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.

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.

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:

Hello to all, I hope you’re well.

My apologies for the lack of posting this week. I’ve been out still continuing to battle allergy symptoms. It hasn’t been a good year for me and my eyes. Basically, they get so dry they’re blurry, and I have trouble seeing, especially things like laptop screens.

Today I’m back and I’m simply going to push through. I’ve got a few things I have to catch up on so posting may continue to be light.

For now, a tidbit about your three new County Council members-elect. It seems that Ken Mann, Kathy Kershner and Bill Knutzen have all met for lunch recently and pledged to have cordial relationships while having a healthy debate of the issues. We’ve got less than a month and a half before they’re officially council members, so it should be interesting to see their initial interactions.

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.

National Public Radio was literally on the battlefield with Spc. Aaron Aamot of Custer when he was killed by an improvised explosive device and his Stryker Brigade platoon, and the story is the main one on their Web site right now.

A word of warning before the link, the story may be hard for some to read. It includes details of the entire attack. There are photographs of the attack, and NPR has also put a warning on that slideshow.

But the chronicling also provides a small view for us fortunate enough to remain safe stateside what our soldiers go through each day, soldiers like Spc. Aamot.

There is a print article, the slide show and a story you can listen to.

You can visit it, over here.

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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David Slater, a Marine Corp veteran of WWII, right, and Gennery Sergeant P.J. James, a Marine Corp veteran of the Vietnam War, greet friends and well-wishers before the start of the Veterans Day Parade in New York, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

• • President Obama honors soldiers on Veterans Day / — The New York Times
• • A World War II soldier seeks further recognition for his lieutenant / — The Washington Post.
• • Gov. Gregoire orders flags at half staff for Ferndale’s Spc. Aamot / The Bellingham Herald.
• • A list of local Veterans Day events, today and tomorrow / — The Bellingham Herald

This e-mail is being circulated by many around Whatcom County, it was forwarded to me by Ferndale City Councilman Steve Malpezzi:

Help Us Honor a Fallen Hero, Thursday - November 12th

The body of Spc. Aaron Aamot, 22, killed during active duty in Afghanistan will be flown home this Thursday, November 12th.

We would like to show Aaron and his family our heartfelt appreciation for his heroism.

The plane is scheduled to arrive at Bellingham International airport at 3:00p.m. After a color guard ceremony (approximately 10 minutes) the hearse will be accompanied by a motorcade and proceed to Ferndale. The procession will take I-5 North to Exit 262 (Main Street) and then follow Main Street to Moles Funeral Home located at 2039 Main Street.

We want as many members of our community as we can to be at the: Slater, Smith, and Axton Rd. bridges, and line the route along Main Street in Ferndale.

Please bring American Flags and any signs of thanks to honor our hero.

The motorcade is expected to arrive in Ferndale no later than 3:15 p.m.

The Whatcom County Council will still have public hearings tonight on various property tax levies, including a road fund levy shift to the general fund not supported by the council majority, but no decisions will be made.

Instead, after a flurry of ideas from council members during a Council Finance Committee discussion, they’ll wait at least two weeks to again discuss making up a $1.6 million budget gap that the council may have increased to around $1.9 million after hearing from the county’s legislative branch.

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As noted before, I sought comment from local political parties about U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s announcement that he would (and now has) vote for the House version of a healthcare reform bill. The Whatcom County Democratic Party decline. The Whatcom County Republican Party made their statement, in the above link, and had a protest outside Larsen’s office Friday, Nov. 6.

Now the 42nd District Legislative Democrats have issued a statement thanking Larsen for his stance and vote:

Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 - Representative of the 42nd Legislative District Democrats visited Congressman Rick Larsen’s Bellingham office to hand deliver a letter (see the letter, right here), thanking the Congressman for his courageous Yes vote on HR 3962.

The 42nd Legislative District Democrats thanked Congressman Larsen for standing up for the people of the 2nd Congressional district, in spite of pressure from well funded lobbying groups who orchestrated an astroturf campaign against reform.

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