Washington Attorney Rob McKeann's decision to join state AGs from  Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota in filing a lawsuit against the health care reform bill is obviously the big story today.

And it's certainly elicited strong reactions from the Democrats (who control the governor's mansion, the legislature, six of our U.S. House seats, and both U.S. Senate seats.)

However, I must give the-always-quotable Washington State Democratic Party Chair Dwight Pelz (who used to serve with Rob McKenna on the King County Council) the award for loudest line of the day.

Pelz told PubliCola:

"Rob McKenna is a far right wing Republican who has had to hide his right wing stripes for six years. [McKenna was elected AG in 2004]. Rob McKenna is not Dan Evans," Pelz concluded, "he's Mitch McConnell."



For more quotes from Pelz (and his fact sheet about how the Democrats' health care reform bill will help Washington state—tax credits and assistance to 1.4 million families to help them get coverage, extend coverage to over 400,000 residents, give tax credits to 163,000 small businesses—check out Pelz's official press release.

I must admit to being surprised by McKenna's decision. McKenna was looking like the top contender for governor in 2012. His decision to join this lawsuit strikes me as a clunker in Washington state.