case to the County Council this afternoon, there’s been a steady buzz about campaign contributions to County Councilman and executive candidate Calvin Goings.

State records show Goings, a Puyallup Democrat, has received at least $8,475 in campaign contributions from towing and related companies in recent months. Many of the contributions came from a Nov. 13 reception for Goings sponsored by towing companies. Here's a spreadsheet with our tally of the contributions.

Vicky Scharlau, the administrator of the Towing and Recovery Association of Washington, promoted the reception in an Oct. 15 e-mail:

“Calvin Goings went to extraordinary effort for towers in Pierce County recently. Mr. Goings now is running for County Executive and (Fife Towing and Recovery’s Philip Waldner) would like your help in raising $5,000 towards the Calvin Goings campaign.”

=> Read more!

Each 1 cent of the state gas tax brings in about $30-32 million a year. So when I see in the state transportation budget a note that $627 million will be used on bond retirement and interests over two years (2007-09), I want to break out my calculator.

Those are kinda like mortgage payments. And it means we're spending upwards of $310 million a year just to make payments on the money we borrowed in the past to build roads and ferries and bridges, etc.

That's the equivalent of 10 cents of the current 37 cents a gallon in state gas tax. Remember that next time you're wonder where all that gas tax money goes.

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert's office just sent a news release saying the Auburn congressman will introduce Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates at a technology hearing tomorrow.

Washington, D.C. – In what is likely to be his final congressional testimony before devoting the majority of his time to his philanthropic work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will testify before the House Science & Technology Committee on efforts needed to strengthen our country’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, policies to encourage innovation and the role of technology in our economic growth.

Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08), a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, will welcome Mr. Gates and make an opening statement.

This year, the Committee is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. To highlight this occasion, Mr. Gates will kick off the first in a series of hearings focusing on our country’s technological advances of the past half century and the challenges ahead.

The hearing will be at 10 a.m. EDT in the Rayburn House Office Building.

That's the plan, anyway.

The Senate will be back at 1 p.m. and majority Democrats are hoping the Republicans will give permission to pass the $7.55 billion transportation budget before 5 p.m..

Both chambers will work late Wednesday and Thursday, the final day of the 60-day session.

Adjust your dinner plans and Tivo settings as needed: Tonight's Tacoma City Council meeting will be one of the shortest on record.

That's because five of the nine council members – aka a "quorum," – are in Washington D.C. The traveling (one "l") council members are Rick Talbert, Connie Ladenburg, Julie Anderson, Jake Fey and Marilyn Strickland.)

They couldn't just cancel tonight's meeting because there are rules about how many meetings can be canceled each year. So, the plan is to convene the meeting at 5 p.m., note that a quorum is not present, and promptly adjourn, said city spokesman Rob McNair-Huff.

It'll go down in the record books as a meeting. But not in our hearts.

So here's a question: Will any of the regulars show up anyway?

These stories just moved within two minutes of each other:

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Attorneys for U.S. Senator Larry Craig are asking the Minnesota Court of Appeals to correct a “manifest injustice” by allowing the Idaho Republican to withdraw his guilty plea stemming from an airport restroom sex sting.

In court papers filed Tuesday, the lawyers asked the appellate judges to reverse the trial court’s decision to let stand Craig’s guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge. They also asked the court to vacate his plea.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Pressure mounted Tuesday on Gov. Eliot Spitzer to resign because of a prostitution scandal, with a top state Republican threatening to push for impeachment proceedings if the governor doesn’t step down in 48 hours.

...Spitzer, a first-term Democrat, remained hidden from public view Tuesday, and his plans regarding his political future weren’t known. Three New York newspapers called for his resignation, and the New York Post called him “NY’s naked emperor.”

Spitzer hadn’t yet decided whether to resign and hadn’t set a timetable for a decision, according to two Democratic officials close to Spitzer and the state’s lieutenant governor, David Paterson. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.

Kim Abel, 49, who is running as a Democrat, says she's already gotten an endorse from Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, in the 26th District race.

Lantz announced yesterday she would not seek reelection to a seventh two-year term.

Here's Abel's news release:

Former Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel to Seek State House Seat

Longtime community leader and mother of two will run for position vacated by retiring Rep. Pat Lantz

PORT ORCHARD—Kim Abel, who recently stepped down as mayor of Port Orchard, announced today that she will seek the State House seat being vacated by Representative Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor). Abel thanked Lantz for her years of service and pledged to run a strong, grass roots campaign to replace her in Olympia.

“Pat has been a model legislator,” said Abel. “From stronger criminal sentencing laws to investments in transportation and education, she has always made the interests of our communities her top priority. I look forward to continuing to make progress in these areas as our next representative.”

Abel, age 49 with two college age sons, has been active in organizations ranging from League of Women Voters to Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. In 2003, she was elected Mayor of Port Orchard, where she focused on revitalizing the city’s business core and improving ferry service and transportation infrastructure for all the fast growing areas of South Kitsap. Her husband is an instructor at Olympic College and her children are graduates of South Kitsap Schools.

=> Read more!

Earlier today, we posted an item about Pierce County Councilman Calvin Goings' call for the dismissal of Chuck Kleeberg, director of the Planning and Land Services department.

Kleeberg's boss, county Executive John Ladenburg, just sent us the following response:

Mr. Goings states that PALS has failed to meet the standards called for in an independent performance audit, has made zoning and mapping errors, failed to process permits in a timely manner, neglected to consistently enforce environmental codes, and carries a multi-million-dollar budget deficit.

Mr. Goings accusations are warrantless and not in accord with the facts.

He charges that PALS has not met the standards set out in an independent audit. Yet the following numbers tell a completely different story. Of the original 188 audit recommendations, 142 were items PALS could directly address. The rest were for other county departments. Of the 142, 126 (89%) were completed and the remaining 16 are underway.

The Follow Up Study of 2006 contained 22 recommendations. Of those, 15 are completed and seven are part of our priority initiative for 2008.

=> Read more!

I'm a little late with this one, but probably everyone in Ruston already knows that Jane Hunt was appointed to the vacant position on the Town Council last week.

Hunt, 62, is a former planning commission member and member of Citizens for Ruston, the group that opposed development of The Commencement, the upscale condominium project.

Hunt downplayed the political strife in Ruston, saying it was just a small number of people raising a ruckus. It didn't discourage her from seeking appointment to the seat Bob Everding vacated in January. More on that here.

"I think I've got some skills to help the town," Hunt said.

According to the Ruston Home blog, not everyone was happy with the council's process for filling the appointment

Joe brought back a delightful poem that Pat Lantz read in caucuses today. Caucuses? Yep: She read it in the Democratic caucus first, then made the unusual trip to the Republican caucus to read it, too.

Here's an excerpt of the poem, "My First Best Friend," by Jack Prelutsky:

My first best friend is Awful Ann --
she socked me in the eye.
My second best is Sneaky Sam --
he tried to swipe my pie.
My third best friend is Max the Rat....

Click here for more.

Apparently after reading the poem, she said something like "Have I met all these people here? Oh, yes."

The question now becomes: Who's who?...

The Senate just passed a bill right now that would allow about 30 grocery stores across the state to serve 2 oz. tastes of wine or beer in the store. Joe blogged about it last week.

If the bill passes, most customers will probably never know the kind of discussions that went into writing this bill.

First, it's laid out in the bill that each customer can only get two samples. That way, they won't get drunk.

Second, the stores will not be able to advertise the tastings. That way, they won't attract drunks.

Third, there's an amendment that would bar grocery stores in "alcohol impact zones" (read: Tacoma Hilltop) from holding tastings if the events would be detrimental to the area. That way, the drunks in the neighborhood won't hear about it and come running.

There's a whole list of other minutiae. Including that it's a pilot program, so it may be yanked in a year.

If you think these precautions are silly -- especially considering that other states have done tastings for a while without serious incident, the bill is meant to promote Washington's craft wineries and breweries who may not have enough money to advertise, and we're only talking about 4 oz. here -- think again!

The House and Senate have had pretty lengthy debates about this. Some lawmakers think its sending the wrong message to hand out any alcohol in a store for free. I've heard them argue that it sets a bad example for children, who may see their parents drink and drive.

Others arguments focus on the fact that it's small portions being doled out in a responsible manner.

Thoughts?

We reported Saturday that Casey Knowles, a 17-year-old Bonney Lake resident, is the little girl asleep in the Hillary Clinton "3 a.m." ad. Here's a link to the ad.

