A few weeks ago when the US House of Representatives passed a bill to restrict abortion to 20 weeks, I wrote a post wondering if they’d forgotten their alleged commitment to state’s rights.

But of course the vote by Washington State Republicans in Congress to restrict abortion rights beyond what Washington State voters rejected puts the lie to the state’s rights claim. They don’t care about Washington’s rights to write our own abortion laws, they want the big mean Federal government to override it.

Well now it’s the Senate’s turn as Marco Rubio has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. And while I doubt very much that even if it makes it to the floor, that our Senators would vote for it, it doesn’t hurt to contact them to let them know you’ve got their back in opposing it.

I know this is a few days old, but CNN decided to have a segment N Word Vs ‘Cracker’: Which Is Worse? Presumably, there was a pitch meeting at some point.

Producer 1: Did you hear that Trayvon Martin may have called George Zimmerman a cracker?

Producer 2: Are you pitching me a segment?

Producer 1: Yeah. Let’s make it a debate between that and the N-word.

Producer 2: What?!

Producer 1: You know. We’ll have LeVar Burton, and we’ll ask him when it’s OK to use that word.

Producer 2: I’m sorry. I must have heard you wrong. I thought you just pitched me that we would have the actor who played Kunta Kinte on our news show and ask him if it’s OK to use the N-word.

Producer 1: Yeah, that’s a good idea. But we’ll make it a debate about if that is as bad as calling someone who is stalking you a cracker to your friend you’re on the phone with.

Producer 2: Well, does anyone think they’re equivalent?

Producer 1: Sure!

Producer 2: This is a terrible idea.

Producer 1: This is CNN. Can I do it?

Producer 2: Fine whatever. If you need me I’ll be drinking myself silly and then pissing almost as fast as we piss away any remaining credibility.

– It looks like Rodney Tom has fucked over transit in King County so badly, that he might as well put his dick in the tailpipe of a Metro bus at this point.

– To say nothing of the Columbia River Crossing.

– There might be a longer piece given the amount of time Lee and I dedicated to making fun of him, but Lou Guzzo has died.

– Congrats to UNITE HERE for their contract with Hilton.

– The metonymy of Olympia is especially galling

– Jean Godden is more confident than I am of the Tunnel Machine. Hope she’s right.

– The Teanaway is all things to Washington recreationists and wildlife lovers. Its North Fork road gives access to renowned trail destinations in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and Wenatchee Mountains — Ingalls Pass-Ingalls Lake, Longs Pass, Van Epps Pass and remote Lake Ann. The river valley is in rain shadow, allowing car campers to enjoy sunshine when it’s drizzly west of the Cascade Crest. A wolf pack populates the river’s remote West Fork.

– Call your kids whatever you want, celebrities.

There’s something magical about opening a book from the library and seeing the card punched with a few dates. They have an electronic system so there’s no need to do that anymore, and the newer books don’t even have that ancient card. Still, at least 3 people picked out and, presumably, read this particular copy of Edmund Wilson’s Patriotic Gore. Twice in 1964 and once in 1972. There seem to be different methods of checking it out as one has numbers written next to it and one has WS (something to do with the West Seattle branch, perhaps?).

Of course, the library is more than a random question about where this book has gone. And I have rediscovered it in the time since I decided my computer should take a dip a few weeks ago. The mixing chamber* in the Central Library gave me the chance to stay a bit connected connected, and to post a little something.

Even since I’ve got the computer back in working order, I’ve still gone back and written some posts looking at the city, and checked out some books. It’s free for any Seattle resident, and I’d highly encourage you to check out your local branch.
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– Well, we have a budget, but Rodney Tom managed to fuck transit.

– Meanwhile in the Oregon legislature, they recognize that Citizens United is bullshit.

– A fast-moving wildfire killed 19 firefighters Sunday afternoon after the blaze raced through an Arizona community, a state forestry official told The Associated Press.

– On DOMA, the VRA and The Perfect Opportunity

– There was an interesting article in the New York Times Magazine over the weekend about one of the marijuana venture capital firms.

– Nothing to hide

Just a reminder that the Trans* Pride folks are assembling at Seattle Central now, and the march is at 6:00. It’s a lovely day for a march and an outdoor event.

…The parade just turned up Pine. I didn’t bring my camera since I didn’t know if I was going to be here this morning. I’m also terrible at estimating crowds, but I’d say there were a couple hundred people marching. It took about 10 minutes for the crowd to pass walking at a regular pace for a march down the street.

I’m still trying to process what’s in the budget (.pdf). It was a rolecall on its way to passage in the Senate when I started writing this, and will pass the House shortly.

