Morning Fizz
All The Political Ramifications
1. State Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-36, Ballard, Magnolia, Queen Anne) has toned down her pledge to introduce legislation to remove the infamous cost overruns language in the tunnel authorization bill. (At PubliCola's delegation meet and greet last week she told Josh
she would introduce legislation to get rid of the provision.)
In an email she sent us yesterday afternoon, though, where she simultaneously says there's merit in removing the overruns language, she stepped away from any commitment:
2. A new AMC series called "The Killing" set to begin in March is based on a murder in Discovery Park. The writer, Veena Sud ("Cold Case"), even interviewed Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark before writing the pilot, which stars "Big Love's" Mireille Enos.
As usual, the show is being filmed in Vancouver. Hollywood, why do you hate us?
3. In marked contrast to the contentious process that culminated in the city's legislative agenda last year, the King County Council unanimously adopted its own legislative agenda yesterday, calling on the legislature to provide a stable funding source for transit service (Metro, as we noted yesterday, may have to cut as many as 200,000 hours of service because of revenue shortfalls), preserve human and social services (which Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget would decimate), fund county roads projects, and temporarily eliminate the $5.90 per $1,000 cap on property taxes, which could eliminate funding for the King County Flood Control District.
4. Also yesterday, the council announced that Democrat Larry Gossett will serve as council chair and Republican Jane Hague will be vice-chair.
In an email she sent us yesterday afternoon, though, where she simultaneously says there's merit in removing the overruns language, she stepped away from any commitment:
I don't think that my comments on my introducing legislation were completely accurate. I'd been surprised when you, Josh, had said that Ed Murray was not introducing the legislation, and I believe I said that I would sign on as a co-sponsor and perhaps even introduce legislation myself.
But I don't believe I stated this in the absolute way that was reported [on the PI, the Slog, and PubliCola]. Since then, I've talked with [Sen. Murray] and appreciate his rationale for waiting to see if the House passes legislation (which I think is unlikely). I will co-sponsor [Murray's] legislation as described to me by him that would establish a type of independent review panel.
I still do not believe that legislation is necessary, as I stated at the forum, to remove the infamous House amendment language related to cost overruns ... as it is clearly unenforceable and likely unconstitutional.
However, I still believe that there is merit in doing so in order to get past all the political ramifications resulting from the language.
2. A new AMC series called "The Killing" set to begin in March is based on a murder in Discovery Park. The writer, Veena Sud ("Cold Case"), even interviewed Seattle City Council Member Sally Clark before writing the pilot, which stars "Big Love's" Mireille Enos.
As usual, the show is being filmed in Vancouver. Hollywood, why do you hate us?
3. In marked contrast to the contentious process that culminated in the city's legislative agenda last year, the King County Council unanimously adopted its own legislative agenda yesterday, calling on the legislature to provide a stable funding source for transit service (Metro, as we noted yesterday, may have to cut as many as 200,000 hours of service because of revenue shortfalls), preserve human and social services (which Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget would decimate), fund county roads projects, and temporarily eliminate the $5.90 per $1,000 cap on property taxes, which could eliminate funding for the King County Flood Control District.
4. Also yesterday, the council announced that Democrat Larry Gossett will serve as council chair and Republican Jane Hague will be vice-chair.