Reporter Mike Archbold talked to Casey by phone in New York, where she's making the TV rounds. He filed this report:

After five more interviews today, including an appearance on the "Today" show, Bonney Lake’s own “3.a.m. girl” – 17-year-old Casey Knowles is hoping she and her family can play tourists in New York City.

“The phones have been ringing off the hook,” she said from her room at the Hilton Hotel in Manhattan where she has been since Saturday. There have been so many calls, she said she has trouble remembering what she said to whom.

Casey Knowles appears on "Good Morning America."

Knowles was thrust into the spotlight last week when her family discovered that she was the "3 a.m. girl" - the little girl asleep in a Hillary Clinton commercial while a narrator asks who voters want answering the phone in the White House when an emergency happens at 3 a.m.

Knowles, however, is a Barack Obama supporter.

Her story ended up on Seattle's KING 5, and then went national. She appeared on the "Good Morning America" show Sunday morning. CNN interviewed her, as did MSNBC and CBS.

New York has been a whirlwind. "Good Morning America" flew her and her father, Richard, to New York City on Saturday. The "Today" show picked up the airfare for her mother, Pam, and 15-year-old brother, Brady, who joined them Sunday.

Knowlkes said she was interviewed by Matt Lauer. “It was incredible,” she said. “That was unreal. Everyone knows him. I met ("Today" co-host) Ann Curry. She went to the same college I want to go to, the University of Oregon.”

=> Read more!

But I couldn't resist. From Take5, a weekly newsletter for City of Tacoma employees:

Central Treatment Plants Hosts Brown Bag with the City Manager
If you have any questions for City Manager Eric Anderson or just want to chat a bit, sign up for a brown bag lunch session. Eric and employees will meet and eat from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the Central Treatment Plant's Building E Engineering Conference Room (2201 Portland Ave.). The room is small, so it's first-come, first served for the first 15 employees. Please contact Nora Doyle at 591-5064 to reserve your space.

Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, just issued this statement:

“Today I am announcing that I will not be running again for state representative of the 26th legislative district. After 12 years in the legislature, I believe it is time to turn my full attention to my family – my husband, my three children, and five wonderful grandchildren. I plan to serve out the remainder of my term, but will not seek a seventh term."

You know what this means, dontcha? She's baaaack! That's right. Lois McMahan, aka "The Church Lady," a former state representative in the 26th Legislative District and perennial Republican candidate, more than likely will be running for Lantz's seat. That's not a certainty. But don't be surprised.

McMahan has been in the House twice: 1994, as part of the Republican Revolution, and again in 2002.

Lantz beat McMahan twice. But in 2002, McMahan ran against Lantz's seatmate and beat one-term Democrat Brock Jackley, aka "Jack Brockley." She stayed in the House for two years that time, just long enough to embarrass herself by walking out while an imam was giving the convocation in the House. McMahan was just being patriotic, she said.

Lantz was first elected in 1996, and has been chairwoman of the House Judiciary Commitee for several years.

Here's her full statement:

=> Read more!

Rumor has it, there's a secret contest every year among Republicans in the House.

The contest goes like this: Whoever racks up the most no votes wins ... That's all: Vote no, vote often, win.

This session, Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, and Rep. Jim Dunn, R-theCouve, have been neck-and-neck. (As a side note and speaking of necks: They also both seem to be in some sort of hair-growing contest, which Dunn is also winning, if style points are considered.)

Exhibit A: Dunn

Exhibit B: Anderson

At any rate, Dunn is winning the no votes contest by a margin of almost 2 to 1: He's been the sole no vote on 34 bills (including the anti-gang legislation we wrote about earlier), whereas Anderson comes in with a paltry 18.

Their nearest competition? Rep. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, who's been the sole no a mere three times.

Pierce County Councilman Calvin Goings says the county should fire planning director Chuck Kleeberg, citing ongoing problems in Planning and Land Services.

Goings, a Puyallup Democrat who is running for county executive, has introduced a resolution calling for a council vote of no confidence in Kleeberg. The resolution also calls on County Executive John Ladenburg to remove Kleeburg from office.

Among other things, Goings cites problems processing building permits in a timely manner, inconsistent enforcement of environmental codes and a projected $4.8 million planning department budget shortfall.

“With the economy slumping we can no longer afford the director’s mismanagement,” Goings said in a news release issued Monday morning.

Kleeberg said the department has met nearly all of the permit-processing standards proposed by an independent auditor. He said the department does the best it can with limited resources when it comes to enforcing environmental codes.

Kleeberg said the projected revenue shortfall this year is due to an economic slump that’s beyond his control. And he said the department carried a multi-million dollar budget surplus for years.

“I work for the county executive,” Kleeberg said. “If John’s not happy with me, every day I work here he could tell me it’s my last day.

“It’s not the council’s role to fire me,” he said.

Ladenburg said Goings has not shared the resolution with him. He plans a full response later today, but said Goings "appears to have some misinformation."

Goings first targeted Kleeberg a year ago, after announcing his bid for county executive. He said if elected he would fire the planning director.

Read Goings’ press release below.

=> Read more!

I just got word the House and Senate are just about done reconciling the differences in their $7.5 billion supplemental 2007-09 transportation budget.

I'm checking on capital and operating budgets.

The Legislature will adjourn Thursday, so they gotta be close.

Tacoma City Councilwoman Julie Anderson teased me about only dropping by the city's Environment and Public Works Committee meeting last month to pick up a copy of the preliminary report on the Murray Morgan Bridge.

Before I could get what I came for, I had to sit through a report from two members of the city's Green Ribbon Climate Action Task Force (now there's a name for you). And it was a pretty interesting report. So, for Anderson and anyone else who might be care, here's a short summary of what's happening with the group.

Among the group's draft recommendations are proposals to:

There was a lengthy list of proposed strategies, too, everything from trying to bring a car-share service to Tacoma and adopting an anti-idling ordinance by 2012 to constructing the first phase of a street car system and building a new city transfer station to separate recyclables.

Anti-idling ordinance? Based on the discussion, it appears the committee hopes to persuade drivers to shut off their engines if they're stopped for more than 10-or-so seconds. That wouldn't be too much of a hardship on me now, thankfully. But growing up, I remember a few cars in my family where you didn't dare turn off the engine -- even at a gas station -- because you might not get it going again.

A full report is expected in June.

Click here to see the full list of ideas.

The story today on lobbying comes with web extras! Here you go:

Web extra No. 1
Top Spenders
Here’s a list of the top-spending lobbyists for 2007 and how much they spent. This figure does not include the amount the lobbyists earned. It does include the amount contributed to campaigns and incurred as business expenses.
1. Gary Strannigan, Safeco Corp., $1,530,235
2. Bryan Wahl, Washington Association of Realtors, $1,392,233
3. Michael Kapphahn, Farmer’s Insurance Group, $1,226,116
4. David Rolf, Service Employees International Union 775, $817,907
5. Dennis Eagle, Washington Federation of State Employees, $416,990
Source: Public Disclosure Commission, www.pdc.wa.gov

Web extra No. 2
If you click through to the comments on the story, you can read a lobbyist berating me for writing about lobbying! (Although not as good as the drunk guy who called at 1:45 last night to accuse me of being an evildoer for writing about toxic toys... then something about green liquor, which must have been a reference to the absinthe he was drinking.)

I wouldn't point this out, except Tim Eyman sent an e-mail out to probably thousands of his supporters, claiming the Legislature is poised to raise fees that will total $1.4 billion over the next decade.

Well, he's wrong, though not on purpose. He just added one huge number twice and came out with $1.4 billion instead of $763 million. I've done it myself (and had to write corrections, too.)

The governor's budget office, Office of Financial Management, issued the 10-year effect of fee increases in House Bill 3381. OFM noted the 10-year impact would be $569,379,000 from 2008 through 2017 in higher education and $193,900,000 in general government for a total of $763,279,000.

Eyman added the $569 million into the total twice.

HB 3381 contains a lot of the fee increases that the Legislature is expected to raise this session. The real impact of fee increases for the balance of this two-year biennium, 2007-09, will be about $85 million, give or take a few million. And most of that is tuition increases at the state colleges and universities that were authorized last year. So, $44 million is going to the University of Washington for tuition and some fee increases.

And Eyman is doing what House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler and the governor's budget folks predicted: He's adding up the whole 10 years so he can make a more dramatic, and misleading, statement.

