By DAVID AMMONS

AP POLITICAL WRITER

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Sen. Maria Cantwell said Thursday she has no regrets over her vote to authorize the war in Iraq, but hopes major progress is made this year in turning that nation over to the Iraqis.

Read full text from Seattle PI

January 18, 2006 - Great Hall of the Library of Congress

As most of you know, I'm from Chicago - a city that hasn't always had the cleanest reputation when it comes to politics in this country. In fact, one of the most famous moments in Chicago political life came back in the 50s, when one of Chicago's old-time ward bosses, a guy named Paddy Bauer, was reported to have danced on his chair after the Chicago machine defeated a reform candidate and shouted out for the entire chamber to hear, that "Chicago ain't ready for reform."

I stand here today with my colleagues to say that the American people are ready for reform.

In fact, the American people think reform is long overdue.

Now, let me say at the outset that none of us claim that the Democrats have a monopoly on virtue. Moreover, political corruption is not unique to Washington. During my first year in the Illinois State Senate, I helped lead the fight to pass Illinois' first ethics reform bill in twenty-five years - in part to address some of the questionable practices that were going on in Springfield.

But I think it's fair to say that the scandals that we've seen, both legal and illegal, under the current White House and Congress, are far worse than most of us could have imagined.

Americans may have grown accustomed to big money and special interests exerting too much influence in Washington, but even they have been shocked by what appears to be a systematic takeover of our democracy by high-priced lobbyists.

Think about it. In the past several months, we've seen politicians resigning for taking millions of dollars in bribes.

We've seen the head of the White House procurement office arrested. We've seen some of our most powerful leaders of both the House and the Senate under federal investigation. We've seen the number of registered lobbyists in Washington double since George Bush came into office. And of course, we've seen the indictment of Jack Abramoff.

Over the past few days, there have been suggestions by Republican operatives and commentators that this is somehow a bipartisan scandal.

But let's be clear - while the Democrats certainly are not without sin when it comes to money in politics, Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon and the K Street project - these are Republican sins, and Republican sins alone.

What is also true is that the offenses involved go beyond Jack Abramoff. They are bigger than golf junkets to Scotland and lavish gifts for lawmakers.

The recent scandals have shaken the very foundation of the American people's faith in a government that will look out for their interests and uphold their values.

Because they don't just lead to morally offensive conduct on the part of politicians. They lead to morally offensive legislation that hurts hardworking Americans.

When big oil companies are invited into the White House for secret energy meetings, it's no wonder they end up with billions in tax breaks while Americans still struggle to fill up their gas tanks and heat their homes.

When the halls of Congress are filled with high-priced lobbyists from the pharmaceutical industry - some who used to be members of Congress - it's hardly a surprise that they get taxpayer-funded giveaways in the same Medicare bill that forbids seniors from banding together to negotiate for better drug prices.

When the people running Washington are accountable only to the special interests that fund their campaigns, of course they'll spend your tax dollars with reckless abandon; of course they'll load up bills with pet projects and driving us into deficit with the hope that no one will notice.

At this point, the well-connected CEOs and hired guns on K Street who've helped write our laws have gotten what they paid for. They got all the tax breaks and loopholes and access they could ever want. But outside this city, the people who can't afford the high-priced lobbyists and don't want to break the law are wondering, "When is it our turn? When will someone in Washington stand up for me?"

We're here today to answer that call because let's face it - for the last few years, the people running Washington simply haven't. And while only some are to blame for the corruption that has plagued this city, all are responsible for fixing it.

That's why we're asking Republicans to put an end to the pay-to-play schemes and join us in passing the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which should go a long way toward correcting some of the most egregious offenses of the last few years.

You've already heard some of the key provisions in our proposal. It will prevent former Members of Congress from lobbying for legislation they were voting on just a year ago, it will provide more transparency to allow the public to see exactly what their representatives are doing in Washington, and it will end the gifts and trips that allowed people like Jack Abramoff to influence politicians.

