Good news…

…from the Daily Olympian:

Sen. Brown re-elected as Senate majority leader

Senate Democrats reported today that they re-elected Sen. Lisa Brown as majority leader. The longtime Spokane lawmaker will hold the position for a fourth two-year term.

Senator Brown is the strongest progressive voice in our Olympia leadership. Her Democratic majority, an apparent 27 out of 49 seats, will, of course, include my own personal State Senator, Maralyn Chase.

I'm counting on Senators Brown and Chase to make it clear to Governor Gregoire that the people who put them in their positions, as well as the people who put the Governor in hers, didn't do so for an "all cuts, no revenue" budget solution for the State Of Washington.

Times are tough. Tough times call for courage. Knowing that Senator Chase will be fighting for me and that Senator Brown will be leading the fight, I'm confident the courage won't be lacking in the State Senate.

From the "Just the facts" file.

Via the Office of the Speaker...

Here are four facts you need to know about the Senate-passed bill the House will consider next week to keep teachers in the classroom and police officers on the beat instead of in the unemployment line:

1. Saves and creates 290,000 American jobs (140,000 teacher jobs saved and 150,000 jobs created or saved, including police officers, firefighters and nurses).
2. These funds are needed immediately to prevent layoffs or actually rehire teachers and prevent law enforcement officers from losing their jobs.
3. Completely paid for, in part by closing tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
4. Cuts the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years.

Certainly justifies reconvening the House. I'd think so even if it wasn't Patty Murray's bill - also a fact.

In other good news...

AP - Senate Democrats on Wednesday overcame Republican opposition and cleared the way for a $26 billion measure to help states ease their severe budget problems and save the jobs of tens of thousands of teachers and other public employees.

Those Women From Maine momentarily came to their senses. Hurrah again.