Blogworthy, October 19th, 2007
Here's the latest edition of our occasional review feature touching on news and developments that we couldn't get around to writing about earlier, as well as items we have accidentally overlooked.
Paula Hammond officially became the new Secretary of the Washington Department of Transportation this week following her appointment by Governor Christine Gregoire. Said the Governor: "We consulted with the top transportation and public officials in this state and around the country and found that the best candidate for the job was right here in Washington. Paula is a true leader with the vision to tackle Washington’s transportation challenges."
The Governor has been fairly busy this month, traveling the state to hear from citizens at town hall meetings, fighting George W. Bush's veto of SCHIP reauthorization, and announcing that Washington will join California in an expected lawsuit against the federal government to allow the state, along with 11 others, to require that all new automobiles sold here be "clean cars."
Meanwhile, the governor's office has hired Seattle consulting firm Cocker Fennessy to help find a new communications director to work through the 2008 legislative session and succeeding gubernatorial campaign. A couple local Republicans have predictably reacted to the news by spouting baseless accusations of corruption.
The Governor has also invited children to trick-or-treat at the Executive Mansion this Halloween, where she and First Gentleman Mike Gregoire will greet kids costumed as penguins (from the movie Happy Feet).
The traditional media and many conservative commentators have loudly emphasized a British high court ruling concerning Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Activist Stuart Dimmock had sued to stop the distribution of the film to British schools. Justice Burton, in rejecting the lawsuit, decided that the film differed from the International Panel on Climate Change on nine occasions and ordered that this be addressed in the guidance notes sent out with the movie. Unfortunately, the ruling has been misinterpreted and press reports have incorrectly stated that the justice found nine errors with the film.
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama appears to have thwarted a deal to allow a Senate vote on the nomination of Republican Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Elections Commission. Spakovsky is the man who led the charge in Florida in 20000 to wrongly purge thousands of innocent voters from the rolls under the pretext of "cleaning up the records" to ensure felons were not allowed to vote.
New legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House that would close a loophole in the Clean Water Act that mining companies have been using to their advantage for some thirty years. The Clean Water Protection Act is short and sweet: with just a few lines, it clarifies the definition of "fill material" and puts teeth back in the Clean Water Act, originally intended to safeguard our rivers, streams, lakes, and other waterways. Pacific Northwest representatives supporting H.R. 2169 include Jay Inslee (WA-01), Adam Smith (WA-09), Jim McDermott (WA-07), David Wu (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), and Peter DeFazio (OR-04).
If you're represented by Brian Baird, Rick Larsen, or Norm Dicks, please call their office and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor of this bill.
The campaign to pass Simple Majority for Public Schools (Yes on 4204) gained additional momentum this week with the endorsement of several former Washington governors. Supporting the constitutional amendment to remove the unfair supermajority requirement in addition to Governor Gregoire are the Honorable Mike Lowry, Dan Evans, Booth Gardner, Albert Rosellini, John Spellman, and Gary Locke. You can see the full list of endorsing organizations at Yes on 4204.
After winning a special election in Massachusetts' 5th District on Tuesday, Democrat Niki Tsongas was ceremonially sworn in on Thursday in time to cast a vote for the SCHIP reauthorization bill that the House failed to pass over the veto of George W. Bush (falling short by just a baker's dozen of votes). We're pleased that Tsongas won, although we believe she could have waged a smarter campaign.
Our congratulations to Jim McCabe of McCranium.org for jumping into the water and launching a write-in campaign for Richland City Council. That's what crashing the gate is all about!
Read Jimmy's campaign announcement at McCranium and check out this story from the Tri-City Herald about his impromptu bid for office.
Finally, a quick summary of interesting news items:
Paula Hammond officially became the new Secretary of the Washington Department of Transportation this week following her appointment by Governor Christine Gregoire. Said the Governor: "We consulted with the top transportation and public officials in this state and around the country and found that the best candidate for the job was right here in Washington. Paula is a true leader with the vision to tackle Washington’s transportation challenges."
