A Few Choice Words

The freeholders seem deadlocked over whether to offer a multiple-choice government revision to local voters this fall. Half say give the locals just one big choice; half say break it up into three smaller choices. Help them break the stalemate by answering the following multiplechoice pop quiz…The public is: A) Able to understand the benefits of a combined city and county government, but not smart enough to understand more than one option for change on the ballot; or B) Able to grasp a change in three incremental steps, but not smart enough to swallow the change whole…That’s right, it’s a trick question. The correct answer should be: C) Capable of making an intelligent choice between what it has now and whatever is put before it.

We pay whatever’s fare

Speaking of freeholders, a recent tally of the bills shows they have spent nearly $200,000 in two-plus years of studying local government. Most of it pretty routine - except for that $71.10 in ferry fares…Before anyone gets excited about volunteer freeholders heading for the San Juans, we should add those are the travel expenses for one of their consultants, Mae Gerstle, who lives on Puget Sound’s Vashon Island. The 15-minute trip from West Seattle to the island costs $7.95 for a car and driver…On the bright side, the return trip is free.

The drive is on

Now that the Spokane City Council has given its official okey-dokey to a Pacific Science Center in Riverfront Park’s Pavilion, boosters are stepping up fundraising efforts. They have more than $1.9 million in corporate and individual donations to go with $1.25 million from taxpayers….To give money or get info, contact the campaign office at 539 W. Sharp, Spokane 99201 or (509)326-7414.

Could be rewarding

The Department of Natural Resources is offering cash if you’ll blow the whistle on environmental creeps. The state pays up to $10,000 for information about people who steal, damage or waste resources on managed by the department…State lands have suffered from increasing problems with theft and vandalism. If you should see such a thing, call (800) 527-3305.

Humans should do so well

The Arboretum reports that four years after they were planted in a single row, the Serbian spruce and Austrian pines appear to be getting along fine. They haven’t even had a visit from Jimmy Carter.

At least someone is asking

Washington soon will go through its biennial exercise of deciding how much our elected officials are worth. And no, we don’t know where they make money in such small denominations…But seriously, the Washington Citizens Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials will start hearings around the state this week. The 16-member panel sets pay rates for judges, all state elected executives, and legislators…They’ll be in Spokane May 10, at 7 p.m. at the Crescent Court.

Is the honeymoon over?

Congressional Republicans may be on the verge of torquing-off one of their constituencies, the Term Limits supporters…One proposal that could come up for a vote soon would standardize the limit around the country at 12 years for members of the House of Representatives. Hard-core term limiters say six years is plenty and states should be allowed to keep the laws they have passed…U.S. Term Limits, a Washington, D.C.based group, is threatening to unleash a string of TV ads around the country denouncing the GOP plan.

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