Here's Eyman's email announcement:

Scary. Voting for a bill without knowing its' cost? Totally irresponsible. Voting for a bill knowing it'll cost taxpayers $1.4 billion? Totally cruel. Working families and fixed-income senior citizens are barely making it and yet the Democrats in Olympia are pushing through a bill that'll cost the taxpayers over $1.4 billion. And as explained by our email update on Sunday (reprinted underneath the bill's cost estimate below), many of these fee increases are actually blank checks to the agencies to decide for themselves how much to charge -- and that is totally illegal under I-960 -- it's against the law. The Democrats could have spent this legislative session complying with the law, instead they've been scheming all session to violate the law. No one is above the law, not even Democrats running Olympia. The law is clear, the people were clear: if Olympia takes more of the people's money, they must identify a specific amount and take a recorded vote for it -- they can't just tell unelected bureaucrats "here, you decide how much to take." And voters don't want legislators to just give bureaucrats exactly what they ask for - voters want representatives to scrutinize the bureaucrats' requests and make an independent judgement on the amount. I-960 was very clear: no more autopilot fee increases.

UPDATE: To his credit, Eyman reissued a corrected news release in an e-mail only a few minutes after his error was pointed out to him. Here it is:

Scary. Voting for a bill without knowing its' cost? Totally irresponsible. Voting for a bill knowing it'll cost taxpayers $763 million? Totally cruel. Working families and fixed-income senior citizens are barely making it and yet the Democrats in Olympia are pushing through a bill that'll cost the taxpayers over $763 million. And as explained by our email update on Sunday (reprinted underneath the bill's cost estimate below), many of these fee increases are actually blank checks to the agencies to decide for themselves how much to charge -- and that is totally illegal under I-960 -- it's against the law. The Democrats could have spent this legislative session complying with the law, instead they've been sche ming all session to violate the law. No one is above the law, not even Democrats running Olympia. The law is clear, the people were clear: if Olympia takes more of the people's money, they must identify a specific amount and take a recorded vote for it -- they can't just tell unelected bureaucrats "here, you decide how much to take." And voters don't want legislators to just give bureaucrats exactly what they ask for - voters want representatives to scrutinize the bureaucrats' requests and make an independent judgement on the amount. I-960 was very clear: no more autopilot fee increases.
Regards, Tim Eyman, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net

The Senate just agreed on the final language for a bill that will make sure that county prosecuting attorneys are paid at least $100,000 a year.

That's a big jump for some rural counties, where they make just above $50,000.

They concurred with the House changes to Senate Bill 6297, and sent it to Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Assistant Attorney General Tim Ford announced today he is running for the Washington Court of Appeals seat in Division 2. That includes parts of Thurston, Mason and Kitsap counties.

March 10, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ford Declares Candidacy

Citing the need for “…open and accountable government” Tim Ford officially announced his intention to seek a seat on the Washington State Court of Appeals Division 2 this fall.

Ford, who currently serves, as an Assistant Attorney General for Government Accountability in the Washington State Office of the Attorney General believes that “open and transparent government, where decisions and debate occur in public, strengthens the citizens faith in our system. Government at every level, including the courts, must be held accountable to the public it serves. Citizens pay the bills and have the right know how decisions are made. We have a right to insist on accountability.”

=> Read more!

Have you seen Hillary Clinton's much-talked-about "3 a.m." TV ad? Turns out, a Bonney Lake teen, Casey Knowles, is the young girl in the ad who's asleep in her bed while a male narrator says:

"It's 3 a.m. and your children are safe and asleep. But there's a phone in the White House, and it's ringing. Something's happening in the world. Your vote will decide who answers that call."

Casey's family just found out about a few days ago. It's B-roll footage, shot years ago.

Casey is older now ... and she's a staunch Barack Obama supporter. She saw him at KeyArena last month, and the experience moved her to tears.

Casey is en route to New York tonight for appearances on national morning TV shows. TNT reporter Debby Abe talked to Casey's mother and is working up a story that'll be posted online a bit later.

Here's the ad:

And here's a link to a KING 5 interview with Casey.

The House and Senate have adjourned for the day, but the budget-writers from both chambers will be meeting more today and on Sunday to sort out their differences in the 2007-09 supplemental operating budget, says House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam.

See y'all on Monday.

Session ends on Thursday.

Tim Eyman was the sponsor of Initiative 960, which voters approved in November. He doesn't like the approach the House of Representatives is using to raise fees this year.

House Bill 3381 lumps a bunch of the fees into a single bill. That's OK, Eyman says. Not ideal, but I-960 lets the Legislature pass what's called an omnibus fee bill. That's a bill that includes lots and lots of different fees increase.

Ideally, Eyman would like to see each fee increase in a separate bill so there would be a separate vote on each fee increase "so people could see who voted to raise their hunting license fee," he said.

Now, lawmakers will be making a single vote on a wide range of fees, from licenses to sell explosives to fees for registering pesticides.

But Eyman claims lawmakers are engaging in "legislative malpractice" by delegating the authority to raise fees to agencies. He referred me to the intent section of I-960.

"The people want to return the authority to impose or increase fees from unelected officials at state agencies to the duly elected representative of the Legislature or to the people," the initiative says.

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, said lawmakers are aware that voters want to shine a light on fee increases and the final version of the state budget and other bills will accomplish that. Overall, about 80 fees will be increases. That's winnowed down from an origianl list of 421, she said.

Some of those fees will be in the fee bill, some in the budget bills and some in individual policy bills, she said.

Generally, I like to provide a link to something called the "bill report" or "bill analysis" because those are written in something close to layman's English, while the actual test of the bill is written very much in bureaucratese. But I'm gonna put links to both of them here.

Here is the text of the substitute bill, HB 3381. And here is the bill report.

This stuff won't be settled until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest.

That's what House Speaker Frank Chopp is afraid of, or so I'm told by knowledgeable folks here at the state capital.

Chopp, D-Seattle, has built up a hefty majority in the House. His Democrats outnumber Republicans 63-35, and Frank thinks he can pick up a few more in a year that promises to be pretty kind to Dems and pretty harsh to the GOP.

But Tim Eyman and Initiative 960 are playing havoc with Chopp's grand design. I-960, passed in November, requires the governor's budget office to issue a report every time a legislator even introduces a bill that would raise taxes or fees, and every time that bill is passed by a commmittee, and every time that bill is passed by the House or Senate, etc.

Those reports, posted on line and sent out in e-mails to those who sign up for notices, also have 10-year cost to taxpayers for each bill and all of the people who sponsored or voted for the fee increase.

You can imagine what that information will look like after a Republican campaign strategist gets ahold of it and paraphrases it in a hit piece against Democratic incumbents: DEMOCRAT REP. SPENDTHRIFT VOTED TO RAISE STATE FEES BY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THIS YEAR!

Right. Ouch.

And Frank, Good Shepherd that his is, doesn't want his flock subjected to that sort of abuse this fall.

It's exactly the sort of stigma that Eyman wanted to attach to any lawmaker who sponsored a bill that would raise taxes or fees. That is the real deterrent in I-960.

Now, Democrats are in a bit of a qaundry. The House has been systematically stripping all and any fee increases from bills they have passed (except for the very first week or two of session) and have painted themselves into a corner.

Either they pass a bill with hundreds of fee increases in it, or they deprive state agencies of money they want to keep pace with inflation.

Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget office reportedly isn't too happy with the House. Even the revised fee increase bill, which went from 5 pages yesterday to about 27 pages overnight, includes only half of the 390 fee increases the governor wanted.

This is an evolving situation down here. I'm sure they will sort out everything by Thursday. That's when they're supposed to adjourn.

You can look up House Bill 3381 at this Web site, if you want, but look for the bill report on the substitute once it is available. (See previous post on this blog.)

House Bill 3381 is the bill that may end up being a compilation of all the fees the Legislature wants to raise this session.

(Let me caution, the above link I created for the bill includes only a few of the fees that ultimately will be contained in the bill.)

Victor Moore, budget director for Gov. Chris Gregoire, testified at last night's House Appropriation Committee meeting that before the 2008 Legislature convened in mid-January, he asked state agencies to submit a list of fees they wanted to raise.

That produced a list of 390 separate fees increases that would have raised a total of $57 million in general government and $78 million in higher education fees. (Tuition would be the biggie for higher ed.)

House budget staff today is still preparing a report on the bill, so I'll let you know when it is updated.

