The Whatcom County Democratic Party has officially thanked U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, for his vote on the House healthcare reform bill. From the party’s Web site (they didn’t have time for a press release, I’m told):

Rep. Larsen

At the November membership meeting, Whatcom County Democrats unanimously adopted a resolution commending Congressman Rick Larsen for his Yes vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) which contains a “public option” and for opposing the Stupak amendment to H.R. 3962 which imposes unconstitutional restrictions on women’s rights to make their own medical decisions.

Read the full resolution commending Larsen, over here.

As written about earlier, the local Democratic Party had passed a resolution previously expressing “profound disappointment” with Larsen’s lack of support for a bill that included a public option.

At the time, Larsen was holding out on supporting the legislation due to his concerns about what he believed were unfair Medicare reimbursement rates that weren’t equitable nationwide and, thusly, hurt Washington medical professionals and those in need of care. The public-option’s rates were based on the same matrix, but no longer, and so Larsen gave his support.

State Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, stopped by today to chat about the state’s budget situation, and looming $2.6 billion deficit for 2010.

I asked Rep. Ericksen his thoughts on the issue and he responded in kind in the comments. Said Ericksen:

Ericksen

I think that we need to move beyond talking about cuts to the budget and start talking about ways to change our method of service delivery. For example:

We are one of only 4 states with a state monopoly on workers compensation insurance. Before we cut a program, why not allow market forces to drive down costs in this program and eliminate a portion of state government that can be done by the private sector.

Before we talk about cutting GAU (General Assistance Unemployable) why not implement my 10 point plan to reduce health care costs–the current system is a huge driver of state budget increases.

Lets privatize liquor sales which will save tax dollars–by some estimates it will result in over $100 million per year of savings and new sales.

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City Council members are scheduled to hear from the public about the proposed $187.8 million 2010 budget proposal Monday, Nov. 23.

The proposal is basically unchanged so far from what was offered up by Mayor Dan Pike and his administration, though council members still have chances to make changes in the weeks ahead.

Council members for weeks have been getting the details of each individual city department’s budget during public meetings. Now is the time for residents to have their say.

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State Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, wants to have a detailed dialogue with residents about how to plug the state’s looming $2.6 billion budget deficit, and says that dialogue should include many things:

Ranker

As we begin the next session, I believe we have to answer an important question: Do we want to lower our expectations – further cutting programs, or discuss tax reform and raising additional revenues. We need not to be afraid of discussing program cuts, tax reform or a combination. However, when discussing tax reform and revenues I think it is necessary to not only discuss new revenue streams, but also evaluate existing taxes, such as the Business and Occupation Tax.

That snippet is from Ranker’s most recent e-newsletter, where he also discusses the upcoming healthcare townhall meeting in Bellingham Monday, swine flue issues and more.

Check it all out, over here.

Via the New York Times:

The government official charged with monitoring the outlay of $787 billion in stimulus funds acknowledged on Thursday that he too found dubious the 640,000 jobs figure touted by the Obama administration as proof the stimulus was working.

Earl E. Devaney acknowledged to members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that there were too many errors in the reporting of data to be able to accurately offer that estimate. (The White House had warned that the jobs figures were imperfect.)

Read the full story, right here.

There’s yet to be a large discussion on how to shore up the 2010 state budget’s $2.6 billion deficit, but those in the Legislature’s Republican minority, and conservatives at a state think tank and Tim Eyman are already going after any potential talk of taxes.

Said Jason Mercier at the Washington Policy Center, in discussing today’s shortfall announcement:

Tax increases are not the answer and should be removed from the table as an option to help remove any distractions from making the necessary budget reductions.

Rep. Gary Alexender, R-Olympia, is the ranking minority member on the House Ways & Means Committee (chaired by our own Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham), and said that the Democratic Party and governor should be ready to take action within the first two weeks of the upcoming legislative session. Added Alexander:

Rep. Alexander

While tax increases seem to be the subject talked about most often within the media and within the majority party as a way to solve the deficit, I believe the issue of priorities has not yet run its full course. We have an opportunity — an obligation — to focus on funding our priorities while turning other areas of government over to the private sector if possible.

His full press release will be below the fold.

And says conservative initiative promoter Tim Eyman:

Listening to today’s Economic & Revenue Forecast Council hearing, Gregoire and the Democrats in Olympia couldn’t have been clearer about their top legislative priority: raising taxes during the session guaranteeing an even longer recession.

His full release below the fold, too.

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From Niki Reading over at TVW’s The Capitol Record blog, she reports that state officials today have announced the state is facing a $2.6 billion shortfall, just months after state legislators and the governor closed a $9 billion budget gap.

Wrote Reading:

On that note, Raha said the current forecast is $760 million less than the previous quarterly forecast. Cumulatively, that’s $5.8 billion down from what they originally expected. That means the state expects to collect about $28 billion in the biennium.

And: The cuts the Legislature made last session aren’t enough. There’s another $2.6 billion or so in cuts (and/or raised taxes) that need to be made.

She’s following the press conference live, check it all out, over here.

Via U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, and her staff:

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) stood with Democratic Senators and health care advocates at an event highlighting the benefits to Washington state families and small businesses of the comprehensive Senate health insurance reform bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was formally unveiled yesterday.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office yesterday reported that the bill saves the government money and protects Medicare while ensuring coverage for 94 percent of Americans.

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Lou Dobbs is no longer on CNN, and some are wondering if he may run for president, but for now, he hung out with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show last night.

It’s a three-parter. The first eight minutes apparently ended up on the televised program, and the second two segments are online.

Here’s Part I:

Here’s Part II, over here.

And here’s Part III, right here.

Whatcom County Councilman-elect Ken Mann is still continuing to reach out to people via his Facebook page.

Linking to Growth and Transportation reporter Jared Paben’s story today about Whatcom Transportation Authority staff members telling the board to ask voters for a two-tenths of 1 percent tax sales tax increase, Mann asks:

Lots of discussion about the WTA lately. What do you all think? Cut service, raise fares, add a .2% sales tax? Or a combination of the three?

Q: I echo that question from Mann. After reading Jared’s full story, what are your thoughts on the issue?

Ranker

Ranker represents the 40th Legislative District, which includes the lower half of Whatcom County.

The event will focus on reform in Congress and what Washingtonians can expect to see from the efforts once the bill is passed. It takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Whatcom County Council chambers, County Courthouse, 311 Grand Ave.

State Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, chairwoman of the Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committe, and state Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle, chairwoman of the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, will also participate in the forum.

Because this was a hugely-popular topic the other day, today’s news, via the New York Times:

WASHINGTON – The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, put forward his version of sweeping health care legislation on Wednesday, which a Senate aide said would cost $849 billion over 10 years. Mr. Reid promised that it would reduce the federal budget deficit while covering most of the uninsured and adding new benefits to Medicare.

The full story, over here.

Q: Thoughts?

This video is from the Saturday meeting of the 42nd Legislative District Democrats. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, stopped by the meeting to chat about the healthcare reform bill that he voted for in the House:

All’s fair in love and Saturday Night Live:

From the Secretary of State’s Office:

The politically sensitive issue of how to re-draw Washington’s congressional and legislative boundaries will be turned over to an independent citizen commission after the 2010 Census — but work is already under way. The Secretary of State’s redistricting office — a grand name for two staffers! — has just launched a terrific new website that spells it all out.

Full story, right here.