Viva La Cola!

Founded in January 2009, PubliCola is a blog about Seattle written by journalists who are dedicated to non-partisan, original daily reporting that prioritizes a balanced approach to news. Started by longtime local editor and award-winning reporter Josh Feit, PubliCola is the first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol.

PubliCola was off and running. In June 2009, PubliCola hired another award-winning journalist, super-sourced Seattle city hall reporter Erica C. Barnett.

People were afraid that blogging would change journalism. Instead, we believe journalism can change blogging. Twenty-first century journalism may look and feel different, and yes Erica isn't afraid to get cranky, but we're committed to making sure online news still delivers independent, reliable, even-keeled coverage. And most of all, we're committed to making sure the coverage sparks honest civic debate.

Bringing you cola for the people, PubliCola is named after Publius Valerius PubliCola, the alias for the authors of the Federalist Papers—the original bloggers.

The first online-only news site in state history to get media credentials to cover the state capitol and Seattle city hall, PubliCola has been called a “must-read” by the Seattle Post Intelligencer and a hot “New Media Mover and Shaker” by Seattle Magazine—which also cited our own Erica C. Barnett as the city's No. 1 news nerd.

Democrats vs. State Labor Council

Over at HA, Goldy has an update on this morning’s Morning Fizz item about the workers’ privacy bill that Democratic leadership tabled today. Gov. Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-3, Spokane), and Speaker of the House Frank Chopp (D-43, Wallingford) killed the bill, citing ethics violations from the legislation’s labor supporters.

I’ve been trading calls with bill sponsor Rep. Mike Sells (D-38, Everett, Marysville) to get his take on the story.


  • Particle Man

    Things are still coming out, but it looks to me as though the Gov along with Senate and House leaders Brown and Chopp are going to great lengths to protect the integrity of the legislative process.
    If this is true, why is it that labor has lost sight of the ground rules?
    Could it be that with jobs being cut and contracts being renegotiated that legislation without a fiscal note has become far more important to labor leaders as they seek anything to take back to the membership from this session?
    This is the second substantial bill in less than a week that was grounded as a result of how its advocates behaved. From where I am sitting, both events were handled in 100% the right way by democratic leadership who are refusing to become intoxicated by having all of the power. Hats off people!

  • Particle Man

    Things are still coming out, but it looks to me as though the Gov along with Senate and House leaders Brown and Chopp are going to great lengths to protect the integrity of the legislative process.
    If this is true, why is it that labor has lost sight of the ground rules?
    Could it be that with jobs being cut and contracts being renegotiated that legislation without a fiscal note has become far more important to labor leaders as they seek anything to take back to the membership from this session?
    This is the second substantial bill in less than a week that was grounded as a result of how its advocates behaved. From where I am sitting, both events were handled in 100% the right way by democratic leadership who are refusing to become intoxicated by having all of the power. Hats off people!

  • Particle Man

    Things are still coming out, but it looks to me as though the Gov along with Senate and House leaders Brown and Chopp are going to great lengths to protect the integrity of the legislative process.
    If this is true, why is it that labor has lost sight of the ground rules?
    Could it be that with jobs being cut and contracts being renegotiated that legislation without a fiscal note has become far more important to labor leaders as they seek anything to take back to the membership from this session?
    This is the second substantial bill in less than a week that was grounded as a result of how its advocates behaved. From where I am sitting, both events were handled in 100% the right way by democratic leadership who are refusing to become intoxicated by having all of the power. Hats off people!

  • Particle Man

    Things are still coming out, but it looks to me as though the Gov along with Senate and House leaders Brown and Chopp are going to great lengths to protect the integrity of the legislative process.
    If this is true, why is it that labor has lost sight of the ground rules?
    Could it be that with jobs being cut and contracts being renegotiated that legislation without a fiscal note has become far more important to labor leaders as they seek anything to take back to the membership from this session?
    This is the second substantial bill in less than a week that was grounded as a result of how its advocates behaved. From where I am sitting, both events were handled in 100% the right way by democratic leadership who are refusing to become intoxicated by having all of the power. Hats off people!

  • kt

    What was the other one?

  • kt

    What was the other one?

  • kt

    What was the other one?

  • kt

    What was the other one?

  • Particle Man

    KT, read the morning fizz from 3/9 item #4

  • Particle Man

    KT, read the morning fizz from 3/9 item #4

  • Particle Man

    KT, read the morning fizz from 3/9 item #4

  • Particle Man

    KT, read the morning fizz from 3/9 item #4