1. Last week, state Attorney General Rob McKenna editorialized on the Seattle Times op-ed page against planned state employee raises, co-writing (along with three other state GOP leaders): "Taxpayers should ... be spared from funding $83 million in planned pay raises for 21,000 state workers."

He was referring to a state employee incentive program known as "step increases."

But last year, according to a recent report from the state's Department of Personnel , McKenna himself gave nearly $600,000 in performance-based incentives (part of the step increase program) to 901 of his 1321 employees. That's 68 percent of his staff.

2. Gov. Chris Gregoire ended last year's legislative session by vetoing the section of the education reform bill that added "early learning" to the definition of "basic education."

Gregoire wasn't against early learning, but she didn't like that the bill only mandated early learning support for "at-risk children" instead of all pre-K kids.

Education reformers and the bill's sponsor, Seattle exurbs Rep. Pat Sullivan (D-47), said that by killing that portion of the bill, Gov. Gregoire "lost an opportunity" and "let down" the kids who most need help—poor children and minority children.



This year, south central Washington Republican Rep. Larry Haler (R-8)—a co-sponsor of last year's bill—is proposing legislation (using the same language that was vetoed)—to establish early learning for at-risk children as part of the definition of basic education.

The legislature ... finds that, due to a variety of factors, disadvantaged young children need supplemental instruction in preschool to assure that they have the opportunity to meaningfully participate and reach the necessary levels of achievement in the regular program of basic education. Therefore the legislature intends to establish a program of early learning for at-risk children and intends to include this program within the overall program of basic education.

Including something in the definition of "basic education" means the state is required to fund it.

Rep. Haler's proposal is not technically an attempt to override Gregoire's veto. It's a new bill. So, he only needs a simple majority. (Last year's bill won 67-31 in the house.)

3. As we noted in item 1 above, a big part of the GOP solution to the budget short fall in Olympia this year is sticking it to public employees. Two key Republican agenda items for addressing the state budget woes are: 1) Scaling back state employee health benefits and 2) Canceling state employee raises.

Seattle liberals seem enthused about a similar (and even harsher) strategy for dealing with the city's $40 million budget problem.

At Mayor Mike McGinn's (fifth?) inauguration this weekend, his long, civic-minded speech only had a few big applause lines. He got the crowd going with: His shoutout for gay rights; his call to expand light rail; and his acknowledgment that the city can't ignore race when crafting policy. (All liberal gimmes.)

But the rowdiest round of applause came when McGinn told the crowd he was looking to cut 200 management and executive level positions. Hating on public employees isn't just for Republicans anymore.

4. The Belltown Dispatch seems upset that PubliCola is throwing a one-year anniversary party. (Hip-hop act THEESatisfaction is headlining the January 27 shindig at the Crocodile.) The Dispatch likes our news coverage, but they don't think we should be getting into this music stuff.

Dear Belltown Dispatch,  Come to our party, dude.

Here's some more news about the night: A pretty-music band called Song Sparrow Research is also on the bill.

5. Mayor McGinn held his first cabinet meeting last week—convening the city department heads. McGinn reportedly reiterated what he told the public: Cutting top management employees in all the departments as a way to save money now is important so the city can avoid an endless cycle of budget problems—and take on initiatives in the future.

6. McGinn also reportedly plans to retain City Light superintendent Jorge Carrasco. According to our source, McGinn confirmed that he plans to keep Carrasco after this Saturday's speech, and attributed the lack of an announcement to that effect as "an oversight."