OLYMPIA — House Republicans, who say they've been essentially shut out of the budgeting process in a session when the budget was supposed to be the main thing the Legislature tackled, will be releasing their plans for K-12 programs today.

They call it “Fund Education First”, something that various Republicans of both chambers have suggested over the years in pointing out that basic education in the state's public schools is the “paramount duty” under the state Constitution.

This effort, however, would be more than a slogan because it would put down on paper what education programs they think the state should pay for. It's not a full budget — other spending priorities will be released later — but it would provide voters with a view of how their education priorities would differ from the supplemental budget Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed in November. At this point, that's the only other budget that exists in a form to which comparisons can be made.

When talking to House Republicans about an upcoming deficit reduction plan, Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy reportedly showed members this scene from the movie “The Town” to get them to fall in line.

Out of context, it may work fine. In the context of the movie, however, it does seem strange, considering the characters here are bank robbers who are about to go beat the bejeezus out of someone. While the House GOP might want to metaphorically beat congressional Democrats and President Obama, they clearly wouldn't want to be seen as robbing the nation's bank.

It may surprise no one out there that Ben Affleck was not pleased the movie was associated with the GOP solution to the debt crisis. But hey, you never know what a clip from your movie will be used for. And it may prompt some Republicans to order it on Netflix or rent it from Redbox, so he really can't complain.

Stil, there might be better movies to excerpt for an inspirational GOP moment. George C. Scott's speech at the beginning of “Patton” comes to mind. If it were up to you, what would you show?

House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt makes a point during the unveiling of the GOP budget plan.

OLYMPIA — House Republicans unveiled a leaner spending plan for 2011-13 than their Democratic counterparts, one that eliminates some social programs but spends more on education.

Like the Democratic proposal, it has no tax increases.

Republican leaders released the budget at an 11:30 p.m. press conference, and plan to offer it as a substitute for HB 1087, the House Democratic spending plan when the Ways and Means Committee meets this afternoon.

For details on the House Republicans' plan, or to comment, click to go inside the blog.

Congressional Republicans announced a “new initiative” to get the public to weigh in on important issues. And by new initiative, they mean a…

A new website.

They call it America Speaking Out, and it allows folks on the Internet to offer their own ideas or comment on others’ ideas on things like prosperity, fiscal accountability, American values and national security.  And even earn “badges” (why do I keep hearing Alfonso Bedoyo saying : “Badges…We don’t need no badges. I don’t  have to show you any stinking badges”?)

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., is in charge of New Media Outreach for the House Republicans, and is tasked with maximizing the site’s effectiveness.

“All across America, New Media technologies – such as websites, blogs, online videos, and social networking sites - have greatly improved communications in our personal and professional lives,” she said in a press release.  “Now it’s time for New Media to have the same impact on America’s government. ”

Perhaps, but McMorris Rodgers and House Republicans may discover one other fact about a political social media site, which is “if you build it, God knows who will come and write long-winded diatribes.” A check of the site on its first day showed that some of the posts are fairly acerbic, and some could best be described as logic challenged.

But anything that  moves the political dialog forward is a good thing, right?