The House finally wrapped up its work on Good Friday by passing a $4.9 billion two-year transportation budget -- the largest in state history -- that will create 49,000 jobs across the state.

Passage by the House, which voted 65-30 in favor, sets the stage for negotiations with the Senate, which earlier this month passed its own version. The two chambers have two weeks before the April 26 adjournment to work out their differences.

Changes made Friday improved funding for Pierce County projects, but Senate Bill 5352 still falls short of the orginal version approved by the Senate on April 1.

House Transportation Committee chairwoman Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, agreed to shift $18 million from other projects to improve the timetable for construction of carpool lanes on Interstate 5 between the Tacoma Mall and Fife.

It was part of a deal worked out by Reps. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, and Dennis Flannigan, D-Tacoma. That deal also adds $1.5 million for preliminary work on the Cross-Base Highway (SR 704) and allocates $3.3 million for a project on Highway 302.

Campbell said he is proud of the budget. It gives a lot of money to King County for projects, but it's good for Pierce County, too.

The $1.5 million for the Cross-Base highway isn't much, but it will enable the state to head back East to try to leverage more money out of the federal government, he said.

"I'm proud of this budget," Campbell said.

Rep. Dan Roach, R-Bonney Lake, top Republican on the Transportation Committee, tried to drive home how much he thinks the budget is skewed in King County's favor with a series of amendments, but all were defeated.

One would have subtracted $500 million from the $2.4 billion earmarked for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct and spend $200 million more in Pierce County and $300 million on the Highway 520 bridge project. It failed on a 41-57 vote.

Another would have shifted $500 million from the viaduct to Columbia River project, Pierce County, Spokane projects. It failed, too, 44-53.

The Senate version of the budget elevated the I-5 carpool lanes in Tacoma to the same level as the mega projects in the Seattle area, Alaskan Way and Highway 520. All would be assured of funding to completion, even if much of the work would be beyond a six-year horizon.

=> Read more!

That assumes the House finally votes on the bill its members have been debating since last night and part of today. (It wasn't non-stop. It just seems that way to some members.)

UPDATE: The House just passed the bill 53-45. It's gotta go back to the Senate now.

Senate Bill 5963 was supposed to be the second half of the changes to the state's unemployment insurance program. Workers got their share in an earlier bill, one that raised minimum weekly unemployment benefits to at least $200 a week, and every else's benefit check by $45 a week.

That was about $200 million. It will show up in checks the first week of May and runs till the end of the year.

Then, the feds gave workers another $25. So that check will be at least $225 a week.

But I digress.

SB 5963 is the bill that's supposed to give employers a cumulative $224 million tax break over the next six years. It's about a 5 percent reduction in the employer contribution into the unemployment insurance trust fund. (Today, that fund has about $4.18 billion.)

But the House changes the agenda. Instead of just giving employers a break by lowering their tax rates, SB 5963 also will give workers another benefit. It would raise the average unemployment check by $14 a week, starting in January 2010. That's when those other extras -- the $45 and the $25 -- expire. And that would last through 2015.

The average check is expected to be $436 a week from May through December, dropping to $366 a week in January 2010. But if the House passes this bill, that $366 would become $380 a week.

If the $4.2 billion in the trust fund drops too much -- that is, has less than the amount of money needed to dole out benefits to jobless workers for eight months -- the average benefit would drop back down to $366 a week.

Clear as mud?

It's not as simple as the headline because there are so many variations, depending on the type of conviction and other circumstances.

But the bottom line is this: If someone gets convicted of animal cruelty and one of the animals died because of that abuse, a judge must impose an order that prohibits that person from owning any similar animal for anywhere from two years to life. In some situations, the person can appeal.

Moreover, the cops can confiscate any animal if they catch that person in possession of such an animal.

The House actually passed this bill back on Tuesday, but I'm still catching up with stuff in my notebook.

The vote was 71-27. It goes back to the Senate because a few changes were made to the Senate version that passed last month.

Here is the full bill report for Senate Bill 5402.

Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, offered an amendment to show how the Legislature could balance the state budget over the next two years without transfering some $780 million from building projects.

Instead, Alexander would cut about $914 million of spending in the operating budget. It can be done, he said.

Alexander would elminate the $339 monthly payment to some 16,000 folks on General Assistance Unemployable, saving $172 million. Cutting their medical coverage, too, would save an additional $230 million. (Gov. Gregoire did both in her budget proposal.)

He would elminate all of the Basic Health Program, instead of just cutting enrollment to 65,000 from about 106,000, saving $419 million.

All-day kindergarten, which the state pays to bring to 20 percent of the poorest schools, could be ratcheted back to 10 percent, saving $38 million.

State reiumbursement to hospitals for providing emergency room services to non-citizens would save $37 million.

Alexander's proposal would have cut almost $1 billion, but he -- like the governor -- would beef up spending for community health clinics, which are likely to get more business because of other cuts. That adds $40 million in spending.

