And another thing …

No lawmaker left behind. All of the “Stop Me Before I Take Another Freebie” legislation being floated in the nation’s capital would stop those trips on private jets to luxurious resorts for fabulous meals on “fact-finding” missions. But all of that would be permissible if the mission were changed to fundraising.

You read that right. If a member of Congress accepts a contribution, he or she may also accept the plane ride, dinner, drinks and posh accommodations. That’s because congressional leaders are not touching campaign finance laws as they amend the rules of lobbying – as if one weren’t related to the other.

This giant loophole probably means there will be an increase in out-of-town fundraisers for those poor, defenseless incumbents.

To reiterate, it’s Congress that needs reforming, not the lobbyists.

Two-bit designs. The three finalists for the design of the official quarter for the state of Washington have been selected, and the message is clear: West is best. East is least.

One design shows a salmon leaping from the water with Mount Rainier in the background. Another is a totem-style drawing of an orca. The final one is the state map with Mount Rainier, a salmon and an apple superimposed on it.

No Palouse. No Columbia River. No Spokane.

The state plans to conduct an online poll, but Gov. Christine Gregoire will make the final call. We hope she remembers her days at Gonzaga Law School and selects the map design, since it’s the only one bearing a hint of the East Side’s story.