Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, reportedly is in the running to become chairwoman of the House Human Services Committee, which is right up her alley. Darneille has a penchant for all social services. It's her life.

That, of course, means that current chairwoman, Mary Lou Dickerson of Seattle, won't keep the job.

And, contrary to what I posted a few weeks back, the choice of who will preside over the House Appropriations Committee has not been settled.

I said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, the current vice chairman of the budget-writing committee, probably would replace retiring Rep. Helen Sommers of Seattle and that Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, would get the consolation prize of House Capital Budget Committee.

I might have to reverse that prediction -- or not.

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Linville reportedly has enough votes among the caucus to get the chairmanship. Right now, she is chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and Audit Review. (That's what happens when you have more than 60 members in the caucus: You have to create committees to keep folks busy and stroke their egos.)

Linville also has about 1 year more seniority over Dunshee and the backing of part of the top leadership team, reportedly Majority Leader Lynn Kessler and caucus chairman Bill Grant of Walla Walla.

(Darneille is backing Linville, too.)

There will be a few other changes. Rep. Al O'Brien of Mountlake Terrace, a former cop who is now chairman of the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee (it used to be Criminal Justice) is stepping down. That means Rep. Chris Hurst of Enumclaw, another former cop, could step up from the vice chairmanship.

And new Rep. Jamie Pederson of Seattle, may be taking over the Judiciary Committee, replacing retiring Rep. Pat Lantz of Gig Harbor.

The slate isn't quite settled just yet. The death of House Speaker Frank Chopp's mother and the Linville-Dunshee contest delayed the caucus vote on committee chairs.

And it could get messy.

Some folks from outside the caucus are weighing in with their preferences for who should run the House budget-writing committee. That's a risky thing to do for anyone who expects to do business with the Legislature in the future.

But one enviro sent this e-mail to some members. (I'm putting only an excerpt):

Hans Dunshee had been assured by the Speaker that he would be endorsed for this position and yet it appears he has reneged on that commitment. I understand that it is now highly unlikely that that Rep. Dunshee will be nominated for the position, but I ask that you vote no to send a message to house leadership.

I guess we'll all find out who has what job the week after Thanksgiving.