Alexander told me he wanted to show how the state could avoid much of the problem that is likely to greet lawmakers in two years when "one-time money" runs out.

He said Democrats close the $9 billion shortfall with only $4 billion in actual cuts and $5 billion of one-time federal money, savings and raided money from the capital budget. That money won't be there in 2011, he said.

Here are details of Alexander's proposed budget amendment.

It's not exactly Watergate, but the Moscow-Pullman Daily News has a story today about two activists from something called the Washington Bus Project. After spending the day trying to urge Washington State University students to get involved in politics, the two were arrested inside the barbed-wire fence at the Pullman Armory.

The Bus Project is allied with liberal and Democratic causes and travels the state in, that's right, a bus. The bus was in Pullman for WSU's Civic Engagement Week.

Below is the Associated Press rewrite of the newspaper article. The story was first circulated by a Republican blog from King County called Red County.

2 caught trying to enter Pullman armory

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) – Two men visiting Pullman on a tour promoting civic involvement have been arrested for allegedly attempting to break into the National Guard Armory.

Thomas H. Goldstein, 44, and Andrew T. Crittendon, 26, are being held at the Whitman County Jail in Colfax on charges of second-degree attempted burglary and third-degree malicious mischief.

Pullman police arrested the men Wednesday night after getting a report that two people were attempting to climb the fence behind the armory.

Goldstein and Crittendon were in Pullman with The Washington Bus Project, which travels the state urging young people to become involved in various political issues. Police have no idea why they tried to get into the armory.

There are audiences for virtually every part of a state budget, and this item has one, too.

I'll let the senator who represents the 2nd Legislative District give you her take on the possible hatchery closure.

NOTE: There were problems with the link I first posted here, so below is the full text of the op-ed that Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, got published in The Orting News.

UPDATE: You'll see that state Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, chairwoman of the House General Government Committee, says in the comment section that the Senate may have cut funding for the hatchery, but the House has not.

I couldn't follow the link to the press release by Senator Becker, but I was successful in attaching an amendment to the House version of the budget to maintain funding for the Voight Creek Hatchery. The hatchery closure would mean a significant reversal of agreements contained in the Puyallup Indian Lands Claim Settlement Act of 1989. There will be many losers in the outcome of the final budget adopted by the Legislature, but reversing this historic treaty should not be among them.

Rep. Jeannie Darneille

Here is Becker's opinion piece:

Closing hatchery would threaten all fishing on the Puyallup River
By Sen. Randi Becker

Generations of sport fishers have lined the banks of the Puyallup River each year. Thousands of people had their first experience of fishing on the
river, enjoying the best of what it means to grow up in our region.

However, that could all end if state budget writers go ahead with the closure of Voights Creek Hatchery owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

=> Read more!

This is my 5th (?) nomination for quote of the session.

Sen. Eric Oemig, D-Kirkland, just made the remark in urging his Senate colleagues to vote in favor of House Bill 1195, dealing with claims.

He gave 2 reasons to vote for it, the long-standing "good little bill," and "sticking it to the man."

It passed unanimously (46-0), but apparently Sen. Jerome Delvin, R-Richland, had second thoughts.

"Would you define 'The Man'," asked Delvin, a former cop.

"In this case, the government," Oemig replied.

One wonders what Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, really has in mind by proposing that next year's legislative session by reduced from 60 days to only 45 days.

I know. I know. He says he wants to save the state money. But what are the real reasons?

Is he tired of getting his rear-end kicked by the Democratic majority?

Does he have vacation plans for early March? (A March Madness trip to Reno, perhaps?)

Of course, by suggesting that the 2010 session be cut short, he seems to be assuming that this session actually will end before then. What makes him so sure?

Hinkle proposes legislation to limit 2010 Legislature to 45 days

'It's estimated we'll save up to $3 million for the biennium by limiting the next session to 45 days instead of 60,' says Hinkle

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, introduced legislation today that would save the state $3 million in the legislative budget by limiting the next session to 45 days.

House Concurrent Resolution 4405 would require the 2010 Legislature to adjourn in 45 days or less, as opposed to the normal 60-day session during non-budget years.

=> Read more!

(I'm catching up on stuff, basically emptying my notes from House Speaker Frank Chopp's media availability on Thursday onto the blog. The reason we reporters pay so much attention to Chopp is that he really is the leader of the free world, at least in Olympia, on the third floor of the Legislative Building, for the west end, anyway.)

1. The House vote on the replacement for Seattle's Alaskan Way Viaduct probably will come up next week, Chopp said. The bill authorizes the state Department of Transportation to replace the elevated roadway along the waterfront with a deep-bore 1.7-mile tunnel under First Avenue. Not Chopp's favorite alternative.

But "I will let it go to the floor," he said, meaning he won't block it even though he doesn't like all of it. But there will be amendments offered, too, he said.

"My concern is over the cost of it and who pays for it," he said for the umpteenth time. The deal that Gov. Chris Gregoire worked out with Seattle (mostly) would commit the state to $2.82 billion as the state's share of a $4.24 billion project. Chopp wants a first state limit at $2.4 billion, which is how much the Legislature has committed in the recent past.

