1. The story in Olympia today hits at 12:30: Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10, La Conner, Oak Harbor, Camano) and Rep. Judy Clibborn (D-41, Mercer Island, Bellevue), chairs of the Senate and House transportation committees respectively, are holding a joint press conference to announce how they've divvied up $330 million in transportation money from the federal stimulus package. Morning Fizz has heard that the $50 million Seattle was counting on for the $200 million Mercer project is not on the list. 

2. A whistleblower protection bill in Olympia that expanded the definition of "improper government action" by adding "abuse of authority" to the list of things a whistleblower can report without fear of retaliaton—was last heard from in late January (introduced in the Senate, public hearing in the House) and then mysteriously never seen or heard from again. Morning Fizz is reporting "abuse of authority" here: Word is, despite wide support for the bill among the rank and file, leadership killed it.

3. Sorry if you were having trouble reading the site yesterday. Technical difficulties here were screwing up things for PCs. It should be fixed now.

4. And in case you missed it, do check out yesterday's PubliCola interview with U.W. President Mark Emmert where he weighs in on the big question: Budget Cuts vs. Deficit Spending.