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Mark Felt, perhaps the most famous graduate of my alma mater, The University of Idaho, died yesterday (I argue more famous than Sarah Palin, who also attended).

Some of you may be asking yourself, who exactly Felt is?

You know him far better as “Deep Throat,” the anonymous source for Woodward and Bernstein during their coverage of Watergate.

Felt admitted in a 2005 Vanity Fair article he was the Washington Post’s source for many of its 400 stories on the Watergate affair during the early 1970s. The Watergate break-in eventually led to the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon.

“I’m proud of everything that Deep Throat did,” Felt, 92, told CNN’s “Larry King Live” in 2006, his first public interview on the subject.

Full story, right here.

From a “Friday Letter” from Tim White, UI’s former president, in 2005:

Felt earned a bachelor’s degree in letters and science from UI, where he served as president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and was a member of the debate team, and the Bench and Bar Association. He was inducted into the UI Alumni Hall of Fame in 1972. Felt joined the F.B.I. in 1942 after earning a law degree from George Washington University. The 91-year-old now lives in Santa Rosa, Calif.

Full release, here.

Until Monday, Dec. 15, the city of Bellingham had — since 1995 — banned the carrying of guns in city parks.

During the last 13 years, how many of you knew there was a ban on guns in city parks? Were you scared to go to city parks in Bellingham because of this ban?

*UPDATE* - And Bellinghammer would like to offer up another question, a counter-question, if you will:

How many criminals out there decided that they would not use a gun to commit their crime in the city park given the restriction?

Of course there’s already a game up where you can throw a shoe at President Bush.

Curious to see how you’d do? Check it out, right here.

A hat tip to Scott Ayers for the link.

State Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, appears to be taking the lead on healthcare for the state House Republicans. He’ll be the ranking minority member on the House Healthcare & Wellness Committee.

Ericksen previously was the deputy floor leader but did not get re-elected to that position for the 2009 session, despite the fact that he had a resounding victory over his election challenger, Democrat Mark Flanders. Ericksen said in a press release that he didn’t seek the position in order to focus on issues on behalf of Whatcom County.

Ericksen has yet to respond to a phone call I made to him about a month ago to find out more information on why he didn’t seek the spot.

The rest of the Republicans ranking members on committees below the fold.

Read more! »

Most people recognize that the state Senate is a bit more congenial toward each other and the governor. I’ve heard the reason is that it’s a smaller body and they have to work more closely to get things done (despite the Democrats’ large majority).

So I guess it wasn’t that shocking that Senate Republicans were more polite in their concerns and comment about Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget than how the House Republicans are reacting:

Says Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia (there’s a Republican representing Olympia!?):

The governor’s budget says, ‘We cannot afford to do many of the things we’d like to.’ This is basically what House Republicans have been saying for the last four years, and we’re glad to see she’s come to that realization.

Though Alexander believes the Democrats, and Gregoire, spent irresponsibly in previous years, he also gives her some kudos.

Meanwhile, newly-selected House Ways and Means Committee Chairwoman Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, seemed to have nothing bad to say about Gregoire’s budget, making a statement far softer than her Democratic peers in the state Senate:

The governor obviously made some very hard choices in her budget, and I can appreciate how difficult that is. But, as she said, this is just the starting point – there are many more steps in this process. We will carefully consider this proposal as we move forward, but many things could change between today and April 22nd. We have another revenue forecast coming in March that could change the picture considerably.

The Governor’s budget proposal makes it clear, if it wasn’t all ready, just how dire our economic situation really is.

Not much to that, really, and that’s the full release. Perhaps it’s because she’s new in her spot and still feeling out the waters?

Full press release from Rep. Alexander below the fold:

Read more! »

Oddly enough Republican state Sen. Joe Zarelli appears to be nicer toward Gov. Chris Gregoire’s budget proposal than her Democratic peers, who have taken her to task a bit in their press releases (at least in the Senate … more to come on the House response soon):

The governor has put the budget process on the proper course with her proposal for the 2009-11 biennium. It doesn’t quite align spending with anticipated revenue but does spend less than the current budget. And she did what she promised by balancing that budget without tax increases. Those are positive steps. There is some room for discussion about whether the priorities reflected in her budget are the real, core priorities of government. But overall it’s a move in the right direction.