"There will be amendments to strengthen that state limite at $2.4 billion," he said. I'm not sure, but I don't think Chopp is too keen on using tolls to make up for the $420 million shortfall.

2. Temporary boost to the sales tax. The 0.3 percent boost that's being talked about is a "fairly modest amount" and its uses would be "targeted."

"It goes to core services," Chopp said. The odds of a tax package getting out of the Legislature are "better than 50-50 to be on the ballot, and then voters will have their vote," he said.

3. General Assistance Unemployable. What to do about that roughly $252 million program remains a sticking point between the House and Senate budget proposals. Chopp said the House would keep the program pretty much intact, but would find $40 million in savings, largely by bulk drug purchases. The Senate would cut a lot more.

=> Read more!

"Plan K" is one of the alternatives for reconfiguring the west end (Seattle end) of the new Highway 520 bridge project, the one that calls for a tunnel under Montlake.

House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, who represents those neighborhoods, says it's not HIS plan. It's the one supported by the neighborhoods, so he supports it, too.

Anyway, earlier this week the Muckleshoot Tribe went on record with its "concerns" about Plan K because it has the potential to disrupt "cultural" areas of importance to the tribe.

(Others are concerned because that option could boost the overall cost of the project from $4.6 billion to $6.6 billion.)

Chopp told reporters yesterday it is "very logical" for the tribe to be concerned about anything related to Lake Washington. He considers it something that needs to be talked about, but not fatal to the option.

I talked to state Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, late yesterday and she said the House budget would cut overall state funding for county health departments to about $64 million, down from $68 million.

Linville is chairwoman of the main House budget committee.

As budget hits go, this one is relatively modest, although the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and others certainly won't like it. (But ask hospitals, nursing homes and clinics how they feel about their respective cuts.)

Some of that money would come from the state general fund, some would come from the Tobacco Prvention and Control Account (money we get each year from the tobacco companies) and about $12 million or so would come from a "surcharge" on fees paid by health care professionals, birth and death certificates and restaurant inspections. (Not sure on the size of those individual surcharges yet.)

Don't know yet whether this part of the budget had been agreed upon by the Senate.

The Senate on Wednesday voted 34-13 in favor of a bill that would let the state Board of Education grant exceptions to the state law that now requires a 180-day school year.

Here's the roll call vote.

House Bill 1292, which already passed the House, was changed by the Senate to allow other options to a four-day week as long as students still get 1,000 hours of classroom instruction. The bill also imposes a limit of seven schools that could change their school year and they must have fewer than 5,000 students. Five of them must have fewer than 500 students.

The bill now goes back to the House.

Actually, the authority would be much broader than Pierce County, but I mention the county in the headline because under the new federal limits on particulate matter, Pierce is one of the places that no longer is in compliance.

Parts of Tacoma and Pierce County are spewing too much bad stuff into the air, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Senate Bill 5565 would let the state Department of Ecology or the local health department or other local governments impose a ban on wood-burning stoves that are not certified, if the area in question exceeds the new federal level for, well basically, smoke. (Most of the problem is from wood stoves and diesel fuel, according to the bill report.)

The vote was 66-31, with Republicans and woodsy kinda Democrats voting against it. (OK, it was Brian Blake.)

Here's the roll call vote.

Here is the bill report.

The bill now goes back to the Senate, which passed a similar version on a 38-10 vote last month.

Well, I suppose the Washington Transportation System still could name a ferry after the region's most famous caffeine distributor, but Starbucks wouldn't have to pay for the naming rights.

There was provision in Senate Bill 5440 that would have told the commission to consider selling the naming rights for state ferries, but it was removed before the House passed it yesterday on a 98-0 vote.

So, "Motor Vessel Kentucky Fried Chicken" apparently isn't in the cards, either.

The bill mostly confirms that the commission has the authority to name lots of public transportation structures and facilities, and says an official letter from a recognized Indian tribe can be used to support a proposed name or name change.

It also looks as if the bill must go back to the Senate for concurrence.

Here is the bill report.

The House last night voted 96-2 in favor of Senate Bill 5513, which already has passed the Senate.

Sen. Fred Jarrett's bill was designed to give transit cops, bus drivers and other transit workers the tools they say they need to deal with unruly passengers, according to testimony.

"It also updates the transit conduct law to be consistent with other laws, including the prohibition against smoking in public places," the bill report says.

Sounds as if you would get a ticket of up to $250 if you smoke at a bus stop or train station or ferry terminal. The bill also adds drinking, gambling, skate-boarding and refusing to obey a transit officer to the list of offenses, plus the catch-all "engaging in conduct that is inconsistent with the intended use" of a bus stop, etc.

Here is a link to the bill report.

It appears the bill was changed slightly from the version passed by the Senate so it would have to go back to the Senate for another vote before it heads to the governor's desk.