I realize that our friends on the other side of the aisle have suddenly found religion on this topic, and I think that's commendable. In fact, I look forward to working in a bipartisan fashion to get a solid bill passed. But let me close by saying that it's going to take much more than gift bans and lobbying reform to restore the public's faith in a government of, by, and for the American people.

To earn back that trust - to show people that we're working for them and looking out for their interests - we have to start acting like it.

That means instead of meeting with lobbyists, it's time to start meeting with some of the 45 million Americans with no health care. Instead of hitting up the big firms on K Street, it's time to start visiting the workers on Main Street who are wondering how they'll send their kids to college or whether their pension will be around when they retire. All these people have done to earn access and gain influence is cast their ballot, but in this democracy, it's all anyone should have to do. The people running this town need to realize that, and if we hope to be real reformers, that's the place we need to start.

First Chickenhawks and now Barstool patriots, both demand that other Americans die and be maimed for their phony patriotism.

By Stewart Nusbaumer

“Of course I support the war, I’m a patriotic American!

Attorneys meet in Sterling case is the story today in the Olympian concerning Eli Sterling and various financial and legal issues. The story brings us up to date.

I'm especially struck by the Web Links laid out on the article web page. We have immediate access to relevant depositions, transcripts, and invoices.

I still remember when information wasn't just a click away.

"COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- States are trying to toughen penalties for suspected drunken drivers who refuse to take a breath test, arguing motorists too often get a milder penalty than if they had provided evidence that could convict them.

Bills to lengthen license suspensions or make it a criminal offense to refuse a test are pending in five states, including Ohio, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where the percentages of people refusing are among the highest in the nation."

Continued

Since a driver's license isn't a guaranteed right, a suspension for failing to consent to a breath test isn't out of line. Making it a criminal offense, though? I'd be interested to see, should this actually become law, how it would hold up in court.

WOMEN
Friday, January 20, 5:30 p.m.
Evergreen vs. Oregon Tech
Halftime entertainment by the award-winning River
Ridge High School dance team!
Saturday, January 21, 5:30 p.m.
Evergreen vs. Southern Oregon University
The Geoducks got past the Raiders in Ashland for their most recent victory!

MEN
Friday, January 20, 7:30 p.m.
Evergreen vs. # 3 Oregon Tech
Halftime entertainment by the award-winning River
Ridge High School dance team!
Saturday, January 21, 7:30 p.m.
Evergreen vs. # 6 Southern Oregon University
When these teams met in Ashland, the Raiders were #1 in the NAIA and Evergreen lost by a single point!

Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors, teens 13-17 and military personnel; $1 for kids 12 & under. EVERGREEN students are admitted FREE as always!

Listen to the song Keep the Mail in Olympia, by the Ragin' Nixies.

A great 30 second music file - "Keep the Mail in Olympia" by the Ragin' Nixies. The Ragin' Nixies are a self-described underground pro-labor group trying to help. - Clint Burleson

From the Olympian:

OLYMPIA — Port of Olympia officials have reversed an earlier decision and decided to hear more public comment on plans to dredge and remove silt from the harbor.

The $2.4 million project would involve work by both the port and Army Corps of Engineers.

The port’s reversal was meant to clear up confusion about the planned work, said Andrea Fontenot, the port’s public works director.

[snip]

The port originally decided the project would have no serious environmental effects.

But three Olympia residents challenged that decision and requested a public hearing. The three, Walt Jorgensen, Jerry Lee Dierker and Arthur West, want more environmental review of the proposed dredging.

In addition to being a positive step, I like this result because it show that the organized action of individuals can have an effect on the behavior of city gov't.

"Keeping e-waste out of landfills. Redistributing discarded technology."

FreeGeek Olympia is located at 808 Jefferson St, next to the downtown Oly Post Office. (360) 705-9999, info@fgoly.org