Zarelli does keep the Republican line, which Gregoire argued throughout debates with Republican challenger Dino Rossi about, that the state’s deficit has far more to do with local budgeting issues and not necessarily the national economic crisis.

Full press release below the fold.

Read more! »

It caught my eye in the Seattle Times’ story that Gov. Chris Gregoire is “banking that the federal government will send Washington at least $1 billion as part of an economic stimulus package.”

Apparently that hope by the governor concerns Sen. Lisa Brown, the majority leader from Spokane:

I’m glad the governor has confidence in the incoming Obama Administration, and I share her hope for a more positive direction from the federal government.

“But President-elect Obama has not been sworn in, and has gotten nothing through Congress yet.

Meanwhile, Senate Ways & Means Committee Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, and Vice Chairman Rodney Tom, D-Medina, criticized the figures used by the governor and her staff in writing the budget:

She is assuming a shortfall of $5.7 billion but we are assuming a number around $6 billion. Time will tell, but the difference in dollar amounts does not change the fact that the pain will be felt across the board. Everyone will be hit one way or another, no matter who’s budget it is.

You can read the full statement from Sen. Brown and the statement from Sens. Prentice and Tom below the fold.

Read more! »

Over at Crosscut.com Bellingham’s Bob Simmons – a former KING-TV journalist – writes about the spat between Bellingham and the Port of Bellingham over the waterfront redevelopment:

Four years ago, when the port and city of Bellingham were good friends, they displayed gorgeous watercolor paintings to illustrate the future of the Bellingham waterfront. There are seaside condos, upscale shops, sidewalk cafes, business offices, marine-related light industry, a college campus, acres of tree-studded parks. The sun glistens on sailboats anchored in a new marina. But that was then.

The reality of that vision is in considerable doubt, with public squabbles between city and port about the shape of the new waterfront and who controls its destiny.

Read his full story, right here.

Gov. Christine Gregoire released an austere state budget proposal this morning that slashes more than $3.5 billion in funding for public schools, higher education, social services and other areas to help close the biggest budget shortfall in state history.

… The budget would not increase taxes or end tax breaks for businesses. Some legislators have talked about sending voters a tax package to help balance the budget. The governor’s office would not speculate whether Gregoire would support such a move.

Full story, right here.

Q: State legislators are pondering sending a tax package to voters to approve to help the state’s budget. Would you support a voter-approved taxing initiative?

Over in this thread, Andy Weaver offers up an open letter to Bellingham City Council members, Mayor Pike and state legislators about the city officials’ desire to ban guns from parks:

Council Members, Mayor of Bellingham , State Legislators, and residents of Bellingham,

I was quite excited to read in the Bellingham Herald that BMC 8.04.170 (The city law banning firearms in city parks) was finally repealed. Being someone that first saw the police report in the newspaper and notified people more adept at handling firearm laws (I’m sure there were more than just me that saw this). However I am dumbfounded that Barry Buchanan and Louise Bjornson opposed the removal of a municipal code that was in clear violation of state law. Do you really want to be known as the council members that tried to break the law?

The state laws on preemption were created so I could travel from Blaine to Walla Walla without fear of needing to know a few hundred different laws. With one set of state laws and rules concerning local laws I am provided the ability to safely grasp state firearm laws without being surprised if I stop at a local park to check out some local history or scenery.

Read more! »

Maybe Dan Pike loves his employees more than Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen loves his. Maybe Pete Kremen has more faith that his employees know how to safely navigate snow-covered roads compared to Pike.

Maybe, maybe, maybe. So many maybes.

But I know this - while Bellingham employees have been sent home if they’re not essential (because Pike declared an emergency), Whatcom County employees, at the courthouse, which is perhaps 100 feet from the steps of City Hall, are still at work.

I just called over to the County Council office to see if they were still in business. They are, indeed, still working for the people.

I was just notified by the Senate Democratic Caucus that Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown will be blogging throughout the legislative session.

The blog, titled “It’s Not Enough to Be Right,” will chronicle Brown’s thoughts on policy and politics.