No one is quite sure why the House Democrats are assembling all the fees into one bill. They don't have to. In fact, all session long lawmakers have been introducing bills one at a time that would raise a fee here or there. Historically, the Legislature has given agencies the authority to raise fees, sometimes by a specific amount; sometimes in general.

For instance, if the state Parks Commission wanted to raise the fee for camping at a state park from $11 to $12 a night, the budget would include a sentence saying the agency was authorized to raise fees in excess of the formula that limited fee increases to no more than the growth of population and inflation for the preceeding couple years.

Or you might see a transportation bill that would let the state Department of Licensing raise fees for new driver licenses, license plate replacements, etc. maybe 8 or 9 separate fees all in one bill.

Moore told Tim Eyman, sponsor of the ballot measure that now requires a report showing the 10-year impact on taxpayers for every tax and fee increase proposal that his budget staff will work on that huge report over the weekend and have it done by Monday. That's according to Eyman. I haven't had a chance to talk to Moore yet.

Stay tuned.

Saw this on the AP wire today:

Gov. Chris Gregoire says she won’t launch her re-election bid or personally raise campaign cash until after she’s finished signing or vetoing legislation in early April.

But she tells The Associated Press it’s legal for her campaign organization to solicit on her behalf, beginning the day after lawmakers adjourn next week. She says that decision hasn’t been made yet.

Republicans cried foul last year when the Gregoire campaign sent invitations to fundraisers while legislation was still awaiting her signature or veto. Gregoire said it had no influence on her decisions, but GOP challenger Dino Rossi called for her to wait this year until she's finished acting on legislation.

This just in: Carolyn Merrival, a former member of the Pierce County Charter Review Commission, has announced she'll run for Calvin Goings' council seat. The announcement is below.

=> Read more!

Expect a room full of angry tow-truck drivers when the Pierce County Council takes up a new sheriff’s department towing contract Tuesday.

The council expects a big turnout from towing companies upset that the Sheriff’s Department has proposed contracting with a single company – Gene’s Towing of Lakewood – instead of the pool of companies currently used.

To warm up for Tuesday’s meeting, the companies will hold a rally at 3 p.m. Saturday at Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway.

The Senate will begin debating the "toxic toys" bill soon.

Senate spokesman Jeff Reading warned reporters that this won't be a quick job: There are 21 amendments to the bill...

The Senate just pass a change to our drunk driving laws that Sen. Jim Hargrove thinks will free up some valuable drug treatment slots.

Hargrove, a Hoquiam Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Human Services and Corrections Committee, was explaining how House Bill 3254 would work.

I'm paraphrasing here, but Hargove said a lot of people who get tickets for drunken driving get what's called a "deferred prosecution" to keep the Driving Under the Influence ticket from going on their driving record. That is, if they keep their noses clean, the charge will be dismissed after awhile.

But in order to get a deferred prosecution, you have to sign a statement that you have a drinking or drug problem and then agree to undergo treatment. Now, that ain't cheap, $5,000 plus, easy. But it's better than having a DUI on your record, so people lie and say they have a drinking problem when they really don't, Hargrove said.

That takes up valuable alcohol treatment slots that Hargrove would rather see used by people who really are alcoholics and drug addicts and really need treatment, he said.

So, this bill gives drivers one free pass without having to lie. They can get a deffered prosecution and not undergo treatment, but they have to agree to install an ignition interlock device on their cars and some other stuff.

Read the bill for the rest of the details. I'm not sure if this is the final version of the bill because the Senate added a couple more amendments before they passed it 47-0.

It has to go back to the House now.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2008
Contact: Lori Sotelo
425.990.0404
KCGOP Elects New Chairman

The King County Republican Central Committee met at Sammamish High School last evening to select a replacement for outgoing Chairman Michael Young. The Precinct Committee Officers present voted overwhelmingly for Lori Sotelo to serve as the new Chairman of the King County Republican Party.

Lori Sotelo brings a wealth of experience to the Republican Party and has set a clear vision for victory in 2008.

Lori can be reached for comment at (425) 990-0404.

Young left to work on John McCain's presidential campaign in Washington.

I just got off the phone with Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, about the toxic toys bill. He supports the bill and offered an amendment to notify parents when thimerosal was present in children's vaccines.

Thimerosal is a vaccine preservative made from ethylmercury -- read: Mercury. It's used most in multi-dose vials (which need preservative more than single-dose shots). Non-thimerosal vaccines exist and are becoming more and more common.

That's in part because parents have long claimed thimerosal-containing vaccines have caused their children to become autistic. It may seem like a strange connection, but as you can read here, there may be at least some merit to it.

This is all very new stuff -- the federal case was decided late last month. So, while it may be technically correct to say there's no scientific evidence that thimerosal-containing vaccines cause autism, that statement could soon carry an asterisk with it.

One of the better debates of the 2008 legislative session just took place on the floor of the Washington House of Representatives. Lots of entertaining quotes, short speeches and not too many of them. Those three things make for one of the best debates.

The subject of debate was a bill that would allow beer and wine to be sampled in grocery stores.

"What are we talking about here?" said an incredulous Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland. "We're talking about drinking in grocery stores. We don't allow drinking in liquor stores."

Rep. Jim Dunn, R-Vancouver, had a couple of the better quotes, although I don't think it was by design.

"Let's put it in the wine stores," Dunn said of sampling wine and beer. "Let's put it in the liquor stores."

The wine stores? Last time I looked, you could buy beer and wine at Safeway, Thiftway, Metropolitan Market, 7-Eleven,.....basically, any grocery store. I think Dunn may have spent too much time in cocktail lounges and may not realize that wine has been sold in grocery stores for decades.

Dunn did urge his colleagues to "put this one down," but the House passed Senate Bill 5751 on a 51-41 vote, anyway.

Here's a roll call on the vote:

ESB 5751
Wine and beer tasting
House vote on Final Passage as Amended by the House
3/7/2008

Yeas: 51 Nays: 41 Absent: 0 Excused: 6

Voting Yea: Representatives Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Bailey, Blake, Chandler, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Conway, DeBolt, Dickerson, Dunshee, Ericks, Ericksen, Fromhold, Grant, Green, Haigh, Haler, Hankins, Hinkle, Hunter, Hurst, Jarrett, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Liias, Loomis, McCune, McIntire, Moeller, Morris, Newhouse, Pettigrew, Rolfes, Ross, Schindler, Schmick, Schual-Berke, Sells, Simpson, Sommers, Springer, Sullivan, Upthegrove, Walsh, Warnick, Williams, and Mr. Speaker Chopp
Voting Nay: Representatives Ahern, Appleton, Barlow, Chase, Crouse, Darneille, Dunn, Eddy, Flannigan, Goodman, Hasegawa, Herrera, Hudgins, Hunt, Kagi, Kelley, Kretz, Kristiansen, Lantz, Linville, McCoy, McDonald, Miloscia, Morrell, Nelson, O'Brien, Orcutt, Ormsby, Pearson, Pedersen, Priest, Quall, Roach, Roberts, Santos, Seaquist, Smith, Takko, Van De Wege, Wallace, and Wood
Absent:
Excused: Representatives Campbell, Eickmeyer, Hailey, Rodne, Skinner, and Sump

Gov. Chris Gregoire is going to sign House Bill 2437 later this afternoon.

This is the annual public works project bill, the one that lends money to local cities, counties and utility districts to build infrastructure. (That's roads, sewers, water lines, etc.). The total in this bill is $278 million.

Of particular interest to Tacoma water customers is the $10 million loan to replace three open-topped reservoirs with two closed-top reservoirs that will hold 33 million gallons of water apiece.

As I recall from my days as City Hall reporter, covering tanks that hold drinking water is a good thing because if prevents birds from flying overhead or perching along the rim of the tank and doing their business. E coli, as you may know, is a bad thing -- even if we do treat our water with chlorine.

Among other projects that will be funded with 1/2 percent interest loans are:

$10 million roadway over railroad tracks in Kent.
$5.35 million for leaky water mains in Bonney Lake.
$5 million for a sewer upgrade in Buckley.
$10 million for a sewer upgrade in Gig Harbor.

The bill signing ceremony is set for 2:30 p.m.

We broke the news yesterday that the toxic toys bill was in trouble: Between the $50,000 lobbyists and parasitic amendments, it was unclear whether the bill would come up for a vote.

Now, the word is that it may be up later this afternoon.

