Capitol kibbles
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Some FYI updates for you:
--Hans Dunshee, the House construction budget guy, unveils a $3 billion ballot proposal for K-12 and college projects. He calls it a modern-day version of the Works Progress Administration that put many Americans back to work during the Great Depression, and says we could get 90k jobs in the next fews years. State Treasurer James McIntire, Dunshee's former House colleague, raises a red flag. He says the state can't afford that much additional bond debt, and that even $1 billion would be pushing it. Governor Gregoire and Speaker Chopp, though, are big fans in high places. Deets are here.
--Didja notice the New York Times photo of former Governor Gary Locke, now Commerce secretary, with President Obama and the big dogs announcing the tough-love plan for the automakers? Pretty cool. Our first cabinet secretary from Washington since Brock Adams at Transportation back in the '70s.
--As of May 18, the new boss at the superagency Department of Social and Health Services will be Susan Dreyfus of Wisconsin. She has background in both the public and private health and human services fields. Her new boss, Governor Gregoire, was in LA on Monday to join Governor Schwarzenegger in a western regional White House health confab.
--He had to hit the deck running: David Taylor, Washington's newest state legislator is beginning his second week on the job, just as the Legislature shifts into high gear and makes the final decisions on budget and taxes. The 37-year-old Moxee agriculture consultant and rancher was picked by county commisssioners to succeed Representative Dan Newhouse as House member from the sprawling 15th District. Both are Republicans. Newhouse left to join the Democratic Gregoire administration as ag director. Taylor will have to stand for election this fall, as will two other appointees in other Eastern Washington districts.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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