This week's oral arguments in Federal Way School District v. State of Washington were about one issue – whether the fact that some districts get more state money than other districts is constitutional.

But just below the surface was a bigger issue – whether the state is meeting its constitutional duty to make "ample provision for the education of all children." Lower courts said this case isn't about adequacy, just fair distribution. But the lawyers last week kept coming back to whether districts get enough to do the job.

Here are the briefs in the case. (Put case number 80943-7 in the search window)

TVW has video of the arguments here.

I take a look at the oral arguments and the underlying issues – both legal and political – in my column Sunday.

Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy chatted with

Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday about the federal government’s efforts to stimulate the economy.

McCarthy was one of six local officials who spoke with the vice president during a conference call (here’s the list of the participants). McCarthy said it was part of Biden’s ongoing efforts to monitor how the economic stimulus effort is working and whether it needs a tweak.

“Biden said this is on his watch,” McCarthy said. “He feels strongly that he is accountable to the public and the president that we do the right thing with these stimulus dollars.”

Earlier this year Congress approved $787 billion in spending on public works projects and other priorities to create and save jobs. Among other things, the package includes $18.6 million for road work and $17.3 million for transit projects in Pierce County.

Biden asked McCarthy and the other local officials whether the federal effort has been effective. McCarthy delivered a mostly positive assessment.

She said the spending plan for transportation projects has been “really well done” in Washington state. Though local agencies haven’t received the money yet, McCarthy said there’s a project list and a timeline for the work. She said using an existing agency – in this case, the Puget Sound Regional Council – to divvy up the money helped speed the process.

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