With the American legislature unable to function properly, Washington's Patty Murray is heading a group created to do the job that Congress can't: reach an agreement on deficit reduction. Will Murray's (slightly undemocratic) elevation be a boon to Washingtonians? more ›

In the Seattle Times story about mayoral candidate Michael McGinn, "McGinn: 'He's the guy who's against the tunnel,'" state representative Judy Clibborn, chairwoman of the state House Transportation Committee, tries to pull the "done deal" card: "Since we're so far down the line and this was a decision that took so long to make, we're not going to change just because one person doesn't like it." Judy, Judy, Judy...70 percent of Seattle voters rejected a tunnel in 2007. We're not statisticians, but we think that's more than one person. (Check out tunnelfacts.com for all the reasons why people haven't warmed up to the deep-bore option.) But maybe we're looking at this the wrong way--if the state has a few billion sitting around to spend strictly because of process inertia, Governor Gregoire is obviously misleading us about all those cuts to healthcare we need to make that will kill people. more ›

Publicola is feeling grim about the legislative session's taxes vs. deficit paralysis, and boils down the basics with a look at Rep. Eric Pettigrew’s (D-37, S. Seattle) sales tax bill. It called for an increase of three-tenths of a percent, and Publicola says its failure—"with a $13 million cut to children’s health care, a $75 million cut to low-income care for hospitals, a $28 million cut to mental health care among other cuts—defines the 2009 session." more ›

The warm spring weather must be going to the heads of the folks in the State House, those busy little worker bees passing House bills left and right, and last night their attention was focused on state parks, as they passed a bill that will add a $5 opt-out fee on driver's license renewals. We're not upset about the $5 itself, but how those tricksters are trying to get it, placing the fee there in the "hopes" that we don't notice and select to opt-out. (You know it would be written in size 8 font.) The bill is now off to the Senate, where we hope it becomes opt-in. more ›

The drug-resistant infection MRSA--a potentially deadly "superbug"--had to face the bacteria-fighting Washington legislature on Monday, as they unanimously passed a bill requiring Washington hospitals to screen (via nasal swabs) for MRSA in high-risk patients. The MRSA bill now awaits Gov. Chris Gregoire's signature. If passed, hospitals would begin screening on January 1, 2010. Washington would become the fifth state to mandate MRSA nasal swabbing...err, testing. more ›

The Times' Nicole Brodeur addresses the latest round of food-related conspiracy theories in her column today, with quotes from PCC's director of public affairs Trudy Bialic to help debunk the rumor that a current bill moving through Congress would somehow ban organic foods and decimate farmers' markets as we know them in one giant win for Monsanto. Some of our acquaintances went so far as to claim to us that HR 875 would outlaw nutrients. (What?) There is a Food Safety Modernization bill, HR 875, but it's not at all what the crazies are claiming. Thanks for doing our research for us on this one, Brodeur--we'll point people towards your article. more ›

• Hella Bus has an engaging, creative, relevant (and short!) video episode about politics in Olympia--including the best fifteen seconds of political film we've seen in ages tucked in at the very end.
• Videogum wrote about 'Nightline's Great Satan Debate--apparently it was a laugh riot!
• The Daily Weekly got a hot tip about a man wearing a jacket printed all over with Asian call-girl ads. Weird.

The internet is indeed alluring and the source of many pleasures, and locals just can't keep their hands off her. This morning, we learn that Washington state legislators are ga-ga for Facebook (late pass! but welcome) and that Mars Hill Church has given worshippers the go-ahead to tweet during services (...ugh). Careful, guys: the world wide web is a cruel mistress. Forgive the Napoleon Dynamite reference, it was unavoidable. more ›

Publicola reports today on an ongoing conflict between the Democratic leadership in the state legislature and environmental groups trying to protect the provisions of I-937, which requires Washington utilities to acquire 15 percent of supply from renewable sources by 2020, from being watered down. "The amendments would allow efficiency improvements in hydro generation—not considered a renewable in I-937 because the voters wanted to encourage the production of new alternatives—to count toward the goal," writes editor Josh Feit. Another sign of exactly how useless our state Dems have become. more ›

A teacher friend of ours, who is in fact National Board certified, is all hot under the collar about HB 1410 and SB 5444, two bills that are touted as steps toward education reform elsewhere. more ›