"Reproductive Parity Act: Washington Considers Groundbreaking Abortion Rights Law"

Laura Bassett (HuffPo):

"This bill is about ensuring that all Washington women have health insurance coverage that includes the full range of reproductive health care options, including abortion," said Rep. Eileen Cody (D), who sponsored the bill. "As we implement the federal health care reform law, we need to ensure that we have no erosion of our existing laws in Washington that protect women's reproductive rights."
(SNIP)
Abortion is already becoming a wedge issue in Washington's highly competitive gubernatorial race. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), who is running for governor and has a strong pro-choice record in Congress, immediately pledged his support for the bill. Republican candidate Rob McKenna, who currently serves as the state's Attorney General, has avoided taking a stance on the issue.

"Regarding the proposed parity act, I look forward to reading the bill when it becomes available," he said Wednesday during a Facebook Q&A.

A Washington blogger points out that the text of the bill was already available for McKenna to read. MORE...

Howie P.S.: If you click on the 'Facebook Q&A' link (above) you will learn the identity of the "Washington blogger."

Lakoff: "What Conservatives Really Want"

George Lakoff:

The central issue in our political life is not being discussed. At stake is the moral basis of American democracy.

The individual issues are all too real: assaults on unions, public employees, women's rights, immigrants, the environment, health care, voting rights, food safety, pensions, prenatal care, science, public broadcasting and on and on.

Budget deficits are a ruse, as we've seen in Wisconsin, where the Governor turned a surplus into a deficit by providing corporate tax breaks, and then used the deficit as a ploy to break the unions, not just in Wisconsin, but seeking to be the first domino in a nationwide conservative movement. MORE...

Howie P.S.: I ran into Rep. Eileen Cody (WA-34) and thanked her for her bill to "cut $150 million in corporate tax breaks" in Washington state.

WA State Rep Eileen Cody: "cut $150 million in corporate tax breaks"

Morning Fizz (publicola):

Speaking of lefties from the 34th Legislative District—state Rep. Eileen Cody (D-34) is getting some love from the revenue coalition, the ad hoc group of labor, social services, education, and environmental groups that is pushing the legislature to balance budget cuts with taxes.

Cody introduced a bill last week that would cut $150 million in corporate tax breaks (including a break for big banks on mortgage loans and break for TransAlta’s Centralia coal plant).

Members of the coalition have begun wearing these yellow buttons around the capitol.

While 23 reps have signed on—including Seattle reps Reuven Carlyle, Mary Lou Dickerson, Joe Fitzgibbon, David Frockt, Phyllis Kenney, and Jamie Pedersen—Cody acknowledged to PubliCola that the bill didn’t have much of a chance because, she said, it would have to get a two-thirds vote.

Howie P.S.: I am so pleased with my state rep for doing this.