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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.

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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.

Breaking News: Deal Reached on Education Reform Bill. Democrats Set to Buck Teachers Union.

News   April 15, 2009 at 5:15 pm Josh Feit

The state Senate is queuing up the education reform bill for a vote tonight or tomorrow. And according to Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Bellevue, Redmond) the Senate added his key “core-24″ or “24 credits” amendment which redefines basic education, upgrading graduation requirements to include 24 basic credits. To the chagrin of education reform advocates this past month, Rep. Hunter’s amendment—which is in the House version—had been M.I.A. from the Senate bill.

 

Education reform advocate Rep. Ross Hunter sports his “It’s Basic” button.

Looking up from her blackberry in the wings of the Senate this afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Lisa Brown (D-3, Spokane) told me: “We have an agreement with the House. It moves in their direction. People will be pleased.” 

Not everyone will be pleased. The teachers union, the WEA, has come out strongly against both the House and Senate versions, calling any reforms an unfunded mandate. 

WEA spokesman Rich Wood told me this afternoon: “These bills don’t do anything to solve the immediate funding crisis facing our schools. In fact, HB 2261 actually diverts $3 million from the classroom to pay for more work groups. Meanwhile, K-12 schools are going to lose thousands of teaching positions because of these cuts. In September, there will be more students and fewer educators in our classrooms. Redefining basic education means nothing if it’s not funded.” 

Rep. Hunter had a different spin: “We have to have a road map for change,” he said. “We have to know what we’re funding.”

For our running coverage of the stand off between the WEA and reform advocates over the education bills: Start here.


  • Bonnie

    My fingers are crossed! Thank you for this excellent coverage Josh.

  • Bonnie

    My fingers are crossed! Thank you for this excellent coverage Josh.

  • http://LOMG!!! seabos84

    Josh – THANK YOU for the coverage.

    Despite being on who knows how many email lists, I get little or no information from my union, the WEA, about this CRITICAL legislation.

    Like most Democratic ‘grassroots’ operations in this state, such as the Democratic Party, we-the-grassroots-ians are really cowpatch grassroots-ers —- we should just wait around until the big boys come by to use us, stomp on us, pee on us, and crap on us.

    Fascists on side, the clueless / insider elitists on the other.

    ugh.

    rmm.

  • Bill Wilson

    This is remarkable news and restores my faith in our State Government

    The cuts we are facing today in our classrooms could not be possible if the definition of Basic Education that is in the legislation was already in effect. This is great news.

    The WEA, my Union, chose a different path this session. They focused on the budget, when the folks behind this bill focused on ho we got here, and where to go from here. And most importantly what is best for kids. No wonder they got it through.

    Way to go.

  • Bill Wilson

    This is remarkable news and restores my faith in our State Government

    The cuts we are facing today in our classrooms could not be possible if the definition of Basic Education that is in the legislation was already in effect. This is great news.

    The WEA, my Union, chose a different path this session. They focused on the budget, when the folks behind this bill focused on ho we got here, and where to go from here. And most importantly what is best for kids. No wonder they got it through.

    Way to go.

  • IssyMom

    The argument from the WEA makes absolutely no sense. Passage of the education reform bills will bring the money over time. Their plan is to do nothing and keep the same tired practices in place. Our kids need good schools and improving teacher quality is paramount in this effort. The WEA could care less about that. All they whine about are COLAs when the state has 9.2% unemployment. The WEA nneds to face the fact that other people care about education in this state working and they are not the go to experts on what to do ANYMORE!

  • http://netshopper@comcast.net IssyMom

    The argument from the WEA makes absolutely no sense. Passage of the education reform bills will bring the money over time. Their plan is to do nothing and keep the same tired practices in place. Our kids need good schools and improving teacher quality is paramount in this effort. The WEA could care less about that. All they whine about are COLAs when the state has 9.2% unemployment. The WEA nneds to face the fact that other people care about education in this state working and they are not the go to experts on what to do ANYMORE!

  • gloria pietsch

    josh- thanks for covering what the main papers won’t. This is a huge shift in the power balance of the state of washington. The loss of power is why wea is so crazy mad. The virulence of their diatribes must all be about mary’s tenuous reelection and their feared loss of power because how in the world could wea be against the redefinition of basic ed when they themselves are suing the state on this very issue?. Perhaps they underestimated the parents of this state who know their kids are not getting a first rate shot at the future. Go reformers!! Thank you PTA!!- gloria p

  • gloria pietsch

    josh- thanks for covering what the main papers won’t. This is a huge shift in the power balance of the state of washington. The loss of power is why wea is so crazy mad. The virulence of their diatribes must all be about mary’s tenuous reelection and their feared loss of power because how in the world could wea be against the redefinition of basic ed when they themselves are suing the state on this very issue?. Perhaps they underestimated the parents of this state who know their kids are not getting a first rate shot at the future. Go reformers!! Thank you PTA!!- gloria p

  • seabos84

    Josh – THANK YOU for the coverage.

    Despite being on who knows how many email lists, I get little or no information from my union, the WEA, about this CRITICAL legislation.

    Like most Democratic 'grassroots' operations in this state, such as the Democratic Party, we-the-grassroots-ians are really cowpatch grassroots-ers —- we should just wait around until the big boys come by to use us, stomp on us, pee on us, and crap on us.

    Fascists on side, the clueless / insider elitists on the other.

    ugh.

    rmm.