The fact that the loopholes are mostly still in place is problematic. And there is more money for education, but I’m not sure it’s enough for the McCleary Decision. Still, without structural reform, the best we can hope for is to put off the tough decisions until the next recession. So far from what I can tell, it could have been worse, but it still isn’t good.

Unlike the last dozen or so non-starts, I think this budget is actually going to be a budget.

Gov. Jay Inslee joined state lawmakers Thursday in announcing they had reached a deal on a $33.6-billion two-year budget, allowing the state to avoid a government shutdown on Monday.

Inslee issued a statement saying he expects the budget to pass and arrive on his desk before 5 p.m. Friday.

‘Course, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame that all those state workers will be temporarily laid off. I still haven’t seen the details. And oh God are we going to have transit? So many questions. I’m heading out to dinner, and will be away from my computer for several hours. But if we actually have something that looks like details after I get back, I’ll put up another post.

… In the Comments Roger has the Seattle Times article on it. Still, I don’t see the actual bill on the legislative website.

– Pam Roach loves herself some junket.

– The ugly SCOTUS voting rights flim-flam

– A budget framework is not a budget, the Senate.

– The AP is sure a news outlet.

– Now that more people are using Metro, it’s a perfect time to cut services.

– Ana Mardoll’s piece on #StandWithWendy is a work in progress, but I’m looking forward to coming back.

– And I hope that it’s a reminder to lefties everywhere, myself included, not to write off the South.

– Those of you on Instagram who want to follow Patty Murray, now you can.

Last night, like hundreds of thousands of other people, I watched from a thousand miles away as Wendy Davis spoke and spoke and spoke. She was amazing, and I’m sorry to say, I couldn’t help but contrast it with the cowardice you’ve shown all session. From your declaration that this session won’t have social issues, to your refusal to have a vote on pro-choice legislation you say you support, to your attempts to pry the safe leave from women who work in Seattle and are stalked or raped.

I’m afraid you don’t stack up very well. It turns out that state legislators can garner a lot of attention and support, but not when they’re for the powerful. That’s what people expect in these cynical times. They can garner attention when they help make people’s lives better.

I guess what I’m saying is, you were a sniveling asshole before. Now, you’re a sniveling asshole in the light of what a decent state legislator looks like, and that’s much worse.

XXOO

Carl Ballard

Well, this is great news.

That is, until today, when the Supreme Court overturned section 3 of the 1996 law as unconstitutional, so now the Starling-Littlefields can enjoy all the financial benefits and equal dignity of a recognized marriage.

“I’m in tears,” Starling told ABCNews.com right after the decision was rendered. “Today’s ruling means the federal government will no longer be allowed to treat some American families differently. Now all same-sex couples who are married or who have the freedom to marry will be able to provide their children the necessary legal and economic protections they need in life.”

The 5-4 decision read: “DOMA violates basic due process and equal protection principles applicable to the federal government. Under DOMA same sex married couples have their lives burdened, by reason of government decree, in visisblt and public ways.

“By its great reach DOMA touches many aspects of married life from the mundane to the profound”

They’ve also dismissed the Prop 8 appeal. So yay, and there’s more work to do.

– The Supreme Court strikes down part of the Voting Rights Act.

– This is a bit old, but a hearty cheer to the people who got the Alpine Lakes Wilderness & Rivers Bill out of the Senate.

– Speaker of the House under the GOP is the worst job ever.

– The publicly financed election bill is now in the Seattle voters’ hands.

– Super Fast Internet is coming to some neighborhoods.

– Still riveted by SB5 in Texas.

– Still no budget. Maybe by the time we get off work?

– Everybody Wins

Maybe there will be one when we wake up.

We’ll see if that amounts to an actual budget deal. But it’s what Governor Inslee tweeted out (h/t to Goldy). I have no idea if this is real, and if it is what’s in the deal, but I hope Democrats don’t give away the farm.

– Power of Ridicule

– In petitions: The General has a petition to investigate that pervert Rep. Michael Burgess, and The Transit Riders Union wants to save Metro from devastating cuts.

– I’ve been riveted by the abortion hearings in Texas. I probably would have missed a lot of it if not for Jessica Luther

– Capitol Lake has mud snails.

– A bicyclist has died in Woodinville (Seattle Times link)

– I am very sorry that white people began experiencing great violence in 1860. But for some of us, war did not begin 1860, but in 1660. The brutal culmination of that war may not have allowed us to ascend into a post-racial heaven. But here is something I always come back to: In 1859 legally selling someone’s five-year-old child was big business. In 1866, it was not.