Lawmakers are busy today: They have a self-imposed 5 p.m. deadline for passing all non-budget related bills out of both chambers.

Some of them are apparently also a little ... well, you come up with the word: Speaking in favor of the tribal police bill, Sen. Ken Jacobsen, D-Seattle, just claimed that if Osama bin Laden were stopped with a broken taillight by tribal police today, they wouldn't be able to arrest him.

Ok.

Meanwhile, the poor House isn't taking a lunch break today -- but the first bill they'll hear is about "beer and wine tasting." Torture!

And finally, speaking of busy: Lobbyists are in (a dead) heat right now with so little time left to destroy or promote the bills they're working on. We'll update you on that later.

The vote on House Bill 2713 was 48-0, which indicates the House and Senate are pretty much in agreement on which crimes to add to the list of those that require criminals to submit a sample of their DNA.

Sen. Debbie Regala, D-Tacoma, noted in her floor speech of just a few minutes ago, that this bill grew out of the Zina Linnick case. That's the 12-year-old Tacoma girl who was abducted last Fourth of July and murdered.

A man who had been convicted of a sex crime years earlier is now charged with Linnick's murder.

Regala said the new DNA-required crimes are considered precursor to sexual assault crimes. She also noted that "prostitution" has been removed from the earlier version of the list. However, conviction for soliciting a prostitute would require submission of a DNA sample to authorities.

Here are the crimes that would be added to the list:

1. Assault in the fourth degree with sexual motivation
2. Communication with a minor for immoral purposes
3. Custodial sexual misconduct in the second degree
4. Failure to register (as a sex offender)
5. Harassment
6. Patronizing a prostitute
7. Sexual misconduct with a minor in the second degree.
8. Stalking
9. Violation of a sexual assault protection order.

Animal cruelty had been on the original list, but it proved to be too controversial.

If you talk to veteran law enforcement officers and social workers, they will say they often find that sex predators have a history of torturing animals. Arson also can be a sort of sex crime, they say

Someone is asleep on the House floor right now.

I mean, they're not actually on the floor, but sitting at their desk on the floor.

It's 11:23. I don't blame them.

I also don't blame whoever just gave a floor speech one reporter and I discussed. The lawmaker said the toughest jobs don't involve PowerPoints and pressing buttons, they involve "pickaxes, bed pans, a room full of 3-year-olds..."

At this point, whatever job he's describing doesn't sound half bad.

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, was just giving a floor speech against a bill involving chiropractors ... only, somehow he embarked on a detour about how the Legislature does nothing to change the mentality that Americans are entitled to health care... I think. At what was apparently the crescendo, he accused the Legislature of wanting the healthcare system to fail so they could "come in and take it over" (paraphrasing from memory).

Just then, acting speaker Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mt. Vernon, banged the gavel. He said the Hinkle's comments had strayed from the merits of the bill into the unacceptable territory of ascribing motives.

"I would also encourage you to use the word chiropractor in your speech," he panned.

I laughed out loud.

In other news, the Senate has adjourned for the night. There's karaoke on their horizon. They left without addressing the human remains bill ...

It's after 9 p.m. and the Senate is still going strong.

About an hour ago, the Senate kindly delayed their vote on a human remains bill that Peter Callaghan recently wrote a column about. The official reason the vote is that they had to sort through some amendments. But I know my need to get takeout must have played some role.

Right now, the Senate's discussing a wrongful death bill (while the House is dealing with those math stds...).

The wrongful death bill would allow parents who aren't financially connected to their adult child to sue on behalf of their child if no other relatives exist.

The bill passed 47-2.

I obviously can't resist pointing this out: Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, slipped during her floor speech and said (paraphrase) "... all of us expect to outlive our children."

I think she meant the opposite of that.

Here's a run-down of the strange things that have slipped out of people's mouths today -- a day when lawmakers are expected to be here until until at least 10 p.m. (and maybe as late as 3 a.m.) If that timeline is true, I may be coming out with part 4 tonight...

1. Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mt. Vernon, described Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane, as "the noble Lord from the Fourth District" during a floor speech. (It's most common to say something like "the good senator from the Fourth District. "Noble Lord" is new to me ...)

2. As posted earlier, a state officer described in clinical detail the "Hillary Clinton nutcracker" with "serrated steel thighs" that caused the first two floors of the main building to be evacuated yesterday. I think we can all agree that the post-description shrug was priceless.

3. A certain staffer told me lawmakers would be staying here until "jammie time." When I advised her/him I didn't bring my jammies, he/she warned against falling asleep sans clothing in the chambers. And here I thought that was a job perk.

4. I missed the debate on a bill regarding "alcohol in non-beverage form" because Joe was yelling on the phone in the background -- about Bon Jovi's mullet, if I recall correctly.

This is the bill that would forgive the state sales tax on construction of a new headquarters building for the former Frank Russell company in downtown Tacoma, as long as the building costs at least $30 million and is built in a community empowerment zone. (That's downtown Tacoma, plus the Hilltop neighborhood.)

Look up Senate Bill 6626 for details. The bill was passed by the Senate, but must go back because the House Finance Committee altered it a bit.

Washington Supreme Court justices said today they are in no particular hurry to decide whether raising taxes really does take a 2/3rds vote in the Legislature.

In their ruling today, the Supremes denied a request by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, for an expedited review. Brown wanted the Supremes to hear arguments on or before March 13.

Brown contends Initiative 960, which was approved by voters this past November, can't require a two-thirds vote by the House and Senate to raise taxes because the constitution says it takes only a majority. And you can't change the state constitution through an initiative, she says.

Brown filed a lawsuit directly with the Supreme Court on Monday. If she couldn't get the expedited review, she asked the court to at least decide before the 2009 legislative session.

You can look up projects that are included in House Bill 2437.

The Public Works Board recommends which local governments should get low interest loans for projects. And by low-interest, I mean 0.5 to 1.0 percent. (We should be so lucky.)

The payments go into a revolving fund so the money can be loaned out again and again. Local legislators can take credit if there is money for a project in their particular area, even though they have nothing to do with the selection.

...and least not today.

State Sen. Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, just spoke in favor of House Bill 2533, "although my daddy did tell me never to trust a McCoy," Hatfield said.

The bill's prime sponsor is state Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip.

The bill passed 46-3.

And, no, that's not the bill that lets farmer make their own moonshine.

This is the sort of thing I couldn't make up:

Murmurs from the Senate suggest the toxic toys bill we wrote about earlier this session isn't going anywhere.

The bill would have banned lead, cadmium and phthalates from children's products and toys sold in Washington. Think that's already done? Nope. While lead in paint is illegal above a certain level, its used as an additive all over the place -- including plastics and jewelry -- legally. Ditto for the other two.

The bill passed the House with flying colors, but in the Senate, it's been monkeyed with. One amendment would essentially gut the bill. Another, proposed by Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, would also require parents to be notified if mercury was used in vaccines. (Note: I earlier mistakenly wrote that mercury in vaccines would be banned. No such thing - just notification.)

Amendments or no, the bill may not make it out of the Senate, if murmurs are to be trusted.

Meanwhile, Ivy Sager-Rosenthal of the Washington Toxics Coalition (the group in support of the bill) said she has no indication it will fail the Democratic-controlled Senate ... especially after passing the Democratic-controlled House unanimously.

If it does fail, she's pointing the finger at lobbying. "The toy industry has descended in the last three weeks, hiring three lobbyists," she said.

Here's a glimpse for yourself. It's the document filed to my new bff, the Public Disclosure Commission, last week by the "Toy Industry Association." It shows that one of the lobbyists is getting $50k for his efforts.

Oemig said if it does fail, they'll be back next year.

Since I wrote the post earlier today about Math STDs, I've seen even more signs that the 147 legislators, several hundred staff members and 900 lobbyists are starting to get a little punch drunk.

For example, earlier today while talking about a bill to reduce CO2 emissions, Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, was talking about the benefits of telecommuting when he decided it was the prime time to call out Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester.

He said telecommuting was great because it allowed you to log on from home and work, similar to what Swecker was doing -- instead of paying attention.

Snap.

We're also all looking a bit disheveled. Two legislators have what I described to Joe as mullets. You know, 10/90, Tennessee Top hat, Kentucky Waterfall. (One of them is even allegedly using his newly grown neck rest to nap during floor session, but I digress...)

Exhibit C: To my declaration, Joe said, "The thing is, I think mullets are kinda neat." And then he Googled Jon Bon Jovi.

