So there was a bit of newsworthy action up on the hill this week. Here at El Vacio Moral Headquarters, we've decided it best to give you a quick rundown on what happened in this political milieu we call a state government - and what's probably going to happen next week.

After much emotional testimony on the floor and in front of a packed gallery, House Bill 1679 moved forward. The bill, authored in the wake of the shootings of the four Lakewood Police officers, would nix any costs associated with higher education for the families of any police or firefighter killed in the line of duty. A very nice gesture of thanks from the State to those who give "the ultimate sacrifice."

The state of Washington took the first step forward in privatizing liquor sales. Senate Bill 6204 moved forward from committee with a "Do Pass" recommendation, which would effectively put into motion the series of transitions and rule changes to transfer control of liquor sales from the state run stores we have now to the private sector.

This is still a bit of a hotbed issue for some, with many steps left before it's official. While making some companies like Costco very happy, who view the state run stores as a monopoly that cuts in on a business it does in many other states, there are still many who fear rampant alcoholics roaming the streets drunk at all hours and looking for trouble while our society crumbles inward at the bottom of a bottle. 

"The state belongs in the oversight of this business, but it does not belong in the business," says Curtis King, (R) from the 14th District, which includes Yakima, who cast an "aye" vote. 

Olympia's own Senator Karen Frasier agreed, also voting in approval. "What the people want is increased revenue."

But dissent flowed from the Senator from the 37th District, Adam Kline (D), who represents the eastern half of Seattle, which includes Rainier Beach.  "Privatization is politically sensitive," Kline remarked, "higher profits may mean higher sales." But Kline wonders if it will lead to higher rates of criminal activity, among other things "My district already has problems with alcoholism."

Little birds singing in the wings have told me that there is also another version of the bill in the works, a fact that is new to many legislators, and that this may not be the end of the discussion.  Regardless, fear not boozehounds, they aren't going to be closing them.

Perhaps the best show of the week came at the Senate Ways and Means committee hearing on Senate Bill 6843, which seeks to temporarily suspend the voter-approved Initiative 960, which requires a two-thirds majority approval vote on any tax increase in the state of Washington.  The initiative, another Tim Eyman-authored doozie, barely won approval with a 52 percent majority when put to the citizens of Washington in 2007.

Recently stripped of her voice in the Senate Republican Caucus, Pam Roach, (R) from Auburn brought up that very point in her testimony against the bill. "The more we hit on small businesses," Roach proclaimed, "the harder it is for them to support families."

Senator Don Benton, (R) from the 17th District in southwestern Washington led off the testimony calling on any effort to ignore the will of the people at least undergoing the due process of law.

"Our judgement does not supercede those that we govern."

SB 6843 looks to preserve "essential public services by temporarily suspending the two-thirds vote requirement" and "permanently modifying provisions" of I-960, "for improved efficiency and consistency with state budgeting."

Whew. OK, so what this means for the laymen is that it suspends the two-thirds requirement for one year. This would allow a majority vote on the floor to raise taxes in the midst of our current recession without putting it to a vote of the people, which was the whole point of I-960. You can imagine why people are getting fired up on this one.

Eyman, not known for biting his tongue, assailed what he called the grandstanding of "arrogant democrats" in ignoring the will of the people. Citing voter initiatives in 1993, 1998, and the I-960 vote of 2007, Eyman fired back to the committee that he was appalled by what he sees as "the belief that you are somehow above the law."

"Two years is up," said Eyman in an unbelievably voracious and mocking tone, "now we don't have to listen to the taxpayers."

Eyman was preceded in testimony by Mike Dunmire, a Tacoma business mogul, who was just as equally dismayed, albeit in a more controlled and tactful manner.

"Every single person in the Legislature sat on their butt. The answer was given," Dunmire exclaimed, "you ignored expert professional opinions to do the same old thing and the problem got worse."  Citing examples of ways to cut spending and raise revenue he brought up three key ideas. One would be to sell off an un-named but state-owned Maple Valley medical facility for the tune of $200 million dollars, privatize liquor sales, and fix structural problems that exist, such as streamlining five state facilities into two, of which he claimed none are operating at more than 20 percent capacity. 

By the time it was Bob Williams from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation's turn to speak, Chairwoman of the committee, Margarita Prentice, (D) from south central Seattle's 11^th district had had enough of Eyman's visceral diatribe.

"Oh that is enough!" she exclaimed, cutting off Eyman.

Williams, calm and cool in his demeanor, plainly stated, "Increasing taxes in a recession will decrease revenue and increase unemployment."

The rest of the testimony was less combatative, but still relevant, as representatives from agencies depending on state funding lauded praise and urged yes votes while disgruntled business owners such as Jim Copeland from Spanaway, whose business of 20 years was recently forced to close, laid forth their frustration. "I may still have the Fircrest clothes, but I live in a Spanaway mobile home. He even directed a plea for simple respect, remarking to a chuckling senator for not even giving the appearance of listening, to which Prentice again intervened, cutting Copeland off. 

The testimony has been closed, and next week the bill goes before committee for discussion, which I'm sure will be full of fun-loving fans of government and their opinions.  In all likelihood, this bill is gonna pass, and we are still a ways off from any concrete announcement of "revenue increases" (aka raising taxes) as it seems those who are working on the plans are holding off until the last possible moment to announce their ideas, no doubt to take full advantage of the time to plan an exit strategy once their job is lost in the next election, because that's how the game is played.

Lastly, fear not you near hopeless potheads of Washington, all is not lost. The winds flowing through these hallowed halls has it that SB 5615, the last remaining weed bill is still alive on the hill and is possibly heading to a floor vote, and that Olympia's own Karen Frasier may still be on the fence.  This could be your shining moment, if you can put down the bong and pick up the phone.