Speaker Frank Chopp: Time for a master to work his magic

  • By Jerry Cornfield Herald Writer
  • Sunday, April 3, 2011 12:01am
  • Local News

With three weeks left in the regular session, there are 146 state lawmakers and a governor wondering if the Legislature can finish its work to get out on time.

And there’s one person who probably knows: House Speaker Frank Chopp.

He is arguably the most powerful figure in the Capitol these days, a man whose influence is present in every conversation and felt in every vote. His power grows stronger the less he’s seen and heard and not many are seeing or hearing him lately.

This means we’ve definitely entered the Chopp Time Zone in which the minutes that matter most are those he spends piecing together budget and policy puzzles that must be completed to avoid a special session.

This is his moment. He’s a master, maybe the best House speaker this state has ever had, at knowing every member’s pressure points and how hard he can press them to get the perfect political fit.

Moreover he’s got a sixth sense of how far his majority Democratic caucus can push its agenda before it will ignite an explosion of public opposition. It’s a reason Democrats rode out the white caps of tea party anger in 2010 and didn’t get washed out of leadership in the People’s House as some thought might happen.

I point this out because thousands of people who are the soul and backbone of the Democratic Party are coming to the Capitol this week. Each day, a different contingent will be calling on Chopp and Co. to find ways other than cutting programs to erase a $5.1 billion shortfall.

They’re bound to be disappointed because much of what they want is not likely to be what Chopp winds up doing.

Teachers are coming Monday and Mark Mains, who teaches fifth grade in the Mukilteo School District, will be among them.

They’re pushing to suspend the requirement for students to pass a high stakes test to graduate then shift $50 million from that program into keeping class sizes small in kindergarten through fourth grade. Doing so will preserve several hundred jobs statewide, they say.

“We get it. There’s not going to be any more money,” Mains said. “If there’s no new money, then what we have to do is take what we have and emphasize teaching over testing.”

Not many teachers are coming as this is not intended to be a show of force.

The scene will be much different the rest of the week. Rallies with large crowds are planned each day and a little civil disobedience could get sprinkled in, too.

On Tuesday, Parents Organizing for Welfare and Economic Rights, or POWER, will focus on preserving programs for low-income families. Wednesday, the Alliance for a Just Society will rally for human services on the budget chopping block.

Thursday, SEIU will fill the Capitol with home health care workers railing against further cuts in programs for the disabled. They’ll be joined by as many as 1,000 mental health professionals who plan to conduct a one-day strike to attend.

Friday is the culminating event coordinated by the Washington State Labor Council with at least 5,000 people expected. Firefighters, trade unionists, government workers, teachers and community activists from around the state are expected to fill the campus.

There, in a singular loud voice, they will demand the Legislature eliminate corporate tax breaks as part of the budget-balancing solution. They won’t say what happens if they don’t.

“We cannot have an all-cuts budget,” the Rev. Paul Benz of the Lutheran Public Policy Office said. “We call on those in the halls of power to do something.”

Chopp’s not expected to drop by. He’ll hear them and we’ll all wait to see what he does about it.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Everett Municipal Building on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett council approves $111 million construction of sewer project

The Port Gardner Storage Facility, in the works for more than a decade, will help prevent overflows of the city sewer system.

Two students walk along a path through campus Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, at Everett Community College in Everett, Washington. A group of nearly 20 community groups are planning to study how to make it easier for young people to find jobs. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Goal for Everett coalition: Make it easier for young people to find jobs

The organizations hope the months-long process will improve access to resources for young people.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.