If you find yourself at the State Capitol in Olympia, you may notice a new attraction â€" something far more appealing than the typical bureaucracy and partisan bickering.

After dropping a cool $200,000, our political leaders in Olympia (both Democrats and Republicans) have converted part of a hallway and the old visitor center into a shiny new gift shop. Apparently, if there’s one thing both parties can agree on, it’s the need for souvenirs and pointless Washington trinkets to be available for sale at the State Capitol. While the Weekly Volcano hasn’t stepped foot inside the new gift shop yet, reports from the AP tell us that merchandise will “include Washington-made crafts, Washington-grown foods, postcards, calendars and items that bear the states name or themes. There are chocolate replicas of Mount Rainier, an apple cake mix, soaps from Shelton and mints from Chehalis.”

Hot damn! No word yet on whether the new gift shop will carry Gov. Christine Gregoire bobble head dolls or Rep, Hans Dunshee beard trimmers, but one can hope. â€" Matt Driscoll