I'm actually posting a news release that I don't understand one iota. But it's so rare to even see anything about the Lands Commissioner race, I felt obliged to do so.

I'm sure those of you who are following that race intently will understand what Peter Goldmark is saying about Doug Sutherland. And maybe one of you political junkies can explain it to me.

For the rest of you, the Commissioner of Public Lands race will be on the ballot in November -- way, way, way down the ballot.

Read on:

For immediate release: March 5, 2008
Contact: Peter Goldmark (509) 322-3266

Sutherland Cuts School Funding By Raising Fees
For Trust Account Management

7% increase in agency fee comes while accounts are already depressed by slumping timber market

Okanogan rancher, former rural school board director, and candidate for Commissioner of Public Lands candidate Peter Goldmark today criticized the recent 7% increase in agency management fees charged to the state’s trust accounts by the Department of Natural Resources. Managed by Commissioner Doug Sutherland, the accounts contain proceeds from timber sales and are meant for school construction.

“Sutherland has imposed what amounts to a 7% cut in school construction revenues at a time the state cannot afford a cut,” said Goldmark, who attended a one-room school in rural Okanogan County and later served on the school board while his five children attended Okanogan area schools.

=> Read more!

The House just debated an anti-smoking bill, during which Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, a cardiologist and Democrat from Normandy Park, delivered this not-very exciting message:

"Smoking reduces blood flow to the extremities - all of the extremities."

Eek!

In other news, a secret source sent me this little gift yesterday, courtesy of the House:

With the consent of the House, the Rules Committee was relieved of the following bills and they were placed on the 2nd reading calendar for Tuesday, March 4th:

5278 - public funds
6377 - career and technical ed
6381 - mortgage brokers
6457 - health events/incidents
6483 - local food production
6534 - mathematics stds
6711 - smart homeownership
6776 - whistleblower protection
6933 - evidence admissibility

If I were the Rules Committee, I would be relieved to be rid of mathematics stds, too.

Robert Ryan, chairman of the Narrows Bridge Toll Citizen Advisory Committee, left me a voice mail message that said the CAC is going to recommend a $4 cash toll, effective July 1.

That would be up from the current $3 standard toll (for a two-axle vehicle). The current discounted toll of $1.75 for those with transponders for automated electronic toll collection would rise to $2.75, he said in his message.

Ryan, president of Ryan Jorgenson & Limoli, an accounting firm that has offices in Gig Harbor and Tacoma, said the committee is recommending a toll only for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009.

"It brings in almost the same amount of money as a $3 toll for everyone, but to maintain the discount for transponder usage, it required increasing the cash price by $1 over where it was," Ryan said.

The CAC met last night. Their recommendation goes to the Washington Transportation Commission. It's still not clear to me whether the commission still has final say on the tolls for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, or whether the Legislature has to approve of them because of Initiative 960, the ballot measure that requires the Legislature to approve all fee and tax increases.

A toll is a fee.

I do know the Legislature has put some language in its supplemental transportation budget that kinda approves in advance whatever toll amount the commission thinks is proper.

The average or basic toll wasn't expected to rise to $4 until July 1, 2009 according to the state Department of Transportation's pre-opening tolling scheme. But the proliferation of transponder accounts, more than 91,000, may have changed the minds of the advisory committee.

Newsflash: Yet another poll has shown that Dino Rossi and Gov. Chris Gregoire are statistically tied, more or less, in the governor's race, which, if you're counting, is eight months away.

I've now been sent an e-mail about this newest poll to deliver essentially the same results by three people. The messages add an even more ominous tone to the Rossi campaign press release about the poll, which includes this, from spokeswoman Jill Strait: "There will be many polls released between now and November."

Now, for the Rasmussen Reports results you're dying for:

In a poll of 500 people on Feb. 28, 47 percent favored Rossi, 46 percent favored Gregoire. The margin of error is 4.5 percent, meaning the difference is statistically insignificant, according to Rasmussen.

And, as you'll find if you go to Rasmussen's web site, no scientific poll press release would be complete without a plug for your parallel betting site, which features completely contradictory -- yet totally cooler -- results.

Rasmussen Markets data now shows Gregoire is favored to win the Washington Governor race (current prices: Democrat 85.0% Republican 40.0%) Numbers in this paragraph are from a prediction market, not a poll. Using a trading format where traders "buy and sell" candidates, issues, and news features, the Rasmussen Markets harness competitive passions to provide a reliable leading indicator of upcoming events. We invite you to participate in the Rasmussen Markets

Just so we're clear, the tie is from Rasmussen Reports, which does polling. The plug is for Rasmussen Markets, which does betting.

The Senate just voted 44-0 in favor of a bill that would give a huge benefit increase to judges all over the state. Here's the bill report for House Bill 2887. The bill was changed slightly just before the Senate passed it, so this report doesn't tell the whole story, but at least this report is in layman's English, sorta.

Pension bills are really complicated, but I'll take a stab at explaining it. Here's the gist of it: When the judges who are sitting on the bench right now decide to retire, they will have the option of "buying" years of service at a steep discount, roughly half-priced, so they can increase their monthly pension check. They basically can swap years under an old pension plan for a newer pension plan, and instead of getting 2 percent for each of those years of service, they can get 3.5 percent.

That's 3.5 percent times the number of years they served as a judge, times their highest monthly salary. That's a 75 percent increase in benefits.

Now, there is an upper limit that says a judges total monthly retirement check can't be any higher that three-fourths of their highest salary. That is, if they got paid $10,000 a month as an active judge, they can't get more than $7,500 a month in a retirement check.

Most of these changes took place in a bill last year. What this year's bill does is get rid of last year's deadline for opting into the better pension program.

The bill that was passed by the Senate this morning now must go back to the House because the Senate made a few changes and the House will have to concur with them before the bill goes to the governor.

I asked Rep. Bill Fromhold, D-Vancouver, prime sponsor of last year's bill, why he was working so hard to improve judges' retirement benefits. He said judges get a late start at being judges, maybe starting at age 40 or so after spending years as lawyers, so they don't build up that many years on the bench.

The Superior Court Judges Association pushed for the bill, too.

By the way, my $10,000-a-month pay example was a low-ball example. Superior judges make much more. On Sept. 1, their annual salaries will climb to $148,831. That's about $12,400 a month.

Last night was the first Tacoma City Council meeting of the month, which can only mean one thing: Citizens' Forum!

For those of you who may not know, Citizens' Forum is the once-a-month chance for Tacomans (and at least one University Place resident) to stand up at the microphone and sound off to the City Council on issues that aren't -- and usually will never be -- on the council's agenda.

Blogger/artist RR Anderson offers a hilarious blow-by-blow commentary on last night's parade of speakers.

http://i.feedtacoma.com/NineInchNachos/tv-tacoma-all-stars-extra/

Warning: Some readers could be offended by the spot-on commentary of Robert "The Traveller" Hill's choice of head garb.

Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, sent out the following news release, but I got it too late to post last night.

The Senate passed House Bill 3104 on Tuesday night on a 29-20 vote and sent it to Gov.Chris Gregoire.

Here's what Swecker had to say:

“Some legislators have claimed this isn’t about homosexual marriage, but it really is,” Swecker said. “This bill is about as close to marriage as you can get without actually calling it marriage. It would grant same-sex couples more than 170 of the benefits and responsibilities given to married couples.”

Swecker said the bill would provide most of the rights of marriage, including dissolution, parenting plans and child support laws, powers of attorney, homestead exemption laws, and community property and other property rights and responsibilities.

Here's the full release:

=> Read more!

The vote in favor of House Bill 3104 was 29-20. Here's what we got from Senate Democrats, who hold the majority in the Senate:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 4, 2008
Domestic partnership bill passes legislature; heads to Gregoire for signature
OLYMPIA – The Senate passed legislation expanding rights and responsibilities to registered domestic partners — creating a new level of financial security and equity for Washington families. The measure passed the Senate Tuesday evening 29-20.

Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the author of the original legislation that created the state domestic partnership program in 2007, said “lesbian and gay families lack financial security, because we lack the basic protections that married couples are provided. We sent this bill to the governor’s desk today as an important step in giving financial equality and fairness to loving families.”

=> Read more!

The House voted 51-43 in favor of Senate Bill 5278, which would repeal the state prohibition on using public funds on political campaigns.