It’s not officially up and running yet, but Brown has already posted twice. There are a few more technical issues that have to be worked out of the blog, so remember that caveat. For now, there is an RSS feed to the blog. In one of Brown’s first posts, where she discusses protecting children and tomorrow’s state budget announcement, she lays down some pretty heavy words:

Governor Gregoire’s budget proposal comes out on Thursday. I believe people will be shocked when they see it.

Brown provides a link to a PDF of the budget gap — estimated to be about $6 billion by 2011 a this point — and offers up a grave what-if:

If the state cancelled all expenditures to all community colleges and universities (sorry Huskies, Cougars, Eagles, etc.) and prisons, that still wouldn’t be enough to close the gap No one is suggesting we do this, but it does illustrate the magnitude of the task before us.

You can read the whole blog entry, right here. Check out the RSS feed, where all posts will show up for now, over here.

Staff say people will definitely want to watch that RSS feed after the governor’s budget proposal is released tomorrow.

From the City of Bellingham (who neglects in their advisory on where to check for updates to mention the fact that this very newspaper has constant updates all day and the largest news staff – with a dedicated weather reporter today – covering the happenings, from school closures to this very City Hall closure. Thanks City of Bellingham!)

Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike has declared a weather emergency as of 1:00 pm today, closing City Hall, canceling all City-related acitivities, and releasing non-essential employees from work for the day. Public safety employees and services are operating at enhanced levels, due to the inclement weather. City of Bellingham public safety officials are advising residents to avoid all unnecessary driving as today’s snowfall has made City streets slick. City of Bellingam Public Works crews are busy monitoring street conditions, sanding and plowing where appropriate. Back ups caused by vehicles that are stuck and unable to navigate slippery roads is making travel particularly difficult, including an overturned semi truck on northbound Interstate 5, south of the Lakeway exit.

Bill Boyd, Chief of Bellingham Fire Department, said emergency response crews are experiencing an increase in minor vehicle accidents due to the difficult travel conditions. “Most motorists do a great job of taking responsibility for safe transportation during inclement weather, by staying home, using public transportation, or using chains or other traction devices. People typically make the best of it and we make it through these storms together.” Weather experts predict snow will continue through tonight and clearing should begin tomorrow; however, northeast winds are predicted to increase and temperatures will drop, similar to late last week. In the unlikely event that changes to the schedules of city facilities and meetings are necessary, the information is communicated immediately.

Here are the best ways to stay informed of these changes:

Read more! »

So the Bellingham City Council on Monday night repealed a portion of municipal code that banned guns in parks. They did it because they were told by legal counsel that the law was superceded by state law and that arresting anyone for possession of a firearm in a park would be false arrest. That could mean lawsuits.

So the council repealed the law and have asked their lobbyist to appeal directly to the state Legislature (as are some other cities, officials said) to add in a gun ban in parks.

Some 42 cities and seven counties have some type of ban on firearms in parks and other city-owned public places, said Alex Fryer, a City of Seattle spokesman.

In Whatcom County, Lynden, Ferndale and Blaine all have a gun ban in parks like the one repealed by Bellingham City Council members. Around the state, other cities like Buckley, Centralia and Spokane also have a gun ban in parks, Fryer said.

My full story, right here.

Ferndale City Councilman Keith Olson is looking to remove this section of code from that city’s law, too, he told me over the phone this morning. He thinks it’s a slippery slope, basically, to banning guns all over. He was actually surprised Ferndale had such language in the code.

Statistics on gun bans are a mish mash and don’t really seem to show one good picture. That is, the stats seem to show both positives and negatives to gun bans. Read more, right here.

Guns are always a hot topic in the United States, of course. And there is no general consensus. In fact, not even Republicans agree on gun control, with 35 percent of Republicans in favor of stricter gun control laws and 35 percent of Republicans against it (71 percent of Democrats favor stricter gun control and 11 percent don’t), according to a 2004 Harris Interactive Poll.

So of course I don’t think we’re going to be resolving this issue any time soon, nor will we on this blog. But why not have a chat about it, right?

Q: Do you agree with Bellingham officials that guns should be banned in parks?

