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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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.

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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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.

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.

Spc. Aamot

Aamot was killed Nov. 5 in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device hit the Stryker vehicle he was driving.

Read reporter Zoe Fraley’s coverage of Spc. Aamot’s body being brought back home, and county citizens paying their respects, right here.

In his proclamation, which Jensen included with City Council agenda packet materials for the Monday, Nov. 16 meeting, the mayor called Aamot a “true American hero who has touched the hearts of his fellow soldiers and community and is in inspiration of perseverance, fidelity, and valor.”

The mayor also thanked Aamot’s family and offered up the city’s “deepest respect, gratitude and sympathy.”

Check out the full proclamation, right here.

On this Veterans Day, I thought it’d be good to remind people about this Friday event:

Soldiers’ Angels, an international volunteer support organization, has grown to more than 200,000 members in only six years. Its first major local fundraiser, “A Night for Our Heroes,” will be Friday, Nov. 13.

Read Michelle Nolan’s full Q&A with the Washington state leader of the organization, and for info on the event, right here.

Via the SecState’s blog, From Our Corner, regarding the approval vote of Referendum 71, which means Senate bill 5688, dubbed the “everything but marriage” domestic partnership law for homosexual and senior couples, will be enacted:

The referendum, placed on the ballot by foes of expanded rights for state-registered domestic partners, has been on hold since it was passed by the Legislature earlier this year. If the vote holds, Senate Bill 5688 will go into effect Dec. 3. The election returns will be certified by Secretary of State Sam Reed and Gov. Chris Gregoire, probably on Dec. 1, but under provisions of the Constitution, a bill referred to voters and approved takes effect 30 days after Election Day, or Dec. 3 in this case.

The full blog post, over here.

I blogged it yesterday, but this is still an entertaining post over at the Washington Secretary of State’s Office blog, From Our Corner.

In discussing today’s 120th birthday of the state, Brian Zylstra also posts an image from an article in the Yakima Herald-Republic, announcing the statehood that took place at 5:27 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, 1889.

Said the article:

The emancipation from territorial vassalage was received in some giddy cities with the burning of powder, patriotic speeches and champagne for the rich —whiskey and beer for the poor.

Read the entire post, if you haven’t already, over here.

Snapp

From Growth and Transportation reporter Jared Paben:

County Executive Pete Kremen says he’s likely to veto a County Council proposal for urban growth area updates county wide.

I just got off the phone with Kremen and he said the council didn’t take his recommendation or the requests from the small cities seriously, and he’s likely to veto the proposal the council is currently looking at.

That will likely mean missing a state growth board imposed deadline to finish the work of December 1. The growth board could legally ask the governor to impose sanctions against the county, including withholding tax revenues, for missing the deadline.

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A statement from Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office:

Gov. Chris Gregoire today issued the following statement on today’s recognition of Veteran’s Day:

“On behalf of the people of the state, I thank each and every one of our veterans for their service to our nation. As Governor, I’ve been blessed to see the amazing courage and generosity of our men and women in the armed services, as I have met with members of the Washington National Guard both here and in Iraq. Their personal courage, humility and sense of duty always impress me. They and their families, like military families before them, sacrifice so much, and sometimes they make the ultimate sacrifice. We should all take time today to pause and reflect on much our veterans have done for us, and to thank them for embodying the virtues that make our country great.”

From the Washington Secretary of State’s Office:

FYI, Wednesday, November 11, is Washington’s 120th birthday. We became the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. Below is a link to a blog post that we did about the big date, as well as population comparisons then and now. In the blog post, you’ll see a digital copy of the telegram informing Governor Elisha Ferry that President Benjamin Harrison signed the proclamation declaring Washington a state.

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