I'd like to flag item #1 from this morning's Fizz as a post in its own right:

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:

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.

UPDATE: We have asked Mayor McGinn's office for a reaction. We've also asked them if they have an update of their own re: lining up someone to propose legislation that gets rid of the "stick-it-to-Seattle" provision. That provision was originally put into the tunnel legislation by Seattle state Rep. Frank Chopp (D-43), the Speaker of the House.

Chopp reiterated his support for the overruns provision today. The PI.com has that news.