The King County Council and the League of Women Voters testified in favor of the measure. Each city or county would have to put a public-financing measure on the ballot and get local voters to approve the use of their taxes for campaigns.

Democrats turned down the following Republican amendment:

EFFECT: Requires that all political candidates for local
office who receive public funds to finance their political
campaigns must include a statement that reads "Paid for at
taxpayers' expense" and identifies the city providing funds to
such campaigns.

Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, called it the "incumbent protection act" because if equal amounts of money went to each candidate, the incumbent still would have an advantage because he or she would have more publicity from dealings with the media.

Rep. Shay Schual-Berke, D-Normandy Park, said public financing increases participation in local races. Newcomers are more likely to take on an incumbent if they have some money to use in their campaigns, she said. It also would let candidates spend more time actually campaigning and meeting with constitutents instead of spending time raising money, she said.

Tacoma's controversial attempt to turn its already-bustling Broadway/St. Helens neighborhood into the next Pearl District hit another road bump.

Tacoma officials said Tuesday they will re-bid for contractors to do the big make-over of streets, sidewalks and utilities, which is aimed at creating a cohesive urban village. The move will delay the start of construction about a month, to some time in May.

The top two bidders for the work both had problems with their bid, officials said. Rather than select the third bidder, the city decided it would be quicker and easier to re-advertise. They expected a legal claim regardless of which bidder they selected.

This will mark the second time the work had been re-bid. The project was put on hold after last August after the City Council shot down an $11 million contract, saying they lost confidence in the process after a series of mistakes by the Public Works Department.

Craig Sivley, an assistant public works director, ended up losing his job.

First, read this excerpt from an e-mail that was forwarded to me by our Letters to the Editor folks...

SoundTransit’s survey is a total sham! I received a fancy card from SoundTransit in the mail asking me to complete their survey. As a good citizen, I went on-line and started to complete the survey. Soon I found out that they didn’t really want my opinion, they wanted to control my feedback. I do not favor light rail because it costs much more than busses and is much less flexible. The survey required me to answer question after question about how I wanted light rail and commuter rail expanded. “No” was not an option. And, you could not leave a question unanswered and continue the survey on-line, it wouldn’t let you continue. What a public disservice and another waste of money by SoundTransit.

Redmond Wa.

I took the survey today. (Confidential to Sound Transit: Don't pay attention to my responses. I was just trying to get to the end. I'm the one who kept asking, "What about Tacoma?" over and over.)

I didn't feel herded in a particular direction as the writer from Redmond did, but I believe there was only one question (No. 32) that dealt with extending light rail to Tacoma. It appears that Sound Transit is heeding the criticism voiced last fall by King County Executive Ron Sims about what a waste of money light rail to Tacoma would be.

Sound Transit did ask about 3 times in different ways whether they should go on the ballot this year. I think one of them mentioned a $9 billion package. I can't wait to read the results.

Those post cards encouraging folks to take the survey were sent to 800,000 to 900,000 households in Pierce, King and Snohomish counties. Go to www.soundtransit.org to take the survey. It's up until March 9.

Paula Hammond, new secretary of the Washington Department of
Transportation, was just confirmed by the state Senate.

Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed Hammond. Gubernatorial appointees to cabinet positions can serve without being confirmed by the Senate -- and many do -- but it's a particular vote of confidence when a nominee is confirmed. Especially when the vote is 46-0.

Hammond was chief of staff for former transportation secretary Doug MacDonald.

I'm going through a few hundred pages of Public Disclosure Commission documents today, looking further into what lobbyists have been up to between last summer and now.

One observation: Some of you have not been tipping enough. In specific, I'm talking about a 10 percent tip on a $400 dinner bill.

Unless there's hair in your food, in which case you may want to note that on the receipt you scan into the PDC web site, it's safe to recommend a 15+ percent tip.

Now, sometimes when I have a few too many bottles of wine my math skills get pretty bad, too. If you find yourself in a similar situation, here's a (free) tip: Round the bill total, double it, then move the decimal place one spot to the left.

I only point it out because there's nothing worse for a lobbying session than poor service from staffers who remember you as the cheapskate.

That's right, lobbyists, I'm looking out for you.

The House just voted 95-0 in favor of Senate Bill 6244, which tells the Washington Department of Corrections to figure out just how much room the agency needs to house all the "violators" that are being sent back to prison or jail.

There are somewhere between 1,200 and 1,500 of them, mostly in county jails, on any given day. Those are ex-convicts who used drugs, hung out with other known felons or did something that violation condition of their release from prison.

Many, if not most, of those ex-cons have drug problems. Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, sponsored the bill to tell DOC to at least consider relying less on the local jails and maybe look toward building or leasing their own violator treatment centers.

Senate Bill 5878 was passed by the House on a 95-0 vote just moments ago.

Not only would the bill require law enforcement agencies to make out a report (something crucial if you need documentation for credit card companies, etc.) when identity theft is reported to them, it makes each instance of theft a separate crime. Alternatively, all of the incidents of theft could be added up so the thief could be charged with a more serious crime.

The bill has to go back to the Senate because the House made a few changes, so it's slightly different from the version passed by the Senate.

Patrick Bell, the chief honcho for news for the Washington Republican Party, sent Niki Sullivan and me a calendar of upcoming events for GOP candidates, showing just how media and Web savvy he really is.

So let us share it with you. There's bound to be something you find interesting in the Republican calendar for March, April and May.

I noticed Terri Rossi will be speaking to the Thurston County Women's Republican Club next Tuesday, March 11, from 11:30 to 12:30 (I assume that's over the lunch hour) at Hawks Prairie Restaurant.

The first-lady almost-was and still-wants-to-be will give "insight into Dino and his campaign," according to the news release. That would be Dino Rossi, I think.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has devised a plan (or asked the department of transportation to devise a plan) to finish the Highway 520 bridge early and under cheaper than expected.

The bridge would have been a $4.38 billion endeavor good-to-go by 2018. But she announced today that the bridge can be done by 2014 -- cutting $700 million from the cost.

And, hey, that means you'll only be paying tolls for five years before you ever cross the new, now $3.7 billion bridge!

Here's what they sent:

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire announced today that she has reduced by four years the time it will take to replace the economically vital SR 520 Bridge linking Seattle and the thriving east side of Lake Washington.

In a letter to legislative leaders, the governor said that at her urging, the Washington Department of Transportation has designed a way to build a new bridge by the fall of 2014 – a full four years earlier than it was previously estimated.

=> Read more!

The Pew Center on the States came out with its annual report card on managing public resources today and guess what: Washington is No. 1 ... in a three-way tie, but who cares about that.

Here's what they had to say:

“Washington has been well managed during challenging economic circumstances, delivering strong services to the public and effectively managing the state’s dollars,” said Susan Urahn, managing director of the Pew Center on the States, of which the Government Performance Project is a part. “Washington has long been a standout in using data to drive strategic decisions. And now Governor Gregoire has opened up discussion of those decisions through public meetings where agency leaders can be held accountable for results.”

Here's the details:
We got an A- in money management, A- for recruiting and retaining qualified employees, A for managing and providing information to the people, and B+ for infrastructure planning and maintenance.

...if it weren't for those crumbling viaducts and bridges!...

Gregoire said she's very jazzed about it but would like nothing but As next time.

More from the press release (from the gov's office):

Pew attributed the improved results to the governor’s use of the Government Management Accountability and Performance project to set meaningful goals for state agencies and measure their progress toward achieving them.

Remember when Washington got all that attention for having the bizarro voting primary-caucus hybrid voting system? Me neither.

Sure, we were visited by all the major candidates right before the Feb. 9 caucuses – or "between Feb. 5 and (the) Feb. 19 (primaries)," as Secretary of State Sam Reed likes to put it (and I'm paraphrasing, to be clear). Put a leaden emphasis on Feb. 7 and 8 and it's technically factual.

And we gave ourselves lots of attention - for good reason, in my opinion.

But we didn't have the Huffington Post making videos about us. We didn't have any cutesy nicknames, a la "prima-caucus."

Instead, stupid Texas gets all the attention. The national media are calling Texas' primary-caucus hybrid the "Texas Two-Step," for crying out loud.

If only we'd have been more on the ball... I blame myself. And all of you, for that matter.

I finally had a chance to read the court papers that Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown filed today, challenging last Friday's ruling in the Senate that a tax increase takes a two-thirds vote.