The Governor has been fairly busy this month, traveling the state to hear from citizens at town hall meetings, fighting George W. Bush's veto of SCHIP reauthorization, and announcing that Washington will join California in an expected lawsuit against the federal government to allow the state, along with 11 others, to require that all new automobiles sold here be "clean cars."
Meanwhile, the governor's office has hired Seattle consulting firm Cocker Fennessy to help find a new communications director to work through the 2008 legislative session and succeeding gubernatorial campaign. A couple local Republicans have predictably reacted to the news by spouting baseless accusations of corruption.
The Governor has also invited children to trick-or-treat at the Executive Mansion this Halloween, where she and First Gentleman Mike Gregoire will greet kids costumed as penguins (from the movie Happy Feet).
The traditional media and many conservative commentators have loudly emphasized a British high court ruling concerning Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth. Activist Stuart Dimmock had sued to stop the distribution of the film to British schools. Justice Burton, in rejecting the lawsuit, decided that the film differed from the International Panel on Climate Change on nine occasions and ordered that this be addressed in the guidance notes sent out with the movie. Unfortunately, the ruling has been misinterpreted and press reports have incorrectly stated that the justice found nine errors with the film.
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama appears to have thwarted a deal to allow a Senate vote on the nomination of Republican Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Elections Commission. Spakovsky is the man who led the charge in Florida in 20000 to wrongly purge thousands of innocent voters from the rolls under the pretext of "cleaning up the records" to ensure felons were not allowed to vote.
New legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House that would close a loophole in the Clean Water Act that mining companies have been using to their advantage for some thirty years. The Clean Water Protection Act is short and sweet: with just a few lines, it clarifies the definition of "fill material" and puts teeth back in the Clean Water Act, originally intended to safeguard our rivers, streams, lakes, and other waterways. Pacific Northwest representatives supporting H.R. 2169 include Jay Inslee (WA-01), Adam Smith (WA-09), Jim McDermott (WA-07), David Wu (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), and Peter DeFazio (OR-04).
If you're represented by Brian Baird, Rick Larsen, or Norm Dicks, please call their office and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor of this bill.
The campaign to pass Simple Majority for Public Schools (Yes on 4204) gained additional momentum this week with the endorsement of several former Washington governors. Supporting the constitutional amendment to remove the unfair supermajority requirement in addition to Governor Gregoire are the Honorable Mike Lowry, Dan Evans, Booth Gardner, Albert Rosellini, John Spellman, and Gary Locke. You can see the full list of endorsing organizations at Yes on 4204.
After winning a special election in Massachusetts' 5th District on Tuesday, Democrat Niki Tsongas was ceremonially sworn in on Thursday in time to cast a vote for the SCHIP reauthorization bill that the House failed to pass over the veto of George W. Bush (falling short by just a baker's dozen of votes). We're pleased that Tsongas won, although we believe she could have waged a smarter campaign.
Our congratulations to Jim McCabe of McCranium.org for jumping into the water and launching a write-in campaign for Richland City Council. That's what crashing the gate is all about!
Read Jimmy's campaign announcement at McCranium and check out this story from the Tri-City Herald about his impromptu bid for office.
Finally, a quick summary of interesting news items:
- The Colorado Rockies are in the World Series after sweeping the Arizona Diamondbacks to win the National League Championship. The Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians are still battling for the American League title - Game 6 is tomorrow night.
- The Walt Disney Company is revamping its California Adventure theme park after several years of disappointing attendance.
- In a reminder that we need to strengthen the fabric of our safety net, one of the first Baby Boomers born has just applied for Social Security benefits.
- Boeing has reassigned its 787 Dreamliner program chief following an announcement that delivery of the aircraft would be delayed.
- Mel Martinez has quit as general chairman of the Republican National Committee. Hard to blame him for wanting out of that position.
# Posted by Andrew : 8:53 PM
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