Wally over at Wally Wonders Why says he had a good time at the Whatcom County Republican Party reorganization meeting, where Luanne Vanwerven was elected chairperson of the local party.

But he does agree with Elisabeth Britt that the precinct committee officers who weren’t seated should have been:

My opinion is that we should have allowed all the elected PCO’s who arrived on time to participate with a vote, but I’m not a parliamentarian nor a lawyer so I have no idea what the legal ramifications of that decision might have been. It just seems like the right and inclusive thing to do. I’ll be encouraging the new chairperson, as I’m sure others will be also, to reach out to those PCO’s.

And my favorite part of his blog?

Bellinghammer offered up a strictly factual post, while Elisabeth at Latte Republic was a bit more scathing regarding how she felt a controversial election rule for PCO’s was used to selectively not seat Paulians. It was that scathing post that was not surprisingly picked up by Sam Taylor at the Herald who loves stirring the pot so much I wouldn’t be surprised if he wore spoon on his hips like six shooters.

Yes, Wally, we wouldn’t want to have a discussion about an interesting post/topic from another member of the community, just because it has to do with your party. I’m rolling my eyes at you, Wally. And twirling my “six spooners.”

State Sen. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, and Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, have announced legislation that would lead to a national popular vote for president.

“The current system of electing the president is outdated and needs to be changed,” McDermott said. “It should be very simple—the candidate receiving the most votes throughout the entire country should always win the presidential election.”

Similar legislation has been enacted by Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland and New Jersey, and the Washington legislators point out in a press release that those states comprise 19 percent (50 votes) of the 270 electoral votes necessary to bring a new new law into effect.

No changes to how the state allocates its presidential delegates would occur until the law is passed in states totaling to 270 electoral votes or more.

The legislators argue that an electoral college system allows presidential candidates to strategize in a way where they can ignore two-thirds of the states when they campaign, including Washington. They also argue that a second-place candidate has the chance to win (as George W. Bush did in the 2000 election when Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote by a narrow margin).

“The principle of one person, one vote is ingrained in the mind of every citizen,” Goodman said. “Even when explained, it’s impossible, with a straight face, to explain why the Electoral College should trump this cherished principle. When we vote for president, we don’t vote as Washingtonians—we vote as Americans.”

You can read more from their press release below the fold.

Q: Do you think the Electoral College should be killed and we should shift to a national popular vote system?

Read more! »

Maggie Hanson did everything she could to make sure she made it to the Electoral College on Monday, Dec. 15.

The impending snowstorms and cold snap concerned her, so she took the train to Olympia after a visit to Seattle. Upcoming hip replacement surgery has the 79-year-old in a wheelchair, so she brought friends to help her get around.

So Barack Obama got his electoral vote from Hanson, as she wore her son’s graduation mortar-board from Western Washington University.

Full story, right here. Picture coming soon I’m told.

– Courtesy of Jeff Smith

Word on the street (e-mail) is that an unnamed local politician spent the weekend dismantling their plumbing system due to a cell phone stuck in the toilet drain.

No word on if the cell phone has made it, as parts are apparently drying on top of a furnace, but the bathroom is again ready to use.

I just feel like there’s some type of politician/toilet joke to be made here, but I’m blanking out. Maybe it’s the 20-degree weather freezing my brain.

I’m pleased that this is over on Latte Republic, as I had a tipster working with me on more information on this and they never got back to me.

Elisabeth Britt reports on the ground that the Whatcom County Republican Party told some of the precinct committee officer candidates who were voted into office (generally write-in candidates) that they’re not going to be seated for the position.

For the record, I did not observe any “David Duke-like candidates” sitting in the back row with the rejected PCOs. However, I did meet a number of sincere, earnest, law-abiding young men (two who are in their 80’s) who attended the meeting because they want to participate as Republicans.

What is their crime? They are former Ron Paul supporters.

And here lies the heart of the problem. The Whatcom County Republicans appear to want to determine who is and who is not considered a Republican, based on which candidate an individual supported in the last Presidential election.

Full blog post, right here.

Q: Do you agree or disagree with what happened at the WCRP re-organization meeting?