And I discovered that I've been wrong in how I described what's going on. The lawsuit that was filed with the Washington Supreme Court actually is a challenge to the supermajority provision that was put into law when voters passed Initiative 601 back in 1993, as well as the same provision in Initiative 960, which passed in November.

I-960 changed some of the provisions in I-601, but didn't change the two-thirds requirement. It changed some of the language in the same law.

In fairness to Tim Eyman, he's been telling me this since last summer when the I-960 campaign was under way. I figured that since I-960 was repeating the two-thirds requirement, it was being reenacted. I was wrong.

On the other hand, some lawyers around here at the state capital are telling me that I-960 at least implied that the two-thirds requirement was being reenacted.

I think it's best if we just let the lawyers and the justices sort it out.

What's curious here is why Democrats are even bothering to challenge it in court. In 2005, the Democratic majority in the Senate simply suspended the two-thirds requirement so they could raise cigarette, liquor and estates taxes with a simple majority vote. That's 25 votes instead of 33 in the 49-member Senate.

They could just do the same thing this time, if they want. After all Democrats have a 32-17 majority in the Senate, but I guess that wouldn't look good going into the November elections when most of the Legislature is up for election.

It would look better (for Democrats) if the Supreme Court were to rule that I-601 was unconstitutional than for the Democrats to just ignore it again.

We've noted that payday lenders, which faced scrutiny in legislatures gone by, could lounge in the hammock this year ... Today, from The Stranger, there's a hint that next year may be the year the Legislature takes up the issue (again).

On next year’s docket? (Slog's lobbyist of the year Kim) Justice says “we have every intention of working for payday loan oversight.” The issue, a hot topic last year, was MIA in Olympia this year (although not in other states). Justice says work went on behind the scenes on the issue this year to cultivate support. And, she hints, “we have a lot of support.”

While you're at it, check out the profile on Justice -- as Slog points out, not all lobbyists are "old white guys in suits."

Tim Eyman seemingly will do anything to rile up his supporters, including what the Nixon-era press secretary called being "at variance with the truth."

(That means "lying.")

Here's what Eyman e-mailed to his fans (and reporters) Sunday night:

Gregoire plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960. Gregoire is sticking her finger in the eye of the voters. She plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960.

Well, that's just not true.

I asked Eyman today why he told his supporters that Gov. Chris Gregoire is suing over Initiative 960 when the lawsuit is being filed by Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and he said, "She's (Gregoire) the head of the Democratic Party. And she could stop it if she wanted."

Well, that's not true, either. Gregoire may very well be in sympathy with what Brown is doing, but Eyman is framing the issue as if it's all Gregoire's fault.

Eyman also proceeded to say a few more things in the interview that were flat-out wrong and I told him I wasn't obliged to report things he said if I know they are wrong. He told me he was just exercising his right of free speech.

And on that score, he is absolutely right. Our Washington Supreme Court, which often times throws out Eyman's ballot measures, upheld his right to make up whatever he wants in a political arena in a case late last year. (The case didn't involve Eyman. It was about a state Senate campaign, but Eyman and every other person who takes great license with the truth is a beneficiary of the ruling.)

Allowing lying in politics is better than suppressing free speech, the justices ruled.

Here's what Eyman sent out yesterday (minus the usual stuff at the bottom of all his e-mails, which is a plea for money):

Today this was emailed to the 6000 supporters on our email list and mailed tomorrow (Monday) to our 25,000 supporters on our (post office) mailing list.

March 2, 2008

To: Our thousands of supporters throughout the state (cc'd to all media outlets -- reporters, columnists, editorial writers, and others in newspapers, radio, and TV -- House & Senate members, and the Governor)
From: Tim Eyman, Jack Fagan, Mike Fagan, & Mike Dunmire, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim_eyman@comcast.net, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org

RE: Gregoire plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960

Gregoire is sticking her finger in the eye of the voters. She plans to sue the voters, disrespecting the voters' approval of I-960.

It's despicable -- her job is to represent the voters, not to sue them.

=> Read more!

When I visited The Oklahoman's Web site, the first thing I saw was a pop-up ad: "Citizens for a Big League City." It's a group dedicated to making any Seattle SuperSonics memorabilia into antiques.

The second thing was a user registration form so invasive it's a wonder I didn't have to put on a paper gown.

I digress. Oklahoma City will vote tomorrow on a tax measure that would make way for $120 million or so in improvements to their stadium. The idea is to make it all nice and cozy for their soon-to-be-inappropriately named NBA team, the SuperSonics.

We'll keep you updated for two reason:
1. It'll be nice to know how long we can expect the team to call Seattle home.
2. It'll save you from the cavity search that is NewsOK.com.

Tim Eyman is on the phone right now. He wanted to get something into the blog ahead of the Senate Democrats' news conference. He's holding his own news conference at 11 a.m. to react to Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown's lawsuit challenging Initiative 960, the ballot measure that Eyman got onto the ballot and that voters approved last November.

Eyman says I-960 didn't put in place a new requirement for a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. That was already on the books because of Initiative 601.

However, it did repeat the two-thirds requirement, but only by laying out the full state law that was being changed.

We've been waiting for this announcement for months, and here it is.

Washington's chief economist, ChangMook Sohn, director of the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council, is announcing his candidacy for state treasurer.

He's running as a Democrat, so that means he is facing state Rep. Jim McIntire, D-Seattle, in the primary election. McIntire also is an economist. He's also chairman of the Revenue Forecast Council.

So it was interesting last month when Sohn announced that his February forecast was his last, then said only "No more statement."

Today, he elaborate: "I was there to announce the revenue, not to announce my candidacy, and today I am here to do the other part," Sohn said.

Sohn, 63, (he'll be 64 on the 25th), resigned his state job last Friday.

He had a bout with colon cancer in late 2006 and 2007, but says he's gotten a clean bill of health from his doctor. He underwent six months of chemotherapy, the last was in July. All three of his post-chemo CAT scans have turned out great, including one two weeks ago, he said.

Why is he running?

"Number one, I can protect the public's money better than anyone," he said. "And I can do the invest the best for the state's future.

"To do both well, you have to have a thorough economic understanding, not onlyi of the U.S. but the state and the world," he said.

Saw a piece on the wires from Omar Gallaga of the Austin American-Statesman about how political humor is flourishing online.

Back in 2004, the most memorable online political video was JibJab.com’s silly, animated “This Land is Your Land” featuring Bush and John Kerry. Today, the comedic shorts are getting more sophisticated, more timely and spreading more quickly on multiple sites like FunnyOrDie.com, YouTube and JibJab, which has added a way for viewers to add their own videos.

My personal favorite is FunnyOrDie.com. Will Farrell does a great George W. Bush. (Plus, who can get enough of Pearl?)

Gallaga provides ratings and links to some popular sites. Here are a few that might make you laugh:

Snide TV’s `Obama on the Run’
An animated version parody of the song “Anything You Can Do” featuring Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama competing for campaign dollars. “Any vote that I made, I can defend it,” sings Obama, “no vote for Iraqi invasion like you.” Hands out the insults evenly and brings up real campaign issues.
Humor: 7 (out of 10)
Political bite: 8

Current.com’s `Super News!’
Buried among some movie and TV parodies are some professionally done Democratic and Republican debate videos (look for “Super Tube Debate”) with great voice acting. Keep an eye on “Super News!” which will surely be pumping out more videos as the campaign wears on.
Humor: 8
Political bite: 6

FunnyOrDie.com's Fresh McCain of Washington
Splicing together a few choice words from John McCain and his supporters with the theme from “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Nicely edited and funny.
Humor: 9
Political bite: 5

McCain’s `Too Old?’ video
In this raw footage, McCain talks to a group of high school students and is asked whether he’s afraid he might die in office because he’s too old. McCain gives a poised response about his health and ends it with, “Thanks for the question, you little jerk.”
Humor: 8
Political bite: 1

FunnyOrDie.com's `A Message to Ralph Nader’
“Anonymous,” who speaks in a robotic voice, rails against Ralph Nader for entering the presidential race. After listing some of Nader’s accomplishments, the spooky narrator says, “If you run this time, you can stick those seat belts where the minimum wage don’t shine.”
Humor: 5
Political bite: 9

There was so much material to work with yesterday that I realized later I meant to include this reaction that U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, "the congressman from Boeing," gave to The Associated Press.

"I’m extremely disappointed," Dicks said. "It’s just one of the worst things in my whole life. I am just shocked over this."